The Red Sox couldn’t get their offense going Saturday evening against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston was dealt a 4-1 loss at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox dropped to 67-61 while the Diamondbacks improved to 74-56.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Red Sox certainly had their offensive issues against the Diamondbacks and ace Zac Gallen. Boston mustered just five hits with two of them coming in the ninth inning.
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That was discouraging on its own, but what was even more frustrating was the top of the seventh inning for the Red Sox. The inning seemed to encapsulate the problems that have persisted for the Red Sox since the All-Star break.
Even with their lifeless offense, Boston still had a chance at that juncture of the game with Arizona holding just a 2-0 lead. But that chance went out the window when Boston’s bullpen allowed the Diamondbacks to double their lead without ever getting a hit in the inning.
Lucas Sims, who pitched only 1/3 of an inning, and Brennan Bernardino each walked two batters and Bernardino was also charged with a wild pitch, which came with the bases loaded. It was an ugly inning, one usually seen in the Little League World Series and not on a big-league diamond.
The Red Sox woes sometimes are self-inflicted and if they don’t clean that up, they won’t make up ground in the playoff race.
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STARS OF THE GAME
— Eugenio Suárez continues to be a thorn in the Red Sox side. After a three-hit night in the series opener, including crushing a grand slam, Suárez broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the fourth with a two-run double.
— Masataka Yoshida was one of only a couple bright spots for the Red Sox offense. He drove in the team’s only run with a double in the ninth inning.
— Gallen turned in a strong start for the Diamondbacks. The right-hander tossed six scoreless inning and allowed just two hits while striking out nine. Gallen didn’t have the best control, though, as he issued four walks.
ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox and Diamondbacks close out their three-game interleague series from Fenway Park on Sunday. Tanner Houck will get the start on the mound for Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
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