(Getty Images)
Final: Marlins 6, Red Sox 2 - Sloppy 6th inning costs the Red Sox 3 runs, offense hits snooze button once again
The Red Sox were unable to get their offense going against Marlins' left-handed hurler Braxton Garrett. Rafael Devers connected for his 19th homer of the season during the fourth inning. His 422 foot blast cleared the Sox bullpen and tied the game, however, the lead was short lived. Nick Pivetta came in relief of Kaleb Ort in the third inning and pitched well until the sixth frame. Pivetta surrendered two walks and then the game went into a rain delay. After an hour and 13 minute halt in play, Josh Winckowski came in and relief of Pivetta and struck out Jazz Chisholm but walked Garrett Cooper. With the bases juiced, Winckowski threw a wild pitch plating the go-ahead run and then a chopper in the infield by Jean Segura was misplayed by David Hamilton and the Marlins went up by three runs, 4-1. The put up a small fight in the ninth inning, After two runners reaching, Jarren Duran delivered a base hit scoring a run. Another bad loss for a team that's now one game under .500 and playing some of the worst baseball in recent memory. Sox lose 6-2.
WHO: Marlins (47-34) at Red Sox (40-41)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston.
SERIES TO DATE: Marlins lead series, 2-0.
STARTING PITCHERS: Wednesday: LHP Braxton Garrett (3-2, 3.64 ERA) vs. RHP Kaleb Ort (1-1, 5.79 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUP
RED SOX
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Justin Turner 1B
3. Rob Refsnyder LF
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Adam Duvall DH
6. Christian Arroyo 2B
7. Kiké Hernández CF
8. Connor Wong C
9. David Hamilton SS
SP Kaleb Ort
MARLINS
1. Luis Arraez 2B
2. Jorge Soler DH
3. Bryan De La Cruz LF
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr. CF
5. Garrett Cooper 1B
6. Jean Segura 3B
7. Joey Wendle SS
8. Nick Fortes C
9. Jonathan Davis RF
SP Braxton Garrett
WHAT’S UP
The Sox will look to rebound from an embarrassing 10-1 loss to the Marlins on Tuesday night. Boston’s offense and defense were both missing in action resulting in a lone on the scoreboard and the numerous miscues in the field. Luckily for the Sox as a whole the official game scorer credited their fielding issues as hits and not errors, its Garrett Whitlock that has to deal with his ERA inflating to 5.15 on the year.
Wednesday night will also mark the Sox’ 81st game out of 162, marking the halfway point of this up and down season. If the Sox secure the win tonight, they will have the same record as 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals (41-40) through 81 games. On the flip side, with a loss, they’ll match the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves (40-41).
Kaleb Ort will make his second career start, his last one came as an opener against the Yankees on Father’s Day. He tossed 2 1/3 innings giving up two hits, two runs and a walk with a career high four strikeouts. Since being recalled by the Sox on June 4, Ort owns a 2.84 ERA in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
Alex Verdugo comes into the game riding a season-long 13-game hitting streak, he is just a hit shy of tying a career high 14-game streak which he set last season.
Boston will hope they can clean up some of their defensive issues that made them look like a Little League team on Tuesday night. While not being credited with an official error - which is still a mystery in itself, the Sox defensive issues have become an ongoing albatross on a nightly basis.
“We've got to keep talking to them,” Alex Cora said postgame to reporters. “We talked about it today and we did it again, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow. That’s the only way we can do it. We can take all the infield [practice] in the world and take ground balls like we’ve been doing since Spring Training -- there’s nothing new.
“We’ve been doing this from the get-go. But decisions in the game, we've got to be smarter. And it’s on us to keep talking and keep preaching and keep showing them. And hopefully we can start making better decisions out there.”
PRE-GAME NOTES
Chris Sale will undergo another MRI on Thursday to see determine where he is at with his stress reaction to his left shoulder blade.
“He’s feeling good, he’s doing real good. Now we just need to make sure we know where are at in the process and make decisions off that,” said Cora to reporters, including BostonSportsJournal.com.
Sale is expected to meet with the media to address where he is prior to the series finale with Miami.
The Sox signed right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. The 30-year-old was assigned to Triple-A Worcester and was placed on the development list. Lamet is expected to work on regaining his fastball while also building up his workload. The WooSox will use the former Padres and Rockies hurler as a starter.
“We’re trying to get his fastball back, that’s the most important thing,” said Cora. His velocity is there but the characteristic of it is not there. We feel like we can make some adjustments with the off-speed pitches and he’s see’s an opportunity here to go to Triple-A and get better and see what happens,” added Cora.
Richard Bleier who is currently on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation will throw live batting practice prior to Thursday night’s game.
SERIES FINALE PITCHING MATCHUP
Thursday: LHP Jesus Luzardo (6-5, 3.77 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (5-4, 3.27 ERA)