Brayan Bello can't find command as Red Sox fall to Tigers behind ace Tarik Skubal

One day after the Red Sox got a dominant outing from Ranger Suárez, Boston turned to Brayan Bello.

The 26-year-old was the polar opposite, struggling to find any rhythm on the mound. Bello labored through a 35-pitch first inning and once again failed to provide length, not reaching six innings for the third time this season.

When Red Sox starters go at least six innings, Boston is 8-0. When they don’t, the club is 0-12. It’s a trend Alex Cora has emphasized since spring: if the Red Sox pitch, they’ll win.

Bello, however, couldn’t deliver. He lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on five hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches, only 47 for strikes, in another inconsistent outing, that resulted in a 4-1 loss on Saturday afternoon. 

“With two strikes, I’m not being competitive in the zone,” Bello said (through interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez). “Early in the count, I’m not being aggressive enough. That’s something I need to work on.”

In the first inning, Bello was facing Tigers rookie phenom Kevin McGonigle and worked the count into his favor, 1-2. McGonigle was able to battle back and turn that into a lead-off single. Colt Keith had a two-strike hit with one out. Bello walked Riley Greene on five pitches and a bases-loaded walk to Kerry Carpenter despite being ahead 1-2.

Once the Tigers plated their first run of the game, it seemed like a massive bump for a team that had their ace on the mound, two-time Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal. 

“He wasn’t efficient early on,” Cora said following the game. “That’s something we’ve been talking about as a pitching staff. It feels like we get ahead, but we don’t stay ahead. We let them back in the count. You have to bury guys, especially 0-2 or 1-2. That’s when you get your strikeouts. He wasn’t able to do that today.”

After his tumultuous first inning, Bello retired six straight batters in the second and third. In the fourth inning, Bello hit a wall. With one out, Carpenter stayed on a changeup and made it a 2-0 game with a homer into the Tigers' bullpen. Wenceel Pérez walked on five pitches, marking Bello’s third free pass of the game, and Javier Báez doubled on the first pitch of his at-bat. That set the stage for Jake Rogers to make it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to center and McGonigle to rip a cutter into right field to make it a four-run lead.

“He was falling behind in the count from Pitch 1,” first baseman Willson Contreras said of his teammate in Bello following the loss. “He threw too many of the same pitch, I guess. Any pitcher in the big leagues falling behind in the count, they’re going to get hurt. If you’re playing against a team that has really good plate discipline, they’re going to make you throw strikes. That was the key today.”

Outside of his strong outing against the Cardinals last Sunday, when he allowed two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, Bello has been largely ineffective.

He needed 92 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings in his season debut against the Astros and threw 86 pitches to record just 10 outs (3 2/3 innings) against Milwaukee, despite showing flashes of swing-and-miss stuff.

“He’ll be the first one to say he hasn’t been consistent,” said Cora. “We’ve been talking about getting ahead and staying ahead. That’s the most important thing. His pitches are good and he gets pitches out in the zone. We just have to make sure he throws more strikes.”

As Bello put up a stinker at Fenway Park, Skubal was dominant, allowing one run off four hits, walking two, and striking out a season-high 10 batters in six innings. He threw 89 pitches in his outing; Bello needed 84 just to get through four. 

Skubal carved through the Red Sox lineup, not allowing a baserunner until Roman Anthony’s leadoff walk in the fourth. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth, when Boston loaded the bases with no outs on a Wilyer Abreu single, a Ceddanne Rafaela double, and a Caleb Durbin walk.

The Red Sox had a prime opportunity but managed just one run after Connor Wong grounded into a double play.

Boston finished with five hits and two walks while striking out 12 times. They went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. The middle of the order offered little resistance. Contreras went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts, and Trevor Story was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Skubal kept the Red Sox offense off balance, throwing first-pitch strikes to nine of the first 13 batters he faced. He also generated 12 swinging strikes on just 15 changeups, keeping hitters guessing all afternoon.

“It performed better today,” Skubal said about his off-speed pitches on Saturday to reporters. “I still think there's some room for improvement to be able to throw it in the zone and out of the zone when I need and execute some pictures out of the zone earlier in counts to where there's not six pitch, seven pitch at bats.”

One bright spot came from reliever Jovani Moran, who tossed three scoreless innings. The left-hander threw 41 pitches, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. He’s been a reliable bulk option for Cora, posting a 1.35 ERA over 13 1/3 innings.

Saturday’s loss snapped the Red Sox’s two-game win streak, dropping them back to four games under .500. With the win, the Tigers ended a nine-game road losing streak. Boston now sits at 4-4 at home and suffered its first loss to a left-handed starter this season.

The Red Sox will look to bounce back Sunday with Garrett Crochet (2-2, 7.58 ERA) on the mound. He’s aiming to rebound from a disastrous outing in Minnesota, where he was tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) on nine hits, with three walks and a hit batter in just 1 2/3 innings. It won’t get any easier for Boston’s lineup, as they’ll face another lefty in Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.75 ERA). First pitch is set for 4:35 p.m. ET, moved back from 1:35 p.m. due to incoming rain.