Marlins 5, Red Sox 3

 

Blame this one on the Boston bullpen. Hell, jump on the bandwagon and blame it specifically on Isaiah Campbell (who didn't even pitch in this game).

The Sox entered the ninth with a 3-2 lead (3-1 entering the eighth). Aroldis Chapman time, right? Bring in your bullpen ace to get three sure outs, win the game, and complete the sweep of Miami. But no, Chapman wasn't available because, the day before, Campbell couldn't protect a 7-2 lead and after giving up three runs they had to bring in Chapman to nail down what should have been an easy win.

So yesterday, with a precarious 3-2 lead hanging in the balance, instead of Chapman the Sox had to bring in Greg Weissert, who promptly gave up a game-tying home run to the first batter he faced. With one out and one on, the Sox relieved Weissert with Steven Matz, one of those trade-deadline pitchers we picked up August 1 from St. Louis, who promptly gave up a two-run homer to his first batter. 5-3, Miami, and with Boston unable to generate any offense in the 9th - the whole game really - they lose the game, blow the sweep, rob Garrett Crochet of a potential win, and give up what seemed like a sure win against a sub-.500 team.

Statistically, the Sox have one of the best bullpens in the AL, at least based on ERA. It sure doesn't feel like that, though. And then Wilyer Abreu had to leave the game early with calf tightness, so we have that to worry about now, too. 

The Red Sox are 68-57, second in the AL East - five back from first-place Toronto and a mere half-game ahead of the suddenly-resurgent Yankees. They're tied with Seattle in the Wild Card race.

Dustin May, another of those trade-deadline pitching acquisitions, starts tonight in a two-game homestand against Baltimore (57-67). May's 1-1 with the Sox so far, but his last start was an eight-K, six-inning shutout of the Astros, so that's promising. Tonight, he goes up against the Oriole's Trevor Rogers (5-2, 1.43), probably the best pitcher in Baltimore's rotation, so this should be an interesting game.