What should have been a memorable come-from-behind win over the Rays had already evolved into something significantly more uncomfortable for the Red Sox.
That was evident the moment Xander Bogaerts paused while limping off the infield in the seventh inning to put his arm around Red Sox trainer Paul Buchheit. He couldn't manage the trek to the dugout on his own. This wasn't just an ankle injury, this was a bad ankle injury. And it was an ankle that happened to belong to one of the most important players on the team.
Prior to Bogaerts sliding into the Rays' dugout in an attempt to cut off a ball that had deflected off his glove after trying to reel in a throw from left fielder J.D. Martinez, the game was perceived as simply a bump in the road on the way to the Red Sox' three-game series with the Yankees. Then came the eighth inning, when the Bogaerts-less offense put up six runs -- punctuated by a two-out RBI double from Mookie Betts, followed by Andrew Benintendi's game-winning double -- which paved the way for the team's eighth in first nine games.
You come back from a five-run deficit with six outs to go, as the Red Sox did in their 8-7 win, that should be the story. And maybe for a few hours, it was. But not for long.
(For a complete recap, click here.)
Prior to the Bogaerts news, it just seemed to simply be one of those days. They happen, particularly when you're running with the safeguard of a seven-game win streak.
Eduardo Rodriguez started strong, striking out the side in the first inning, but then fell victim to bad command on the way to an uneasy 92-pitch, 3 2/3 innings, in which the lefty allowed three runs. It was a performance that wasn't exactly awe-inspiring but certainly wouldn't elicit panic heading into the coming weeks.
And the offense had seemingly taken a step back from Saturday's good times, with one of the previous game's heroes, J.D. Martinez, actually getting a smattering of boos upon striking out for the second time. Prior to that at-bat, Martinez also struck out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning.
But once Bogaerts left the field, this day would be remembered for something much more than just the Red Sox' latest feel-good story. This was a reminder of how fragile this whole equation can be.
Prior to the season, such an injury to Bogaerts wouldn't have considered such a game-changer. The first eight games, however, have altered the conversation. The shortstop was the straw that was stirring the Red Sox' offensive drink.
He was playing with the kind of confidence and power that the Red Sox had seen only glimpses of, but felt confident were not rooted in Bogaerts' existence. Nine extra-base hits, a .371 batting average and 1.148 OPS will do that.
Now the discussion turns to how the Red Sox will live without the player who had identified himself as their best offensive player, both at bat and in the field.
Brock Holt will most certainly take over full-time duty at shortstop, a position he is considered just OK at. (Second base is more Holt's thing.) This was one of the issues brought up when the Red Sox chose the utility infielder over Deven Marrero, who was dealt to Arizona at the end of spring training. In terms of filling in behind Bogaerts, and supplying defensive replacements at second base, shortstop and third base, Marrero was a better fit. But they chose the bat and ability to play the outfield from Holt (who does still have options).
Holt did make a nice backhand play, in the hole between shortstop and third base, to end the game.
"I feel comfortable shortstop, second base, third base, pretty much anywhere," Holt said. "It's a tough, tough team to crack the lineup. You hate to see Bogey get injured there, especially with his spot coming up in the order in a big spot there, but I feel like I can step in and do a good job. I was happy to do it. It was a little colder out on the field than it was in the dugout with my coat on. No, it was a good win for us and we'll have a good off day tomorrow and get ready to go the next day."
The Red Sox' fail-safe will be Tzu-Wei Lin, who most certainly will get the call to return to the big leagues. Lin impressed so much defensively at shortstop that he could very easily be pencilled in to start at the position more times than not.
Alex Cora's club managed to show that they can get by without Bogaerts for the time being. And maybe we are somewhat overstating the loss simply because of how good the shortstop had been so far this season, but it certainly doesn't help.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, their pain was numbed by a pretty good final couple of innings.
Yesterday's offensive hero, today's casualty. Ouch. pic.twitter.com/fTuiwbsr8t
— Red (@SurvivingGrady) April 8, 2018- The 8-1 record is the best through the first nine games of a season in franchise history.
- The Red Sox had lost their last 96 games when trailing by five or more runs in the eighth inning or later.
- Alex Cora became the second Red Sox manager to begin his tenure by winning at least eight of his first nine games (Joe Morgan, 1988).
- The Red Sox are now 5-0 in one-run games. the last time the Red Sox won each of their first five one-run games was 2008.
- The Red Sox have not committed an error in any of their first nine games, extending the franchise's longest errorless-games streak to begin a season. The last previous team to play their first nine games without an error was Detroit in 2013 (9).
- The game-time temperature was 38 degrees, the lowest for any Red Sox home game since April 17, 2003.
