Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Red Sox: Forget destiny, Sox control their own demise

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Xander Bogaerts #2 (L) and Kyle Schwarber #18 of the Boston Red Sox look on from the dugout during the ninth inning of the Red Sox 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Xander Bogaerts #2 (L) and Kyle Schwarber #18 of the Boston Red Sox look on from the dugout during the ninth inning of the Red Sox 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Did the Boston Red Sox just lose a three-game series to the 107-loss Baltimore Orioles?

After a 6-2 loss at the hands of the American League East dwellers on Thursday night, that is exactly what happened as the Sox are now tied with the Seattle Mariners for the second Wild Card spot.

Who would’ve thought just a week ago this would be the path the Red Sox would be writing?  After being swept out of Fenway Park by the New York Yankees who gained control of the top Wild Card spot, there was solace in knowing the next two components combined for over 200 losses in the 2021 MLB season.

Well, no one expected the Red Sox to play like they were the team that lost over 100 games.  With how they performed against the Yankees and now the Orioles, they will be lucky to make the playoffs.

The Boston Red Sox picked the wrong time to suck

Not only has the offense picked the wrong time to go on a slump, but the pitching hasn’t bailed them out.  From Chris Sale given up a lead in the first game of the series with the Orioles to Nick Pivetta giving up a three-run bomb to something named Ryan Mountcastle, this Red Sox stretch has been pathetic.

What’s been more pathetic is a pitcher like Alexander Wells, who entered the game with a 7.61 ERA, shutting down an offense with bats like Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber.

Although the Boston Red Sox are a much better team than this, the disappointment is the team not being prepared to take control of a team like the Orioles.  Though there is still time to wake up even with just three games left, did it really take losing two of three at Camden Yards to set this team back on the path of urgency?

Boston Red Sox offense needs to get it poppin’

Well, Bogaerts, who is in the center of the team’s offensive struggles knows they better be ready for a Washington Nationals team who is just a tad better than those Orioles.

"“I think we’re ready to go to Washington, to be honest,” Bogaerts said following the game, via MLB.com.  “They outplayed us here.  It’s a bad time for us to be doing that, playing worse than the Orioles.  Obviously, we need it more than them at this point.  Let’s get it out of here, man, get some good sleep and come back at it tomorrow.”"

The Boston Red Sox will lean on Eduardo Rodriguez to get things rolling again in a National League Park in which they will lose a bat.

The lefty simply must come out aggressive on the mound and allow his offense to get ahead in the game.  A fast start offensively can make a team like the Nationals fold.  Then again, the Orioles didn’t fold when Kike Hernandez hit a leadoff homer on Thursday night.

Next. The 50 Greatest Red Sox Players Of All Time. dark

So, this will be a grind for Alex Cora and his team.  This regular season series finale will show how much this Red Sox team really want a shot at the postseason.  They have basically given the Tampa Bay Rays the division and handed the Yankees the top Wild Card spot.  Now, they are just three games away from writing their own demise.

If they do, the 2021 Boston Red Sox have no one to blame but themselves.

Home/Boston Red Sox