All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Braves, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox fight, but miss chances: To their credit, the Red Sox kept coming back several times in a game in which they appeared to be on the verge of being blown out on more than one occasion. Four times, the Red Sox rallied from behind to pull even with the defending world champions, including once in the bottom of the eighth and again in the bottom of the 10th, buying themselves more time. But ultimately, the Sox ran out of time and chances. It didn't help that they had other opportunities β but were just 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Finally, by the 11th inning, after the Braves had put up two runs in the top of the inning, the Sox seemed out of the fight and were retired 1-2-3 in their final at-bats.
Hill provides just four innings: Before the game, Alex Cora said he hoped starter Rich Hill could give the Sox "five innings...or maybe six,'' given the condition of the bullpen. But Hill couldn't do that much, as the Braves' righthanded-hitting lineup teed off on him for a run in the first and three in the third. By the end of the third inning, seven balls were hit with exit velocities of 95 mph or more, including a towering Austin Riley homer that cleared everything. He enjoyed a 1-2-3 fourth inning, but with the Braves' dangerous 2-3-4 hitters due that inning, the Sox decided not to send him back out despite the fact that he had thrown only 68 pitches by then. In all, he allowed eight baserunners over four innings and left the bullpen with a lot of outs to get the rest of the way.
Injuries continue to hit home: The Red Sox lost two more players to injuries. Fortunately for them, Eric Hosmer, who fouled a ball off his left knee and then didn't take his position in the top of the next inning, likely won't be sidelined for any length of time though Alex Cora said he wouldn't play Wednesday night in the series finale. Of far more concern is the loss of closer Tanner Houck. Houck has been bothered by lower back inflammation for some time, and the team tried to stay away from him in Kansas City hoping that rest would help. But less than an hour before game time, the Sox were forced to put him on the IL, retroactive to Aug. 6. Cora said the team would know by Wednesday about Houck's condition and how long he might be out.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox needed a run to extend the game in the bottom of the 10th, and got it -- on a sacrifice fly from J.D. Martinez. But a previous single by Alex Verdugo, representing the winning run, was wasted when Bobby Dalbec went down swinging for the second out and Christian Arroyo hit into an inning-ending forceout at second. The next half inning, the Braves scored twice to put the Sox away for good.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo led the Red Sox with three hits -- two doubles and a single -- while also scoring two runs, serving as the team's cleanup hitter.
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo remains the Red Sox' hottest hitter, with another two-hit effort, giving him eight hits (three for extra bases) over the course of the last four games.
TWO DOWN
Matt Barnes: Barnes came on in the sixth and couldn't finish the inning, exhibiting some of the same problems that plagued him earlier in the season by walking two while allowing a run.
Rafael Devers: The Sox' best hitter has been quiet of late. He was hitless in five plate appearances (one walk), including a big strikeout in the seventh with two on and two out.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's going to be tough, but guys have to step up.'' Alex Cora on the loss of Tanner Houck (back inflammation).
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Rich Hill's outing -- four innings -- was the longest of his career without recording a single strikeout. Before Monday night, he had had at least one strikeout in his previous 88 outings.
* The extra-inning loss was the first for the Red Sox since May 7 against the White Sox. The Sox had won their last six extra-inning games.
* The Sox have hit seven homers in their last three games after hitting just six in their previous 12 contests.
* Alex Verdugo's three-hit game was the seventh time this season he's had three or more hits.
UP NEXT: The two teams complete their brief two-game set Wednesday with RHP Nick Pivetta (8-8, 4.51) vs. RHP Kyle Wright (13-5, 3.22) at 7:10 p.m.