Lackluster offense and porous defense. What else?
Context
Will this be the day? Can the offense please come alive? Can the Red Sox resume their winning ways before it’s way, way too late?
Comparing their recent won-loss records heading into the game, the Red Sox and Mets were diametrically opposed with the Sox at 3-7 over their last 10 games, while the Mets clocked in at 7-3. The Mets have brought the heat since mid-June, and recently closed the gap to just one game behind Atlanta in the hunt for the last National League wild-card spot. The Sox have been unable to take advantage of a weak run by both Kansas City (also 3-7 in their last 10) and Minnesota (4-6) and are once again looking at something of a last stand.
As my mother used to tell us kids: It’s time to stop fooling around.
Game Action
The top of the first went by just too dang fast: Duran on a foul pop-up, Wilyer Abreu on a liner that launched directly into the second baseman’s glove, and Tyler O’Neill striking out on three pitches. A symbol of what was to come? Spoiler alert: YES.
Triston Casas made a magnificent deep stretch to scoop up a throw from Rafael Devers in the bottom of the first and that was the first sign that the team might be able to get it together tonight. Brayan Bello followed that with his first strikeout, and things were looking…not bad. The Mets scored one in the second, but the Sox made things exciting in the third: Ceddanne Rafaela swung for an unexpected triple (with some help from Brandon Nimmo in center field who overran the ball), followed by Jarren Duran smacking a single but then taking it too far and getting himself erased at second base. Still, it was good for an RBI as Rafaela raced home. Tie game.
Casas had himself another stellar scoop in the third, and I’m consistently impressed with his ability to stretch, lean, and dig deep to make some tricky plays.
Bello allowed a lot of runners in the third: a single, a double, and a walk, but this yielded just one additional run for the Mets.
In the fourth, Connor Wong committed the Sox’s 100th error on the season. To be fair, the wind had something to do with it (you could see Bello’s jersey billowing in the breeze) but it’s painful to continue to lead MLB in errors, and by such a large margin.
Casas showcased his athleticism and defensive improvement again in the bottom of the fourth, as he stretched himself out to full size, reaching above his head to grab a barehanded throw from Bello, while managing to keep his toe somehow anchored to the bag.
Because this game was short on Sox highlights, and because Casas was really that good tonight defensively, please enjoy another great pick where he grabbed the throw from Enmanuel Valdez to get the out.
Tyler O’Neill committed the Sox’s 101st error soon after, leading to another run…and the Sox had dug themselves a 4-1 hole by the end of the inning.
The Sox threatened in the sixth inning, with runners on first and second, but Rafael Devers couldn’t advance them.
You could be forgiven for experiencing déjà vu in the eighth inning, when Devers couldn’t advance the runners on second and third.
There were a few moments where the Sox showed they were capable of a spark, but for the most part, they looked and felt like they were chugging uphill.
Studs
Casas
1-3, 1BB, at least three excellent defensive picks at first
Josh Winckowski
Solid tonight in relief. When’s the last time we could say that about our bullpen? Pete Alonso left the box after a strikeout while shaking his head at himself in disgust and bafflement.
3.0 IP, 1H, 1 BB, 4K
Duds
Wong
0-3, ground into two double plays, 1E
Devers
0-4. With two baserunners on, he provided the out that ended the inning—twice.
Sox offense
Once again, in a word: weak. They had good chances to put something together in both the sixth and eighth innings. Devers ended both of those innings, but he’s not the only one operating ice-cold.
Also, it seemed to me like poor form to use Mickey Gasper as a pinch hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The poor guy was already 0-11. And sure enough, he ended the game on a K. That moment kind of symbolized everything that had happened previously. Big sigh. I think we’re done here.
Play of the Game
Here’s Casas’s impressive stretch to grab Bello’s barehanded grab-and-throw. A great defensive show from him tonight, but I would’ve liked to have featured a game-winning HR here instead. Sigh. We can dream, right?