Red Sox shut out by Blue Jays, drop season-high six straight games
“The starter’s going deep into the game again, and (the lineup is having) non-competitive at-bats.”
The Red Sox failed to plate a run and lost their sixth consecutive game in a dismal 9-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at home Friday night.
Boston’s offense was held to just four hits, all of which came in the sixth inning or earlier.
Its lack of production at the plate is becoming an increasingly common sight in the post-Rafael Devers era. The Red Sox certainly experienced their share of offensive struggles this season before Devers was traded, but his absence has magnified the issue.
Boston had strung together some impressive wins after dealing their best hitter to the San Francisco Giants, but that has gone out the window during this losing streak (its longest of the season).
Starting pitcher Brayan Bello’s six-inning quality start ultimately gave the Red Sox a chance to get on the board and snap their skid. Bello allowed eight hits, three runs, and only struck out one batter, as well as oftentimes couldn’t seem to get an out. But as manager Alex Cora said after the game, Bello gave the team a chance to win. The starting lineup simply couldn’t take advantage for nine frames, once again.
“Six innings, three runs, really doesn’t matter how it looks,” Cora told reporters. “It was six innings and three runs. That’s a quality start. He gave us a chance.”
After Bello was relieved by Luis Guerrero in the seventh inning, the game became wholly out of Boston’s reach. Guerrero allowed two runs, followed by Brennan Bernardino’s four, essentially ending the Red Sox’ night before the final out was recorded.
Nate Eaton, an infielder who was recently called up by Boston and has only played six games in 2025, was called to the mound in the top of the ninth inning in hopes of giving the club’s taxed bullpen somewhat of a break.
Cora bluntly described his lineup’s performance when asked what’s gone wrong over the last six games.
“We just gotta be better,” he said. “There’s certain at-bats you look at and you’re like, ‘We have to talk about this one.’ The starter’s going deep into the game again, and (the lineup is having) non-competitive at-bats. As a group, we have to improve.”
Sans Devers and Alex Bregman (quad strain), Boston looks lost offensively. It feels as if it doesn’t matter how well the pitching staff performs; more often than not, the 40-43 Red Sox will find a way to struggle with the bat.
The club’s overall inconsistency has been its downfall at the midway point of the season. Following Friday’s loss, Boston stands 2.5 games back of a wild card spot and eight games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East.
While it’s not too late for the Red Sox to find their groove and make a postseason run over the next few months, that feels like an insurmountable task as of June 27.
“I think executing your game plan,” Cora said of what it will take for hitters to improve moving forward. “You gotta have conviction. You have to trust the information that is provided and go from there. Also, you have to be prepared. Every hitter has their plan. We have a group approach, but at the same time, it’s one-on-one at the end. You have to make adjustments, you have to`compete. That’s the most important thing.
“I think they’re trying as hard as possible,” he continued. “Maybe it’s the other way around, kind of like, breathe and let the game come to you instead of you trying to go get it. The few opportunities we have, we have to cash in.”
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