The Red Sox need to start changing more than their uniforms
Nobody could say the Red Sox showed up Friday without the willingness to embrace some change.
For starters, there were the new City Connect uniforms. By all accounts, those were a hit.
There were also the images of Kristian Campbell learning how to play first base. While the club will continue to preach that it is exploring every option when it comes to replacing Triston Casas, it's fair to say it has locked in on moving Campbell over - while freeing up second base for top prospect Marcelo Mayer and David Hamilton - as Plan A.
While Rafael Devers' unwillingness to play first base has been, and should be, uncomfortable, the ultimate view is that Campbell's athleticism might play better at the position. It also hasn't been working out as planned at second for the rookie according to most defensive metrics.
The Red Sox also attempted to address the issue of being one high-leverage arm short in the bullpen, calling up veteran Nick Burdi, who had been dominating Triple-A hitters. With Worcester, the 32-year-old totaled a 0.54 ERA in 13 outings, striking out 25.
So by the time the final hours of May 16 rolled around, change was in the air ... or was it?
The Red Sox were left waiting for any of these new vibes and alterations to impact the most important part of the entire equation, wins and losses. In that respect, Friday night at Fenway felt all too familiar, with Alex Cora's team dropping a 4-2 decision to Chris Sale and the Braves.
It was the Red Sox' fourth straight loss, moving them to two games under .500 for the first time since April 14. They now sit a season-high five games back of the Yankees in the American League East, and three out of a Wild Card spot. (They are a 1/2-game back of the team without a town, the A's.)
Ace Garrett Crochet is certainly doing his part, once again shining by allowing just two runs over seven innings. But despite having a 2.51 ERA in his five starts at Fenway Park, the Red Sox have come away winning just one of them.
The issue this time? Bad base-running. With two outs in the third inning and the Red Sox getting runners on first and third while trailing by a pair of runs, Rafael Devers got caught between first and second in a run-down, taking the bat out of the hands of Rob Refsnyder (who would homer later in the game).
In the sixth inning, it was Jarren Duran who was picked off by Sale with Refsnyder at the plate. And then in the seventh inning, with the Sox only trailing by a run, Nick Sogard got thrown out trying to stretch a wall-ball single into a double.
"We just haven't been playing really good baseball and especially with Crochet on the mound," Refsnyder told reporters. “It's unfortunate because he's been throwing really well. And it seems like every game he throws, we're in it because of how good he is. So yeah, it sucks."
