BOSTON — The downward spiral continues.
The Red Sox’s losing streak reached six games Sunday as Boston suffered a 13-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. It’s Boston’s longest losing streak since the club dropped eight straight last August, and it’s clear things need to change or else the Sox will be playing meaningless games come September.
Let’s run down some notes from Saturday.
— The Red Sox are 10-21 versus American League East opponents this season. They’re 17-16 against everyone else.
— Eduardo Rodriguez suffered his first lost as a major leaguer.
Rodriguez allowed one earned run on eight hits in his first three starts combined (20 2/3 innings). He allowed nine earned runs on eight hits Sunday, raising his ERA from 0.44 to 3.55.
“I just tried to make pretty good pitches in the strike zone,” Rodriguez said. “They were just getting a lot of base hits, bloopers, ground balls. It happens in the game.”
In Rodriguez’s defense, the Red Sox’s defense was terrible.
— Red Sox manager John Farrell didn’t sound too thrilled about Hanley Ramirez’s baserunning miscue in the first inning.
Ramirez was doubled up at second base when Xander Bogaerts scorched a line drive right at third baseman Josh Donaldson with one out and the bases loaded. Ramirez didn’t have much time to get back, but he essentially froze dead in his tracks.
“That’s got to be through some anticipation of the given play,” Farrell said after the game of how the Red Sox can execute better. “We get doubled off in a bases-loaded situation in the first inning. Head-high line drive, you’re schooled to fight back and do what you can to get back safely. That didn’t happen.”
— The Red Sox’s clubhouse was fairly empty following Sunday’s loss. Bogaerts, however, made himself available to the media. And he put into perfect words exactly what’s going on within the walls of Fenway.
“It’s definitely not fun,” Bogaerts said. “No one wants to be losing on a daily basis like this. It’s no fun for sure.”
— David Ortiz crushed his ninth homer of the season in the fifth inning. He’s hit three homers in his last four games and appears to be heating up.
“Much more free,” Farrell said of how Ortiz has looked at the dish. “Even against mid 90s (fastballs), he’s on some pitches, he just fouled off. … He’s on some pitches much more consistently here.”
Ortiz has reached base in eight of his last 14 plate appearances. He’s reached base in each of his last seven games and has recorded at least one RBI in six of his last seven contests.
Ortiz’s home run Sunday was the 475th of his career, tying him with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 29th on Major League Baseball’s all-time list.
— Mookie Betts (back) is expected to return to the lineup Monday.
— Justin Masterson will make another rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Pawtucket.
— There’s still no target date for Shane Victorino to begin a rehab assignment.
Thumbnail photo via Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
