Getty Images
Final: Guardians 5, Red Sox 2 - Boston bullpen, defense struggle to limit damage in middle innings
Chris Murphy was strong in his big league debut, but it was the only bright spot for Boston in a 5-2 loss to the Guardians to drop back to .500 on the season. The Red Sox' bats started strong, but faded quietly into the night as Brennan Bernardino and Justin Garza struggled out of the bullpen after Kutter Crawford exited the game in a jam. Between the bullpen blues and some major defensive miscues, Boston handed Cleveland four runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined. The Sox will look to take the series win on Thursday.
––––––––––––––
WHO: Red Sox (31-31) at Guardians (27-34)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Progressive Field
SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox lead, 3-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Kutter Crawford (1-2, 3.48) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.20)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Masataka Yoshida LF
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Triston Casas 1B
6. Kiké Hernández SS
7. Jarren Duran CF
8. Connor Wong C
9. Enmanuel Valdez 2B
SP Kutter Crawford
GUARDIANS
1. Steven Kwan LF
2. Amed Rosario SS
3. José Ramírez 3B
4. Josh Naylor 1B
5. Josh Bell DH
6. Andrés Giménez 2B
7. Will Brennan RF
8. Mike Zunino C
9. Myles Straw CF
SP Tanner Bibee
WHAT'S UP
Boston returned to the win column on Tuesday with a comeback 5-4 win over the Guardians, ending a three-game skid, thanks to a huge eighth inning and a strong outing on the bump for James Paxton.
Crawford, coming in on three days' rest after three innings against Tampa Bay on Saturday, will make his fourth appearance and third start against Cleveland. In the previous three outings, he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. It will be his fourth start of the season and second in a row. All nine Guardians starts have faced him before. They are a combined 8-for-35 (.229). Kwan is 2-for-5.
Bibee has seven starts to his name as a big leaguer. The 24-year-old rookie has never faced the Red Sox.