Red Sox reactions: Offense has scored just two runs in two games vs. Cubs
1) Boston dropped to 53-47. The Cubs improved to 59-39.
2) The Red Sox offense has scored just one run in two games since returning from the All-Star break. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga tossed 7 scoreless innings. Boston went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
3) The Sox fell behind 2-0 in the first inning Saturday after immediately falling behind 3-0 in the first inning Friday.
Michael Busch crushed Brayan Bello's first pitch, a 96.3 mph sinker, into the left-center field bleachers. Kyle Tucker went back-to-back with Busch, sending a 95.9 mph four-seam fastball from Bello into the right-center field bleachers.
4) Bello eventually settled in like Lucas Giolito did after his bad first inning the night before. The 26-year-old posted his eighth straight quality start, a career high. He pitched 6 innings, giving up three runs, six hits and one walk while striking out four.
5) Connor Wong is batting .144 with one RBI and no extra-base hits this season. But manager Alex Cora did not pinch hit for the catcher with runners at the corners and two outs in the seventh.
Wong, who represented the tying run with Boston trailing 3-0, swung at the first pitch and flied out to second baseman Nico Hoerner in shallow right field.
'You've got to trust your players,' Cora explained. 'He's playing today for a reason. I felt like it was a good matchup — lefty against him. And it just didn't work out."
6) Lefty reliever Chris Murphy didn't allow a run in his first 7 ⅔ innings this season after returning from Tommy John surgery. But he gave up three runs today on three solo homers. Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ took him deep.
7) Former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Cubs.
8) The Red Sox and Cubs will play the final game of their three-game series Sunday at 2:20 p.m. eastern. Ace Garrett Crochet (10-4, 2.23 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Cubs righty Cade Horton (3-3, 4.45 ERA).
More Red Sox coverage
Giants exec preaches patience amid Rafael Devers slump
Red Sox at 53-47 for 3rd straight year reminds Alex Cora of ex-A's slugger
Red Sox make lineup change, give Masataka Yoshida first start in OF since 2023
Red Sox lineup: Ceddanne Rafaela at 2B, in new spot in order for first time in career
Bryce Harper gave Red Sox star rookie Roman Anthony an 'Oh, wow!' moment
Read the original article on MassLive.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cubs meet the Orioles with 1-0 series lead
Baltimore Orioles (50-60, fifth in the AL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (64-45, second in the NL Central) Chicago; Saturday, 2:20 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano (8-5, 4.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Cubs: Matthew Boyd (11-4, 2.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 110 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -209, Orioles +172; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs host the Baltimore Orioles with a 1-0 series lead. Chicago has a 34-19 record at home and a 64-45 record overall. The Cubs have the highest team batting average in the NL at .255. Baltimore has a 50-60 record overall and a 23-33 record on the road. The Orioles have a 20-12 record in games when they did not allow a home run. Saturday's game is the second time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Tucker has 21 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Cubs. Matt Shaw is 11 for 35 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs over the past 10 games. Jackson Holliday leads the Orioles with 14 home runs while slugging .412. Jordan Westburg is 13 for 45 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 5-5, .243 batting average, 5.28 ERA, outscored by nine runs Orioles: 6-4, .297 batting average, 3.38 ERA, outscored opponents by 39 runs INJURIES: Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (calf), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow) Orioles: Zach Eflin: 15-Day IL (back), Colin Selby: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Felix Bautista: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Maverick Handley: 10-Day IL (head), Scott Blewett: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Mateo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (knee), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Cade Povich: 15-Day IL (hip), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Twins head into matchup with the Guardians on losing streak
Minnesota Twins (51-58, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Cleveland Guardians (55-54, second in the AL Central) Cleveland; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Bailey Ober (0-0); Guardians: Tanner Bibee (7-9, 4.31 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 107 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Guardians -181, Twins +150; over/under is 7 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins are looking to break a three-game losing streak with a victory against the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland has gone 28-26 at home and 55-54 overall. The Guardians are 26-44 in games when they have allowed at least one home run. Minnesota is 21-34 in road games and 51-58 overall. The Twins have hit 125 total home runs to rank eighth in the AL. Saturday's game is the eighth time these teams square off this season. The Guardians are up 5-2 in the season series. TOP PERFORMERS: Steven Kwan has 20 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 38 RBIs while hitting .287 for the Guardians. Kyle Manzardo is 15 for 33 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Guardians: 6-4, .255 batting average, 3.00 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runs Twins: 3-7, .226 batting average, 5.71 ERA, outscored by 26 runs INJURIES: Guardians: Lane Thomas: 10-Day IL (foot), Will Brennan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Andrew Walters: 60-Day IL (lat), Ben Lively: 60-Day IL (forearm), John Means: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sam Hentges: 60-Day IL (shoulder) Twins: Byron Buxton: 10-Day IL (side soreness), Anthony Misiewicz: 15-Day IL (shoulder), David Festa: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bailey Ober: 15-Day IL (hip), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reds and Braves meet with series tied 1-1
Atlanta Braves (46-63, fourth in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (58-53, third in the NL Central) Bristol, Tennessee; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (5-8, 3.71 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 92 strikeouts); Reds: Chase Burns (0-3, 6.26 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 45 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Braves -124, Reds +104; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves play on Saturday with the winner claiming the three-game series. Cincinnati has a 33-25 record in home games and a 58-53 record overall. The Reds have gone 38-12 in games when they scored five or more runs. Atlanta has gone 20-37 on the road and 46-63 overall. The Braves have hit 117 total home runs to rank sixth in the NL. The teams meet Saturday for the seventh time this season. The Braves lead the season series 4-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with a .283 batting average, and has 23 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 51 walks and 72 RBIs. Matt McLain is 11 for 39 with two RBIs over the last 10 games. Matt Olson leads the Braves with 18 home runs while slugging .457. Michael Harris II is 19 for 41 with two doubles, three triples, two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 6-4, .257 batting average, 3.40 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs Braves: 2-8, .231 batting average, 7.03 ERA, outscored by 29 runs INJURIES: Reds: Wade Miley: 60-Day IL (flexor), Ian Gibaut: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Rhett Lowder: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Greene: 15-Day IL (groin), Carson Spiers: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Callihan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Julian Aguiar: 60-Day IL (elbow) Braves: Ronald Acuna: 10-Day IL (calf), Grant Holmes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Spencer Schwellenbach: 60-Day IL (elbow), Chris Sale: 60-Day IL (rib), AJ Smith-Shawver: 60-Day IL (calf/elbow), Reynaldo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Joe Jimenez: 60-Day IL (knee) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
