All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the White Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
One loss sums up a season: It wasn't easy to do, but in dropping a 3-1, 10-inning decision to the Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox managed to incorporate all of their problems into one afternoon. First, again, they didn't hit. They scored exactly one run, giving them three in the last 28 innings. They managed seven hits, but only five after the first inning and just three over the final five innings. Then, they had another bullpen implosion, as Hansel Robles, entrusted with a 1-0 lead in the ninth, issued a leadoff walk, a double and a single to the first three hitters he faced, marking the club's ninth blown save of the season and fifth from the fifth inning on. Finally, the Sox found a way to lose yet another game in extra innings as Matt Barnes gave up two runs. The first five had all come on the road, making them all walkoff losses. Because this was the first one they experienced at Fenway -- allowing two runs in the top of the 10th -- they had a last at-bat opportunity, but predictably, did little with it, going down in order against Liam Hendriks.
Offensive drought continues: Of the Red Sox' seven hits, six were singles. In keeping with how things have been most of the season, when they had a chance to do damage, they missed. They left 10 baserunners on base and were a woeful 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Not once over the span of 10 innings did they put the leadoff man on base. But they did have a runner thrown out at the plate and twice were unable to cash in on first-and-third situations. In more than half (16) of their 28 games so far, they've scored four runs or fewer and are a wretched 2-14 in those games, often wasting good starting pitching performances -- as happened yesterday.
Pivetta makes best start yet: If there was any silver lining to the loss -- and you had to look hard -- it was the six shutout innings turned in by Nick Pivetta. Pivetta entered the game with a 7.84 ERA, but was brilliant, allowing just five hits and striking out eight. Importantly, he also didn't walk a batter for the second straight outing. It's clear that whatever mechanical issues he was battling earlier this season have been ironed out. Pivetta also showed a better pace on the mound, working quicker while attacking the strike zone effectively. And on the few occasions when he got into any trouble -- like the fifth, when the White Sox used two singles to give themselves two on and two out -- he worked out of things nicely. It was the 13th time in the last 15 games that a Red Sox starter had allowed two runs or fewer. Now, if they could only get a modicum of offensive support...
TURNING POINT
As bad as it was to give up the lead in the top of the ninth, the Red Sox were actually well-positioned to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, the Sox got back-to-back singles from Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Vazquez, giving them runners at the corners and one out. All they needed was a fly ball. Instead, Bobby Dalbec kept his bat on his shoulder on a called third strike and then Trevor Story popped up to second base, leaving both baserunners stranded and another extra-inning loss just around the corner.
TWO UP
Rafael Devers: He was responsible for knocking in the only Red Sox of the game with his double in the fifth and also added a single and walk. It was his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
Franchy Cordero: Cordero has been giving the Red Sox better at-bats of late and had a sharp single in the fifth along with a ball that the wind knocked down that registered as the second-hardest hit ball of the season at 113 mph.
TWO DOWN
Trevor Story: In addition to committing an error at second base, Story was 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts and a weak infield popup.
Alex Verdugo: Just when it seemed like a big double in the fifth inning Friday signaled that he was ready to bust out of a long slump, Verdugo had a terrible day with three groundouts and a strikeout in four plate appearances.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"You feel it...you start feeling it. It's the nature of the game. When you come back (to win), it's the other way around. When it's this way, it's kind of like, 'Here we go again,' to be honest with you.'' Alex Cora on dealing with last late-inning losses.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox dropped to 0-6 in extra-inning games this season. This loss was the first such game at home.
* Alex Cora was ejected in the third inning, his first ejection of the season and eighth of his career.
* J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning single.
* Nick Pivetta marked the ninth time he's gone six or more innings without allowing a run.
UP NEXT
The final game of the weekend series will take place extra early -- at 11:35 a.m. Sunday morning. The Red Sox will RHP Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.38) out against LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 8.40).