FINAL: Kansas City Royals 6, Red Sox 1 - Royals Jump On Criswell Early, Sox Can't Answer Against Ragans

The Red Sox (51-42) drop the first game of their weekend series against the Kansas City Royals (52-43), with a final score of 6-1.

The Sox struggled against the lefty Cole Ragans, as they only got four hits off of him in seven innings, with five hits total in the game. Ceddanne Rafaela knocked in the lone Sox run with a two out double to left center that brought in Jamie Westbrook from second. Rafael Devers and Rob Refsnyder both had a single in the loss.

Cooper Criswell was the starter tonight and got into trouble early. He would load the bases within the first three batters of the game, although only giving up one run in the top of the first. In the second inning, he would allow three runs to score which quickly made it 4-0 Kansas City. Criswell's final line was five runs (two earned) on eight hits, two walks, and a strikeout in six innings. Cam Booser, who was recalled to the Majors this morning, would pitch an inning of perfect ball. Greg Weissert would finish the game out throwing two innings, giving up a run and a hit on a solo home run from MJ Melendez.

My Player of the Game: Ceddanne Rafaela - In a game where the Sox did not perform to expectations, Rafaela did the best on the team tonight. He went 2-3 with an RBI double, bringing his RBI total to 52 on the year, which leads all rookies.

Tomorrow's game is slated for a 4:10 p.m. start. Probable starters for that game are Seth Lugo (11-3, 2.21 ERA) and Kutter Crawford (5-7, 3.24 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ___________________________________

WHO: Kansas City Royals (51-43) Red Sox (51-41)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 0-0, 5-2 in 2023
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Cole Ragans (5-6, 3.28 ERA) vs. RHP Cooper Criswell (3-3, 4.15 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Rob Refsnyder RF
Jarren Duran LF
Tyler O'Neill DH
Rafael Devers 3B
Connor Wong C
Romy Gonzales 1B
Jamie Westbrook 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
David Hamilton SS

SP Cooper Criswell

OPPONENT

Adam Frazier DH
Bobby Witt Jr SS
Vinny Pasquantino 1B
Salvador Perez C
Michael Massey 2B
Hunter Renfroe RF
MJ Melendez LF
Maikel Garcia 3B
Kyle Isbel CF

SP Cole Ragans

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox defeated the Athletics in last night's series finale, 7-0. They improved to 9-2 in rubber games, including 6-0 at home...They've won each of their last 5 rubber games. Tanner Houck tossed 6.0 scoreless innings (2 H, 3 BB, 6 SO)...Chase Anderson earned a 3-inning save (2 H, 5 SO). Masataka Yoshida went 3-for-4 with a season-high 4 RBI, hitting a 2-run single in the 1st and a 2-run HR in the 6th.

Last night was Boston's 10th shutout win, tied with SEA for most in the AL and 2nd in MLB (1st: ATL-11). The Red Sox in 2023 recorded 5 shutout wins, tied for fewest in the AL...Their most recent seasons with more than 10 were 2018 (14), 2017 (11), and 2011 (13).

The Red Sox rank in the AL's top 5 in doubles (3rd, 165), triples (T-2nd, 24), HR (5th, 109), XBH (3rd, 298), AVG (4th, .253), OBP (4th, .322), SLG (4th, .424), and OPS (5th, .746)...They rank 6th in runs scored (435).

The Sox have recorded 10+ hits in 34 games, 3rd-most in the AL (HOU-43, MIN-36)...They've done so in 13 of their last 25 games. They're an MLB-best 31-3 (.912) when recording 10+ hits. BOS is 40-4 (.909) when scoring 5+ runs, the 2nd-best record in MLB behind SEA (30-2, .938). They've won each of their last 24 games when doing so.

Three Red Sox were selected to represent the American League in the 2024 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. Rafael Devers earned his 3rd career All-Star selection... Jarren Duran and Tanner Houck each earned their 1st. Prior to this year, the last times the Sox had 3+ homegrown All-Stars were 2021 (Barnes, Bogaerts, Devers), 2016 (Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley Jr.), and 2011 (Ellsbury, Lester, Youkilis).

SS Marcelo Mayer and C Kyle Teel were selected to represent the American League in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 4:00 p.m. ET tomorrow, 7/13, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. OF Roman Anthony was also selected as an inactive reserve for the Futures Game and will participate in the Futures Skills Showcase.