CINCINNATI — Red Sox righty Kutter Crawford allowed only two home runs in his first nine starts this season.
But he has allowed 11 homers in his past seven starts, including three solo blasts in the Red Sox’ 5-2 loss to the Reds on Friday here at Great American Ball Park.
Crawford has given up at least one homer in seven straight starts, including multiple homers in each of his past three starts.
Despite his trouble with long balls, Crawford pitched into the seventh inning with Boston down just one run, 3-2. Then three errors in the seventh led to two runs for the Reds.
Second baseman Enmanuel Valdez couldn’t make a clean throw to first base on Santiago Espinal’s grounder to begin the frame. Crawford then retired Will Benson on a flyout. But Luke Maile’s double put two runners in scoring position and knocked Crawford out of the game.
Cam Booser replaced Crawford. TJ Friedl bunted on the first pitch Booser threw. Booser fielded the 11-foot bunt. He tried to flip the ball home using his glove but it sailed over catcher Connor Wong’s head. That plated both Espinal and Maile.
Rafael Devers also made a throwing error during the seventh.
Sox offense struggles
Boston entered ranked first in the majors in both batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.369) during June. It entered second in steals (29), fifth in slugging percentage (.473) and third in OPS (.842).
But the Sox managed just two hits.
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Crawford struggles with homers
Jeimer Candelario’s 373-foot solo homer to right field in the first inning put Cincinnati ahead 1-0. He connected on a 91.4 mph fastball from Crawford. It left his bat at 107.6 mph.
Crawford allowed a 370-foot solo homer to Jonathan India in the second inning. India connected on a 79.2 mph sweeper and sent it to left field to put the Reds back ahead 2-1 after Boston had tied it in the top half of the inning.
Candelario went deep again in the third inning. He sent a Crawford 90.8 mph fastball 410 feet to right field, putting Cincinnati ahead 3-2 after Boston had tied it in the top half.
Wong homers
Connor Wong’s 375-foot solo homer to left-center field in the second inning tied the game 1-1. Wong connected on an 80 mph curveball from Reds left-handed starter Andrew Abbott who has been better against right-handed hitters this season.
Duran also goes deep
Jarren Duran tied it 2-2 with a 401-foot homer to right field. Duran connected on an 84.1 mph changeup from Abbott.
Duran’s homer was his first against a left-handed pitcher this season. It was Duran’s 11 extra-base hit (four homers, five doubles, two triples) in 18 games in June.
Saturday’s game
The Red Sox and Reds will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Righty Nick Pivetta (4-4, 3.88 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Cincy righty Frankie Montas (3-5, 4.62 ERA).
