Red Sox squander opportunities in Bronx, lose ground to Yankees in Wild Card race

The Red Sox arrived in the Bronx knowing this weekend could have ramifications well beyond August.

If Boston and New York eventually meet again in October, the four games at Yankee Stadium could help determine where that series is played. On Friday, the Red Sox missed an opportunity to help themselves.

Boston repeatedly put runners on base against Yankees starter Cam Schlittler but couldn’t push one across, with a costly Ceddanne Rafaela baserunning mistake and another out at the plate looming large in a tense 1-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.

The defeat dropped the Red Sox three games behind the Yankees for the top American League Wild Card spot and raised the stakes for the remaining three games of the series.

If Boston and New York finish the regular season with identical records, the team that wins the season series would host a potential Wild Card Series between the rivals.

After Friday’s loss, the math is pretty simple: the Red Sox need to win two of the final three games this weekend to secure the season series.

“That’s important,” interim manager Chad Tracy said of potentially hosting a Wild Card Series. “I won’t shy away from that. It’s a home-field advantage when you’re playing at home for most people. It wasn’t for us for a while, but it has been lately. So, yeah, I think if you get a short series, and you’re able to play in your home ballpark, that stuff matters for sure.”

The frustrating part for the Red Sox is that Friday’s game was there for the taking.

Patrick Sandoval and the bullpen held the Yankees to one run. Boston worked five walks against Schlittler and forced him from the game before the end of the sixth inning. The Red Sox had traffic throughout the night, but they just couldn’t get out of their own way, with the most glaring mistake coming in the fifth inning.

Anthony Seigler was at second and Rafaela at first with one out when Wilyer Abreu hit a 299-foot fly ball to center. Trent Grisham made the catch and threw behind Seigler at second in an attempt to double him off.

Seigler made it back safely, but unfortunately for Rafaela, he didn't.

Rafaela had wandered far enough off first that Jazz Chisholm Jr. had time to take Grisham’s throw and fire across the diamond to complete an inning-ending double play.

“That’s on me,” Rafaela said. “Not on him. That’s on me.”

It was an inexcusable mistake in a game where Boston couldn’t afford to give away outs.

“Because we know he has a good arm,” Rafaela said about trying to be aggressive in that situation. “He throws with accuracy. And that was just being aggressive, trying to tie the game right there, and he made a perfect throw. I think that’s the only throw that can get me out right there.

“I told him (Epperson) that’s 100% on me and I take it, and he don’t have to take any blame on it. He was telling me to not go.”

The Red Sox created another opportunity in the sixth, and Tracy responded with perhaps his most aggressive sequence since taking over as interim manager in April.

Caleb Durbin drew a two-out walk to finally chase Schlittler. With left-hander Brent Headrick entering from the Yankees bullpen, Tracy called on three consecutive right-handed pinch-hitters.

Jahmai Jones batted for Mickey Gasper and walked. Eli White replaced Jarren Duran and reached on a soft infield single to load the bases. Andruw Monasterio then hit for Seigler with an opportunity to put Boston ahead, but lined out to right.

One inning later, the Red Sox again had a chance to finally break through.

Rafaela reached third with one out before Willson Contreras lifted a 262-foot fly ball to left. With the struggling Adley Rutschman waiting on deck, third base coach Chad Epperson challenged Cody Bellinger’s arm and sent Rafaela.

Bellinger delivered a 99.7 mph strike to the plate, cutting down Rafaela to complete another inning-ending double play.

The Yankees' Bellinger entered Friday ranked in the 96th percentile in arm strength and 90th percentile in arm value. Unlike Rafaela’s mistake two innings earlier, there was at least a case for taking the chance with Boston still searching for its first run and Rutschman due up next. But once again, a promising inning ended with Rafaela being doubled off.

Schlittler deserves credit for making those missed opportunities matter.

The Massachusetts native has added some edge to the rivalry with his outspoken comments, and so far he has backed them up on the mound.

Schlittler wasn’t particularly efficient Friday, and the Red Sox made him throw 96 pitches and worked five walks, but he repeatedly escaped trouble and finished with 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

His dominance of Boston now extends well beyond one night. Across three regular-season starts and one postseason start against the Red Sox, Schlittler has allowed just two earned runs in 32 1/3 innings, a 0.56 ERA.

Sandoval entered Friday having struggled to keep runners off base, posting a 1.77 WHIP while allowing 52 hits and 18 doubles over 39 2/3 innings in his first eight starts.

Against New York, Sandoval limited the Yankees to three hits and one run over 5 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out seven.

His only costly mistake came in the third, when Paul Goldschmidt launched a solo home run that ultimately accounted for the game’s only run.

Sandoval’s night nearly unraveled in the sixth when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out, prompting Tracy to turn to Greg Weissert. That wasn’t necessarily an ideal situation for a reliever who had allowed 13 of 30 inherited runners to score this season.

Weissert delivered when he got George Lombard Jr. to line out to right before striking out Chisholm to strand all three runners and keep Boston within a run.

Rutschman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, continuing a difficult start to his Red Sox tenure. Since being acquired, the catcher is just 6-for-45 (.133) and has reached base 12 times, six hits and six walks, in 51 plate appearances.

Boston acquired Rutschman in large part because of his ability to reach base consistently. That production hasn’t materialized yet, and his struggles are becoming more noticeable as the games grow increasingly important.

At the other end of the spectrum is Gasper, who continues making Boston’s impending roster crunch increasingly complicated. Gasper walked twice against Schlittler before being lifted for Jones in the sixth. He has now reached base 11 times through four games on the road trip, collecting two home runs, a double, a single and seven walks.

With Roman Anthony and Trevor Story nearing returns from the injured list, the Red Sox will soon have to clear two roster spots. Isiah Kiner-Falefa could remain out until rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1.

For now, Boston’s focus is on a series Tracy described as a “gauntlet," and one that could have a direct impact on where the Red Sox play come October.

Boston lost last year’s winner-take-all Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium. If these teams meet again, the Red Sox would much rather have that deciding game played at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox will get two chances to respond Saturday with a day-night doubleheader. Rookie Jake Bennett will start the 1:05 p.m. opener, while Boston has yet to announce its starter for the 7:15 p.m. nightcap. The Yankees will start left-hander Carlos Rodón in one of the two games.

Two wins over the final three games would secure the season series for Boston, but after letting Friday slip away, the Red Sox have left themselves little room for error.