BOSTON — As bad as things have gone for the Red Sox this week, they had a glimmer of hope with their best pitcher this season to date on the mound scheduled to start Sunday to try to end a bad homestand on a positive note.
But when it rains, it pours for these Red Sox.
Shortly before Sunday morning’s first pitch, Michael Wacha – who had won his previous three starts – was scratched and placed on the injured list. Tanner Houck took the ball instead, and the losing continued.
Houck gave up three runs in the third inning, and despite six shutout innings from the bullpen, that was enough to sink the Red Sox again. The offense couldn’t sustain any momentum in a 3-2 loss at Fenway Park as they were swept by the White Sox and fell to their fifth consecutive defeat.
The Red Sox are 10-19 after exactly one month of baseball, leading the American League in losses.
The ending came in familiar fashion. Down one, J.D. Martinez opened the ninth with a double off the left-field wall, but the Red Sox couldn’t drive in pinch-runner Franchy Cordero. Christian Vazquez flew out, Alex Verdugo struck out and pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki flew out to end the game.
The Red Sox are now 3-7 in one-run games this season.
