The Red Sox fall to 11 video games beneath .500 because the offense comes up quick but once more

Aroldis Chapman was warming up within the prime of the ninth inning with the Red Sox down a run simply in case he was wanted for the underside half of the body; however with the way in which this offense has carried out all season, that felt like possession drawing up World Series parade routes for the autumn, simply in in case.

Unsurprisingly, the Red Sox went down like church mice for the ultimate three outs to fall to:

Perhaps essentially the most shocking stat to associate with that final bullet is that the Red Sox truly lead all of baseball in runs scored within the ninth inning in 2026 with 40. They simply by no means rating after they really want the runs to tie the sport or take the lead. Yes, the offense is dangerous, nevertheless it’s particularly abysmal when the sport is on the road in a method that’s all however mathematically unimaginable.

Tonight was simply one other verse in the identical rancid, repeating music that’s the 2026 Red Sox season. The twist on this explicit stanza is that the underside third of the lineup truly carried out fairly effectively whereas the highest six guys when 2-24 with zero walks.

Nowhere was this extra evident than within the backside of the eighth inning when proper after a Marcelo Mayer double reduce a 4-1 Rays result in 4-3. In this second, the primary three guys of the inning reached, the highest of the order was arising, and the Rays nonetheless had six outs to barter earlier than the top of the sport. How did the highest six guys within the Sox lineup deal with the chance? They went 0-6 and blew a golden alternative to keep away from all three lethal bullet factors above.

I do know I’ve talked about this earlier than, however I’ve by no means seen a group fairly like this one. It’s not simply that they’re the more serious offense in baseball in excessive leverage conditions (batting .214 with a .609 OPS), it’s that they’re eleventh in baseball in medium leverage spots to associate with that. For occasion, they really have the next OPS than the Yankees in medium leverage spots, however are virtually 200 factors behind them in excessive leverage conditions.

One of the explanations this season appears like such a joyless slog is as a result of there’s by no means any nights the place they randomly come via in an enormous spot and blend in a comeback win amid the flood of loses and different deficiencies. Those are the attractive breaths of recent on the floor that preserve you coming again in a season the place you’re in any other case drowning. Even most dangerous groups with dangerous lineups discover a option to sprinkle them in each infrequently, however not this group.

I preserve considering this has to alter considerably simply by random probability, however possibly I’m simply an fool. (On a associated observe, I’ll be going to Boston to catch the video games this weekend.)

Marcelo Mayer: One good factor about tonight is that there’s extra indicators Marcelo Mayer’s new toe faucet is likely to be paying dividends. Not solely did he observe up yesterday’s house run with an enormous eighth inning double, however he additionally had a pleasant at bat within the third inning with a runner in scoring place the place regardless of making an out, he acquired the ball in play with 107mph exit velocity.

Caleb Durbin: 1-3 on the plate, and he additionally flashed some leather-based with this glorious double play within the area within the first inning, which felt actually essential within the second:

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: The solely man within the Red Sox lineup with a multi-hit sport, which is just about an automated ticket into the stud part of the sport wrap in 2026.

Ceddanne Rafaela: 0-4 with the bottom WPA within the lineup tonight.

Willson Contreras: 0-4 with the second lowest WPA.

Masataka Yoshida: 0-4 with the third lowest WPA (and boy has he regarded terrible over the past month).

Mickey Gasper: 0-4 with the fourth lowest WPA.

Together, these 4 went 0-16 and had a -0.58 WPA.

NESN: They didn’t get again in time from business to point out the primary pitch of the underside of the third inning. Under no circumstance can this be allowed to slip!