Final: Cardinals 9, Red Sox 1 – Kluber, bullpen clobbered as Boston can't find offense taken at Fenway Park (Red Sox)

(Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Corey Kluber barely made it five innings as the Red Sox fell behind early on. The offense continued to sputter as Brennan Bernardino and Ryan Brazier couldn't stop the bleeding coming out of the bullpen. A close call for Enmanuel Valdez nearly provided a spark in the bottom of the seventh, but it was barely foul. Boston swept by St. Louis at home.

––––––––––

WHO: Red Sox (22-18) vs. Cardinals (15-25)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Cardinals lead, 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Corey Kluber (2-4, 6.29 ERA) vs. RHP Miles Mikolas (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
TV/RADIO: ESPN; WEEI-FM 93.7 

LINEUPS

RED SOX

1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Masataka Yoshida LF
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Jarren Duran CF
6. Triston Casas 1B
7. Enmanuel Valdez 2B
8. Reese McGuire C
9. Pablo Reyes SS

SP Corey Kluber

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar RF
2. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
3. Nolan Gorman 2B
4. Nolan Arenado 3B
5. Wilson Contreras DH
6. Brendan Donovan LF
7. Paul DeJong SS
8. Dylan Carlson CF
9. Andrew Knizner C

SP Miles Mikolas

WHAT'S UP

After their eight-game heater, the Red Sox are 1-4 in their last five as they look to avoid a sweep after back-to-back ninth-inning collapses as Kenley Jansen was uncharacteristically shaky. 

Kluber has gone at least five innings in four straight starts and five of his last six. He took home the win in Philadelphia on May 6 after going 5.0 innings, giving up three hits and three earned runs with one strikeout. He has three starts against St. Louis, going 2-1 with a 5.52 ERA.

Mikolas has made it through at least five innings in six of nine starts this season. He went 4.1 innings last time out on May 8 against the Cubs, allowing four hits and one earned run and striking out seven. He has never faced Boston.

Nolan Arenado has home runs in each of the last two games of the series.