Apr 23, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers short stop Ronny Rodriguez (60) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Red Sox dropped the day game of their doubleheader with the Tigers 7-4 Tuesday at Fenway Park.
W: Matthew Boyd (2-1)
L: Colten Brewer (0-2)
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
1. Red Sox bullpen falters again:
After a shaky weekend series in Tampa Bay, the Red Sox bullpen imploded Tuesday. Colten Brewer was the primary culprit, getting rocked in the eighth inning.
Red Sox tried to sneak around the 8th inning of a 3-3 game without using one of their high-leverage relievers.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 23, 2019
Colten Brewer was the pick and it's 6-3 Tigers.
13th time in 23 games Sox have allowed six or more runs.
Brewer gave up three runs on three hits and saw his ERA rise to 8.31.
Colton Brewer's last 4 appearances:
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) April 23, 2019
3 IP 7 ER 8 H 3 BB #RedSox
There is no reason for Alex Cora to ever go to Brewer in a high leverage situation. It’s fair to wonder why Brewer was the choice on Tuesday.
2. Sliders are supposed to slide:
Heath Hembree took over a 2-2 ballgame in the sixth when he threw one of the worst sliders you’ll see all year to Ronny Rodriguez:
He did the mash. He did the Monster mash.#MotorOn pic.twitter.com/MRwxBMSzyL
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 23, 2019
That’s the type of pitch that endangers drivers on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The home run ball has been a problem for the Red Sox bullpen in the last three games.
3. Sale takes another step:
Chris Sale had his strikeout stuff back, sitting down 10 Tigers by way of the K. He gave up two runs on five hits over five innings of work. It was arguably the best command Sale has had in an appearance so far this year.
Chris Sale's 10Ks in 15 seconds. ???? pic.twitter.com/40C15wvnQY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2019
The Red Sox would’ve likely wanted to get more than five innings out of their ace on a doubleheader day, but there were positives signs and they’ll take it.
Up next:
The Sox and Tigers play the second game of the doubleheader at 7:10 p.m. Hector Velazquez (0-1, 2.84 ERA) will take the ball against right-hander Spencer Turnbull (0-2, 3.43 ERA)
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.
