Lucas Giolito achieved a rare feat for the Red Sox during their recent homestand, becoming one of the few starters aside from Garrett Crochet to pitch more than five innings. Despite Giolito’s impressive performance, where he delivered seven scoreless innings while striking out six batters and allowing only two walks, the Boston offense struggled significantly. The Red Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of their doubleheader, losing 2-1 at Fenway Park.
Giolito, who threw 63.6% of his pitches for strikes, acknowledged that he didn’t feel like he had his top form, but credited a solid game plan and exceptional defensive support. “Connor (Wong) did a wonderful job back there calling the game… It was a group effort for sure,” he said after the loss. His effort came at a crucial time, as the bullpen had been heavily used in previous games.
The Red Sox offense could only muster five hits and went a dismal 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, stranding six on base. Abraham Toro managed to score Boston’s only run with a 386-foot home run in the ninth inning, marking his third of the season. This accomplishment put him in the spotlight as the first Red Sox player to hit a homer in both games of a doubleheader since Bobby Dalbec in September 2020.
In another notable moment, top prospect Marcelo Mayer made his major league debut, although he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Manager Alex Cora reflected on Mayer’s debut as a valuable experience, emphasizing his defensive skills despite the offensive challenges.
Adding to the team’s woes, this marked the Red Sox’s 13th loss this season in games decided by a single run, tying them with the Atlanta Braves for the most such defeats this year.
The Red Sox will conclude their four-game series against the Orioles and their 10-game homestand on Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. ET, with coverage available on NESN starting at 12:30 p.m.
Despite the setbacks, Giolito’s strong outing and the promising debut of Meyer provide a glimmer of hope for the Red Sox as they seek to turn their season around.