All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Reds, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Offense remains in slump: On Monday night, the Red Sox managed four hits, but no runs. On Tuesday night, they again had four hits and scored once. But that hardly seemed like any sort of progress. It wasn't until the ninth inning that the Sox managed to get on the scoreboard, ending their scoreless streak at 17 innings. Mind you, the last two games have both been against last-place teams. The Red Sox had a hit in the first inning, then didn't get another until Kike Hernandez in the ninth. Part of Tuesday's struggles were the result of facing Luis Castillo at the top of his game, shutting them over six innings while racking up 10 strikeouts. But it's almost inconceivable that the same team that was averaging better than seven runs per game not long ago could only score once across two games.
Wacha pitches gem: Starter Michael Wacha was superb over 5.2 innings allowing just one run -- unearned, too -- on three hits while not walking anyone. Wacha's mechanics were off somewhat in the previous couple of starts that followed his IL stint, but he had everything in sync Tuesday night, retiring the first 12 hitters he faced in succession before allowing a leadoff double to Joey Votto to open the fourth. He was lifted after throwing 72 pitches -- 53 of them strikes -- because Alex Cora wanted a lefty (Austin Davis) to face Votto in the sixth. Wacha has allowed one run or no runs in five of his eight starts for the Sox and sports a tidy 2.43 ERA for the season.
Highs and lows with Devers: It was the best of games, it was the worst of games for the third baseman. He was the only member of the Red Sox to get a hit off Castillo, with a first-inning single. He later doubled to left in the bottom of the ninth, leading to the only Red Sox run. But he also committed a highly costly error in the sixth when he came in to field a bouncer by Nick Senzel, and threw wildly to first, leading to Cincinnati's first run. Devers had more time than he thought and unnecessarily hurried a poor throw. While his play at third base has been undeniably improved, he still has a habit of making errors in bunches; the one Tuesday night was his fourth in the last eight games.
TURNING POINT
In the top of the ninth inning, the Red Sox were trailing 1-0. With two outs and a runner on second, Matt Reynolds hit a ball into the shortstop hole on which Xander Bogaerts made a diving backhand stab. Getting to his feet quickly, he fired a throw to first on one-hop that first baseman Franchy Cordero couldn't glove, and as the ball skidded past him, pinch-runner Alejo Lopez scored from second with Cincinnati's run. Even if it was a tough throw to pick, Cordero at least should have kept the ball in front of him, limiting Lopez to one base instead of two. That run proved to be the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth when the Sox managed one run, but couldn't get the equalizer.
ONE UP
Tyler Danish: Danish stranded a runner when he took over from Austin Davis in the seventh and struck out three in an inning and two-thirds of work.
TWO DOWN
Trevor Story: Following a two-week stretch in which he was among the hottest hitters in the game, Story has fallen back into a funk. He was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, including the final out with the potential tying run on third base. Story is 2-for-17 on the homestand.
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and his throwing error led to the eventual winning run scoring in the top of the ninth.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It was a bad time for me to make a mistake like that.'' Xander Bogaerts on a costly throwing error in the top of the ninth that led to the winning run scoring.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Alex Verdugo snapped an 0-for-14 slump when he singled home the only run of the game,
* Austin Davis has stranded nine of 10 inherited runners this season.
* Kike Hernandez has reached base safely in 18 of his last 19 games.
* This was the third loss the Red Sox have suffered without allowing an earned run.
* Rafael Devers hit .381 for the month of May.
* After winning the first game for five straight series, the Sox have dropped the series opener in the last two series.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox wrap up their two-game set -- and their homestand -- Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. by sending RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-1, 3.45) vs. RHP Hunter Greene (2-6, 5.89).