The Boston Red Sox were this close to winning Wednesday, but in the end, they couldn’t get the job done.
After the Cleveland Indians tagged Clay Buchholz for four runs in the first inning at Progressive Field, the Red Sox put in a valiant effort on the offensive side of the ball. Brock Holt, David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez all hit home runs, and Boston even pulled ahead in the sixth inning, but the bullpen faltered en route to a 7-6 loss.
Here’s how the game unfolded.
GAME IN A WORD
Messy.
This was a bad defensive game for both teams. Buchholz’s rough start didn’t do the Red Sox any favors, and, after a Brock Holt home run in the top of the second, the Tribe lengthened its lead to 5-2 thanks in part to a bad throw home from Jackie Bradley Jr. But the sixth inning was a disaster for the Indians, too, as they let the Red Sox pull ahead. But the Red Sox let Cleveland tie it up in the same inning, and … we think you get the picture of what kind of a game this was.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
David Ortiz flied out for the final out of the ninth inning.
There were no clutch heroics from Big Papi this time. The Red Sox were within one run in the final frame, but it ended up being a 1-2-3 inning for Indians closer Cody Allen.
ON THE BUMP
— It was a poor night for Buchholz, to say the least. The right-hander started for the first time since July 10 of last season, and he got things going by giving up four runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run to designated hitter Carlos Santana. Another run scored in the second after Tyler Naquin made it all the way home from first base on a Jose Ramirez single and an uncharacteristically bad throw to the plate from Bradley.
Buchholz finished with the night with five earned runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
— Noe Ramirez did his job in the fifth inning, but unraveled in the sixth, allowing the Indians to tie the game up after issuing a leadoff walk to catcher Yan Gomes to start the inning. Robbie Ross Jr. replaced Ramirez and pitched a clean 2/3 of an inning despite a fielding error by Holt.
— Junichi Tazawa came on in the seventh and was able to get just one out before giving up a go-ahead solo homer to former teammate Mike Napoli. Matt Barnes took over after Tazawa walked Santana, and he finished out the inning with a lineout and a strikeout. Barnes stayed on in the eighth and came out unscathed despite giving up a single to Rajai Davis and walking Francisco Lindor.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Holt had a great night in his second straight start, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, two runs, two RBIs and a walk.
— Dustin Pedroia and Ramirez both had two hits, going 2-for-5 and 2-for-4, respectively. Ramirez blasted a solo home run in the sixth, and Pedroia doubled in the first inning.
— Big Papi went 1-for-4 with his solo shot, which was his 505th career home run. Ortiz moved ahead of Eddie Murray for sole possession of 26th on the all-time list.
— Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts both went hitless. Betts went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and an RBI, while Bogaerts, who’s yet to get a hit in two games, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a walk.
— Pablo Sandoval made an appearance, but he flied out in his only at-bat.
— Jackie Bradley Jr., Travis Shaw and Chris Young also added hits to the box score.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Yeah, David Ortiz is OK.
David Ortiz & Ted Williams are only players 40-and-over in MLB history to homer in each of his team's 1st 2 games. pic.twitter.com/egu4q2msYj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 7, 2016
UP NEXT
The Red Sox spend one more day in Cleveland to finish out the series with a chance to win in another 6:10 p.m. ET game. Joe Kelly will start for Boston, while Danny Salazar will be on the mound for the Indians.
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
