If you're looking for positives -- the Red Sox didn't give up at least eight runs Sunday night.
But that's where the good news ends. The Sox dropped their seventh straight, 4-2, to the New York Yankees.
All four runs came in the first three innings off Chris Mazza, with two runs coming on a homer by Mike Ford in the third inning.
Kevin Pillar's solo homer in the third accounted for the first Red Sox run. The Sox added an unearned run in the ninth and had the potential tying run at second base before Kevin Plawecki
Red Sox relievers turned in five shutout innings, but it came too late as the Yankees won their sixth straight meeting this season and ninth straight dating back to last season.
WHO: Red Sox (6-15) vs. New York Yankees (14-6)
WHEN: 7:08 p.m.
WHERE: Yankee Stadium
SERIES TO DATE: Yankees 2-0
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: Yankees 5-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Chris Mazza (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (0-1, 10.29)
TV/RADIO: ESPN; WEEI 93. FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Pillar CF
Devers 3B
Martinez RF
Bogaerts SS
Vazquez DH
Verdugo LF
Chavis 1B
Plawecki C
Arauz 2B
YANKEES
Hicks CF
Urshela 3B
Tauchman LF
Torres SS
Ford 1B
Sanchez C
Gardner LF
Frazuer DH
Wade 2B
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:37 It's always interesting to watch the dynamic between Ryan Brasier and Gary Sanchez, given their history from the 2018 ALDS.
9:15 Verdugo continues to be....interesting. Taking off for third with two outs is not typical strategy.
9:02 Ryan Weber looks like a different pitcher coming out of the bullpen. In three innings, he's allowed just two singles and its getting plenty of groundballs. Five of the nine outs he's recorded have come on the ground. Also, he's cut down on the walks and homers which plagued his three starts.
8:48 Just three hits against J.A. Happ as he departs -- someone who was suspect enough to be skipped for his last turn and who was pitching on 11 days rest.
8:41 There's tonight's impressive moment from Jonathan Arauz -- very smooth and quick flip to Bogaerts to start an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Great poise.
8:22 Terrific play by Bogaerts, who backhands a ball behind the bag, and quickly gets to his feet to throw across his body and nip Tyler Wade at first.
8:18 Christian Vazquez, who ended the inning by grounding into a double play, is now 7-for-49 since his hot start in the first week.
8:05 Mazza misses up high with a fastball and Mike Ford crushes it over the the bullpen in right for a two-run shot.
8:04 Alex Verdugo has nicely nailed down the ability to go toward the line, pivot and get the ball back in quickly. This time, he cuts down Mike Tauchman trying to stretch a single into a double.
7:57 Kevin Pillar hooks a cutter down the left field line and the Red Sox are on the board. Second homer for Pillar this season.
7:50 For the second time in as many innings, Mazza victimized by some tough luck. A grounder down the first base line strikes the bag and ricochets over the head of Chavis. Instead of the third out, it's a run-scoring double for Aaron Hicks.
7:45 Rafael Devers still struggling with his throws. On a relatively routine play, his throw sails and required Chavis to leap off the bag to make the catch.
7:37 Michael Chavis still having difficulty with fastballs up in the zone -- goes after a 93 mph four-seamer at his shoulders, stranding a runner.
7:25 Some tough luck for Chris Mazza, as two of the first three hits this inning -- resulting in a run -- were jam shots - softly hit liners into the outfield.
PRE-GAME NOTES
- To make for Chris Mazza's addition to the roster, the Red Sox optioned Dylan Covey to their alternate training site.
- INF Christian Arroyo, claimed on waivers from Cleveland, is still going through the intake process and will likely be activated Tuesday when the Sox have a brief two-game homestand.
- Ron Roenicke acknowledge that remaining positive currently is "at times, no doubt, it gets tougher. I thin kit's probably best to look at some of the good things that are happening. Some of the guys are starting to swing a little better, so I think that's encouraging. I think if we can focus as a staff on the things that we're doing better and try to get everybody a little bit better, we'll end up winning more games.
- LHP Josh Taylor is ready to join the big league club, and according to Roenicke "should show up (Monday) or the next day.
- LHP Darwinzon Hernandez threw three innings at Pawtucket as the Red Sox seek to get him further built up.