All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Dalbec's big night not enough: Bobby Dalbec had his best game of the season, knocking in five of the six Red Sox runs with two two-run homers and a sacrifice fly. Still, it couldn't carry the Sox past the Guardians. For Dalbec, it was his fifth homer of the month, as he begins to show signs that he could go on a second-half tear like last year. Dalbec said he credited the outbreak to some extra work of late, though he added that the adjustments he's been making aren't "any one (specific) thing.'' His first homer brought the Sox to within a run while a sacrifice fly in the fourth did the same. His second homer, coming in the sixth, gave the Sox their first lead of the night, though it didn't hold up. If Dalbec can continue to produce at his current pace, it would give the Sox some thump at the bottom of the lineup and make them feel better about handing first base back to him full-time once Rafael Devers is ready to come off the IL next week.
Cordero's three errors croak Sox: Franchy Cordero has been an adventure at first base for much of the season. Lately, however, his defensive play has reached the crisis stage. He made an error last Friday, and before that, had committed another in the second-to-last series of the first half. But Wednesday night was a new low: he made two errors on one play in the second inning, leading to two unearned runs. Then, his throwing error in the eighth led directly to Cleveland scoring the tying run. Alex Cora, while being charitable, chalked it up to Cordero "still learning"' a position that's relatively new to him. But given that you can tie this loss directly to Cordero's sloppy defense, it's worth wondering how long they can continue to run him out there at the same position. If the Sox trade JD Martinez, which seems at least possible, then Cordero could shift into full-time DH duties. Anything more would seem to be asking for trouble.
Houck allows the game-winner: Reliever Tanner Houck, pitching for the second straight night, gave up the game-winning homer to Josh Naylor in the ninth inning, turning what had been a 6-6- tie into a 7-6 lead for the Guardians. It didn't count as yet another blown save for the beleaguered Red Sox bullpen since the score was tied, but it was one more example of a late-inning meltdown for Red Sox relievers. Houck hasn't had a lot of 1-2-3 innings as the closer, with plenty of traffic against him. His 1.24 WHIP indicates that he's had plenty of baserunners. Like Cordero, Houck is adjusting to a new role, but he's doing so at a time when the Sox can't afford to make mistakes, and Houck made a big one to Naylor at the worst possible time.
TURNING POINT
The two errors by Franchy Cordero in the second -- on the same play; one fielding, the other a throw -- were bad enough. But when it happened in the eighth inning, it was far more costly, since it allowed the Guardians to tie the game when the Sox were six outs away from winning the game. Cordero fielded a ball to his right, then tried a jump throw moving away from the first base bag, only to have the ball sail over pitcher John Schreiber's head and roll into the home dugout, allowing Nolan Jones to take second base. He eventually scored the tying run, and while it wasn't officially an unearned run, it sure felt that way.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez has come out of the break smoking at the plate reaching base multiple times in four of his last six games. He had two hits, though he should have been out at the plate when he ran through a stop sign in the fourth. A poor relay throw from Cleveland shortstop Amed Rosario saved him the embarrassment.
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo, who's been added to the top of the lineup with all of the injuries, singled twice by going the other way.
TWO DOWN
Jarren Duran: Duran is not getting on base from the leadoff spot, and that's been an issue for the Red Sox. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before being replaced for a pinch-hitter.
J.D. Martinez: Whether it's a matter of timing or the lingering impact of his back spasms, Martinez doesn't look like himself at the plate. He was 0-for-4 and didn't hit the ball hard until his final plate appearance.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We didn't play good defense, and at the end, that's the result. You give the opposition more than 27 outs at this level, and you're going to pay the price.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Xander Bogaerts is batting .377 with a .922 OPS over his last 15 games.
* Alex Verdugo collected his third multi-hit game in his last five games.
* The Sox committed three errors for the third time this season and second time in the last four games.
* The Sox are 3-9 in their last 12 home games after going 16-6 at Fenway from mid-May through July 4.
UP NEXT
The teams close out their four-game series Thursday at 7:10 p.m., with RHP Kutter Crawford (2-3, 4.50) vs. RHP Triston McKenzie (7-6, 3.11).