Yankees 5, Red Sox 2: Gio Urshela’s grand slam dooms Sox in another loss

It’s still early in the season, but it’s already becoming the same old story for the Red Sox. Their starter puts them behind, and the offense can’t catch up.

That was the case for the second consecutive night, as Zack Godley couldn’t build on his success and the Red Sox couldn’t find a spark in another mostly lifeless performance at Yankee Stadium, a 5-2 loss to the Yankees.

Here were the takeaways as the Red Sox fell to 3-6 and will look to avoid a sweep on Sunday night:

Zack Godley’s first start with the Red Sox was forgettable: The Red Sox are still searching for answers in the 3-5 spots of their starting rotation, and they certainly didn’t find any Saturday.

Godley had a terrific debut last Monday, throwing four scoreless and seven strikeouts in relief, but that was against the Mets. He took a huge step back against the Yankees and their powerful lineup, lasting 3⅓ innings and allowing five runs on six hits and two home runs, including a grand slam on the first pitch he made to Gio Urshela in the second inning — after three consecutive singles to start the inning — which was ultimately the difference.

The Red Sox continued to put their offense in a big hole to start the game. They’re 1-5 this season when the opposition scores first.

“It’s hard for those guys when they keep looking up at the scoreboard and we’re always behind,” Ryan Weber said after Friday’s loss.

On a night when Eduardo Rodriguez was lost for the season, it wasn’t what the Red Sox wanted to see as Godley’s performance was the latest disappointing one from a starter. Through nine games, Red Sox starters have posted a 6.87 ERA and only one starter, Nathan Eovaldi on opening night, has pitched six innings.

Xander Bogaerts looks like he’s finding his groove again: A year after earning MVP votes in a career year in which he had 33 homers and 52 doubles, Bogaerts has looked like himself the last two nights at Yankee Stadium.

On top of his usual great defense, Bogaerts is finding a rhythm at the plate after a minor knock earlier in the week. The shortstop followed up a 2-for-4 night in Friday’s loss with a double in the third inning that came about one foot from clearing the wall in center, which scored the Red Sox’ only two runs. He also flew out on a well-hit, deep fly ball in his first at-bat, a sign that he’s seeing the ball well.

Now the Red Sox are just waiting for him and the heart of the order to inevitably get hot. J.D. Martinez is slumping and sat out Saturday, and Rafael Devers hit a single — which should have been a double after it rolled to the corner. The third baseman is hitting just .182 to start the year.

The offense couldn’t take advantage of a strong bullpen performance: Chris Mazza looked like a keeper in his Red Sox debut, striking out three including D.J. LeMahieu and Aaron Judge in 2⅔ scoreless innings of relief. Ryan Brasier and Josh Osich then each threw a scoreless inning.

But after Bogaerts’ double in the third, the Red Sox looked lost and deflated as they collected just six hits and just two after the third inning. Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka threw just three innings in his first start of the season, but for a second consecutive night, the bullpen stymied the Red Sox offense, which is supposed to be the team’s strength and is capable of winning them games alone this season.

The Red Sox had something brewing in the ninth, as Jackie Bradley Jr. drew a two-out walk before Tzu-Wei Lin’s single, but Andrew Benintendi struck out to end it.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2D8Kz68