The Cleveland Guardians led the Boston Red Sox 1-0 in the second inning thanks to a home run from Will Brennan, a recent Red Sox killer.
Chase Anderson struggled in his spot start which was supposed to belong to Brayan Bello before his 15-day injured list stint was announced. Anderson hit Gabriel Arias with a pitch, collected a quick lineout of Brayan Rocchio, then walked the next two batters to load the bases for Cleveland's most dangerous hitter.
José Ramírez took three straight balls, two strikes, then fouled off three pitches. When the ninth pitch of his at-bat came his way, Ramírez swung. The ball tilted back toward catcher Reese McGuire. The ball slipped out of the catcher's glove, and Anderson had to throw a 10th pitch to Ramírez.
And 10 was too many. Ramírez drilled a line-drive grand slam to right field and the third baseman smiled all around the bases after what should have been a third strike.
José Ramírez launches a grand slam for the @CleGuardians on the 10th pitch of the AB! 🚀
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 25, 2024
📺 MLB Network pic.twitter.com/mlfvzQCycG
Ramírez's bomb was the nail in Boston's coffin and it only gave up one more run in the last seven innings of the game. A mid-innings rally wasn't enough for the Red Sox to dig themselves out of the hole the grand slam put them in, and they lost to the Guardians, 6-4.
Boston was scrappy at the plate and fought to bring the score closer. The Sox out-hit the Guardians 10-8 and contributions from big players helped them put up a fight. Rob Refsnyder tripled in the third inning to score Rafael Devers and Wilyer Abreu followed with a sacrifice fly to score the third baseman.
Red Sox defensive miscues, high strikeout totals doom them against Guardians
In the top of the sixth frame, an RBI ground out from Ceddanne Rafaela and an RBI single from Jarren Duran brought the Red Sox within one, but they were unable to finish the job.
Boston is getting on base more often in recent games. It collected 26 hits in its final two games of the season series against Cleveland, but Red Sox were still striking out when they needed to score runners. Guardians pitching fanned 12 Sox and they left eight men on base.
Sloppy defense and high strikeout numbers have done the Red Sox in, again. Luckily, Boston does not have to face the MLB-leading Cleveland squad again this season