The Boston Red Sox produced some good, more bad and a whole lot of ugly in their series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Price struggled through a rough outing Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and while the Red Sox almost rescued him with an impressive comeback, Boston’s fielding miscues and some well-timed Dodgers hits were the difference in a disappointing 8-5 loss.
The Red Sox now have lost five consecutive games in which Price has started and finished their 11-game road trip with a 5-6 record.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Wacky.
From uncharacteristic miscues to a dancing slugger to a knuckleballer pinch running for said dancing slugger (more on that later), this game featured plenty of weird moments. Most didn’t benefit the Red Sox, however, who committed three errors in a sloppy series finale.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Adrian Gonzalez and Enrique Hernandez blasted back-to-back solo homers in the seventh inning.
Boston scored three runs in the sixth inning to cut L.A.’s lead to 6-5, but the Dodgers’ pair of jacks gave them some breathing room.
ON THE BUMP
— The Red Sox actually spotted Price a lead this time, but the left-handed ace couldn’t maintain it in a frustrating outing.
Price struggled with control throughout his brief outing, issuing a season-high five walks over just five innings. His defense didn’t do him any favors, as three of his six runs allowed were unearned. The 30-year-old still was his own worst enemy, however, allowing a solo homer to Justin Turner in the fourth and a pair of two-RBI singles to Rob Segedin in the Dodgers outfielder’s major league debut.
Price finished with a final line of six runs allowed (three earned) on six hits over five innings with three strikeouts and five walks.
— Fernando Abad retired the Dodgers in order in the sixth inning while recording a strikeout.
— Junichi Tazawa had a rough seventh frame, giving up homers to Gonzalez and Hernandez and also walking a batter.
— Clay Buchholz earned a rare appearance in the eighth and allowed one hit in a scoreless frame.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Andrew Benintendi was the brightest star in Boston’s disappointing loss. In just his third big league start, the 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with two RBI singles, a run scored and a stolen base.
His RBIs and stolen base both were the first of his career.
— Mookie Betts manufactured a run right out of the gate. He drew a leadoff walk in the first, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly to put the Red Sox up 1-0.
— Aaron Hill pinch hit for Brock Holt in the sixth inning and delivered an RBI double to bring Travis Shaw home.
— Betts (1-for-3, one run, one RBI) also ripped a single in the sixth that scored Benintendi to bring Boston within one run at the time.
— David Ortiz pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot in the sixth but walked, meaning he’ll finish his career without a hit at Dodger Stadium (0-for-6).
— Hanley Ramirez batted for the pitcher in the ninth but went down swinging against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
— Bryan Holaday finished 0-for-3 with a double play and a strikeout in his Red Sox debut.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
It was that kind of night at Dodger Stadium.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 8, 2016
UP NEXT
The Red Sox finally will return home after an off-day Monday, kicking off a three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Fenway Park. Rick Porcello will get the ball against Yankees right-hander Luis Severino, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
