All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Bullpen trips up: It's been a familiar pattern over the last two weeks -- the Red Sox hold a late-inning lead, only to watch as their bullpen hands the game back over to the opposition. It happened twice in two days in Toronto on the last road trip. It happened again against Tampa Bay in the opener of the homestand. And it happened against Tuesday in Game 1 against the Yankees. More frustrating was the fact that Boston relievers weren't even hit around; they were too busy issuing free passes. Garrett Whitlock and Josh Taylor walked the bases loaded, and the Yankees put the ball in play enough to score three runs in the fifth inning, erasing what had been a one-run lead. At the worst possible time, the Red Sox bullpen has collapsed, resulting in a number of losses. In fact, of their last five defeats, four can be directly attributable to the team's relief staff. Whitlock has had two rough outings in his last three while Taylor has been in downward spiral for the past 10 days.
Houck lifted early: Tanner Houck allowed two runs over the first four innings, but seemed to have turned a corner in the final two frames. He was at just 58 pitches after four innings, but still, Alex Cora went to his bullpen. That decision blew up in Cora's face as Whitlock and Taylor struggled with control and walked the bases loaded, resulting in a three-run fifth. But there was a reason Cora pulled Houck when he did. Facing hitters after throwing 50 or more pitches, Houck has allowed a slash line of .378/.439/.541. Cora can't say it publicly, but it's obvious that the Sox don't trust him to face a lineup a third time. They tried that last week against Tampa Bay, and that decision, too, backfired. It's a reminder for all the promise and potential young starters have, there's a learning curve that exists and can be tough to navigate for teams.
TURNING POINT
In the top of the seventh, the Red Sox loaded the bases and with one out, Kikรฉ Hernandez was at the plate, facing Jonathan Loaisiga. Hernandez had worked two walks in previous at-bats, and was ahead in the count against Loaisiga 3-and-1. But the reliever then threw a pitch off the plate that Hernandez chased to bring the count full. Had he taken that pitch, he would have earned a bases-loaded walk, forcing in a run and a single could have put the Sox ahead. Instead, Hernandez was forced into a more defensive posture with the count full and he swing through another elevated fastball for the second out of the ninth.
TWO UP:
Christian Vazquez: His homer in the top of the fifth put the Red Sox ahead and his single in the seventh helped the Sox load the bases.
Austin Davis: Although he did issue a walk, he got two big outs in the sixth to keep the game within reach and was the only reliever the Sox used that was somewhat effective.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Martinez has struggled in his career against Jordon Montgomery and Tuesday was no different, with two strikeouts in two trips to the plate. He later lined out to short to cap an 0-for-3 day.
Baserunning: The Red Sox ran into two unnecessary outs on the bases in the first three innings. Hunter Renfroe tried to take an extra base with the shift on and was tagged out at third while Xander Bogaerts took too wide a turn at first on a two-run single and was gunned down.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We're in August - it's a tough month for everybody (in the bullpen).'' - Christian Vazquez.
STATISTICALLY SPEALKING:
* The seventh inning marked the third time in the last five occasions that Boston failed to score after loading the bases with no out.
* The home run by Christian Vazquez was his first since June 27, 116 at-bats ago.
* Travis Shaw had his first at-bat with the Red Sox since 2016.