Eduardo Rodriguez once again leaves Red Sox scratching their heads

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OAKLAND -- Whether they will admit it or not, this has to be maddening for the Red Sox.

It's one thing to lose six of their first eight games out of the chute, but when the latest defeat is a product of another Eduardo Rodriguez head-scratcher it only adds to the frustration. Welcome to Thursday. (For a complete recap of the Red Sox' 7-3 loss to the A's, click here.)

In a stadium Rodriguez had excelled in his previous two outings, having turned in two eight-inning gems against the A's, the lefty did little to suggest he had evolved from his uncomfortable first start of the season in Seattle. This time around the Sox starter allowed six runs on eight hits over just 3 2/3 innings, throwing 84 pitches before giving way to Hector Velazquez.

Adding to the issue was the fact Rodriguez had been staked to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third thanks to a pair of bases-loaded walks and J.D. Martinez's solo homer in the third.

Rodriguez's problems began with Steven Piscotty's three-run homer in the third inning. And in fairness to the starter he could have escaped the fourth with just a one-run deficit if Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. didn't inexplicably let Piscotty's routine, two-out fly ball drop for a ground rule double, scoring two runs.

"You got it, you got it, you got it." - Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts (probably)pic.twitter.com/tibSmCus2X

— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) April 4, 2019

But this is a results business and Rodriguez continues to fail to garner consistent results.

In two starts the pitcher -- who had supplied more optimism than any other hurler throughout spring training -- has given up 12 runs on 16 hits over eight innings. 

For his career, Rodriguez has started 89 games, going 31-26 with a 4.26 ERA.

The Red Sox need to figure a lot of things out these days, but deciphering exactly what they have in this pitcher might be near the top of the list.

The Red Sox got burned by A's center fielder Ramon Laureano's arm once again. With nobody out in the ninth inning and the Sox trailing by four, Betts attempted to reach third on a bloop hit into center field by Andrew Benintendi. Bad idea.

WHY -- ARE -- WE -- STILL -- RUNNING -- ON -- RAMON LAUREANO??? pic.twitter.com/bEWaLnQLOy

— Red Sox on CLNS (@RedSoxCLNS) April 4, 2019