BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox played their American League-leading 48th one-run game Tuesday. Their record in such games dropped to an even .500 (24-24).
The Red Sox suffered a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. The Sox battled back to tie the game at three apiece but fell after the Halos produced a run with two outs in the ninth inning.
It was just last week that Boston won four in a row while playing much better baseball. Now, the Red Sox will enter Wednesday having lost four of their last five, including three straight.
Let’s go over Tuesday’s loss.
— Allen Webster had one bad inning in an otherwise good outing.
Webster allowed three earned runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out three, walked two and threw 99 pitches (60 strikes). The third inning was problematic for Webster, as he surrendered all three runs he allowed on four hits in the frame.
— David Ortiz belted his 29th home run of the season in the first inning.
Ortiz reached base four times for the second straight game. He went 2-for-3 with two walks (one intentional).
— Kole Calhoun absolutely robbed Brock Holt of a three-run homer in the second inning.
Holt drilled a ball toward the right field bullpen after Mookie Betts doubled and Christian Vazquez walked. Calhoun raced back and made a tremendous catch while reaching over the wall.
“This is the most unique right field I’ve ever played in,” Calhoun told reporters after the game. “It’s difficult knowing you have so much room behind you. You feel like you can get lost. But you can also run down a lot of stuff.”
The catch completely changed the complexion of the game.
— Betts’ defense clearly still is a work in progress.
Betts, receiving his second consecutive start in center field, made an excellent play in the second inning, only to then misread a sinking line drive in the fourth inning.
— Will Middlebrooks left the game in the fourth inning with right hamstring tightness.
“Don’t know the extent of it. Certainly, he’s day-to-day at this point,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the game.
Middlebrooks apparently tweaked his hamstring while beating out an infield single in the fourth. He was lifted for a pinch-runner, Kelly Johnson, two batters later.
Middlebrooks has been limited to 35 major league games this season. He’s already been on the disabled list twice with a calf strain and a fractured finger.
— Koji Uehara entered in the ninth inning with the game tied 3-3. He recorded two quick outs before surrendering back-to-back doubles that resulted in a run.
Brenna Boesch snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a ground-rule double into triangle. Chris Iannetta put the Angels in front with a double off the Green Monster.
— Yoenis Cespedes collected his first career pinch hit in the ninth inning.
— Holt’s career-long hit streak was snapped at 12 games. He did, however, produce a sacrifice fly, drop down a sacrifice bunt and get robbed of a home run.
— Mike Napoli struck out to end the game with the potential tying run on second base. Angels closer Huston Street intentionally walked Ortiz with first base open to set up a showdown with Napoli.
— The Red Sox went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
— Outfielder Corey Brown cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket.
— Catcher David Ross is expected to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday.
— Outfielder Allen Craig, who was back at Fenway on Tuesday, is scheduled to play right field with Pawtucket on Wednesday. He’s lined up to be activated from the DL on Friday.
