Reds 5, Red Sox 2: Errors and Strike Outs Snap Boston’s Winning Streak

Tonight, the Red Sox made three errors in one inning, failed to record a hit with runners in scoring position, and struck out 14 times. They stunk!

Despite this, there was actually a decent portion of the game where it felt like they might somehow pull it out. Going into the bottom of the seventh, Cutter Crawford had retired ten Reds in a row after giving up three solo home runs early, and was holding the score close at 3-2. Then, the avalanche of errors happened!

Enmanuel Valdez, who continues to prove he’s a massive liability defensively at second base, derailed Crawford’s streak of retired batters when he made an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Then, after later surrendering a one out double, Crawford’s night was done, which led to this mess:

Amazingly, within minutes of this botched play, Cooper Criswell (remember him?) and the Woo Sox were able to execute a similar play and get out of their jam.

In a complete mirror image of fortune, they were winning their game 5-2 when the final out was recorded in Cincinnati. (They later won 6-2.)

In any case, it wasn’t to be for the big club tonight. They then added another error later in the seventh frame when Rafael Devers couldn’t make this play and instead made his fifth errors of the season.

Offensively, ten of the 14 strike outs the Red Sox racked up came against Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott, which brings us to the unusual nature of the Reds’ roster.

As of this evening on baseball reference, they have only five guys with a WAR above 1.0:

Hunter Greene: 2.9

Nick Lodolo: 2.3

Andrew Abbott: 2.2 (This will be going up after tonight’s game)

Elly De La Cruz: 2.1

Tyler Stephenson: 1.1

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The top three of those five are members of their rotation. So the Reds are one of those teams that’s far more difficult to play depending on which part of the rotation you run into. While this is technically true for every team, it’s especially true for them, because if you don’t have to deal with any of those top three guys on the mound for the first 60 percent of the game, the rest of the roster is pretty easy to navigate.

The good news is that the Red Sox do not face one of those three starters tomorrow. The bad news is the Reds announced today they’re jumping Nick Lodolo’s spot in the rotation and he’s now slated to make the start on Sunday. This is the same day the Red Sox are backing Tanner Houck off his turn in the rotation and going with a bullpen day.

In other words, you better take the Saturday affair!

Studs

Only two guys scored a run for the Sox tonight. Only two guys recorded multiple hits for the Sox tonight. Those same two guys also hit solo home runs. Here they are:

Duds

Take your pick, but these three stood out:

Rafael Devers, for going 0-4 with three strike outs and making an error.

Masataka Yoshida, for going 0-4 and posting a -.114 WPA.

Cam Booser, for not executing the play on that bunt. While harsh, and a legitimate tough spot, this is the moment the game got out of control.