All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox’ loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Barnes gives it up…again: In Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, Barnes saw the first pitch he threw hit out by Marcus Semien, resulting in a tough 1-0 walk-off loss. But Sunday was worse. Barnes entered with two outs in the eighth, allowed a walk and then a gargantuan three-run homer to George Springer, his one-time UConn teammate, sending the Sox to defeat in a game they looked to have won. Barnes had gotten Springer to swing through a fastball on the previous pitch, believing that Springer was expecting a curveball next, Barnes went back to the fastball again. Bad call. And, worse execution, since he tried to throw it away, only to have it leak back over the plate. Springer crushed it into the second deck in left. Barnes has allowed just four homers all season, but two in the last two days have directly resulted in crushing losses.
Big Three Heat Up: For the first time in a long while, the Red Sox offense showed some life. Yes, when it was over, there was 10 stranded baserunners, any one of which could have made the difference in retrospect. But in general, the lineup was clicking, due in no small part to the return of J.D. Martinez and much-improved at-bats from both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. Martinez, who missed both games Saturday on the IL-COVID, returned with a flourish, cracking four hits and knocked in three. Bogaerts, who acknowledged the other day that he had gotten into some bad habits with his mechanics to compensate for a sore wrist he’d been battling, and two hits and Devers chipped in with two more hits. Together, the trio combined for 8-for-14 with six runs scored and four RBI. If the Sox get any approximation of that output from the heart of their lineup going forward, their offensive woes will cease to exist.
Injuries a concern: The Red Sox lost reliever Hirokazu Sawamura in the seventh, who experienced unusual wildness, throwing seven consecutive balls, including several that missed their intended target altogether. He was removed from the game for what the Sox termed “precautionary’’ measures with some elbow tightness. That’s never a good sign. Additionally, newcomer Kyle Schwarber suffered a minor setback over the weekend with some left groin tightness. Schwarber has been trying to come back from a major hamstring pull suffered last month and over the course of some pre-game workouts, felt the groin, too. Alex Cora said the issue was minor and that Schwarber is set to resume working out Monday. But obviously, the last thing the Sox – and Schwarber – need is anything that further delays his debut for the team.
TURNING POINT
The seeds of disaster in the eighth inning came before Springer’s mammoth blast. Inheriting a baserunner on second with two outs, Barnes issued a walk to No. 9 hitter Reese McGuire, putting the potential tying run on. “He just kept fouling off, fouling off and fouling off,’’ recounted Barnes. “Obviously, in a situation like that, I’m not trying to walk that guy. The last thing I want to do is turn the lineup over for obvious reasons. But he put together a quality at-bat. You’ve got to tip your cap.’’ McGuire worked the walk, setting the stage for Springer’s heroics.
TWO UP
Bobby Dalbec: Signs of life from the first baseman who had two hits – both singles – and knocked in a run.
Kevin Plawecki: Plawecki has been one of the hottest hitters on the team over the last two weeks and he had a three-hit, three-RBI afternoon while getting the start behind the plate.
TWO DOWN
Jonathan Arauz: After delivering the game-winning base hit Saturday night, Arauz took a step backward and was 0-for-4, including, inexplicably, a decision to bunt when the Red Sox had Toronto starter Hyun Jin Ryu on the ropes in the second inning.
Hunter Renfroe: With Alex Verdugo on paternity leave, the Red Sox tried Renfroe in the No. 2 hole. It didn’t work out. He was 0-for-5 and left four baserunners stranded.
QUOTE OF NOTE
“In a game in which you score eight runs, you’ve got to win that game. It’s 100 percent on me.’’ Matt Barnes.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Barnes allowed just two homers in the first 91 he faced this season. Then, over the last two days, he allowed two homers over the course of seven batters.
- For the first time in his career, Barnes appeared in three consecutive games.
- The eight runs scored by the Red Sox ended a stretch of 15 games during which they never scored more than five runs.
- The loss was the first this season in which the Sox scored more than six runs.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox have an off-day, then begin a six-game homestand Tuesday with the first of three against Tampa Bay. It will be LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-6, 5.33) vs. RHP Luis Patino (2-3, 4.42) at 7:10 p.m.