Red Sox strikeout 15 times, lose fourth straight as postseason hopes dwindle
The Red Sox offense has gone ice cold, scoring just five runs in the last 36 innings and they have now lost four straight games.
Mets left-hander David Peterson carved up the Red Sox’ lineup, striking out 11 while allowing one run over six frames. Boston struck out a total of 15 times and lost 7-2 at Citi Field on Tuesday night.
Peterson is enjoying a breakout season tossing five straight quality starts and lowering his ERA to 2.75 over 17 outings. The southpaw turned 29 on Wednesday and made team history in the top of the fourth inning. Peterson fired a fastball by Romy Gonzalez, recording his eighth strikeout and, in the process, setting a franchise record for most strikeouts on a pitcher’s birthday, the team announced.
Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford pitched well over his outing, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out eight over six innings. The only hit he surrendered was a two-run homer off the bat of shortstop Francisco Lindor.
The two-run blast broke a scoreless tie in the home half of the third inning, traveling 369 feet for his 30th homer. It extended his current on-base streak to 32 straight games and his hitting streak to 14.
Boston was able to cut the Mets’ lead in half to 2-1 in the fifth inning. Masataka Yoshida led off with an infield single and advanced to second base on Danny Jansen’s slow grounder back to the mound. He would score on a bloop single into center field off the bat of Nick Sogard with two outs.
Crawford tossed 93 pitches, 64 for strikes, before being replaced by reliever Justin Slaten. The right-handed reliever gave up a solo blast to third baseman Mark Vientos on the third pitch of the seventh inning.
Boston tacked on another run off a pinch-hit RBI sac fly off the bat of Enmanuel Valdez. The Mets countered by adding four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off Chris Martin.
Pete Alonso recorded his 31st home run of the season during the eighth inning. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI at the plate in the win.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters following the loss that he will continue to tinker with the lineup for the series finale. Rafael Devers will bat out of the No. 2 hole in order to help jolt the lifeless offense.
Tanner Houck (8-9, 3.12 ERA) will start in the finale on Wednesday and will be opposed by Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (3-5, 4.82 ERA).
