We’re onto Cincinnati.
My question about Walker Buehler being due for a bounce back game was answered really quickly. He was not.
Back to back jacks to Addison Barger and Vlad Jr. in the 1st inning spelled a lot of doom for his outing on Sunday afternoon. It’s just beyond frustrating to hope the best for a guy and get met with that right out of the gate.
The offense tried when it could to get back into this game…in the first six innings. One walk in the eighth spelled the last baserunner for the Red Sox in the final three frames.
This game was a really rough look after an offensive explosion yesterday. The Red Sox NEEDED this win. Not just for the division, but to try and reclaim momentum after an extended losing streak prior to Saturday. The Blue Jays keep the Sox feeling blue as the Reds come into town. The Red Sox frankly should be Red Hot at themselves after this one.
Three Studs
Carlos Narvaez (1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 pickoff)
A Pesky Pole poke and a pickoff is a nice game for your no. 1 catcher.
Ceddanne Rafaela (1-for-4, 1 RBI)
Both an incredible catch and an RBI double with a runner in scoring position, there’s a lot to be said about Rafaela’s performance of late.
Jarren Duran (1-for-4, 1 K)
Duran needed that triple BADLY, and frankly without Jonatan Clase’s catch of his own, he could have had a multi-hit game.
Three Duds
Walker Buehler (4.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K)
Postgame, Buehler talked a lot about mechanics, arm angle, shapes, etc., but when it comes down to it, Buehler is clearly having a hard time mentally with the game of baseball at the Big League level. The 4th inning got away from him really quickly after Nate Eaton’s mistake.
Nate Eaton (0-for-2, 1 K)
While the 4th inning implosion is mainly on Buehler, Eaton missing the ball and then rushing a high throw to first isn’t a great look when Marcelo Mayer comes off the bereavement list.
Zack Kelly (1.0+ IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
Not just giving up another run in a rough 5th inning, but injuring himself (an oblique strain) when he hit Andres Gimenez. He’s really lucky it sounds like Jordan Hicks is getting activated for the upcoming Reds series because losing arms is brutal.
Play of the Game
Ceddanne’s diving catch was amazing, but I’m giving this to Carlos Narvaez’s pickoff to end the meltdown in the 4th. The cognizance in a pressure situation to pull off this back pick is incredible.