The Red Sox's recent struggles have left fans and players alike feeling frustrated and disheartened. With a record of 1-32 when trailing after seven innings and 0-35 when down after eight, the team is in dire need of a turnaround. The latest defeat to the Rays highlights the team's inability to close out games, despite showing glimpses of promise in May. The offensive resurgence that marked the final couple of weeks of May has disappeared through the early part of June, with the Sox slashing .218/.252/.354 with five homers while scoring just 3.14 runs per game.
One player who has been consistently near-misses is catcher Mickey Gasper. Gasper had two near-misses in this one, the first a drive to right in the fifth that looked like it would at least be a double until right fielder Austin Slater made a tremendous lunging catch. In the seventh, Gasper ripped one high and deep to right, but it landed in Slater’s glove – just in front of the wall. Per Statcast, it would have been a home run in 16 of MLB’s 30 ballparks.
Gasper's frustration is understandable, and it's clear that the team needs to find a way to convert these near-misses into wins. The Red Sox are not in a good spot at the moment, and they need to start creating more opportunities for themselves throughout the game. The road had recently been a place of fortune for the Red Sox, but they are 1-3 heading into Wednesday afternoon’s finale of this five-game road trip. Starting with a rainout on Saturday, Boston’s momentum has completely stalled, as interim manager Chad Tracy’s squad has scored an aggregate five runs over the last three games.
The Red Sox's struggles are not just a result of poor hitting, but also of poor pitching. The team has walked only nine times, compared to 48 strikeouts, going 2-5. The pitching staff needs to find a way to stop giving up runs in the late innings, as this has been a consistent problem for the team. The Red Sox are in a tough spot, but they need to keep fighting and find a way to turn things around. The team has shown glimpses of promise, and with a little bit of luck and some better execution, they could turn this around and start winning games.
In my opinion, the Red Sox need to focus on getting back to their winning ways and finding a way to close out games. The team has the talent and the skill, and with a little bit of luck and some better execution, they could turn this around and start winning games. The fans are counting on them, and the players need to step up and deliver. The Red Sox have a long way to go, but with a little bit of determination and hard work, they could turn this around and start winning games again.
