All you need to know about the Red Sox' 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Richards falters early: It wasn't as bad as his first start of the season, when he couldn't get an out in the third inning. But for Garrett Richards, his fourth start of the season left a lot to be desired. He spotted the visiting Toronto Blue Jays a 1-0 lead in the first, then saw that grow to 4-0 in the second. There were some hard-hit balls among the first two innings but the biggest issue was his control lapse. He walked one batter in the first and hit another. Things got really bad in the second when two walks to the first four hitters of the inning set the stage for a big inning for Toronto. Manager Alex Cora said the big issue with Richards was his being able to throw his slider effectively, but Richards also struggled to command his fastball at times, leaving him with little with which to attack the Blue Jays lineup. If there was any consolation for Richards, it's that he figured some things out after the second and didn't allow another run as he got to 4.2 innings. But that's obviously not good enough.
Lineup couldn't find the big hit: As poor as Richards was, and despite the fact the Blue Jays sprinted to a quick 4-0 lead, the Red Sox were never really out of this one. Even in the ninth, they were a baserunner away from bringing the potential tying run to the plate. But too often, just as the Red Sox appeared ready to enjoy a big inning and put themselves back in the game, they couldn't buy the big base hit. On the night, Boston hitters were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and the stranded nine in the game, including seven of those in scoring position. In the eighth, a base hit from Bobby Dalbec would have put the Red Sox ahead for the first time, but with runners at second and third, he grounded to third. Things finally got away in the ninth inning, but the Sox had plenty of chances before that to put themselves in better position.
TURNING POINT
Though they were trailing 4-0 by the bottom of the second inning, the Red Sox were really never out of this one. In fact, in the fifth inning, having cut the lead to 4-2, the Sox loaded the bases with two outs, but Xander Bogaerts, who had the big hit the night before, couldn't duplicate the feat. He hit a routine grounder to short for the final out, stranding three and the Sox never threatened again.
TWO UP
Marwin Gonzalez: Starting the night at second base, then switching to left field, Gonzalez cracked two doubles and scored a run.
Phillips Valdez: After three scoreless innings in Sunday's doubleheader, spread across both games, Valdez gave the Sox another perfect inning in the seventh, fanning two of the three batters he faced.
TWO DOWN
Josh Taylor: The Red Sox had gotten 3.1 innings of scoreless relief and hung close, but Taylor was knocked around for three hits and a walk, leading two huge insurance runs in the ninth.
Alex Verdugo: The outfielder has been one of the team's hottest hitters, but after a first-inning single, he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double-play, leaving runners on base each occasion. He had an off-night in the field, too, bobbling a line single in the ninth, and making an ill-advised throw to home on another occasion, allowing a baserunner to advance 90 feet.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I didn't really have a lot going tonight. Obviously, not good.'' Garrett Richards on his start.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Xander Bogaerts, who homered for the second straight night, is tied with Trevor Story of Colorado for the most homers by a major league shortstop since the start of 2019.
- Six of the eight appearances to date from Hirokazu Sawamura have been scoreless.
- Phillips Valdez has retired the last 12 hitters he's faced in a row.
- Marwin Gonzalez has scored 10 runs in the last 13 games.