The Boston Red Sox were unmercifully taken down by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. The 9-4 beatdown signifies yet another series loss for the struggling Sox.
While the mental errors were frustrating, the pitching was poor all-around. Nick Pivetta started the game and was not sharp.
"He hung a breaking ball to (Omar) Narváez, hung a breaking ball to (Hunter) Renfroe, paid the price," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "Didn't feel like he was able to find his rhythm. He gave us a chance, right? He went five but I think stuff-wise, he'll be the first one to admit it. It wasn't one of his best ones."
Pivetta allowed four runs on nine hits to go along with two walks and only struck out two across five innings.
After his departure, all four relievers to enter the game -- Kaleb Ort, Jake Diekman, Ryan Brasier and Hirokazu Sawamura -- allowed at least one run. It was a brutal night for the Red Sox pitching staff, who couldn't solve the Brewers' offense all night.
Here are more notes from Red Sox-Brewers:
-- The Red Sox are now just 7-19 in the month of July.
-- J.D. Martinez is hitting just .197 in his 20 games in July with a 21-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Given the number of injuries the Red Sox have sustained, he needs to step up.
-- The Red Sox have been outscored 179-97 for a minus-82 run differential this month.
-- It was revealed pregame that Trevor Story will be out for an extended period of time as he has a hairline fracture, according to Cora.
-- Christian Arroyo was one of a few bright spots in the 9-4 defeat, as he returned to action with three hits. Given Story's extended absence, Arroyo's play will have a significant impact on the team.
-- The Red Sox will play the final game of the series with the Brewers on Sunday at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET following an hour of pregame coverage, and you can watch it all on NESN.
