Final: Reds 5, Red Sox 4 - Boston's bats solid again but bullpen struggles hand the game to Cincinnati

The Red Sox dropped their third straight game in a 5-4 loss to the Reds on Wednesday. James Paxton was solid, allowing one run over five innings of work with eight strikeouts. Josh Wincowski and Kutter Crawford both struggled out of the bullpen, allowing Cincinnati to take the lead. The Sox stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and a runner on second in the eighth. Rafael Devers came up just short of a game-tying bomb in the ninth. Masataka Yoshida and Enmanuel Valdez each homered for Boston. 

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WHO: Red Sox (28-26) vs. Reds (25-29)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Reds lead, 1-0. Split last season's series 2-2 (1-1 at each stadium).
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP James Paxton (1-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Weaver (1-2, 5.45 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7 

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Rafael Devers 3B
3. Justin Turner 1B
4. Masataka Yoshida DH
5. Rob Refsnyder LF
6. Jarren Duran CF
7. Kiké Hernández SS
8. Enmanuel Valdez 2B
9. Connor Wong C

SP James Paxton

REDS

1. Kevin Newman 3B
2. Matt McLain SS
3. Jonathan India 2B
4. Spencer Steer 1B
5. Tyler Stephenson DH
6. Stuart Fairchild RF
7. Nick Senzel LF
8. Jose Barrero CF
9. Luke Maile C

SP Luke Weaver

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox nearly completed a miraculous comeback on Tuesday, trailing 8-0 going into the bottom of the seventh before cutting it to 8-3. In the bottom of the ninth, the bid fell just short as Boston could only get back within 9-8 for the final. They have lost two straight and six of eight.

The Reds have won four in a row. 

Devers became the 35th player to record 500 RBI for the Red Sox. At 26 years and 218 days old, he is the 4th-youngest player to reach that mark with the Red Sox, behind only Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Jim Rice.

Verdugo was not feeling well Tuesday but will return to the lineup Wednesday.

Paxton has never faced Cincinnati. This will be Weaver's fourth appearance start against Boston. He holds a 7.86 ERA.