The Red Sox are still in solid shape to pop champagne for a playoff spot before the end of the road trip, but they have not helped themselves so far after another defeat, this time a 7-3 final, at the hands of the Texas Rangers to drop the series in Arlington.
Boston’s bullpen faltered late while old friend Nathan Eovaldi held the offense at bay in a piggyback role to keep the Rangers alive in their final playoff push.
Here’s three takeaways from Wednesday night’s loss.
CONTRERAS LOVES THE MATCHUP
While the Red Sox mustered up just three hits offensively, Willson Contreras slugged a two-run shot in the first inning, his 27th of the season and his first since being activated off the injured list, against Rangers lefty Mackenzie Gore.
The Red Sox slugger continued a dominating matchup against the southpaw with another blast after entering the game 9-for-16 in his career against Gore with a home run.
Erik Miller did not have a fun night when he entered in the seventh inning of a 3-3 game at the time.
The left-hander plunked Corey Seager early in a frame where Texas eventually pulled away with three runs to win the series. Miller has cooled off a bit recently with at least a run allowed in consecutive outings and some control struggles.
The loss kept the magic number at five. Had the Red Sox won tonight (and good context for tomorrow), the Rangers’ positioning in the Wild Card standings would have dropped the magic number to three.
Get it done before the road trip comes to a close.
