Red Sox blow late lead to Guardians, lose in extra innings

Red Sox blow late lead to Guardians, lose in extra innings

The Boston Red Sox entered Tuesday night with another chance to win their 10th game of the season, but they failed to do so again, this time losing 10-7 to the Cleveland Guardians in extra innings.

Boston’s starter Garrett Whitlock looked to be on pace for another solid outing, as he had given up just two runs on three hits and a walk through four innings before being pulled due to oblique tightness.

The Red Sox were down 2-1 at the time of Whitlock’s departure due to a solo home run by Enmanuel Valdez in the fourth, but they could’ve been tied if Triston Casas hadn’t been caught stealing.

Things began to slide when Joely Rodriguez entered for Whitlock. The lefty immediately gave up three runnings (two earned due to a fielding error by right field Wilyer Abreu), putting Alex Cora’s team down by four.

Boston’s offense woke up in the sixth inning, as they scored five runs on home runs from Casas (solo) and Connor Wong (two-run) and a two-run double by Rafael Devers (his last at-bat before leaving the game with an injury).

Brennan Bernadino and Chris Martin pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings, setting up Kenley Jansen for the save. However, Boston’s closer gave up a double and two singles to blow the lead.

Greg Weissert gave up a run in the 10th to put Cleveland up 7-6, but Wong drove in one to tie it up in the bottom of the frame.

In the 11th, Josh Winckowski allowed three runs and the Red Sox couldn’t match that, leading to their ninth loss of the season and sixth at home.

The team’s struggles defensively and on the basepaths are inexcusable. Both aspects of the game need to be cleaned up.