All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 6-3 loss to the Braves, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Verdugo has leadoff role to himself: One of the fallouts to the trade that sent Kevin Pillar to Colorado Monday was that it takes away one of the options Ron Roenicke had to alternate with Alex Verdugo at the top of the lineup. Roenicke liked the option of the righthanded Pillar to hit first against lefties, since it took away the issue of having consecutive lefties at the top of the Boston lineup (with Rafael Devers hitting second). With Pillar gone and no one else who fits the mold, however, Roenicke said Verdugo will likely stay in the leadoff spot permanently. And why not? Verdugo has demonstrated an ability to hit lefties well. Matched against Atlanta's Max Fried, who is usually murder on lefthanded hitters, Verdugo stroked three doubles Monday night -- every one of them to left field -- and for the season is hitting .302 this season. Dating back to last year, Verdugo is batting .326 since the start of last season.
Valdez numbers deceptive: The line score will suggest that reliever Phillips Valdez had a strong outing -- one inning, one hit, three strikeouts. In truth, he did not. Valdez inherited a tough situation from starter Colten Brewer, coming in with the bases loaded and no out. But on the second pitch of his outing, Valdez surrendered a bases-clearing triple into the right-field corner to Austin Riley. All three runs, of course, were charged to Brewer. But a reliever's job involves stranding runners in those cases and Valdez still has some growing to do in that department. "I definitely think there's a learning curve on how to come in and get out of situations,'' said Roenicke. "I think you have to go through it a lot and understand what you need to do -- maybe you get yourself ready a little better by doing different things in the bullpen.'' Valdez yanked a changeup, then tried to throw a fastball in to Riley and instead left it on the outer half, enabling Riley to extend himself and poke the ball to right.
Rotation still a mess: One thing that didn't change on Trade Deadline Day: the Sox didn't get any immediate help to bolster a rotation that's been the worst in baseball. Sure enough, Brewer, a converted reliever, seemed to run out of gas in the fifth inning and was charged with five runs on four innings. That lifted the Sox starters' ERA to 6.91. Monday's loss marked the 17th time that the Red Sox have allowed six or more runs; unsurprisingly, they're 1-16 in those games. Too often, the starters aren't giving the team a chance, falling behind by multiple runs in the first few innings. And with Martin Perez pushed back a couple of days to Thursday due to a blister on his left hand and Nate Eovaldi on the IL until at least Saturday, it's not going to get better anytime soon. The Sox will go with Ryan Weber Tuesday, who has been far, far more effective in a long relief role in his career, and don't have a starter announced for Wednesday.
TURNING POINT
This one's easy: Unquestionably, the triple by Austin Riley. At the time, the game was tied 2-2 and the Sox were hanging with the Braves in the top of the fifth. But the second pitch by Valdez was ripped into the right-field corner, just missing a grand slam by inches along the low wall in right, and the Braves pulled away for good.
ONE UP
Jeffrey Springs: It may not have exactly qualified as a high-leverage appearance with the Red Sox already trailing by four runs, but Springs was still effective in relief, tossing two shutout frames while allowing just one hit and fanning three.
Bobby Dalbec: What a difference a day makes. After homering in his major league debut and later adding a single, Dalbec had a rough second game, striking out in each of his four plate appearances.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"There's been a lot of stress the last few days.'' Christian Vazquez, the subject of numerous trade rumors, on remaining with the Sox.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Alex Verdugo matched a career high with three extra-base hits. It was his third game this season with multiple base hits.
- Rafael Devers enjoyed his second straight multi-hit game and has six hits in the last two days.
- Xander Bogaerts has 12 RBI in his last 13 games.
- Jackie Bradley has a nine-game hitting streak against the Braves.