The Boston Red Sox had counted on pitching to keep them close in some recent games. But it’s going to take the bats to get going for them to make a turnaround.
They carry a four-game losing streak into Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles hammered six home runs, including a pair of two-run blasts from Adley Rutschman, in Friday night’s 10-3 triumph.
“All these guys have that capability in them,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It was good to see kind of everything come together.”
Coby Mayo has homered in three consecutive games for the Orioles. Rutschman was in his second game back coming off the injury list.
“We’ve got great hitting coaches,” Rutschman said. “Everyone in our clubhouse kind of knows we’re trying to put the gas on as early as possible and just put together good ABs and try to string some runs across early.”
The Red Sox will try to prevent a second five-game skid this season. The three runs for Boston in the series opener marked their most offense in four games, but that’s not likely to be enough. The Red Sox have lost six of their last seven games overall.
“I don’t think we have a bad team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’re just going through a bad stretch.”
A pair of left-handers will try to get back on track with Saturday’s starting assignments on the mound.
Garrett Crochet (2-3, 7.88 ERA) will start for Boston in an attempt to stop a personal two-game skid. He allowed a total of 16 runs (15 earned) in 6 2/3 innings in losses to Minnesota and Detroit, allowing two home runs in each game. He has struck out at least seven in four of his five outings.
Crochet has faced the Orioles five times, with three of those in starts. He’s 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings.
Trevor Rogers (2-2, 4.08) has lost his last two starts when facing Arizona and Cleveland, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) in 9 2/3 innings. All three of the homers he has surrendered this year have come in those two games.
Rogers is 1-2 with a 2.13 ERA in five career starts vs. the Red Sox.
Friday’s result marked Baltimore’s first game against an American League East rival this year. Albernaz said he likes the competitive nature of the division with every team built to win.
But regarding the impacts of those meetings, those will take care of themselves.
“For us, we prepare just like it’s another game,” Albernaz said.
Baltimore has outfielder Tyler O’Neill available after he was brought back from the concussion injury list, though he didn’t play Friday night.
“He’s a guy who has a track record of hitting,” Albernaz said. “Just lengthens the lineup when he’s in there. Good to see him healthy and back. He’ll bring some thump.”
Rutschman said the Orioles could be gearing up for a good stretch given that the roster is coming back together.
“It’s an unbelievable group to be a part of,” Rutschman said. “Just the positive energy everyone brings.”
Saturday’s game time has been moved up four hours to 12:05 p.m. because of the threat of inclement weather later in the day.
–Field Level Media
