There was no fairy tale ending at Globe Life Park on Saturday.
The Boston Red Sox didn’t get the best start from knuckballer Steven Wright against the Texas Rangers, but the defense only made things worse, giving up five unearned runs in the fifth inning. And Boston couldn’t muster any offense in the ninth inning like they did Friday night, taking the 10-3 loss instead.
Here’s how it unfolded.
GAME IN A WORD
Oof.
Google says that’s a word, so we’re sticking with it, because this game felt like a punch to the gut. After Friday’s stunning comeback, the Red Sox put up a clunker of a game, loading the bases time and again and giving up run after run with no offense to bounce back.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
The Red Sox’s defense allowed five runs to score in the fifth.
Sure, Boston came back from being down six runs Friday, but it honestly didn’t feel as though the Sox win that game, either. So, when the Rangers piled it on to make the score 8-2, things weren’t looking so hot.
ON THE BUMP
— Wright wasn’t his sharpest, but neither was the defense behind him. The knuckleballer gave up eight runs, but the five the Rangers put up in the fifth inning all were unearned thanks to fielding errors by Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez, a passed ball on Christian Vazquez and a wild pitch by Robbie Ross Jr. to score his last runner.
Wright finished the night having allowed eight runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks, four strikeouts and a solo home run to Ian Desmond over 4 2/3 innings. He still has the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.18.
— Ross’ wild pitch in the fifth scored his inherited runner, but he struck out Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland to end the inning. The left-hander pitched a clean sixth, but loaded the bases before recording an out in the seventh. Ross’ night ended with two runs allowed on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings.
— William Cuevas came in for Ross in the seventh and allowed one of his inherited runners to score. Otherwise, things could have been worse for the right-hander, who was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game.
Cuevas surrendered no runs on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Hanley Ramirez continued to swing a hot bat, hitting his second home run in as many days with a solo shot in the second inning. The first baseman went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a double.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. had a good night, too, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI double.
— Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia both went 1-for-4, and Betts added an RBI single.
— David Ortiz and Xander Bogaerts both went 0-for-3 with a walk. Bogaerts scored a run on Bradley’s double in the sixth inning.
— Bryce Brentz went 1-for-4, while Travis Shaw (0-for-4) and Christian Vazquez (0-for-2) both went hitless. Vazquez walked twice, though.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
The knuckleball sure is a baffling pitch.
Adrian Beltre trying to not-so-subtly size up the knuckleball from the "on deck circle." pic.twitter.com/K27JHzA9WR
— Red (@SurvivingGrady) June 26, 2016
UP NEXT
Boston finishes out its series against the Rangers in an a 3:05 p.m. ET contest, with Clay Buchholz going up against Texas left-hander Martin Perez.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
