The Boston Red Sox just slid to No. 7 in MLB.com’s latest power rankings, falling behind the New York Yankees after dropping seven of their last nine games. This is a brutal gut punch after what looked like an unstoppable historic summer surge, where they ripped off a 27-3 record in a 30-game stretch.
From Unstoppable to Untouchable
That unbelievable 27-3 run feels like ancient history right now. Their offense has totally cooled off, especially during a rough 2-5 road trip. Sunday capped it all off with an 8-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Patrick Sandoval got shelled, giving up seven runs in just four innings. The Red Sox bats? Pathetic. Only five hits, 13 strikeouts. Connor Wong’s three-run homer in the fifth was literally the only meaningful offense they had all day. And if there was any momentum left, a two-hour, 34-minute weather delay absolutely killed it.
The Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore
Those offensive numbers over the last nine games are seriously ugly. They’re averaging a meager 3.56 runs, with a slash line of .236/.323/.350, only six dingers, and a .673 OPS. Interim manager Chad Tracy is trying to spin it, saying these struggles are different from earlier in the season. He thinks they’re “doing a much better job as far as swing decisions and generating a ton of traffic” and that they “just gotta get them in, and we will.” Look, they are maintaining an 11 percent walk rate, which suggests they’re getting guys on base. But what does it matter if you can’t finish? They went a pathetic 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Sunday. Wong’s shot was all they got. Their top three hitters? A combined 0-for-10 with six strikeouts. Brutal.
Rutschman’s Rough Start & The Road Ahead
And then there’s Adley Rutschman, the big trade acquisition from Baltimore, who’s totally ice cold since joining the team. This former No. 1 overall pick is hitting a shocking 1-for-17 through his first five games, with five walks and nine strikeouts. We know he was dealing with left wrist inflammation and only played two minor league rehab games before getting activated. He’s frustrated, telling reporters, “I think the competitor in me, I want to go out there and perform. Bottom line: I want to perform for these guys and come out here and be able to do what I do.” They desperately need him to be that dependable presence, especially with Masataka Yoshida, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Triston Casas all out of the lineup. It’s not all doom and gloom though. They’re still 66-58, sitting third in the American League East. And Sonny Gray gave them a huge lift, getting his career-high 15th win with a scoreless outing against Pittsburgh over the weekend.
Rutschman gets his Fenway Park debut Monday when they open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Can he turn it around at home? Can this offense finally start cashing in on opportunities? Boston needs to figure this out, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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