The Red Sox may have lost more than a game on Monday. The Sox fell to the Blue Jays 6-4 after a bad outing by starter Drew Pomeranz. Over just 2.0 IP, Pomeranz allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits with a walk and no strikeouts.
With two outs in the second inning and Sox up 2-1, Pomeranz walked Darwin Barney, allowed a Ryan Goins single, then an infield hit by the #9 batter, Luke Maile, to load the bases. Pomeranz, so solid with runners in scoring position this season, then gave up his first bases-loaded hit of the season, a double to Teoscar Hernández followed by a second double to Josh Donaldson, for a 5-2 Toronto lead.
Monday’s game marked Pomeranz’ shortest start since September 13, 2016. It was just his fourth career start (of 110) in which he failed to go more than 2.0 innings.
Worse Than The Loss
As bad as a loss is, Sox fans were likely more troubled watching Mookie Betts and Eduardo Núñez leave the game early with injuries.
The Sox can ill afford losing Betts, who before leaving the game early with pain in his wrist, was 2-for-3 with his 100th and 101st runs batted in. Betts has scored 98 times this season. With two more runs, he’ll join Hall of Famer Ted Williams as the only Red Sox players ever with multiple 100 RBI/100 R seasons before turning age 25.
After the game, Betts explained that a “sharp pain” in his wrist pain began after swinging the bat a few days earlier. He may be the only one, but Betts said he wasn’t concerned, “I think I’ll be fine.” Whether he’ll rest as the Sox head towards the playoffs is unclear. “That’s not for me to decide,…we haven’t worn the division yet,” Betts said.
Meanwhile, Núñez, so pivotal to the club’s offense since arriving just before the trade deadline (53-for-165, .321), returned the lineup after missing 13 games with a bad knee. Núñez immediately stroked a first-inning double but then collapsed at the plate, clutching the knee, after an awkward swing in the in the third inning.
Bizarrely, manager John Farrell allowed Nunez to stay in the game to complete the at-bat before ultimately lifting him.
After the game, Núñez said he would rest for the remainder of this series and possibly be back for the final regular season set against Houston.
Coupled with a Yankees’ win earlier in the day, Boston lost a game in the AL East Division race. The club’s magic number to win the division held at three.