BOSTON --- The Red Sox end this first homestand having taken up residence in the American League East basement, and there is far less time to escape than normal.
Boston has played just five games, but that accounts for 8.3% of this shortened 2020 season. It’s been a painful turn through the pitching rotation after Opening Day starter Nathan Eovaldi, one that continued Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Matt Hall, Austin Brice and Ryan Brasier were the culprits as the [...]
BOSTON --- The Red Sox end this first homestand having taken up residence in the American League East basement, and there is far less time to escape than normal.
Boston has played just five games, but that accounts for 8.3% of this shortened 2020 season. It’s been a painful turn through the pitching rotation after Opening Day starter Nathan Eovaldi, one that continued Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Matt Hall, Austin Brice and Ryan Brasier were the culprits as the Mets authored a mini-sweep of this two-game set. Amed Rosario’s two-run single, a two-run homer by J.D. Davis and a two-run double by Jeff McNeil helped spark New York to an 8-3 victory.
David Peterson earned the victory in his debut thanks to 5 2/3 effective innings and his bullpen handled the rest. Drew Smith fanned pinch hitter Mitch Moreland to leave the potential tying run on deck in the sixth, and the Red Sox never really threatened against Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances and Hunter Strickland.
Hall earned the spot start to round out what has been a historically bad beginning for the Red Sox. Boston hasn’t allowed at least seven runs in four of its first five games since the franchise’s first season in 1901. The Wright brothers were two years from conducting the first powered flight while air conditioners, Teddy bears, teabags and crayons were among everyday items that had yet to be invented.
Rosario’s looper to shallow right in the top of the second turned what could have been an escape from Hall into a 3-0 deficit. The left-hander needed 35 pitches to retire the Mets, conceding an RBI double to left by Robinson Cano earlier in the frame.
Brice made his third appearance in a Red Sox uniform and proceeded to allow at least one run for the third time. McNeil singled to center and Davis sent a soft fly down the line in right that caromed off the Pesky Pole. That staked New York to a 5-1 lead and a familiar feeling set in over the virtually empty ballpark.
The Mets ended any possible suspense against Brasier in the eighth. Brandon Nimmo smashed an RBI double to deep right and McNeil found the Monster in deep left-center with a liner of his own. Pete Alonso chugged around all the way from first as New York built a six-run cushion.
Boston’s offensive futility reached its apex in the fourth. The Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out and found a way not to score. It wasn’t just your average squander, either.
J.D. Martinez struck out swinging and Rafael Devers sent a liner toward second. Cano fielded on a short hop and the umpiring crew immediately indicated the ball was not caught. Cano calmly flipped to second base, forcing out Jose Peraza.
The Mets, clearly believing Cano had made the catch, didn’t bother to simply turn what would have been an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. They snagged Andrew Benintendi in a rundown between second and third instead, trapping him steps off the bag. Kevin Plawecki scored from third by the time the 4-6-5-4 twin-killing was completed.
The Red Sox managed next to nothing otherwise against Peterson, whom they drafted out of a Denver high school in the 28th round in 2014. Peterson opted not to sign, developed into a 2017 first-round pick from Oregon and took advantage of his opportunity here after 49 starts in the minor leagues.
Kevin Pillar’s RBI double to right in the sixth capped a three-hit night. Jackie Bradley Jr. knocked home the final run on an infield grounder in the ninth.
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