The Boston Red Sox experienced a setback in their crucial three-game road series against the Houston Astros, as they squandered a two-run lead in the sixth inning, culminating in a walk-off home run by Yainer Diaz at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night.
This loss marked the Red Sox’s 12th blown save since the All-Star break, emphasizing an ongoing challenge that the team’s management sought to address before the trade deadline on July 30: pitching depth. Boston manager Alex Cora made strategic decisions during the game, notably bringing in left-handed hitter Masataka Yoshida to pinch hit in the sixth against right-handed reliever Tayler Scott, a move that paid off as Yoshida launched a two-run homer.
Despite holding a 12-17 record in the second half of the season, the Red Sox are still within striking distance, sitting 4 1/2 games behind a spot in the American League wild-card race. The team has recently welcomed back key power hitters Triston Casas and Tyler O’Neill, and they signed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, who has since reported to Triple-A. With the postseason slowly approaching, Boston is in need of every possible contribution.
Cora continued with a left-handed bat strategy to counter Houston’s starting pitcher Ronel Blanco, reinserting lefty hitters Wilyer Abreu, David Hamilton, and Masataka Yoshida into the lineup, as Danny Jansen also returned to catch.
Nick Pivetta was on the mound for Boston, aiming to bounce back after allowing three runs in five innings during his previous outing against the Baltimore Orioles last Thursday.
Here are the lineups for the matchup:
BOSTON RED SOX (65-59)
Jarren Duran, CF
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Triston Casas, 1B
Rafael Devers, 3B
Tyler O’Neill, LF
Masataka Yoshida, DH
Danny Jansen, C
David Hamilton, 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela, SS
Nick Pivetta, RHP (5-8, 4.49 ERA)
HOUSTON ASTROS (68-56)
Jose Altuve, 2B
Yordan Alvarez, DH
Yainer Diaz, C
Jeremy Peña, SS
Jon Singleton, 1B
Mauricio Dubón, LF
Jake Myers, CF
Shay Whitcomb, 3B
Chas McCormick, RF
Ronel Blanco, RHP (9-6, 2.89 ERA)