Following Wednesday night’s loss to the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox now are 11 games below .500 and 11 games out of first place in the American League East.
They have lost seven consecutive games, are hitting below the Mendoza line as a team during that span and have not tasted victory since before the All-Star break.
Still, as one of the team’s unquestioned leaders, Dustin Pedroia is doing his best to keep a positive outlook.
“We just haven’t put it together,” the second baseman told reporters after Wednesday’s 4-2 loss, as aired on “Red Sox Extra Innings LIVE.” “That’s basically it. When we get guys on, we haven’t been able to find a way to get them in. It’s not like guys are pressing or anything. We’ve hit some balls good. It’s not like our at-bats are bad. We just haven’t found holes, haven’t clicked together.”
When asked whether it’s difficult to remain positive in the face of his team’s ever-mounting losses, Pedroia referred back to 2011 — the year the Red Sox wilted in September, ultimately missing the playoffs on the final day of the regular season and bringing about the end of the Terry Francona regime.
“I’ve been on a team that was up 11 games (in the) last month, and we lost,” Pedroia told reporters. “So, I know. A lot of people have seen that or been on teams, and everyone’s watched up in 2011. We were 11 1/2 games up in the last month, and we were sitting at home when (the playoffs) started. So, you’ve got to keep playing.”
The Red Sox actually led the Tampa Bay Rays by just nine games that September, but Pedroia’s point stands. Boston still has 67 games — more than two months — to climb out of the cavernous hole they have dug for themselves.
“Just keep grinding,” said Pedroia, whose RBI double Wednesday snapped an 0-for-20 slump. “That’s why you play 162 games. Obviously, you go through a period where you don’t score or things like that. Yeah, it’s frustrating and it’s tough, but you’ve got to show up tomorrow and try to find a way to play better.
“The season’s not over. We have a lot of games left. We’ve got to find a way to get through this together. That’s all we can do. Try to block out, have a good at-bat, play pitch by pitch, and that’s it. That’s all we can focus on.”
Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
