Red Sox offense stalls in 3-2 loss to Cardinals as Dustin May silences Boston

The Red Sox opened a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday night riding the momentum of back-to-back strong pitching performances from Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray, looking to capitalize on a matchup that, on paper, favored their offense.

The Cardinals turned to Dustin May, the former Red Sox starter acquired by Craig Breslow at last year’s trade deadline to bolster pitching depth.

Entering the game, May had struggled mightily, allowing 13 earned runs on 17 hits over just 7 1/3 innings, with two home runs, three walks, seven strikeouts, a hit batter, and two wild pitches. His 15.95 ERA was the highest by a Cardinals pitcher through his first two starts with the club since Alan Benes (17.18 in 1995).

But on Friday night, May looked like a different pitcher. He kept Boston’s offense off balance, snapped the Red Sox’s two-game winning streak, and led St. Louis to a 3-2 win in the series opener.

Boston’s offense never got going, managing just two hits off May across six innings. The right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out four on an efficient 75 pitches before being lifted by manager Oli Marmol.

The Red Sox were also without Roman Anthony in the starting lineup Friday, as Alex Cora opted to rotate his roster.

“We’ve got to play everybody,” Cora said. “Masa is putting together good at-bats, and we need that to continue. J.D. (Jarren Duran) got a few days earlier this week, his is part of the rotation. Today was Anthony’s day off. He’s available to pinch-hit, but a full day off is important.”

Even so, Boston’s offense looked lifeless. The Red Sox managed just five hits, four of them singles, went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and struck out seven times.

After falling behind 1-0, Boston scratched across two runs in the fourth. Masataka Yoshida led off with a single, moved to third on Wilyer Abreu’s base hit, and scored on Trevor Story’s RBI fielder’s choice. Story later advanced to third on a Marcelo Mayer single and scored on a well-executed double steal to give Boston a brief lead.

But the offense couldn’t capitalize on its chances late.

Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, Ceddanne Rafaela sparked hope with a leadoff bloop double and moved to third on a Duran flyout. Caleb Durbin was then hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, but Cardinals left-hander JoJo Romero shut the door, striking out Yoshida on a 3-2 sinker before getting Willson Contreras to fly out.

In the ninth, closer Riley O’Brien needed just eight pitches to retire the side, sealing a loss that reflected Boston’s stagnant offensive approach throughout the night.

“We didn’t slow down the game,” Cora said. “He had good stuff today, he was throwing harder than what he’s thrown his first two outings, he threw more strikes, but still, we had our chances but we have to be better offensively.”

For the second straight start, Connelly Early struggled to find efficiency, running up his pitch count and lasting just 4 1/3 innings. He allowed one earned run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The second inning proved to be his toughest test. Early needed 30 pitches to get through the frame after allowing a leadoff double, issuing a walk, and giving up a single to load the bases with no outs. He limited the damage, striking out Pedro Pagés before surrendering a sacrifice fly to Victor Scott that gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Early settled in from there, keeping the Cardinals off the board the rest of his outing.

“He was good, but not efficient,” Cora said. “We got to a point where they had a pocket of righties coming up, and with his pitch count in the 80s, we felt going to the bullpen was the right move.”

Cora turned to Zack Kelly in the fifth, but the momentum quickly shifted. Kelly allowed the first three batters he faced to reach, a single to Jordan Walker, a walk to Ramón Urías, and an RBI single from Thomas Saggese, before a sacrifice fly by José Fermín extended the Cardinals’ lead to 3-2.

The bigger issue, beyond the pitching, remains the offense, particularly the absence of Anthony from the lineup, regardless of whatever rotation Cora feels compelled to manage.

Through 13 games, Boston ranks tied for 27th in runs (46), tied for 26th in home runs (9), and tied for 25th in hits (94), while sitting 12th in strikeouts (121) and tied for 24th in walks (44). Of the nine starters Friday, five carried an OPS under .600.

Anthony could have helped against May, who carved up the offense all night. After the game Cora tipped his cap to his former right-hander.

“He had good stuff today,” Cora said. “He was throwing harder than his first two outings and throwing more strikes. We had our chances, but we’ve got to be better offensively. We only scored two runs.”

Still, sitting Anthony, even amid early struggles (.217 AVG, .656 OPS), raised questions. There were clear moments where Boston could have used his bat, though Cora noted he would have hit for Carlos Narváez if the lineup turned over in the ninth.

The outfield logjam continues to be a byproduct of roster construction. The constant mix-and-match approach has made it difficult for hitters to find rhythm, and the offense lacks the consistency and spark that often comes with everyday reps.

Cora said Anthony will start the remaining five games of the road trip, with an expected return to the lineup Saturday against right-hander Kyle Leahy.

Thirteen games into the season, the roster imbalance is becoming more apparent. If Boston is going to find consistency, adjustments may be necessary. One of those adjustments shouldn't be sitting Anthony. 

The Red Sox will look to bounce back Saturday night behind Ranger Suárez (0-1, 8.64 ERA), who has yet to pitch beyond the fifth inning this season. The Cardinals will counter with Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX.