BOSTON -- For the Red Sox, the last three weeks represented a chance to prove their mettle against four of the top contenders in the American League.
Instead, the only thing proved is that the defending World Series champions aren’t playing well enough these days to win series against those clubs.
After a 6-1 loss to the Rays on Sunday at Fenway Park, the Red Sox were faced with the reality that their level of consistency and execution must improve if they are going to be a top contender themselves this season.
Sixteen of the team’s last 23 games were played against the Astros, Yankees, Indians and Rays. Boston went 5-11, losing all five series.
What does that say about the Red Sox at the moment?
“That right now, they’re better than us,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We’ve got to keep getting better. Got to keep working. We’ve been saying it all along. Better with men in scoring position, execute out of the bullpen, everything. Texas is playing well too and they’re coming in [Monday], a four-game series. We’ve got to do what we’re supposed to do and keep getting better.
One of the big issues during that disappointing stretch reared its head again on Sunday -- not being able to cash in with runners in scoring position. Boston did create some opportunities against Rays ace Blake Snell but went 1-for-13 on the day with runners on second or third, stranding nine.
“Our offense? We ran into some tough pitching, man,” said shortstop Xander Bogaerts. “These guys have a track record of being good pitching-wise and they came here and did what they normally do. I feel like we had a lot of opportunities, especially a lot of guys on third with less than two outs. I messed up on a lot of occasions. I think we really have to do a better job with that, start with that, try to get some runs in. Man, these guys pitch extremely well.”
That’s what other teams were saying about the Red Sox last year. But there has been a definite difference with this team in 2019.
“We’re not producing,” Cora said. “That’s it. We haven't been consistent. Last year we were very consistent from Day 1 until the end. We haven’t been consistent.”
The offense, in particular, has slipped lately. Since May 17, the Sox are hitting .226 with runners in scoring position. Prior to that, they were batting .284 in those situations.
Of late, the problems have been exacerbated by two things.
The first is a pileup of injuries. J.D. Martinez has missed the last four games due to back problems. Aside from two at-bats on Friday, Mitch Moreland has been out since May 26 with, first, a low back strain and now a right quad injury that has him back on the injured list. Steve Pearce, last year's World Series MVP, is also on the IL with back woes.
The second issue is that the wrong players are slumping while the team is undermanned. Mookie Betts, last season’s MVP Award Winner, is hitting .170 in his last 47 at-bats dating back to May 28. In that time, he has two homers, three RBIs and a .644 OPS.
“Keep searching,” said Cora on Betts’ struggles. “As long as he stays in the zone, that’s the most important thing. He expanded the zone a little today. The most important thing is dominating the strike zone. That’s what you have to do. Some days you’re going to feel great at the plate. Others not so great. If he keeps dominating the strike zone, good things are going to happen. Get your walks, work the count, keep swinging at strikes. That’s the most important thing, not only for him but for everybody.”
Rafael Devers, Boston’s best hitter for most of the season, is in an 0-for-14 rut and sat out Sunday’s game. Rookie Michael Chavis, who gave the team a big boost a few weeks ago, is slashing .156/.191/.222 since May 28 with no homers and has been getting carved up by high fastballs.
Bogaerts, one of the leaders in the clubhouse, was asked if there should be concern the way the offense has been shut down against the upper echelon of late.
“No, not at all,” Bogaerts said. “There should not be no type of concern. We were pretty good in Kansas City. Offense was rolling, I think in New York we had a couple of games where the offense was pretty good. But these guys, man, there’s not much pitching in the league like this. I don’t know how they rank but I know they’re definitely at the top and it’s for a reason. All my years I’ve been here, they’ve had good pitching, starting, bullpen, closing. It was tough.”
With the Rays leaving town, the Red Sox will gear up for the Rangers in the hopes the offense will regain the identity that made them champions last year.
“We can address it,” said Cora. “We keep talking about it. It’s game planning. We have to attack them as a group. Like I said earlier today, sometimes it’s the little things. Ground ball up the middle, make contact, all that stuff that helps you get the big innings. We haven't done that in a little while. We have to start doing it.”