The Red Sox woke up Sunday sitting in second-place for the first time since June 26. That was thanks to a fourth straight loss to the Rays, this version coming in the form or a 9-5 defeat at Tropicana Field.
It was just one game. Turning the page. Get them tomorrow. These continued to be the majority of the mantras.
“We had our chances, right? We had bases loaded with one out. It was a one-run game going into the eighth. So, we’ll take that as a positive," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "Obviously, we don’t like losing. We have a chance to come here tomorrow, play a game and win, and enjoy the off day. We’ve been talking about this tough stretch. I think we’ve done a pretty good job, but obviously it would be good to come here tomorrow and have a good game, a clean game, and end up with a W."
"The vibe in the clubhouse was good," added Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings. "I felt like that game was on me tonight. I definitely could’ve done better. Our guys battled all the way back. We tied it up 5-5 and I gave it up in the sixth inning. ... One of those tough ones I have to chalk it up and do better next time."
Then there was Xander Bogaerts.
There is math -- as in there are still 56 games to go -- and there are vibes. The Red Sox shortstop is choosing to prioritize the latter.
"Yeah, tomorrow, I know there’s still two months of baseball left but for us, it’s huge," Bogaerts said. "We’re playing the guys that are neck and neck with us in the division. These guys, I mean, they’ve been swinging the bat pretty good these last three games. I think the game they beat the Yankees, also was a pretty big score. They’ve been swinging the bat pretty well. Tonight, I feel like it was a back and forth game until that inning that got away. ... I know there’s two months left, but we need a win tomorrow."
Bogaerts understands the reality of this situation. Like they say, the first sign of addiction is denial. This is one player who isn't in denial. And the guess is that he isn't alone.
The Red Sox are in the most precarious position of their season.
Not only is this team no longer in first-place, now routinely getting handled by the team that just overtook it, but that momentum that has rarely slowed down is lighter than ever.
For one, the Yankees are just five games in back of the Red Sox in the loss column, with the newest New Yorker, Anthony Rizzo, having homered in both his games with the Yankees while reaching base in all but one of his eight plate appearances.
The Blue Jays? Same thing. Five back in the loss column while riding a three-game win streak and carrying the feeling the front office pat on the back that came with adding Jose Berrios and Brad Hand.
But what truly suggests this bump in the road is different than the others the Red Sox' have come across this season are the issues facing Cora and Co.
In his most recent stretch of losing four of their last five, the Red Sox' starters have managed the worst ERA in all of baseball (9.58). The bullpen hasn't been much better, totaling a 5.40 ERA while giving up 18 hits in 18 1/3 innings.
Offensively, the lineup has experienced huge holes during the downturn, with stalwarts such as J.D. Martinez (2-for-20), and Hunter Renfroe (2-for-16) running into issues, with the team as a whole finally breaking its four-game homerless streak with a home runs from Xander Bogaerts and Bobby Dalbec Saturday.
Yes, Chris Sale is on the horizon. Ryan Brasier doesn't seem far off from helping, also. And newly-acquired Kyle Schwarber is likely to hit the road for a rehab assignment within a week.
But time is of the essence. Some repair jobs are in order, toot suite, just as Bogaerts.