All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Braves, complete with BSJ analysis and insight
HEADLINES
Pham fitting in: It hasn't resulted in any wins, but newly acquired outfielder Tommy Pham homered for the third straight game for the Sox. The output comes as he was moved into the leadoff spot at the top of the Boston order. At the very least, he's providing some pop and energy to a place in the lineup that's been quiet for much of the season. Having tried both Kiké Hernández and Jarren Duran there with little success, Pham is at least giving the Sox some firepower. And, whether it's intentional or not, he's added some life and enthusiasm to the offense. Alex Cora praised Pham for his ability to stay within the strike zone, though Pham said he wasn't happy with the number of strikeouts he's piled up since joining the Sox. Still, the Sox can only welcome his offensive contributions and hope that it rubs off on others.
Bullpen slumping: It's not getting any better for Red Sox relievers, who continue to get hit hard. Case in point: while starter Nick Pivetta kept his team in the game by allowing three runs over six innings, the bullpen couldn't say the same. Four Red Sox relievers combined to allow five runs over the final three frames. Only Austin Davis escaped without being charged with a run, and that was likely because he was asked to only get one out to close out the eighth inning. Darwinzon Hernandez and Ryan Brasier each were charged with two runs over 1.2 innings, while Kaleb Ort, pitching the ninth with the game already in hand for the Braves, was torched for a run on two more hits. It will be interesting to see if the Sox change out some bodies in the coming days in the bullpen and turn to some younger pitchers from Triple A Worcester.
Pivetta keeps Sox in game: It hardly qualified as a masterpiece, but in giving up three runs over six innings, starter Nick Pivetta at least gave the Sox a shot. That's more than some Red Sox starters can say of late. Pivetta's big mistakes were two-fold. First, he issued a two-out walk to Eddie Rosario after getting ahead 0-and-2. Then, compounding matters, he gave up a rocket to left field for a three-run homer to Marcell Ozuna. The two-out walks have been a particular bugaboo for Cora, who spoke about the need to limit them in his pre-game media session. Then, Pivetta did exactly the opposite in the fourth inning. At the time, it was the seventh two-out walk issued by Red Sox pitchers in the series.
TURNING POINT
The homer by Pham, in the bottom of the seventh inning, had brought the Red Sox back to within a run and given some life to the ballpark. But that sliver of hope didn't last long. In the top of the next inning, Ryan Brasier entered and after striking out the first hitter he faced, gave up three straight hits and a sacrifice fly, accounting for two more Braves runs and nearly wiping out the good that Pham's homer had provided.
TWO UP
Bobby Dalbec: There were a couple of shaky plays at first base, but at the plate, Dalbec had some good at-bats, with a double, single and two runs scored.
Alex Verdugo: He may be providing the kind of sock usually associated with hitters in the cleanup spot, but at least Verdugo is getting on base. For the second straight night, he reached three times with a single and two walks.
TWO DOWN
Darwinzon Hernandez: Another rocky outing for the lefty, who allowed a tape-measure two-run homer to a rookie in his only inning of work. Hernandez has now allowed 16 runs in his last four relief appearances.
J.D. Martinez: Martinez continues to look like a shell of his former self at the plate. He had another hitless night, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a double play.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Six innings, three runs (allowed)....we should be able to come back there. But it just didn't happen.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Opposing base stealers are 29-for-32 against Kevin Plawecki this season.
* The Sox fell to 6-9 this season in interleague play.
* Reese McGuire has hit safely in each of his first games since joining the Red Sox.
* Tommy Pham has scored at least one run in six of his eight games with the Sox.
UP NEXT: The Sox have a one-game makeup series with the Baltimore Orioles Thursday at 7:10 p.m., with RHP Josh Winckowski (5-5, 4.68) vs. RHP Austin Voth (2-1, 5.53)