Red Sox hit another low, blow seven-run lead against Blue Jays
If you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Boston Red Sox. If you were convinced that Thursday’s heated dugout exchange between manager John Farrell and pitcher Wade Miley during a 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles had to be rock bottom. You were quickly proven wrong on Friday.
The Red Sox, who were swept in that three-game series against Baltimore, plummeted to another season low by blowing a seven-run lead against the Toronto Blue Jays and ultimately losing the game 13-10.
This HAS to be rock bottom, right Red Sox fans?
They can only hope.
[On this week’s StewPod: Should fans really pick the MLB All-Stars?]
The 27-35 Red Sox were as popular a pick as any in a wide open American League East. Even with glaring concerns in the starting rotation, some went as far as to label them World Series contenders thanks in part to additions like Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. They’re a long way from that right now, and Friday’s loss was only the latest reminder.
After jumping out to an early 8-1 lead behind Joe Kelly, the crowd at Fenway Park could only look on helplessly as the red-hot Blue Jays chipped away for three runs in the fifth and then exploded for nine off Boston’s bullpen in the seventh.
That’s nine runs, without so much as a single out being recorded by Matt Barnes or Junichi Tazawa.
Russell Martin delivered the hit that put Toronto ahead, clearing the bases with a triple. Justin Smoak, who earlier collected his first career triple in 2,316 plate appearances, capped the rally with a two-run homer off Tommy Layne.
And just like that, a blowout win for a team that needed any kind of win, turned into a nightmare that further cemented them as the only team with a losing record in the division.
How bad was it really? According to ESPN Stats and Info, teams were 142-1 this season when leading by seven or more runs at any point. The Red Sox became the second team in that loss column, joining the Atlanta Braves on April 28.
For further perspective on the disastrous seventh inning. .
To the Blue Jays credit, this type of comeback is nothing new for them. This was their third win over the last three seasons when trailing by at least seven runs. The rest of baseball has two such wins combined over that same span.
Still, there isn’t enough positive spin in the world to dress this one up on Boston’s, but John Farrell wasn’t about to let Friday’s loss define his team or what could still become of their season.
He’s right, it wouldn’t be wise to write off a team that’s still only seven games back in the division. We’ve seen several teams with less perceived talent make larger comebacks at later points in the season. But as we’re seeing right now from the Blue Jays, who have won nine straight, everybody in the division is capable of heating up. That makes the margin for error much smaller and enchances the need for Boston’s turnaround to come swiftly.
It almost goes without saying, if the Red Sox lose more ground than they gain the rest of June, some decisions will have to be made.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
