All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-2 loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Pitching better, but not well enough: Chris Mazza got his first major league start and though he lasted just three innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, was the victim of some bad luck. Aaron Hicks was gifted a double when a grounder hit the first base bag and kicked over the head of Michael Chavis, scoring a run. In the third inning, two jam shots resulted in soft bloopers that fell in, leading to another run. "Only two of (the hits) were squared up,'' said Ron Roenicke. "The numbers look worse than I think he pitched. I think he threw the ball well.'' Even more impressive was the work of Ryan Weber, who turned in his second straight good relief outings, tossing three scoreless innings. He's now thrown seven innings over his last two appearances and allowed just one run -- a far cry from the pounding he took as a starter. Now the Sox have decision to make: keep him in the bullpen to provide multiple innings or put him back in the rotation.
Alex Verdugo continues to be an adventure: Verdugo had two hits and another outfield assist, while providing some energy to the Sox lineup. "He's on time a lot more to catch the fastball, but he's also staying back enough to hit the off-speed,'' said Roenicke. "The play in the outfield was outstanding, throwing (Mike Tauchman) out at second base...Here's a guy who can do a lot of different things to help you win ballgames.'' But he also was perhaps over-aggressive in the seventh inning, when trailing by three runs and with two outs, he took for third base in a stolen base attempt. There's not a lot of benefit in the big picture to moving up 90 feet, especially when, had he been thrown out, the inning would have been over and the Sox would have sacrificed a baserunner in scoring position with the potential tying run at the plate. "Anytime we can get a guy to third base, it's better than being on second,'' said Roenicke. "If they know that they can make it and they're sure they're going to make it, it's a good play. Obviously, you can't get thrown out in those situations.''
Devers still slumping at third base: Devers, who made three errors in the final game of the homestand, didn't make any more Sunday night, but he still showed himself to be shaky with his throws. Two sailed either high or wide of first base, only to be saved by Red Sox' first basemen. Devers just doesn't appear comfortable or confident when he has to make throws across the diamond, and the erratic nature of his play at third continues to be a concern. "He's not using his footwork,'' said Roenicke., "He really did a good job of that last year. I always reference (Xander Bogaerts) and tell him, 'Watch Bogey.' Every time he has time, it's quick footwork and it's a firm throw over there. That's what I'd rather see him do. When you just catch the ball right there and kind of float it over there and sometimes you make errors you shouldn't be making. He knows it.''
TURNING POINT
In the sixth inning, after back-to-back walks to Devers and J.D. Martinez, the Sox had Xander Bogaerts at the plate, facing Adam Ottavino. Bogaerts hit the ball well up the middle, but the ball ticked off Ottavino's glove and was directed straight at second baseman Tyler Wade, who was shaded around near the second base bag. If the ball gets through, the Red Sox have a run and runners at the corners likely. Instead, it represented the third out of the inning and took away their momentum.
ONE UP
Kevin Pillar: Pillar drew a leadoff walk against J.A. Happ in the first and came back with a solo homer in the third. Until the ninth, that was the only run of the game for the Sox,
ONE DOWN
Ryan Brasier: Brasier has improved velocity with his fastball, throwing a handful of pitches at 97 mph, but he also issued two walks in the seventh inning with the Sox already behind. That's inviting trouble in that ballpark and against that lineup.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We had quite a few players talk...We just wanted to open up the floor to everyone.'' Kevin Pillar on a team meeting.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox did not give up as many as eight runs for the first time since last Sunday.
- The Sox have lost 14 of their last 15 games in New York since the start of 2019.
- Michael Chavis saw his hitting streak end at six games.
- For the first time this season, Kevin Plawecki didn't have a hit while starting behind the plate.