Miscues, struggling offense prove costly in series opener

CHICAGO -- Coming off a four-game series loss to Toronto, a trip to Chicago seemed like it could’ve led to a better weekend for Boston.

The White Sox had lost their previous eight games. The Red Sox were .500, but only a game out of first place. This series could’ve helped them get back on track.

Instead, Boston had an all-around tough night. Defensive miscues did Red Sox pitchers no favors, and neither did an offense struggling to get the big hit. That all led to an 11-1 loss at Rate Field on Friday.

“It's a horrible night in every aspect of the game,” manager Alex Cora said. “We didn't play well, and they know it, we know it and I know that. Just got to show up [Saturday] and win a game.”

Here’s what went wrong in Boston’s series-opening loss:

RISP woes continue
Getting the big knock has been an issue this week.

In their four games against the Blue Jays, with runners in scoring position, the Red Sox managed to drive in eight runs, falling right in the middle of the pack. However, they also had the second-most plate appearances in such situations during that stretch (49). They hit .093 with a .256 OPS with runners in scoring position -- both baseball’s worst marks in that span.

That again proved to be an issue against the White Sox.

In the top of the second, with the game scoreless, right fielder Wilyer Abreu and second baseman Kristian Campbell both reached on singles. Boston had a chance to take an early lead. Instead, catcher Blake Sabol grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

The next inning, designated hitter Rafael Devers and third baseman Alex Bregman walked and doubled, respectively, to put runners at second and third with two outs. But first baseman Triston Casas flew out to strand both.

And then in the seventh, with the game already essentially out of reach, Sabol’s sacrifice fly brought in the first Red Sox run. They loaded the bases later in the frame, but could not bring in another.

Overall, Boston was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position Friday, which actually improved its average during these last five games (now .096). The Red Sox aren’t panicking from this small sample (and they hit .436 with RISP in the four games prior), but they know they need to be better.

“We just got to keep the line moving,” Cora said. “That's the most important thing, and then execute. … Overall, as a group, we know we're better. We know that. It's execution now. It's not about potential and this and that. We have to execute.”

Defensive miscues put pitchers in a jam
With one out in the bottom of the fourth and Boston trailing, 2-0, Casas got a grounder hit to his right. It was solidly struck and had a .436 expected batting average, but it seemed like Casas had a play. Instead, the ball rolled into right field for the base hit.

The next at-bat, Casas got another grounder. He came up ready to potentially start an inning-ending double play, but he bobbled the ball and didn’t record an out. Chicago went on to score four runs that inning.

“It's just a play that's got to be made,” Casas said. “It's an unrealistic thing to do to point out one play in the game and say, 'That's why we lost,’ but that's a pretty clear one with that specific one. It pretty much changed the course of the game for the worst.”

It was the most consequential error for the Red Sox on the night, though it wasn’t their only one. In total, they committed five errors (two on catcher’s interference), their most in a single game since Aug. 21, 2021. Those allowed the White Sox to score six unearned runs.

Bad defense tends to put pitchers in a bad spot, and we saw that happen Friday. The three pitchers didn’t have their best nights, but they each also got charged with at least one unearned run (starter Sean Newcomb had four).

Boston entered Friday with already the most errors in baseball (14). That is just another aspect of the game that must improve.

“At this level, it really doesn't matter who you're facing. At this level, everybody's capable,” Cora said. “That's why they're big leaguers. You give the opposition more than 27 outs, they're going to cash in. They're going to make you pay, and that's what happened today.”