CHICAGO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.
1) Boston’s 10-game winning streak ended. The Red Sox dropped to 53-46 while the Cubs improved to 58-39.
2) Abraham Toro made an inexcusable baserunning mistake in the fifth inning. He singled to lead off the frame and moved to second base on Jarren Duran’s walk. But he got doubled off second base for the first and second outs of the inning on Alex Bregman’s 324-foot lineout to center field.
Toro’s error proved costly as Roman Anthony, the next hitter, walked. Had Toro remained on base, the Red Sox would have had the bases loaded down 3-1 with just one out.
3) Starter Lucas Giolito’s 30-pitch first inning began with him walking the first two batters, then giving up a 389-foot three-run homer to Seiya Suzuki. It was 3-0 Cubs before Giolito recorded an out.
The 31-year-old settled in and pitched four straight scoreless innings before giving up another run in the sixth. Giolito went 5 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs, five hits and two walks while striking out six. He recorded 14 swings and misses.
4) Roman Anthony’s RBI two-out double (106.8 mph off the bat) in the third inning. Jarren Duran walked with two outs, then Alex Bregman singled ahead of Anthony.
5) Jarren Duran made a nice running catch on the foul line in left field and slammed into the unpadded wall for the final out of the fourth inning. See it here.
6) Former Red Sox pitcher Drew Pomeranz came on to face Anthony with runners at the corners and two outs in the seventh. He got the rookie phenom to line out to right field to end the inning.
7) The Red Sox and Cubs will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday at 7:15 p.m. eastern. Righty Brayan Bello (6-3, 3.14 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga (6-3, 2.65 ERA). It will air on FOX.
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