The Boston Red Sox certainly didn’t look like the American League East champions Thursday.
Boston dropped its series finale against the New York Yankees 5-1 after trotting out a lineup devoid of a handful of its starters. Starter Henry Owens actually pitched a solid game despite not getting through the fifth inning, but some hiccups from the bullpen and a lack of offensive power doomed the Red Sox in this one.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Struggle.
The Red Sox were without Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Sandy Leon and Brock Holt to begin the game, and it showed. Yankees starter CC Sabathia was dealing as Boston’s batters couldn’t get much done.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
The Yankees scored in the eighth inning to make it 5-1.
The Red Sox didn’t look as though they had a comeback in them Thursday night, and it certainly didn’t help when New York extended its lead with only one half-inning for Boston to make something happen.
ON THE BUMP
— Owens was on a short leash as a spot starter, but he got the job done in the time he was on the mound. The left-hander surrendered a run in the first inning, but was otherwise pretty solid as he kept the Red Sox in this game. Owens finished the night with two runs allowed on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of work. He was pulled in the fifth after giving up the Yankees’ second run on an RBI double off the bat of center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
— Heath Hembree got catcher Gary Sanchez to pop out to end the fifth inning, but things didn’t go as well in the sixth. Hembree gave up a single to second baseman Starlin Castro and dealt a one-out walk to third baseman Chase Headley before being replaced by Robby Scott.
Scott gave up a single of his own to catcher Brian McCann, walked in a run with Tyler Austin at the plate and brought in another run on a wild pitch before ending the inning.
— Junichi Tazawa allowed a single to Ellsbury to start the seventh but retired his next three batters, including a strikeout to Sanchez.
— Robbie Ross Jr. gave up a one-out walk to McCann in the eighth before allowing an RBI double to right fielder Aaron Hicks. The lefty struck out Austin but then dealt two straight walks to load the bases and end his night.
Noe Ramirez replaced Ross and struck out Sanchez to end the threat.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Xander Bogaerts put the Red Sox on the board in the fourth inning with a solo home run. The shortstop went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
— Right fielder Chris Young (1-for-3), center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (1-for-3) and catcher Ryan Hanigan (1-for-3) were the only other Red Sox to tally hits Thursday.
— Third baseman Aaron Hill (0-for-3) and David Ortiz (0-for-1) both reached base with a walk each.
— Andrew Benintendi (0-for-4), Holt (0-for-2), Travis Shaw (0-for-3) and Deven Marrero (0-for-2) all went hitless.
Marco Hernandez replaced Marrero in the eighth and struck out.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
David Ortiz left his final game at Yankee Stadium in the fourth inning. Pinch-runner Brock Holt replaced Big Papi after he drew a walk.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox head back to Fenway Park on Friday to start a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rick Porcello will square off against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada in the 7:10 p.m. ET contest.
Thumbnail photo via Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports Images
