The Red Sox's bats and starting pitching did enough to win Monday, but once again, Boston's bullpen couldn't do its part to lock down a victory. After a quality start from Tanner Houck and a shutout seventh inning by Chris Martin, Lucas Sims and Kenley Jansen both surrendered costly runs that doomed the visitors in the series opener at Minute Maid Park. Jansen's misstep was particularly troubling, as Yainder Diaz's walk-off blast off the Red Sox closer sealed a 5-4 win for the Astros.
The defeat dropped Boston further down the American League wild-card standings, but Jansen wasn't hanging his head after the club's second straight loss.
"I made three really good pitches on (Yordan) Alvarez, and unfortunately that one (to Diaz) wasn't well executed," Jansen told reporters, per MLB.com. "Give credit to the hitter. He ambushed me, and it won that game. It's tough. Tip your cap. But we've got to move on and fight tomorrow. Let that be motivation."
The four-time All-Star went on to explain how the Red Sox must stay present, as dwelling on the past or worrying about the future won't do the club any good. Jansen also pleaded for Boston to kick up its "urgency" with the regular season winding down.
A Game the Red Sox Should Have Won
The Sox' fight remains exhausting. They have put themselves in a hole, trailing the Royals 4½ games for the third American League wild-card spot.
For Jansen, he tries not to look at the reality.
“I’m focused on us winning ballgames,” he said.
That’s what made this loss so crushing — it was a game the Sox should have won, at least on paper. The Astros committed four errors. Just one of the Sox’ four runs was earned. Houston committed two pitch-clock violations, one in the seventh inning with one out and runners on first and second. Díaz stepped out to argue a strike call but failed to get back in the box in time, resulting in an strike-three call. Reliever Chris Martin would get out of the inning unscathed after fanning Jeremy Peña, holding the Sox’ 4-3 lead intact. The Astros, a team that prides itself on clean baseball, appeared disheveled.
But they zeroed in their focus in the eighth. The championship pedigree, though without Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, still existed in Alvarez and Jose Altuve.
Even after Sims collected a double-play ball in the eighth inning, Chas McCormick poked a single to right field off the end of the bat. Then, McCormick swiped second and Mauricio Dubon singled to left, tying the first game of a three-game set at 4.
Astros’ Grip Tightens, Sox’ Hopes Fade
Whenever the Sox thought they had a chance to breathe, the Astros tightened their grip.
“Sims, he had a good lane there,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It just didn’t work out.”
The loss spoiled a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run shot by Masataka Yoshida off righthanded reliever Tayler Scott, who took over for Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi went 5⅔ innings, surrendering just one earned run.
“He’s locked in,” said Cora of Yoshida. “We talked a little bit. He was sitting right next to me during the game, and I was like, ‘You feel good?’ And he said, ‘I feel great.’”
With two outs in the sixth, Astros manager Joe Espada went to Scott. Cora countered by bringing in Yoshida to pinch hit for Connor Wong. Yoshida then laced a two-run homer that stood up to review, giving the Red Sox a 4-2 lead.
Jarren Duran clipped Kikuchi for home run on the first pitch of the game. It was Duran’s second career homer on the first pitch of an at-bat and fourth career leadoff home run.
All of that, however, was put to rest by the Astros, a team that has reclaimed its space among the baseball elite after a slow start to the season.
Where Do the Red Sox Go From Here?
The Sox are 65-59 and Cora knows exactly where his team is.
“I look at the standings all the time,” said Cora. “I look at the scoreboard all the time. I know Kansas City won. I watch.”
The Red Sox will try to get back on track Tuesday when they meet the Astros for the middle game of the series. NESN's complete coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET.
The Red Sox have a lot of work to do if they want to make the playoffs. They need to get their bullpen in order, and they need to find a way to win games against teams like the Astros.
