Kike Hernandez gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead on the first pitch of the game. After that, it was downhill quickly.
The Red Sox managed just four hits the rest of the way and were thrashed by the Baltimore Orioles, 6-2, losing the series two games to none to the team with the worst record in the American League.
Ryan Mountcastle belted a three-run homer in the third off starter Nick Pivetta and Tyler Nevin singled through a drawn-in infield for two runs in the sixth off Garrett Richards as the Red Sox lost for the fifth time in the last six games.
WHO: Red Sox (89-69) vs. Baltimore Orioles (51-107)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Camden Yards
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BOS 13-5
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.52) vs. LHP Alexander Wells (1-3, 7.61)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Hernandez CF
Schwarber 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Renfroe RF
Verdugo LF
Plawecki C
Iglesias 2B
ORIOLES
Mullins CF
Mountcastle 1B
Hays RF
Mancini DH
Severino C
Gutierrez 3B
Nevin 1B
Valaika SS
Jones 2B
T7: Sox in position for a big inning with a leadoff double by J.D. Martinez and a walk to Hunter Renfroe. But they only get a run, and that came after a wild pitch from reliever Joey Krehbiel.
B6: Red Sox coming unglued. Garrett Richards allows two singles, tosses a wild pitch to advance both runners to scoring position, and with the infield in, Ryan Nevin slaps a single to left, scoring two.
T5: Sox have just one hit over the last four innings as Alexander Wells has settled in somewhat. The Sox go down in order on just eight pitches.
B3: Really tough inning for Pivetta, who looks nothing like he did in the first two innings. A walk, two wild pitches, and then, a fastball that couldn't have been more inviting, belted by Ryan Mountcastle for a three-run shot and the Sox are suddenly down by two.
B1: Alex Cora said Wednesday that Nick Pivetta is best when he commands his fastball early, and he's going that tonight, fanning the first three hitters of the night with power stuff.
T1: Doesn't take long for the red Sox to get going tonight -- Kike Hernandez clubs the first pitch out to left-center, his 19th of the season.
WHAT'S UP: At 89-69 (.563), the Red Sox own the AL’s 2nd Wild Card spot, a game ahead of both the Blue Jays and Mariners in the loss column, and only 1.0 game behind the Yankees. The Red Sox won their 2021 season series against TOR (10-9), NYY (10-9), and SEA (4-3). The Sox snapped a 4-game losing streak last night...They are 8-4 in their last 12 games, 14-10 in September, and 34-33 since the All-Star break....The Red Sox need 1 more win to reach 90 for the season...It would be their 13th time winning 90+ games under the current ownership group (2002-present), including the 4th time in the last 6 years. The Sox’ best possible 162-game record is 93-69, which is the record they finished with in their 2016 and 2017 AL East championship season....The earliest the Red Sox could clinch a Postseason berth is Saturday. The Sox are looking to reach the Postseason for the first time since their 2018 World Series title season...The Red Sox have used 56 players this season, tied for their most in franchise history (also 2012). The Sox have used 33 pitchers, their most in franchise history...That does not include 4 position players who have pitched (Araúz, Arroyo, Gonzalez, Plawecki). 10 players have made their MLB debut with the Red Sox this season (Bazardo, Crawford, Duran, Espinal, López, Ort, Sawamura, Seabold, Whitlock, Wong)....The Red Sox entered today with the AL’s largest increase in win % from 2020 (.400) to 2021 (.563). Boston’s .426 win % in 2012 (69-93) is the club’s lowest ever prior to a postseason campaign...The Red Sox earned their 7th shutout win of the season last night...After Nathan Eovaldi allowed 4 hits in 6.0 IP, the Sox’ bullpen threw 3.0 hitless innings with only 1 BB (Ryan Brasier, Hansel Robles, Matt Barnes). In their last 17 games (beginning 9/8), the Sox have posted a 3.26 ERA (55 ER/151.2 IP)...In that time, they rank 2nd in the AL and 7th in the majors in ER..... Hansel Robles has made 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, the 2nd-longest streak of his career (15 straight in 2019)...During that stretch, which began 8/30, he has posted a 0.60 WHIP and held opponents to a .128 AVG (11.2 IP, 5-for-39, 2 BB, 16 SO). In his last 5 outings, Ryan Brasier has allowed 0 runs in 5.1 IP with a .071 opponent AVG (1-for-14, 1 BB, 4 SO). ....Last night, J.D. Martinez went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, a HR, and a double...His 2nd-inning homer was the longest of his Red Sox career (444 feet). The Sox are 22-3 this season when Martinez homers. Martinez has 99 RBI...He would be the only AL player to record 100+ RBI in 2018, 2019, and 2021; the only NL player to do that is Nolan Arenado. ...Hunter Renfroe hit his 30th HR of the season last night, his 2nd time reaching that mark (33 HR in 2019 with the Padres)...He is 1 of only 10 players to hit 25+ HR in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. During his current 10-game hitting streak, Renfroe is batting .317 with a .983 OPS (13-for-41, 3 HR). Since the All-Star break, Renfroe leads the Red Sox in HR (17), RBI (47), XBH (34), and runs scored (41). ....The Red Sox have 46 come-from-behind wins, tied with the Rays for most in the majors. .....The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (327) and XBH (561)...They rank among the top 5 in runs per game (4th, 5.13), AVG (3rd, .262), SLG (2nd, .449), and OPS (3rd, .778). The Sox rank 10th in MLB with 210 HR...They have homered in 30 of their last 33 games; in that time (beginning 8/23), they rank 4th in MLB with 55 HR. ....The Red Sox lead the majors with 36 three-run homers, their most in franchise history (source: Elias)...The Giants rank 2nd with 32. The Sox have hit 39 HR with at least 2 runners on base (3 grand slams), tied for their 2nd-most in franchise history (41 in 2005, 39 in 2016). ....In their last 43 games (beginning 8/8), the Sox lead the majors in AVG and OPS with runners in scoring position (.307/.911)...In their 113 games prior, they ranked 17th in AVG and 18th in OPS with RISP (.252/.744). The Sox lead the majors in 2-strike XBH (202), as well as 2-strike RBI (323), 36 more than any other team. The Sox lead MLB in HR in counts of 0-2 (18) & 1-2 (28). The Sox lead MLB in runs scored with 2 outs (326)... With RISP & 2 outs, they lead the AL in OPS (.829)....Nick Pivetta is making his 30th start of the season, his 2nd year with 30+ starts (32 in 2018). He's thrown 6.0+ innings in 11 of his 29 starts, and 5.0+ innings in 20 of them. Issued 2 or fewer BB in 13 of his last 15 starts (3+ BB in 8 of his first 14). Owns a 3.67 ERA (31 ER/76.0 IP) over 14 road starts this season. Has pitched in four 1-0 games this season; the Sox are 2-2 in those games...Pivetta leads Sox starters in opponent AVG (.236), ranks 2nd in SO/9.0 IP (10.0) and WHIP (1.31), and is 3rd in strikeouts (166). Is 1 of only 4 pitchers in 2021 to make as many as 5 starts with 5.0 scoreless innings and 2 hits or fewer allowed (also Freddy Peralta-6, Carlos Rodón-6, Max Scherzer-5). vs. BAL: Is 6-0 with a 3.35 ERA (15 ER/21.2 IP) over 7 career starts vs. BAL and is 3-0 with a 4.15 ERA (10 ER/21.2 IP) over 4 starts vs. BAL this year.
NOTES:
* The Red Sox will face the final three games of their schedule, beginning Friday, playing in a National League ballpark, and thus, without the use of a DH. "It's something that I circled early, early in the season -- that we were going to play the last three games without the DH,'' said Alex Cora. "We've been talking about it. We'll see how we do it. Obviously, we've got some good offensive players that can change games with one swing and at the same time, we have to create the balance with the defense. We'll see. We'll see how it goes. It's a tricky one. It's not perfect. But we'll prepare. With our roster, we can be creative in the early part of the game and then make adjustments throughout the game.''
* The Sox continue to go with Jose Iglesias at second, all the while knowing that he won't be eligible for the postseason and the Sox will probably turn to Christian Arroyo in the playoffs. Arroyo has started just one game in the last week since being activated. "It's not the perfect situation,'' said Cora. "What Iggy's doing offensively and defensively has been great. He's been one of the best hitters in the big leagues the last three weeks. There's nothing we can do about it. He's part of us and he's helping us win games. Hopefully, we have to make that decision: who's going to play second in the playoffs. Christian's doing everything possible to stay sharp and he understand where we're at. What Iggy has done for us has been amazing.''
* Cora is encouraged by what he's seen from Ryan Brasier in recent outings. "Elevated fastballs,'' he said. "Early in the season, when he got back, his fastball was OK, but it wasn't where he usually throws it. It feels like the fastball he had in '18, or the fastball from last year, and those are good signs.'' Cora also said that Brasier may have been motivated to prove the Sox wrong after they optioned him back to Worcester last week when faced with a roster crunch, only to return days later when Garrett Whitlock went on the IL.
* Thursday's lineup did not include Bobby Dalbec, despite the fact that the Sox were facing a lefty starter. "He's been chasing pitches up in the zone,'' said Cora. "At the same time, that bullpen is very righthanded. So we kind of switched it up, put Kyle (Schwarber) in there and Alex (Verdugo). The hope is to get to the starter early and then there will be some righties (coming in). I think it will be good having Kyle hitting second and grind at-bats and get on base. He hasn't slugged against lefties, but his on-base percentage is high. At the same time, he's been chasing pitches out of the zone the last few days and it will be good for (Dalbec) to take a breather. So we went with this lineup.''