All you need to know about the Red Sox' 7-3 loss to Seattle, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bullpen gives one away: The Red Sox got a solid start from Nick Pivetta (two runs allowed over six innings), but the bullpen, which has performed pretty well in the first three weeks, punted this one. Adam Ottavino allowed the first three hitters he faced to reach base as the Mariners erased a one-run lead. Then, in the 10th, with Matt Barnes already utilized in the ninth, the Sox turned to Darwinzon Hernandez, who wasn't up to the task on this night. After a sacrifice pushed the automatic runner to third, Hernandez allowed a go-ahead double, a flyout a walk and a three-run homer on an 0-and-2 pitch. "There was a lot of traffic at the end,'' lamented Alex Cora, in a giant bit of understatement. It would seem inconceivable that the Sox could go into extra innings tied 3-3 when they had allowed exactly one hit over the first nine innings, but the walks hurt them badly. Ottavino issued two and so, too, did Hernandez.
Bottom of the order provides no punch: Maybe it's the recent cold weather. Or maybe the lineup itself has cooled. But the Red Sox have stopped scoring runs in bunches and in Thursday's loss exhibited poor situational hitting. They got a one-out triple from Alex Verdugo in the first, but couldn't plate him. They also stranded runners at third in both the third and fourth innings. The real issue, however, was the bottom half of the lineup where the quarter of Christian Vazquez, Marwin Gonzalez, Hunter Renfroe and Franchy Cordero combined to go 1-for-14 with five strikeouts. Every hit but one of the eight hits came from the top half of the lineup. Renfroe and Cordero, both swing-and-miss guys, combined for four strikeouts. Cora said before the season starts that the Sox would be counting on some of their free swingers at the bottom of the lineup to sometimes cut down their swings in service to the team, but that hasn't happened much to date.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox clung to a 3-2 lead with six outs to go, but it started to unravel for Ottavino in the top of the eighth. He invited trouble when he walked the first two hitters he faced -- the Nos. 7 and 8 hitters in the Seattle lineup. Then, Ottavino compounded things by fielding a bunt directly to him from J.P. Crawford, and firing it low and wide to third baseman Rafael Devers, with the ball rolling down the left-field line, allowing the Mariners to tie the score. It was Ottavino's second blown save of the season, but the first to cost the Red Sox a game.
TWO UP
Nick Pivetta: Although his wildness cost him in the sixth when the Mariners scored twice, Pivetta didn't allow a hit over the first five innings and put the Red Sox in position to win this one by limiting Seattle to two runs.
Hunter Renfroe: He was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts at the plate, but he twice made touch catches near the foul line in right field.
TWO DOWN
Frenchy Cordero: In addition to an 0-for-4 night with two strikeouts, Cordero took some curious routes to a couple of line drives his way, resulting in three runs scoring on the plays.
J.D. Martinez: Although he contributed a walk and a single, Martinez struck out with a runner on third and one out in the first and grounded out with a runner on second in the 10th.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It doesn't matter, right, (allowing) two hits, three hits... When you walk seven guys you're putting yourself in a bad position. It's not about getting hits; it's about getting on base.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The loss was the first in extra innings for the Red Sox this season.
- The game also marked the first time this season that the Red Sox have lost in a game in which they held the lead.
- The Sox swiped three stolen bases, their most since last Sept. 18 when they stole six against the Yankees.
- Since April 6, Rafael Devers leads the majors in RBI with 17.
- Matt Andriese has allowed just one run over his last six appearances, covering 7.1 innings.