All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox bats come up empty: Remember the last homestand when the Red Sox scored eight runs or better four times in the span of five games, including twice reaching double-figures? The Red Sox themselves don't seem to. After being limited to three runs in the first game of their doubleheader Tuesday, they were blanked in the nightcap and mustered just five hits over seven innings. All five of the Red Sox hits were singles, as the team was limited by rookie starter Luis Gil, who blanked them over the first 4.2 innings. For the game, the Sox were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine baserunners overall. Just twice in seven innings did they manage to put the leadoff runners on. The Big Three of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez combined to go just 1-for-9 while leaving seven baserunners on board.
Eovaldi sharp in defeat: With any kind of offensive support at all, Nathan Eovaldi, who has pitched very effectively against the Yankees this season, could have claimed a win. But Eovaldi made two mistakes -- a first-pitch fastball to Luke Voit in the second inning and an 0-and-2 curveball to Giancarlo Stanton to lead off the fourth -- that resulted in solo homers and that was enough to carry the Yankees to victory. Eovaldi noted the irony of the situation, observing that he's done a good job keeping the ball in the ballpark for much of the season. In fact, he entered the game with the lowest home run ratio (0.61 per nine innings) among all qualified American League pitchers. Then again, with no offensive backing, it wouldn't have mattered if Eovaldi gave up one homer and seven.
TURNING POINT
It didn't exactly qualify as much of a rally, but maybe, a small opportunity for the Red Sox: In the top of the sixth inning, trailing 2-0, the Sox had runners at first-and-third with two out. Pinch-hitter Bobby Dalbec, facing lefty reliever Wandy Peralta, lined a hard shot back to the box that struck Peralta near his pitching hand, which he put up in defense. The ball dropped in front of the mound, but Peralta quickly scrambled and threw to first, just nipping Dalbec for the final out of the inning. Had Dalbec reached safely, the Sox would have had a run-in and two baserunners on for the top of the order. But like almost everything on this day, it didn't go the Red Sox' way.
TWO UP
Kyle Schwarber: It didn't have much of an impact in the end, but Schwarber did what he's accustomed to doing -- reaching base -- twice in his three plate appearances.
Martin Perez: Since being shifted to the bullpen, Perez has seen his velocity tick up and has been effective in relief. He got two big outs in the sixth inning as the Sox tried to keep things close.
TWO DOWN
Kevin Plawecki: The backup catcher, who's been hot at the plate, was 0-for-3 and also allowed two stolen bases.
Rafael Devers: The third baseman has cooled off and made the final out of the inning in all three of his plate appearances, each time leaving at least one baserunner stranded.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Things just aren't going our way at the moment.'' Rafael Devers.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The shutout loss was the fifth of the season for the Red Sox.
* The loss was the fourth straight in Yankee Stadium for the Sox.
* The game marked just the second time all season that Nathan Eovaldi gave up multiple homers in the same game.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Yankees conclude their series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Nick Pivetta (9-5, 4.20) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (7-8, 5.78)