All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Bullpen gives way: The Red Sox trailed right from the beginning, falling behind the Orioles, 2-0, in the first. They managed a run in the second, then did next to nothing with their bats over the next five innings. Finally, in the eighth, Franchy Cordero's pinch-hit homer in the top of the eighth tied the game at 2-2. But for the Red Sox, that was short-lived. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Barnes and John Schreiber were charged with three runs on a bases-loaded double by Jorge Mateo, and the Sox were sunk. Schreiber has struggled mightily in recent weeks, in large part, it would seem, from an increased workload. With Tanner Houck sidelined, Schreiber and Garrett Whitlock have been the only two trustworthy high-leverage options for Alex Cora, and now, it would seem that the usage has taken its toll.
Homers come, but solo: For the just-completed six-game road trip, the Red Sox hit a grand total of three homers -- a two-run shot from Kiké Hernandez in Saturday's win and two solo shots from Cordero and Xander Bogaerts Sunday. If the Red Sox aren't able to string together big innings without the long ball, they need to hit more homers. And when they hit them, they have to come with men on base, instead of empty, as happened with two of the three they managed to hit on the road trek. The last time the Sox had a three-run homer was back on Aug. 10 when Tommy Pham hit one against Atlanta.
Pivetta turns around after first: The Sox don't seem to know what they're going to get from Pivetta from one start to the next, but Sunday night's appearance was a good one. He ran into some tough luck in the first, with four singles leading to two runs. The first two singles were ground balls. The third was a botched play by Pham and the fourth was behind the second base bag that Christian Arroyo couldn't get a handle on. But after the first, Pivetta was nails, allowing just two more hits the rest of the way. He pitched into the sixth until, with two out, he issued his first walk and was lifted. He struck out nine.
TURNING POINT
Schreiber came on with one out and one on in the bottom of the eighth and promptly drilled Austin Hays with the first pitch he threw. That moved Ramon Urias into scoring position, and set in motion everything coming unglued for the Sox bullpen that inning. Next came a four-pitch walk to Rougned Odor -- not the easiest guy to walk - and finally, the fateful three-run double to Mateo.
TWO UP
Franchy Cordero: Cordero was added to the roster because both teams were allowed a 27th player for the Little League Classic and made his presence felt when he pinch-hit for Bobby Dalbec in the top of the eighth and hit a game-tying solo homer.
Xander Bogaerts: Ending a long home run drought in the ninth inning -- going deep for the first time in three weeks -- Bogaerts had some good at-bats during the night, including a hard liner in the first that was, unfortunately for him, directly at third baseman Ramon Urias.
TWO DOWN
Tommy Pham: Pham led off the game with a double, but the good news stopped there. Later that inning, he was doubled off third base, and in the bottom of the inning, he tried a basket catch on a sinking liner that backfired, resulting in a base hit.
Alex Verdugo: He's been one of the few hot hitters on the club the last couple of weeks, but not on this night, as he took an 0-for-4 at the plate.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We've got to win. We've got to win games. We've got to win series. We know where we're at.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* All five of Franchy Cordero's home runs this season have come on Sunday.
* The home run in the ninth inning for Xander Bogaerts was his first since Aug. 3
* Kiké Hernandez has knocked in seven runs in his first five games since coming off the IL.
* Kevin Plawecki has four hits in his last three games.
UP NEXT: After an off-day on the schedule Monday, the Red Sox will begin a six-game homestand Tuesday with the first of two intra-division series. The Toronto Blue Jays are in for three.