Ten games. Five wins. Five losses.
That’s the Boston Red Sox’s road trip in its most basic form. And the excursion was every bit as sporadic as Boston’s .500 record indicates.
The Sox ended the trip Sunday with a 5-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
The Red Sox showed some encouraging signs — pitching improvement chief among them — but they continuously faltered at the plate, preventing them from really gaining traction before returning home.
GAME IN A WORD
Dormant.
The Red Sox’s offense, which surprisingly managed four runs Saturday against Felix Hernandez, returned to its futile ways against left-hander James Paxton. Boston produced just five hits (including one extra-base hit) in another disappointing performance at the dish.
The Red Sox have scored 11 runs over their last six games.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Steven Wright proved human.
You’re not going to win any games scoring zero runs. So when the Mariners struck for two runs on three singles and a passed ball in the second inning, the Red Sox pretty much were screwed.
Wright was solid outside of the second inning. It just didn’t matter given Boston’s goose egg.
ON THE BUMP
— The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for much more from Wright in his first start of 2015.
The knuckleballer allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over five innings. He struck out four, walked one and threw 83 pitches (55 strikes).
Wright struck out the last two batters he faced in the fifth inning after surrendering a solo homer to Brad Miller. Miller hit three homers over the final two games of the series in Seattle.
— Matt Barnes escaped a first-and-third jam to complete a scoreless sixth inning.
Barnes issued a walk to Logan Morrison and allowed a single to Rickie Weeks before retiring Dustin Ackley on a ground ball to first base to end the inning.
— Alexi Ogando surrendered a two-out single to Justin Ruggiano in the seventh inning. Catcher Blake Swihart caught Ruggiano trying to steal second base to retire the side.
— Craig Breslow allowed a two-run homer to Kyle Seager in the eighth inning. One run was charged to Ogando.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Brock Holt, starting in left field with Hanley Ramirez serving as the designated hitter in David Ortiz’s absence, was responsible for two of Boston’s five hits.
Holt singled in the fifth inning and doubled in the seventh.
Holt’s seventh-inning double made some brief noise with the Red Sox trailing 3-0, as Xander Bogaerts preceded the knock by reaching with two outs. Swihart ended the threat by grounding out.
— Mookie Betts went 0-for-4, lowering his average to .221. Betts is 1-for-20 over his last six games.
— Dustin Pedroia entered the game hitting .167 (6-for-36) with runners in scoring position. He stranded runners at the corners in the third inning and left three men on base overall.
— Ramirez struck out three times. He, with the exception of his four-hit game Thursday, still looks like he’s regaining his timing after battling a shoulder injury.
— Pablo Sandoval, who went hitless in four at-bats (three against Paxton), now is 2-for-41 against left-handed pitchers this season.
— Swihart showed some speed while beating out an infield single in the third inning.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Anyone have any ideas?
[tweet https://twitter.com/SteveLyons12/status/600055487749443585 align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will take a breather Monday before returning to action Tuesday at Fenway Park. Boston will send Wade Miley to the mound as it opens a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.
Thumbnail photo via Jennifer Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
