Red Sox Edged Out by Guardians Despite Fierce Effort at Fenway
The Boston Red Sox, with a 10-10 record, faced off against the Cleveland Guardians, who held a 13-6 standing. In a closely contested battle at Fenway Park, the final score read 5-4 in favor of the visitors.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the first inning with two hits and one run but couldn't maintain their momentum as defensive errors plagued both teams throughout the game. The Guardians responded in the third inning with one run amidst an error by Boston and continued to build their lead with additional runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Red Sox fought back valiantly in the sixth inning, tallying three runs on three hits to narrow Cleveland's lead.
Despite their efforts, Boston's batting average stood at .171 for this game, reflecting struggles at the plate that left fourteen runners on base. Their on-base percentage (OBP) was .237 while slugging (SLG) was recorded at .257; these offensive statistics underscored missed opportunities during key moments of play. The team managed to convert two out of seven chances with runners in scoring position (RISP), including two runs batted in (RBI) when it mattered most—with two outs.
On defense, Boston committed two errors which contributed to three unearned runs for Cleveland. However, they also turned one double play and showcased some resilience through eleven assists across nine innings.
Pitching for Boston proved more effective than hitting; starters posted an earned run average (ERA) of 0.0 over two innings pitched while relievers ended up with a combined ERA of 2.571 across seven innings. They struck out six batters but allowed eight hits and five total runs—two earned—contributing to a WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) of 1.1111.
The Guardians capitalized on their eight hits and were aided by Boston's fielding mishaps to secure victory despite also committing two errors themselves.
Looking ahead after this tough loss, fans can catch The Red Sox as they take on Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park scheduled for April 19th at 6:40 PM Eastern Time Zone broadcasted live on SportsNet PT.