BOSTON — The Red Sox dropped to 2-7 since the All-Star break with an 8-2 loss to the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball.
Red Sox pitchers have posted a 6.72 ERA (83 innings, 62 earned runs) during the nine-game stretch. Their relievers have a 8.05 ERA (34 ⅔ innings, 31 earned runs).
In July, Boston pitchers have recorded a 4.96 ERA (194 innings, 107 earned runs).
The offense also struggled Sunday, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base.
Jansen reaches base three times in Sox debut
One of the lone bright spots: Danny Jansen, who the Red Sox acquired from the Blue Jays for three prospects Saturday, reached base in three of his four plate appearances.
He singled to right field to lead off the third inning in his first at-bat with Boston. He walked in the fourth and singled to left field with one out in the seventh inning.
Houck throws 52.6% strikes
Tanner Houck struggled with his command, throwing just 52.6% strikes and allowing three runs in the first inning.
But the righty battled through his strike-throwing issues to pitch 6 innings. He allowed four runs (three earned), five hits and four walks while striking out just two.
He kept Boston in the game after falling behind 4-0 early.
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Red Sox hit back-to-back homers but squander chance for more
Rob Refsnyder and Connor Wong led off the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back homers against Yankees left-handed starter Carlos Rodón. Both home runs cleared the Green Monster and cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-2.
Refsnyder’s blast (off a 95.3 mph fastball) went 412 feet while Wong’s (off an 85.8 mph slider) traveled 378 feet.
It marked the sixth time this season the Red Sox have hit back-to-back home runs.
Rafael Devers followed with his 450th career extra-base hit, a triple off the Monster in left-center field.
But the Red Sox failed to knock him home from third base with no outs. Tyler O’Neill struck out swinging. Romy Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop with the infield playing in. After Danny Jansen walked, Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging for the third out.
Another squandered chance in seventh
The Red Sox had runners at the corners with one out in the seventh inning. But righty Jake Cousins, the cousin of NFL QB Kirk Cousins, came on to strike out Dominic Smith looking and Jarren Duran swinging.
Monday’s game
The Red Sox will begin a three-game series against the Mariners on Monday here at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Righty Nick Pivetta (4-7, 4.50 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Seattle righty Logan Gilbert (6-6, 2.72 ERA).
