Red Sox let late lead slip away, fall to Athletics as series streak ends

The Red Sox had a chance to do something Sunday that only one team in franchise history had accomplished.

Instead, their two most reliable relievers let a late lead slip away.

Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman combined to surrender runs in the eighth and ninth innings as the Red Sox fell to the Athletics, 4-3, at Fenway Park, dropping their second straight game after a nine-game winning streak.

The loss also snapped Boston’s streak of nine consecutive series victories. A win Sunday would have made the Red Sox just the second team in franchise history to win 10 straight series, leaving the 1912 club, which won 11 consecutive series from Aug. 4 through Sept. 15, alone atop the record book.

Boston carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth after piecing together a strong afternoon in a rare bullpen game.

But Whitlock, who had allowed just one earned run over his previous 19 appearances, couldn’t protect it.

Jonah Heim drove a ball toward the left-field warning track that Jarren Duran leaped for but couldn’t bring in. The 302-foot, 90.5 mph double brought home the tying run and handed Whitlock just his second earned run allowed over his last 20 outings.

Then came Chapman in the ninth and the veteran left-hander quickly retired the first two batters before Alika Williams singled and stole second. Max Muncy followed with a two-out double, scoring Williams and putting the Athletics ahead, 4-3.

The Red Sox weren't down and out just yet. 

Jahmai Jones pinch-hit for Duran and singled to open the bottom of the ninth. After Eli White struck out, Caleb Durbin drew a walk to put the tying run in scoring position with one out.

Nick Sogard grounded into a force at third before Ceddanne Rafaela smoked a 101.8 mph liner to left field for the final out.

White was in the middle of nearly everything for Boston.

Acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, White finished with three hits and drove in Boston’s first run with an RBI single in the second. He also helped spark the two-run fifth inning that briefly put the Red Sox ahead.

With Boston trailing 2-1, White dropped down a bunt single and then raced to third when Jake Rogers executed a hit-and-run single through the vacated left side of the infield. Sogard followed with another bunt, and an errant throw home by Athletics starter T.J. Ginn allowed White to score the tying run.

Wilyer Abreu, back in the lineup as the designated hitter after sitting Saturday with swelling in his lower leg, followed with a sacrifice fly to give Boston a 3-2 lead.

White also found himself involved in the Athletics' go-ahead rally in the fourth. Tyler Soderstrom lined a ball down the right-field line, and White slid toward the wall in an attempt to make the play. The ball skipped past him into the corner, allowing Soderstrom to reach third with a leadoff triple. He scored on Tommy White’s groundout to put the A’s ahead, 2-1.

For most of the afternoon, Boston’s bullpen plan worked.

Trade-deadline addition Erik Miller