The Boston Red Sox on Monday dropped the first game of their four-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Eduardo Rodriguez, after a dominant start to his season, suffered his fourth straight loss for the Red Sox, and save for Hunter Renfroe’s contributions, Boston didn’t do much at the plate in an 11-2 defeat.
Astros pitchers allowed just five hits behind Jose Urquidy’s six-inning start, and multihit games from José Altuve, Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker put things out of reach for the Red Sox.
With the loss, Boston falls to 32-21 on the season. The Red Sox now are two games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD (OR TWO)
Strike Three.
Renfroe was the only member of the starting lineup who didn’t record one of the Red Sox’s 12 strikeouts at the plate.
ON THE MOUND
— After starting the season 5-0, Eduardo Rodriguez now is 5-4 after his toughest performance yet.
He made it just 4 2/3 innings into the game after giving up six earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four but worked for those Ks, throwing 97 pitches in the outing.
The killer was the third inning. Rodriguez had given up three runs, but José Altuve hit a weak, Minute-Maid homer (just 330 feet to left field) to make it a 5-0 game.
— Colten Brewer took a major league mound for the first time in 2021 and allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out a batter and recorded three outs between the fifth and sixth innings.
— Phillips Valdéz inherited a runner when taking over in the sixth. He ended up going 1 1/3 innings and giving up a run on two hits. He struck out two.
— Matt Andriese closed out the game for Boston in the eighth, walking one but getting out of the inning with two strikeouts.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— In the top of the sixth, Hunter Renfroe doubled to lead off the inning. He rounded the bases after Alex Verdugo hit a double of his own a batter later to get Boston on the board.
— Renfroe recorded his fourth consecutive multihit game in the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run. Christian Arroyo followed it up with a double, but he was stranded on the bases.
— Christian Vázquez was the only other Red Sox player to record a hit.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Silver linings courtesy of Hunter Renfroe. Stat courtesy of Girl At The Game’s Gabrielle Starr.
UP NEXT
Good news. The Red Sox still can win the series, as long as they win their next three on the road against the Astros, starting with Tuesday’s game. First pitch from Houston is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
