BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 5-4 loss to the Twins here at Fenway Park on Sunday:
1) Both Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, two of Boston’s top relievers, have struggled in their past two outings. Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single to Ryan Jeffers in the seventh inning.
Slaten pitched the eighth. He allowed an RBI double to Harrison Bader that made it 4-3 and an RBI single to Trevor Larnach that made it 5-3.
Whitlock had a streak of six straight scoreless outings before giving up a game-tying three-run homer to Anthony Santander in his previous outing at Toronto on Wednesday. Slaten gave up a go-ahead three-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero on Thursday.
2) The Red Sox dropped to .500 (18-18). They were last .500 on April 26 (14-14). Before that, they had last been .500 on April 16 (10-10).
3) Boston is now 4-9 in one-run games, including two one-run losses in their past two games. Five of their past six losses have been by one run.
4) Garrett Crochet left after five innings as his pitch count got to 89 (54 strikes). He allowed one run, four hits and two walks while striking out six. The lone run he gave up came on the first pitch of the game when Byron Buxton hit a 93.5 mph four-seam fastball into the Monster seats.
5) Crochet’s 15 four-seam fastballs averaged 94 mph, almost two miles per hour slower than his season average (95.9 mph), per Baseball Savant. His 20 two-seam fastballs averaged 94.1 mph, down from a 95.5 mph average. He topped out at 95.7 mph and mixed in 28 cutters, 17 changeups and nine sweepers.
6) Wilyer Abreu entered 0-for-12 in his past three games. But he crushed a 420-foot, 109.5-mph solo homer in the eighth that cut Boston’s deficit to 5-4.
7) Romy Gonzalez has produced in his two games as Boston’s first baseman after Triston Casas ruptured his patellar tendon Friday. He had three hits Saturday. He had a hit and 363-foot RBI sacrifice fly that put Boston ahead 3-1 in the third inning here Sunday.
8) Catcher Carlos Narváez put the Red Sox ahead 2-1 with a two-run single to left field in the second inning. Even with Connor Wong back from the IL, manager Alex Cora said Narváez will “play a lot.”
9) The Red Sox have Monday off. They open a three-game series with the Rangers on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Lucas Giolito will make his second start. The 30-year-old righty allowed three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6 innings Wednesday in Toronto.
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Read the original article on MassLive.
BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 5-4 loss to the Twins here at Fenway Park on Sunday:
1) Both Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, two of Boston’s top relievers, have struggled in their past two outings. Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single to Ryan Jeffers in the seventh inning.
Slaten pitched the eighth. He allowed an RBI double to Harrison Bader that made it 4-3 and an RBI single to Trevor Larnach that made it 5-3.
Whitlock had a streak of six straight scoreless outings before giving up a game-tying three-run homer to Anthony Santander in his previous outing at Toronto on Wednesday. Slaten gave up a go-ahead three-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero on Thursday.
2) The Red Sox dropped to .500 (18-18). They were last .500 on April 26 (14-14). Before that, they had last been .500 on April 16 (10-10).
3) Boston is now 4-9 in one-run games, including two one-run losses in their past two games. Five of their past six losses have been by one run.
4) Garrett Crochet left after five innings as his pitch count got to 89 (54 strikes). He allowed one run, four hits and two walks while striking out six. The lone run he gave up came on the first pitch of the game when Byron Buxton hit a 93.5 mph four-seam fastball into the Monster seats.
5) Crochet’s 15 four-seam fastballs averaged 94 mph, almost two miles per hour slower than his season average (95.9 mph), per Baseball Savant. His 20 two-seam fastballs averaged 94.1 mph, down from a 95.5 mph average. He topped out at 95.7 mph and mixed in 28 cutters, 17 changeups and nine sweepers.
6) Wilyer Abreu entered 0-for-12 in his past three games. But he crushed a 420-foot, 109.5-mph solo homer in the eighth that cut Boston’s deficit to 5-4.
7) Romy Gonzalez has produced in his two games as Boston’s first baseman after Triston Casas ruptured his patellar tendon Friday. He had three hits Saturday. He had a hit and 363-foot RBI sacrifice fly that put Boston ahead 3-1 in the third inning here Sunday.
8) Catcher Carlos Narváez put the Red Sox ahead 2-1 with a two-run single to left field in the second inning. Even with Connor Wong back from the IL, manager Alex Cora said Narváez will “play a lot.”
9) The Red Sox have Monday off. They open a three-game series with the Rangers on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Lucas Giolito will make his second start. The 30-year-old righty allowed three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6 innings Wednesday in Toronto.
