SAN FRANCISCO — Rapid reactions from the Red Sox’ 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
1) The Red Sox avoided being shutout for the second time in their last four games when they rallied in the ninth, stringing together three consecutive hits against Giants closer Camilo Doval, then capitalizing on a stolen base and a throwing error by catcher Andrew Knizner. The ninth also marked the first time all day that the Sox had gotten a baserunner past second base and they had the potential tying run on first base in the the final inning. But the rally wasn’t enough to overcome a three-run deficit.
2) You just knew that Rafael Devers would, at some point in this series, hit his first homer as a Giant. It seemed predestined. I knew it, you knew, the American people knew it. Sure enough, with a runner on in the third inning, it happened as Devers connected on a 1-0 four-seamer on the outer half of the plate and drove it out to left. Devers doesn’t have The Wall for which to aim here, but he does have a rather inviting area with the left field seats at Oracle Park. That it came off Brayan Bello, a fellow Dominican and, of course, former teammate, also seemed somehow fitting.
3) Brayan Bello couldn’t quite match his outing from last Sunday, when he turned in what was arguably the best start of big league career — seven shutout innings against the Yankees, with eight strikeouts. Still, he deserved a better fate Saturday. He made two mistakes, one each to each of the Giants’ biggest home run threats. Heliot Ramos gpt him with a solo shot in the first; Devers connected off him in the third. Of the three runs he surrendered, only one was earned. But because the Sox could do little offensively, he was stuck with a tough-luck loss, even as he gave the Sox at least six innings for the fourth straight outing.
4) San Francisco starter Landen Roupp was hardly a flame-thrower, but his mix of a cutter, curve and changeup managed to keep the Red Sox off balance all afternoon. Through the first five innings, the Red Sox managed just two hits and both were singles.
5) David Hamilton is prized for his defense. It’s what’s kept him in the big leagues for the last few seasons. But on Saturday, for the second game in a row in this series, he made a highly costly error. On Friday night, he mishandled a grounder in the first inning, leading to the Giants’ first run. On Saturday, it happened again as he flubbed a chance on a ball hit by San Francisco catcher Andrew Knizner. That proved especially problematic two batters later when Devers went deep with a two-run homer, scoring Knizner ahead of him.
6) There are going to be days like Saturday for this Red Sox lineup, when they lack the quick-strike capability of a long ball or the ability to stretch together a string of hits to build a rally. It puts more pressure on the pitching staff and makes it essential that the Sox catch the ball and not give away outs to the opponent. On Saturday, the pitching part was fine, but the offense and defense were both faulty.
7) Roman Anthony has just four hits through the first 11 games of his major league career. That’s not terribly surprising, as we’ve seen all manner of top prospects struggle when they first get to the big leagues. But if you’re looking for positive signs, Anthony has been patient at the plate, working a walk Friday night and then adding two more on Saturday while chipping in with a leadoff double in the ninth. He may not be racking up the hits, but he’s not getting himself out much, either, by chasing pitches out of the zone.
8) In the series finale between the two teams, the Red Sox will send RHP Lucas Giolito (3-1, 3.74) to the mound, matched against LHP Robbie Ray (8-2, 2.68), traditionally, the owner of the game’s tightest uniform pants. Following the game, the Red Sox will head to Anaheim, where they begin a three-game set against the Angels Monday night.
