D-Backs 4, Red Sox 1: Bullpen lets Boston die

After last night's embarrassing loss, I prayed to the Yellow Jersey gods hoping for a quick turnaround for the second game of this all-important series. My prayers were ultimately not answered. I will definitely try again tomorrow and include the Sunday Sox in my prayers.

Even the marathon jerseys can't save this team from the inexplicable mood they get when they step onto the Fenway turf. Fortunately, Arizona seemed to be able to play to its full potential in yesterday's loss, and Kutter Crawford — somehow — really held his own, NOT allowing a home run in five innings. He allowed just three hits and two earned runs and managed two walks, which really wasn't a bad outing compared to what we've seen from him lately. The only runs he allowed came on a double by Eugenio Suarez in the fourth inning, the only inning in which he allowed multiple hits in a single inning, giving Arizona a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Boston's offense was still as weak as it was last night — weaker, actually — as the Sox didn't get a single hit off Zac Gallen until Connor Wong singled in the fifth inning. But after that breakout hit, Jarren Duran got a runner in scoring position with two outs for the first time since the first inning, when Wilyer Abreu and Rafael Devers both walked runners to first and second base. Unfortunately, both situations had the same outcome and the Red Sox went scoreless for five innings.

After that poorly timed and controversial strikeout by Wilyer Abreu in the fifth inning, I was disappointed but not yet angry. When Zack Kelly relieved Crawford with a 1-2-3 sixth inning, I was able to avoid anger.

And then came the top of the seventh inning, with the Sox still trailing 2-0 and the bats dead. And then it happened: Arizona scored two more runs on four walks, NO hits, and a wild pitch (though I'm still really wondering what the heck Connor Wong was doing behind the plate this year) as Lucas Sims and Brennan Bernardino each allowed two batters to walks.

Then, early in the seventh, Luis Guillorme made this play to deny Masataka Yoshida a hit. And of course he did.

From here, Luis García allowed two hits in the eighth inning but prevented another run, and Joely Rodriguez came in and gave Corbin Carroll a triple into a corner of right field where Romy Gonzalez had no idea what he was doing.

Then it finally happened, as it always seems to happen, with the Red Sox down to three outs in the game. Rob Refsnyder decided it was the perfect time for his first hit of the game, which inspired Yoshida to do the same after being robbed in the seventh inning to wipe the big donut off the scoreboard. Of course, the runner on second base with no outs didn't get to score, as Boston quietly went in order afterward, having shown us a glimmer of hope.

Today is the first time this season that the Red Sox have lost a game after losing the previous game by 10 or more runs, so that's cool. Great timing to break the winning streak, guys.

Three bolts

Rafael Devers: Devers managed to reach base in three of his four at-bats, although he did not get a hit until the sixth inning.

Cutter Crawford: I expected a lot worse from Crawford, especially after seeing the power Arizona has on offense last night, but he certainly did well and gave his team the best chance to get in the game.

Masataka Yoshida: If you score the only run of the game and try to continue a comeback in the ninth inning, you have earned the stud title.

Side note: I usually trust Fangraphs' judgment when it comes to stars and losers in terms of WPA, but Connor Wong had the third-best WPA (-.004) and I couldn't justify giving him “star” status when he made several mistakes behind the plate that still make me wonder what exactly he's doing back there.

Three duds

Triston Casas: Casas' golden sombrero that afternoon was hard to stomach, but I appreciated his credibility and candor in his post-match media presence.

Mickey Gasper (sorry): Poor Mickey was a little too excited because all his friends and family were in town for his first full game at Fenway. I also learned that his dad is a Yankees fan. That's a hard thing to make up for.

Cedanne Rafaela: Without a standard, dazzling defensive play in the middle game of the series, Rafaela's presence was sorely missed in a crucial series for the (still struggling?) Red Sox.