The Boston Red Sox managed five runs on May 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers, the most they've scored in a game since May 26. Unfortunately, the list of positives about Boston's performance ends there.
Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu broke through slumps with a homer apiece, and Trevor Story even got a hit in extra innings, but the Red Sox's defense did everything it could to lose the game. Jarren Duran dropped a routine fly ball with two outs in the fifth inning and Jake Bauers scored the Brewers' second run on the following play, which was enough to convince Alex Cora that Brayan Bello needed to come out of the game. Bello could've gotten the final out and spared Brennan Bernardino, who's made 14 appearances in May, but the Red Sox decided to tax the 'pen instead. Bello had only thrown 77 pitches.
A single off the bat of Sal Frelick slipped under Abreu's glove in the second inning, and luckily, nothing came of it. But Kristian Campbell's extra innings gaffe is inexcusable. Isaac Collins knocked a bouncing grounder in the 10th inning with runners on the corners, and instead of going for the double play, Campbell whipped the ball to the right of Carlos Narváez at the plate, allowing both runners to advance while the tying run scored.
The Red Sox can't expect to win when they're beating themselves
Defensive issues weren't the only ones plaguing the Red Sox in Milwaukee. Rafaela and Connor Wong stood on first and second base, respectively, in the fifth inning. Duran knocked a single, and Wong was held up at third base, but Rafaela kept running until he and Wong were face-to-face at the hot corner. Rafaela was tagged out just before Rafael Devers knocked a two-run single to give the Sox a lead. Maybe if Rafaela didn't overrun his base, Boston could've avoided extra innings, but the same can be said for plenty of its mistakes.
Something has to change in the Red Sox's clubhouse, whether it's an attitude adjustment or a coaching change. The season is over a third of the way gone, and Boston is a young squad, but the minor league mistakes it continues to make are reprehensible (subscription required).
The Red Sox have a much-needed day off after being swept for the second time this season. Boston has been walked off in four of its last five road games, and its five-game losing streak is its worst of the year. If Roman Anthony isn't with the team in Atlanta against a much scarier opponent in the Braves on Friday, Red Sox Nation might riot — and it'll be completely deserved.
The Red Sox are out of time to figure things out. They're down to fourth place in the American League East and the Yankees continue to accumulate wins and separate themselves from the pack all the while. Rob Refsnyder gave a powerful statement after the Sox's first loss in Milwaukee, saying the Red Sox "suck right now," and he's "tired of losing." Apparently, he's the only one.