Red Sox
Garrett Crochet bounced again, however the bullpen unraveled in a 5-3 loss to the Marlins on Sunday.
The Purple Sox had every thing all lined up and seemed to be on their method to one other sweep at Fenway Park.
Garrett Crochet returned to type, Wilyer Abreu offered the offense, and the protection performed a clear recreation.
Then, Boston’s bullpen allowed one run within the eighth plus three within the ninth on two back-breaking house runs. The consequence was a head-scratching, 5-3 loss to a mediocre Marlins crew that had dropped eight of its final 10.
“It’s actually disappointing, particularly with how good Garrett pitched right now,” mentioned Steven Matz, who allowed the second homer. “It was simply form of a wasted outing. It’s actually disappointing. It could have been very nice to brush proper there.”
It’s not time to panic. It was only one recreation, and the Purple Sox (68-57) are 16-3 of their final 19 house video games. They’re nonetheless in a great spot, are enjoying crisp baseball as a rule, and seem like totally able to making a run.
However Sunday’s shocking setback did elevate some potential query marks because the stretch run approaches and so they attempt to cement their first playoff berth since 2021.
Listed here are three causes for optimism and three causes for concern because the calendar nears September and the motion intensifies:
Optimism No. 1 – Beginning pitching
Purple Sox ace Garrett Crochet had his final outing on his thoughts as he took the mound towards the Marlins.
“I don’t neglect that simply,” Crochet mentioned. “On this recreation, it’s good to have a brief reminiscence, however I additionally really feel prefer it’s useful in my case to recollect what occurred, what went improper, and attempt to go in the other way as a lot as attainable.”
Crochet’s lone blemish got here when Eric Wagaman blasted a solo house run within the third. In any other case, although the Marlins did have some visitors within the later innings, Crochet was environment friendly and largely in management.
He pitched seven innings and allowed one run on three hits, hanging out eight and strolling one. Crochet threw 60 of his 94 pitches for strikes, recording his eighth outing of seven-plus innings and nil or one runs allowed this season.
Crochet leads the Majors in strikeouts (196) and is fourth in ERA (2.43). He’s gone 9-1 with a 2.77 ERA because the begin of June. That’ll do. Having a real ace is franchise-changing, and the Purple Sox are lucky to have one in Crochet.
Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have each made strides as properly, giving the Purple Sox a formidable 1-2-3 constructed for October.
Concern No. 1 – Bullpen woes
After constructing a commanding 7-0 lead towards the Marlins on Saturday, the Purple Sox ended up needing nearer Aroldis Chapman to cement a 7-5 win that was a lot nearer than it ought to have been.
That got here after Chapman earned the win Friday night time, and the back-to-back outings made him unavailable getting into Sunday’s finale.
Garrett Whitlock has had a powerful season general, however he allowed a run within the eighth Sunday to make it 3-2 Purple Sox. Greg Weissert gave up a blast to Dane Myers to start out the ninth, then Jakob Marsee belted a two-run homer off Matz to provide Miami a 5-3 edge.
The Purple Sox put runners on first and second within the backside of the ninth however couldn’t tie it. It was the second-straight recreation that was tighter than it wanted to be, and this time the dearth of late-game execution burned Boston.
“It sucks to be the person who is accountable for it,” Weissert mentioned.
Whereas Chapman has been terrific, he can’t do it alone. Time will inform whether or not that is an outlier or the beginning of a pattern, however it’s actually one thing to observe.
Having mentioned that, the Purple Sox are nonetheless 57-2 when main after eight innings, and sure, the world remains to be spinning. This one acquired away, however the Purple Sox have typically not let duds like this occur.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all season, choosing one another up,” Weissert mentioned. “I simply didn’t get it executed tonight, sadly.”
Optimism No. 2 – Wilyer Abreu’s bat
Abreu benefited from a fortuitous bounce in proper subject within the fourth inning when he smashed one towards the fence. The ball hit Myers’ glove, rolled round a bit, then plopped into the bullpen to provide Boston a 2-1 lead.
“Powerful to say if that ball was going to exit or not, however clearly it was a very good assist,” Abreu mentioned by a translator.
Abreu, who’s hitting .300 in his final 16 video games, leads the Purple Sox in house runs with 22 and is second in RBIs behind Trevor Story (69).
He additionally singled and scored an vital run within the seventh, giving Boston a 3-1 cushion that appeared like it will be sufficient.
Concern No. 2 – Abreu’s calf
When Abreu scored on Abraham Toro’s sacrifice fly, he felt tightness in his proper calf.
He exited the sport, which pressured the Purple Sox to shuffle their fielders round greater than supervisor Alex Cora doubtless would have needed to.
Abreu mentioned he doesn’t imagine he’ll want an MRI or need to go on the injured record, and he’ll wait to listen to from the medical workers to find out a plan.
“I felt like a cramp,” Abreu mentioned. “Proper now, I’m daily, to see how I get up tomorrow, the way it evolves. I’ll hopefully be prepared, I’d say most likely two or three days, I’ll be prepared for New York.”
Abreu is one in every of Boston’s most versatile gamers and a staple within the lineup. Whereas it doesn’t seem like something severe, it’s one thing to maintain tabs on within the coming days and weeks.
Optimism No. 3 – Jarren Duran is on hearth
Jarren Duran walked, stole second, and scored within the fourth, then doubled within the sixth to spotlight a powerful all-around day.
Duran is batting .293 with 4 house runs, 14 extra-base hits, 16 RBIs, and 18 runs since July 21 and has reached safely in 36 of his final 39 video games.
Coming into Sunday, he ranked fourth in Main League Baseball in extra-base hits because the begin of 2024 – behind solely Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Decide, and Bobby Witt. Jr.
Shifting him to the No. 3 spot has been a game-changer, and his knack for placing strain on the protection goes a great distance for this lineup.
Concern No. 3 – Manufacturing from the underside of the lineup
The highest of the lineup has been constant of late, however the backside hasn’t been terrific. Whereas it’s truthful to count on a little bit of a drop-off, the decline has been noticeable.
Carlos Narváez entered the day hitting .212 because the begin of June. Ceddanne Rafaela began the day batting .208 in 26 video games because the All-Star break. Toro entered hitting .195 in his final 47 video games. Connor Wong is batting .169 and has 5 RBIs.
The lineup remains to be robust as an entire, however six by 9 isn’t producing prefer it was early within the 12 months in the meanwhile. Whereas Toro and Narváez did file hits Sunday, they struggled in key spots and couldn’t will Boston to a win.
“It was a bizarre recreation,” Cora mentioned. “I feel offensively we didn’t do a lot.”
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