FINAL: Cleveland Guardians 6, Red Sox 0 - Crawford's Great Start Tainted by Bullpen and Weak Bats

The Red Sox (9-8) drop the first of a four game series against the Cleveland Guardians (11-5) 6-0. Kutter Crawford had another great start, but it was all for not as the bullpen gave up five earned runs in the last three innings, and the bats couldn't get anything going.

The Sox couldn't get out of their own way today, getting only three hits, all from the top three batters in the lineup. In the top of the seventh inning, Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill collided in shallow left field when both attempting to catch a pop fly. They ran into each other head first and fell to the ground in pain, with O'Neill bleeding from his forehead. He came out of the game and received eight stitches above his left eye, according to Alex Cora. Devers remained in the game.

The bullpen was, once again, not the greatest today, as they gave up six runs, one being unearned. The Guardians opened the scoring with a two run home run off the bat of pinch hitter Will Brennan, hit off a pitch thrown by Brenan Bernardino. Greg Weissert and Josh Winckowski also gave up a run each, and Chase Anderson gave up two of his own in the top of the ninth.

My Player of the Game: Kutter Crawford - Crawford threw five and two thirds innings, gave up no runs or walks, and struck out six Guardians, while only giving up two hits. It's too bad that his performance was tainted by the bullpen and no run support from the batters.

This series will continue tomorrow at 7:10 p.m.. Probable starters are Tanner Bibee (1-0, 5.93 ERA) and Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.26 ERA). 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                __________________________________

WHO: Cleveland Guardians at Red Sox
WHEN: 11:10 a.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 0-0, 3-3 in 2023
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Xzavion Curry (3-4, 4.07 ERA in 2023) vs. RHP Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.57 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O'Neill LF
Triston Casas 1B
Masataka Yoshida DH
Wilyer Abreu RF
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Reese McGuire C
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Kutter Crawford

OPPONENT

Steven Kwan LF
Andres Gimenez 2B
Jose Ramirez DH
Josh Naylor 1B
Bo Naylor C
Tyler Freeman CF
Estevan Florial RF
Gabriel Arias 3B
Brayan Rocchio SS

SP Xzavion Curry

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox defeated the Angels in yesterday’s series finale, 5-4. Tyler O’Neill (2-for-3, BB) and Triston Casas (1-for-2, 2 BB) hit back-to-back HR in the 1st inning...Masataka Yoshida (1-for-3, BB) hit a 2-run HR in the 6th. Brayan Bello struck out 8 and allowed 2 runs over 5.1 innings (6 H, 2 BB)...Justin Slaten allowed 1 run over the following 2.2 innings (2 H, SO). Kenley Jansen earned his 424th career save, tying John Franco for 5th on the all-time saves list.

Today is MLB’s 21st annual Jackie Robinson Day, the 77th anniversary of his 1st major league game at Ebbets Field on 4/15/47 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. For a 16th consecutive year, all players and on-field personnel will wear No. 42 jerseys, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Before No. 42 was retired by MLB, the last player to wear it for the Red Sox was Mo Vaughn (1991-98).

Boston has been scheduled to play at home on Patriots Day every year since 1959, with games postponed due to weather (1959, ‘61, ‘65, ‘67, ‘84, 2018), a players strike (1995), and the coronavirus pandemic (2020). The Sox are 71-55 (.563) all-time on Patriots Day, with 26 doubleheaders played between 1903-66.

Today is also One Boston day... Each year, the day serves as an opportunity to celebrate resiliency, generosity, and strength demonstrated by the people of Boston and those around the world in response to the Boston Marathon tragedy on 4/15/13. Today, the Sox will wear jerseys with “Boston” appearing on the front, a practice that began during the Marathon tribute at Fenway Park on 4/20/13.

Boston leads MLB with a 2.54 ERA (41 ER/145.1 IP), the club’s 3rd-lowest mark through 16 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920)(1.78 in 2001, 2.42 in 1988). Boston’s 159 SO lead the AL and rank 2nd in MLB behind LAD (164). Red Sox starting pitchers lead MLB in ERA (2.05).

The Red Sox have hit 20 HR, tied for 3rd-most in the AL and 6th-most in MLB. The Sox are 5-0 in games when they hit multiple HR. Tyler O’Neill has hit an AL-best 7 HR, tied with Marcell Ozuna for the Major League lead...O’Neill leads MLB in OPS (1.209) and leads the AL in SLG (.761).