The misery continued for the Red Sox, who dropped their fifth straight, pasted by the Yankees, 10-3. In every one of the five losses, the Sox have allowed at least eight runs.
The Sox hung close against Gerrit Cole until the fifth when the Yanks erupted for three runs off Ryan Brasier in the fifth. New York padded the lead with five runs against the Boston bullpen in the seventh and eighth.
Alex Verdugo knocked in two of the three runs -- one on a solo homer in the fourth and another on a fielder's choice in the eighth.
WHO: Red Sox (6-13) vs. New York Yankees (12-6)
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: Yankees 3-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Colten Brewer (0-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Verdugo LF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Vazquez C
Pillar RF
Bradley CF
Arauz 2B
YANKEES
LeMahieu 2B
Voit 1B
Hicks CF
Urshela 3B
Torres SS
Tauchman RF
Sanchez C8
Frazier DH
Gardner LF
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
10:24 Brandon Workman hadn't pitched in a week, and it showed. Without any leads to protect during this losing streak, Workman finally got an inning and allowed two runs.
10:05 Red Sox doing a little damage here in the eighth against Jonathan Holder, though it's likely too late. One run scores on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Verdugo and another on a single to right by Rafael Devers.
9:30 Fifth straight game in which the Red Sox have allowed at least eight runs.
9:11 Gary Sanchez obliterates a fastball out over the plate and hits it over the bullpen in left-center.
9:07 Mental mistake by Ryan Brasier costs the Sox a run. Brasier went to throw over on a 3-and-2, two-out count, and Mitch Moreland was where he was supposed to be -- behind the runner. Brasier just charged with a balk, and wouldn't you know it, Michael Tauchman makes them pay with a bloop single to left, allowing Gleyber Torres to score.
8:51 As if often the case with Jackie Bradley Jr., he's at this best when he goes the other way. Shoots a liner to left-center, sending Christian Vazquez to third.
8:41 Sox challenge the safe call on Brett Gardner's stolen base, but it stands. Just the second time in eight challenges that the Red Sox have failed to overturn the call.
8:26 Other than the Verdugo swing, which produced the leadoff homer in the fourth, Red Sox hitters appear overmatched against Cole, who seems to have exceptional command with all of his pitches tonight.
8:21 Alex Verdugo gets a pitch in his sweet-spot -- down and in -- and golfs it into the second deck in right. That's home run No. 4 and cuts the Yankees' lead in half.
8:13 Brewer is really laboring here, going deep into counts with almost every hitter, ahd he's done at 73 pitches to record just eight outs. Austin Brice to follow him.
8:11 Gleyber Torres slams a line drive hard the other way, scoring two with a double.
8:02 Strange play, as Xander Bogaerts having a hard liner tip off the top of his glove and trickles into LF. Looks like he mistimed his leap a bit.
7:50 Ron Roencike said before the game that Brewer could give the Sox three innings, or perhaps even four. But after needing 50 pitches through the first two innings, looks like the Sox are going to have to be happy with three.
7:31 Nice work by Colten Brewer who freezes Mike Tauchman with a cutter down-and-in for third strike, leaving the bases loaded.
7:27 No out there, but Jonathan Arauz stops the ball from going into CF and saves a run.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Jose Peraza, who took a comebacker off the knee in the ninth inning, is out of the lineup Friday, though he's showing improvement. "He's a little sore today, but they worked on him and he' actually feeling pretty good,'' said Ron Roenicke. "I thought it was better to not even try to put him back out there again. We'll get him out there (Saturday) if everything (progresses).''
- Jonathan Arauz got the start at the second. "I think just because of the way Jonathan has played lately (he deserved additional playing time),'' said Roenicke. "He's really confident and he is very talented. Offensively, he's doing fantastic. Because of his makeup, his (inexperience) doesn't seem to bother him that much. We'll see where it ends up.''
- The Sox acknowledged that one of the reasons they split up Martin Perez and Nathan Eovaldi -- who had been pitching on consecutive days -- is because it lightens the load on the bullpen when they're not going back-to-back. "They've been giving us length,'' Roenicke said, "and it's nice to spread those guys out.''
- Roenicke said he isn't currently concerned with the team developing a losing culture. "It's not at a point now where I need to address it because I see how the guys are,'' Roenicke said. "They're not happy with his losing. I still see the effort level, I still see how they prepare going into every single game we play. And the attitude, what we talk about before the game. And it's still been good. They realize it's still important to go out there and play hard and prepare every day and they've done it. So at this point in time, I don't think that I need to address that part. I just hope that things turn around quickly and hopefully, I won't have to have that conversations.''
- Roenicke said the Sox were hoping for three or so innings from RHP Colten Brewer tonight, to be followed by Dylan Covey.
- The Sox haven't announced a starter for Sunday night, though all indications are that it will be taken by someone currently at the alternate training site.
- Xander Bogaerts said despite the recent losing, the Sox are trying to remind themselves to go out and enjoy themselves on the field. "Just try to go out there and have some fun,'' he said. "We just have to go out and play like we're having fun. I feel like good things will happen that way.''
- Bogaerts is the longest tenured player and has assumed more leadership in the last year or so, and has been trying to pick up teammates. "It's been tough,'' said Bogaerts. "You just have to be there for your teammates, especially in a time like this. If you see someone with their head down, you have to go over there and remind them that you're there for them and anything they need. We just have to find ways to have fun and hopefully that will change.''