(USA Today Sports)
Final: Red Sox 5, Cardinals 10 - Bello gives up 3 home runs in rough start
Trevor's Game Notes:
Overview: The Red Sox are under .500 for the first time since the opening series. Offense wasn't the issue for once, as the Red Sox collected 12 totals hits, 2 fewer than the Cardinals.
Home runs:The Cardinals hit 4 home runs in this game, 3 off Brayan Bello and 1 off Cam Booser. Despite not giving up any walks, St. Louis was able to hit off of Bello and his fastball, resulting in 7 total hit against the Red Sox starter. The Cardinals continued to produce offense after Bello left the game, scoring 5 runs off Booser and Chase Anderson combined.
Offense: On a positive note, the Red Sox saw production in almost every hitter in their lineup. Only Wilyer Abreu (who was pinched hit for Rob Refsnyder in the 6th) and Garrett Cooper were the only Red Sox to not get a hit in this game. Connor Wong continues to up his batting average, getting 4 hits and 1 RBI in this game. Shortstop David Hamilton got 2 extra base hits (1 triple and 1 double) driving in 2 RBI's, being the 2nd best bat in Boston's lineup tonight.
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WHO: Red Sox (22-22) vs Cardinals (18-25)
WHEN: 8:15 p.m.
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
SERIES TO DATE: (0-3), (0-0) in 2023
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (4-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 3.67 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Jarren Duran (L) CF
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Connor Wong (R) C
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Tyler O'Neill (R) LF
Dominic Smith (L) 1B
Garrett Cooper (R) DH
Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
David Hamilton (L) SS
SP Brayan Bello
Cardinals
Brendan Donovan (L) LF
Lars Nootbaar (L) RF
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Alec Burleson (L) DH
Iván Herrera (R) C
Nolan Gorman (L) 2B
Masyn Winn (R) SS
Michael Siani (L) CF
SP Kyle Gibson
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox head to St. Louis on a two-game skid losing 3 of 4 to the Tampa Bay Rays. After the series they have now dropped from 3rd to 4th in the AL East. Tyler O'Neill makes the start in Left Field, making his return to St. Louis after being traded in the offseason.
Red Sox lost 7-5 to the Rays on Thursday after Kenley Jansen couldn’t keep the tie in the 9th. Jarren Duran went 3-for-5 with a homer and 2 doubles to help Boston tie the game after they trailed by 4 runs after 4 innings.
Cooper Criswell struggled against his former team. He lasted only 3 ⅔ innings and gave up 4 runs, 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out three. Josh Lowe’s 380-foot two-run homer to right field in the third inning, making it 3-1 Rays.
Garrett Whitlock felt soreness in his pitching elbow in the aftermath of his rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday. Manager Alex Cora said Whitlock’s pain began Friday and was severe enough for the Red Sox to take some precautions. The right-hander has been shut down from throwing and is back in Boston, where he’ll undergo tests over the weekend.
The Red Sox will move forward with the five starters who are currently in their rotation, meaning no decision will be due for righty Cooper Criswell, who may have been the odd man out when Whitlock came back despite having a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings out of the rotation this season.