All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox have opportunities but don't produce: The Red Sox had eight hits -- equal to that of Cleveland -- but couldn't make many of them count. They were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. In each of the three final innings, in fact, the Red Sox had either a leadoff double or a one-out double, but couldn't move the baserunner to third, let alone deliver him to the plate. The Guardians succeeded in winning most of those big at-bats late in the game. As far back as the fifth inning, the Sox had a runner in scoring position with just one out and couldn't get the big hit they needed. And in the second, with a run home and runners at first-and-second and just one out, they hit into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
Pivetta not sharp: Nick Pivetta spotted the Guardians a 2-0 lead in the first, then allowed another run in the third. He made some adjustments after that and limited to the Guardians to a single run over the final three. But by then, the damage was already done. He also needed better than 30 pitches to get through the first as the Guardians succeeded in spoiling pitches, fouling them off and getting into long at-bats and deep counts. That, in turn, ensured that Pivetta wasn't going to get very far. Indeed, he was done after five innings. He set a goal of being more efficient this season to be able to go deeper in games, but through his first five starts this season, he's gotten through the fifth inning just once and never through six complete.
Duran hot streak continues: If there's one positive surprise that's come out of the first month of the season, it's the surprising play of outfielder Jarren Duran. Duran only got called up a little over two weeks ago, but he's made the most of his opportunity and has seemingly nailed down the starting center fielder's job. On Friday, he was the bright spot in the Boston lineup, pounding out three doubles. He's now hit safely in nine of his 11 games and has multiple hits in six of them. Also, his doubles all came off top pitching -- the first two against started Shane Bieber and the third off elite closer Emmanuel Clase. "It's always good to have good at-bats against really good pitching,'' said Duran. "It feels really good right now. I'm just trying to make sure I'm staying in a good rhythm at the plate, and swinging at my pitches.''
TURNING POINT
It's rare that this takes place in the first inning, but this game was the exception to the rule. Just three batters into the game, Pivetta engaged a long, tense at-bat with Cleveland's Jose Ramirez. It lasted 12 pitches and resulted in a single by Ramirez, giving the Guardians runners at first-and-third. The at-bat seemed to both set the tone for a relentless approach by the Guardians, while also serving to tire out Pivetta in the very first inning -- both runners would ultimately score -- and driving up his pitch count.
TWO UP
Enmanuel Valdez: For a change, Valdez had a clean game at second base and also connected for a booming double to straightaway CF along with a hard lineout.
KikΓ© Hernandez: Hernandez was 2-for-4 with two singles and is hitting .339 over his last 16 games, during which he's banged out 21 hits and scored 14 runs.
TWO DOWN
Rafael Devers: Though he's carried the team offensively for good stretches of the season, he's currently in a certified slump. Dropped to the cleanup spot in the lineup, he was 0-for-3 with a walk and is now just 1-for-17.
Reese McGuire: McGuire was 0-for-4, and they weren't good at-bats: two strikeouts, a double play and a weak groundout that served as the second-to-last out of the game.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We had traffic, but we didn't cash in. We kept putting pressure on them, that's what we do. But obviously, not everyday are we going to cash in.'' - Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The game was the first in nine games in which the Red Sox failed to hit a homer.
* Jarren Duran became the fifth player this season to hit three or more doubles in a game and the first Red Sox player to do so since Rob Refsnyder last August.
* Nick Pivetta has thrown exactly 100 pitches in each of his last two starts.
* After a stretch in which they scored at least four runs in nine straight games, the Sox have scored just four runs in their last two games combined.
UP NEXT
The two teams play the middle game of their weekend series at 4:10 p.m. Saturday with RHP Brayan Bello (0-1, 9.82) vs. RHP Zach Plesac (1-1, 6.50).