FINAL: Cleveland Guardians 10, Red Sox 7 - Sox Rally to Tie, but Drop it in Extra's

The Red Sox (9-9) have now lost two in a row to the Cleveland Guardians (12-5) to open this four game series, tonight a 10-7 loss in eleven innings. The bats came alive in the latter half of the game with a five spot in the sixth inning, but the bullpen let them down, giving up eight of the Guardians' ten runs.

Garrett Whitlock started this one off by giving up two runs in the top of the second, and his night would end two innings later after he was removed from the game due to left oblique tightness. Later in the game, Rafael Devers was removed as well, tonight with left knee discomfort. A couple more injury scares for the already injury ridden Sox.

The Red Sox batters came to hit tonight, amassing eleven hits, including five doubles, and three home runs coming off the bats of Connor Wong, Triston Casas, and Enmanuel Valdez. The Sox also drew five walks, with two being drawn by Devers.

The bullpen was poor once again for Boston, with Joely Rodriguez and Josh Winckowski giving up three runs each, two being earned runs.Kenley Jansen got his first blown save tonight with the Sox leading 6-5 in the top of the ninth, where he gave up three hits and a run. 

My Player of the Game: Connor Wong - Wong sent his second home run of the season into the monster seats to bring the game within a run, which eventually lead to the Sox taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth. He went 2-4, had three RBI, and a run scored.

Game three of the four game series will be tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m.. Probable starters are Ben Lively (4-7, 5.38 ERA in 2023) and Tanner Houck (2-1, 2.04 ERA)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ______________________________

WHO: Cleveland Guardians at Red Sox
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Bibee (1-0, 5.93 ERA) vs. RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.26 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN+, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran LF
Rafael Devers 3B
Masataka Yoshida DH
Triston Casas 1B
Wilyer Abreu RF
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Connor Wong C
David Hamilton SS
Ceddanne Rafaela CF

SP Garrett Whitlock

OPPONENT

Steven Kwan LF
Andres Gimenez 2B
Jose Ramirez 3B
Josh Naylor 1B
Bo Naylor C
Ramon Laureano RF
Will Brennan DH
Gabriel Arias SS
Tyler Freeman CF

SP Tanner Bibee

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox lost to the Guardians in yesterday’s series opener, 6-0...Boston was held scoreless for the 3rd time this season (also 3/29 at SEA and 4/12 vs. LAA). The Sox fell to 71-56 (.560) all-time on Patriots Day. Kutter Crawford tossed 5.2 scoreless innings with 6 SO and allowed just 2 hits.

Rob Refsnyder and Vaughn Grissom are currently on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Refsnyder has played in 3 games, going 3-for-9 with 2 R, a double, and a walk...He was the DH last Wednesday and started in RF on Friday and Sunday. Grissom started as the designated hitter on Friday and Sunday, his first 2 rehab games (0-for-7).

Yesterday’s starter Kutter Crawford is the only pitcher in Red Sox history (excluding openers) to allow 1 or 0 runs and 3 or fewer hits in each of their first 4 starts of a season. In his last 5 starts, beginning 9/30/23, Crawford allowed just 2 R (1 ER) in 27.1 IP...He’s recorded 31 SO in that span while holding opponents to a .108 AVG (10-for-93).

With RISP, the Sox rank 6th in the AL and 10th in MLB with a .268 AVG (30-for-112). With 2 outs and RISP, the Sox rank 2nd in the AL and 4th in MLB in AVG (.327), and OPS (.885). The Red Sox’ leaders in AVG with RISP are Connor Wong (.667; 2-for-3), Jarren Duran (.545; 6-for-11), and Wilyer Abreu (.500; 3-for-6).

On an at-bat’s first pitch, Red Sox hitters have gone 28-for-67 (.418) with 7 2B and 5 HR. The Sox lead the AL and rank 2nd in MLB in first-pitch AVG (.418) and OPS (1.164), trailing only ATL’s .456 AVG and 1.208 OPS.

Through the Red Sox’ first 17 games of the season, Boston’s starting pitchers have allowed just 25 runs (19 ER) in 89.0 innings with 95 SO and 23 BB. The Sox’ 1.92 starter ERA is their 2nd-lowest through 17 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920), trailing only their 1.91 mark in 2018. Boston’s starters lead MLB in ERA (1.92)...They rank 2nd among AL teams in strikeouts (95), WHIP (1.07), and opponent AVG (.214).