Well, folks, I don’t even know where to begin with this one. As a die-hard Red Sox fan, I’m still reeling from last night’s game against the Cardinals. Honestly, it was a disaster from start to finish. We didn’t even score a single run until the ninth inning, and by then it was far too late. The Cardinals dominated us in every way possible, and now we’re left licking our wounds and wondering where we go from here. Oy vey indeed.
Introduction
As a lifelong Red Sox fan, it’s never pleasant to see your team get blown out by a score of 9-1. Such was the case on Thursday, May 27th when the Boston Red Sox faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Red Sox were looking to carry over their momentum from a win against the Houston Astros the previous night, but instead, they were handed a crushing defeat. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what went wrong for the Red Sox and what they need to do to bounce back.
The Game
The game got off to a promising start for the Red Sox when they scored a run in the top of the first inning. Alex Verdugo singled on a line drive to left field, driving in Enrique Hernandez. However, things quickly unraveled for the Red Sox from there. In the bottom of the first inning, the Cardinals scored three runs off of Red Sox starter Garrett Richards. Richards struggled with his command, giving up four walks and two hits in just 2/3 innings pitched. The Cardinals continued to pour it on, scoring two more runs in the third inning and three more in the fifth inning. Red Sox reliever Brandon Workman didn’t fare much better, giving up two earned runs in 2/3 innings pitched.
On the offensive side, the Red Sox were stymied by Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo. Oviedo pitched five innings, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four. The Red Sox managed just two hits over the final four innings of the game.
The Problems
There were several problems that led to the Red Sox’ defeat at the hands of the Cardinals. One of the biggest issues was the lack of command from Red Sox starter Garrett Richards. Richards struggled with his control, giving up four walks in just 2/3 innings pitched. He wasn’t able to get ahead in the count, which resulted in the Cardinals being able to sit on his fastball. This lack of command put the Red Sox in an early hole, which they were never able to climb out of.
Another issue for the Red Sox was their inability to get anything going against Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo. Oviedo pitched five strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four. He was able to keep the Red Sox hitters off balance, mixing his pitches well and hitting his spots. The Red Sox were never able to get anything going against him and struggled to put together any meaningful rallies.
Defensively, the Red Sox also had some issues. Third baseman Bobby Dalbec had a rough night, making two errors in the game. His first error came in the bottom of the first inning when he threw the ball away on a routine ground ball. That error led to two Cardinals’ runs scoring. His second error came in the bottom of the fifth inning when he missed a catch on a line drive. That error led to another Cardinals’ run scoring. The Red Sox defense as a whole struggled, committing three errors in the game.
The Positives
Despite the lopsided score, there were a few positives to take away from the game for the Red Sox. One of these was Alex Verdugo’s continued success at the plate. Verdugo went 2 for 3 with an RBI in the game, extending his hitting streak to ten games. He’s been one of the most consistent hitters for the Red Sox this season and has shown great patience at the plate.
Another positive for the Red Sox was the performance of reliever Phillips Valdez. Valdez came on in relief of Brandon Workman in the bottom of the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless inning. He struck out two batters and allowed just one hit. Valdez has been a reliable arm out of the Red Sox bullpen this season and has shown that he’s capable of pitching in high-pressure situations.
The Path Forward
The Red Sox need to bounce back quickly from this defeat if they want to keep their momentum going. They have a tough schedule ahead of them, with series against the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays on the horizon. To do so, they’ll need to address some of the issues that plagued them in this game.
One of the biggest areas of concern is the starting pitching. Garrett Richards had a rough outing in this game, and the Red Sox can’t afford to have him or any of their other starters struggle with their command. They’ll need to work on getting ahead in the count and being more aggressive on the mound. The Red Sox also need to be more aggressive at the plate. They were too passive in this game, allowing Cardinals pitchers to get ahead in the count and dictate the at-bat.
Defensively, the Red Sox need to clean up their act. They can’t afford to give away free outs with errors like they did in this game. They need to be more diligent and focus on making the routine plays.
Finally, the Red Sox need to keep their heads up. This was a tough loss, but it’s just one game. They have a long season ahead of them, and they need to stay positive and focus on the task at hand.
Conclusion
The Red Sox’ 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals was a disappointing one. They were unable to get anything going on offense and struggled with their pitching and defense. However, there were a few positives to take away from the game, including Alex Verdugo’s continued success at the plate. Moving forward, the Red Sox need to address some of the issues that plagued them in this game if they want to keep their momentum going. It won’t be easy, but the Red Sox have shown that they’re capable of bouncing back from tough losses.
