Red Sox blow lead in eighth as obstruction call leads to stunning loss to Indians

The circumstances weren’t ideal for the Red Sox this weekend, with multiple starters missing and the bullpen running on fumes.

Still, they were four outs away from leaving Cleveland with a satisfying sweep when it all painfully fell apart in a stunning turn of events.

Leading by a run in the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox’ bullpen blew another game when Austin Davis gave up a pair of runs — including the ultimate game-winning run on an obstruction call — in a deflating 7-5 loss to the Indians on Sunday at Progressive Field.

A day after they used seven relievers in their extra-inning victory, the Red Sox (75-57) were hanging by a thread, up by 5-4 in the eighth, when they summoned Davis. The lefty, who’s been effective since being acquired at the trade deadline, picked up two quick outs.

But it turned on him fast. Pinch hitter Austin Hedges lined Davis’ 2-2 fastball to left that just snuck inside the foul pole for the game-tying homer.

Then, a confusing sequence sunk the Red Sox.

Oscar Mercado followed with a single to center before Yu Chang ripped a double down the left-field line. Mercado rounded third and went home, and at first glance, looked like he’d been cut down at the plate easily for the inning-ending out. But home plate umpire Nic Lentz ruled that Mercado had been interfered with by Red Sox second baseman Yairo Munoz, and he was rewarded home for the go-ahead run.

Munoz had his back turned and it didn’t look like he knew Mercado was running into his path. But it was nonetheless a killer for the Red Sox. Matt Barnes took over and gave up an RBI single on a line drive to Xander Bogaerts to give the Indians a two-run cushion.

The Red Sox went down 1-2-3 quietly in the ninth and were left looking a bit stunned in the dugout. They’ll head to Tampa for a four-game series with the first-place Rays, who they trail by eight games.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Wzm37y