Red Sox' 10-game road winning streak ends in 4-3 loss to Athletics

The Red Sox had their opportunities Tuesday night but couldn’t come up with the timely hit they needed.

Boston stranded nine runners, played for one run in a pivotal seventh inning and saw its 10-game road winning streak come to an end in a 4-3 loss to the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

The Red Sox fell to 55-51, while the Athletics improved to 45-62.

Before first pitch, Boston received discouraging news when newly acquired second baseman Curtis Mead was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist.

Mead suffered the injury when he was hit by a 94.9 mph fastball during his Red Sox debut Monday night. Initial X-rays came back negative, but an MRI on Tuesday revealed the fracture.

“Yeah, challenging,” said Mead Tuesday night after news of the fracture became known. “I’m super disappointed. It kind of doesn’t feel real that it’s (the) first game and there’ll be break in-between the next one....I came here to play and be with the group down the stretch. So yes, definitely disappointing but hopeful that I can be back (and play).”

Interim manager Chad Tracy said Mead flew back to Boston following the game to meet with a hand specialist Wednesday. Further imaging will determine whether surgery is necessary and provide a clearer recovery timetable.

“Tough, especially for the kid,” Tracy said. “Got here. A player we like. You could tell he was excited to be here. You could tell the guys embraced him and we were ready to kind of live life with him in the lineup and then that happens to him. So more than anything, you feel for him having to go through that. But a player that we should have for a while. So that’s the important thing, to get him healthy and get him back.”

Nick Sogard was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to replace Mead on the roster but did not arrive in time to be activated Tuesday.

The Red Sox struggled all night against Athletics rookie left-hander Gage Jump, who looked like the pitcher that burst onto the scene earlier this season. The 2024 second-round pick tossed six scoreless innings, allowing three hits while working around four walks, striking out seven and generating a career-high 19 swings and misses.

Boston threatened early but couldn’t capitalize.

Jahmai Jones led off the first with a double and Willson Contreras drew a walk before Wilyer Abreu grounded into an inning-ending double play. An inning later, Caleb Durbin singled, stole second and advanced no farther after Carlos Narváez struck out looking.

The Athletics grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when Henry Bolte lined an RBI single off rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. 

Bennett settled in after the early run, keeping Boston within striking distance into the seventh.

After Ceddanne Rafaela opened the seventh with a single against reliever Luis Medina, the Red Sox elected to play for one run. Durbin dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Rafaela into scoring position, but Jarren Duran struck out swinging and Andruw Monasterio flied out, ending the threat.

The Athletics immediately made Boston pay.

Following a sacrifice bunt of their own, Brian Serven crushed a two-run homer 419 feet to left-center, extending the Athletics' lead to 3-0. The Athletics added another run in the eighth to make it 4-1.

Athletics rookie Tommy White continued his impressive start to his major league career, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. It was the second four-hit game of his young career, raising his slash line to .359/.390/.410 with six runs scored and just three strikeouts in his first 41 plate appearances.

Boston mounted a late rally but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Masataka Yoshida singled and Anthony Seigler walked to begin the eighth before Romy Gonzalez grounded into a rally-killing double play. Contreras later walked and Abreu delivered an RBI single to trim the deficit to 4-1, but Rafaela struck out with two runners aboard.

Connor Wong made things interesting in the ninth, blasting a two-out, two-run homer off Hogan Harris to pull Boston within a run. Seigler then drove a deep fly ball 397 feet to center field, but it settled into Bolte’s glove on the warning track to end the game.

Coming into Tuesday night, Bennett had been one of baseball's hottest rookie pitchers, going 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA over his previous seven starts. The southpaw wasn't as sharp against the Athletics but still gave the Red Sox a chance, allowing three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 frames while walking two and striking out four. 

The Red Sox continue their four-game series Wednesday night. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.21 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston against Athletics left-hander Jacob Lopez (5-4, 6.12 ERA).