All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Royals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight
HEADLINES
Duran stumbles in CF: It was a long, hot afternoon in the heat for everyone involved, but it was worse for Jarren Duran than for anyone else. Duran misplayed a ball into a double in the third, then dropped a ball for a triple in the seventh before failing to catch another one in the gap. He was later seen jawing with fans for an extended period -- Duran told reporters he was responding to fans throwing bottle caps at him -- and had to be reined in by teammate Alex Verdugo, and later, in the dugout, consoled by manager Alex Cora. The more Duran plays, the more he clearly illustrates that he's not a major league center fielder, and yet, curiously, the Red Sox keep making excuses for him, claiming that he's young -- he'll turn 26 early next month -- and that his jumps are improving. They're not. And now, there's a question about his mental toughness.
Offense slumbers: It was not a good road trip for the Red Sox, and one of the primary reasons was that it wasn't a good trip for the Red Sox offense. The Sox went 3-4 on their seven-game trek to Houston and Kansas City, and only twice did they score more than four runs. They managed five in Sunday's loss, but that's tad misleading because the final two came in the ninth inning, when the game had long since been decided and the Sox were already trailing by double-digits on the scoreboard. Kansas City starter Brad Keller came in with an ERA of 4.61 and a WHIP of nearly 1.4, but you wouldn't have known it watching the first six innings, when the Sox could only muster four hits and a single run. They had just two hits off Keller in the first four innings, They had some better at-bats against the Royals bullpen, but by then, it didn't much matter.
Bullpen fails: Starting pitcher Kutter Crawford made a couple of mistakes that cost him, but the real damage was done against the Red Sox bullpen. After a scoreless sixth from Ryan Brasier, John Schreiber was done in by Duran's misplays in the outfield. Darwinzon Hernandez was completely inept, issuing three straight walks to the first three hitters he faced. Following a base hit which scored two runs, he walked yet another before being lifted in act of mercy. Hernandez's ERA for the season is now 22.24. Austin Davis was only marginally better, allowing two hits and a run in his lone inning of work. For the series, the bullpen were was 11.37.
TURNING POINT
After a two-run homer from Tommy Pham in the top of the seventh brought the Red Sox to within two runs, the Sox appeared to have gotten themselves back into the game. But just as quickly, things unraveled in the bottom of the inning, the Sox were again trailing by four. Duran lost one ball in the sun, couldn't hold onto another as leaped against the fence in right center, and a sacrifice fly followed, giving the Royals two runs -- to say nothing of the momentum -- again.
TWO UP
Tommy Pham: After struggling in his first time in the leadoff spot Saturday night, Pham broke out with a two-run homer and an RBI single, giving him three RBI on the afternoon.
Reese McGuire: The new catcher contributed two singles in four trip to the plate, scored a run, and importantly, threw out a would-be base-stealer from behind the plate.
TWO DOWN
Darwinzon Hernandez: In an embarrassing appearance in the eighth, Hernandez walked the first three hitters he faced, then, after allowing a single, walked a fourth hitter before being mercifully removed.
Kutter Crawford: Crawford didn't have some plays made behind him, but he also can't leave a pitch over the middle of the plate that was hit out of the park by MJ Melendez. This was Crawford's worst outing in some time.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He's our center fielder right now. We trust him. This is a kid that's part of what we're trying to accomplish and we're going to keep rolling with him.'' Alex Cora on Jarren Duran.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox haven't had two series in a row without a series loss since the final days of June.
* The defeat dropped the Sox to 27-28 on the road this season.
* The Sox now sit two games under .500 for the second time in the last nine days.
* Since coming off the IL, Christian Arroyo has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox are, mercifully, off on Monday before hosting the Atlanta Braves in the first of two on Tuesday at Fenway. They'll send LHP Rich Hill (4-5, 4.52) vs. TBA at 7:10 p.m.