The Boston Red Sox produced some good, more bad and a whole lot of ugly in their series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Price struggled through a rough outing Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and while the Red Sox almost rescued him with an impressive comeback, Boston’s fielding miscues and some well-timed Dodgers hits were the difference in a disappointing 8-5 loss.
The Red Sox now have lost five consecutive games in which Price has started and finished their 11-game road trip with a 5-6 record.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Wacky.
From uncharacteristic miscues to a dancing slugger to a knuckleballer pinch running for said dancing slugger (more on that later), this game featured plenty of weird moments. Most didn’t benefit the Red Sox, however, who committed three errors in a sloppy series finale.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Adrian Gonzalez and Enrique Hernandez blasted back-to-back solo homers in the seventh inning.
Boston scored three runs in the sixth inning to cut L.A.’s lead to 6-5, but the Dodgers’ pair of jacks gave them some breathing room.
ON THE BUMP
— The Red Sox actually spotted Price a lead this time, but the left-handed ace couldn’t maintain it in a frustrating outing.
Price struggled with control throughout his brief outing, issuing a season-high five walks over just five innings. His defense didn’t do him any favors, as three of his six runs allowed were unearned. The 30-year-old still was his own worst enemy, however, allowing a solo homer to Justin Turner in the fourth and a pair of two-RBI singles to Rob Segedin in the Dodgers outfielder’s major league debut.
Price finished with a final line of six runs allowed (three earned) on six hits over five innings with three strikeouts and five walks.
— Fernando Abad retired the Dodgers in order in the sixth inning while recording a strikeout.
— Junichi Tazawa had a rough seventh frame, giving up homers to Gonzalez and Hernandez and also walking a batter.
— Clay Buchholz earned a rare appearance in the eighth and allowed one hit in a scoreless frame.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Andrew Benintendi was the brightest star in Boston’s disappointing loss. In just his third big league start, the 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with two RBI singles, a run scored and a stolen base.
His RBIs and stolen base both were the first of his career.
— Mookie Betts manufactured a run right out of the gate. He drew a leadoff walk in the first, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly to put the Red Sox up 1-0.
— Aaron Hill pinch hit for Brock Holt in the sixth inning and delivered an RBI double to bring Travis Shaw home.
— Betts (1-for-3, one run, one RBI) also ripped a single in the sixth that scored Benintendi to bring Boston within one run at the time.
— David Ortiz pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot in the sixth but walked, meaning he’ll finish his career without a hit at Dodger Stadium (0-for-6).
— Hanley Ramirez batted for the pitcher in the ninth but went down swinging against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
— Bryan Holaday finished 0-for-3 with a double play and a strikeout in his Red Sox debut.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
It was that kind of night at Dodger Stadium.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox finally will return home after an off-day Monday, kicking off a three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Fenway Park. Rick Porcello will get the ball against Yankees right-hander Luis Severino, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
