Red Sox Defensive Woes Persist in Deflating Home Opener Loss

The Boston Red Sox hoped the friendly confines of Fenway Park would provide a cure for their early season defensive ailments. Instead, their woes only intensified in a deflating 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

Entering their home opener with a 7-3 record on a West Coast road trip, the Red Sox looked to build off a strong start bolstered by stellar starting pitching. However, sloppy defense and an ice-cold offense resulted in the club’s fourth straight defeat to open their homestand.

“We don’t like losing, especially in front of our home fans,” outfielder Tyler O’Neill lamented. “It’s no fun. Obviously, we want to put up more of a fight than we are right now.”

The defensive miscues began immediately, with rookie shortstop David Hamilton’s errant throw on a potential inning-opening double play ball extending the first inning. Two batters later, a Taylor Ward groundball skipped past second baseman Pablo Reyes, allowing another run to score.

“We got two ground balls that you should turn into double plays,” manager Alex Cora said. “We didn’t do it. They scored three and put us in a bad spot.”

Defensive lapses have plagued the Red Sox all season, as they entered Friday’s contest last in fielding percentage (.969) with a MLB-high 16 errors.

Those struggles continued in the third inning, when Brandon Drury’s single to center field should have been kept to just one run. However, Ceddanne Rafaela’s relay throw sailed past the cut-off man, allowing an extra run to score.

“There’s no play at the plate, so we have to knock it down,” Cora bemoaned. “That ball can’t go by. Those are the ones that really bother me.”

While the defensive gaffes are certainly glaring, Boston’s offense deserves its share of blame as well. Against Angels starter Reid Detmers and the bullpen, the Red Sox mustered a mere three hits in a lifeless performance.

“Just couldn’t get anything going,” O’Neill said. “It’s one of those days the bats went cold out there.”

The tough loss came with added sting, as it followed Thursday’s heartbreaking extra-innings defeat, as well as the news that star shortstop Trevor Story will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“We’ve got to turn the page with Trevor. He’s not gonna be here,” Cora said solemnly after Thursday’s loss.

Hamilton, Story’s replacement at shortstop, has now endured back-to-back shaky defensive performances, leading to speculation the versatile Rafaela could get a look at the pivotal position.

While the starting rotation has looked strong, backstopping the Red Sox to a 7-7 record, the defense and bats must find their stride for this talented squad to play up to its potential.

The old Fenway walls have witnessed countless Red Sox revivals over the decades. This club hopes one is on the horizon, and soon.

“Tomorrow’s a new day,” starter Tanner Houck said with resolve. “New sun, new sunrise.”

With the home opener jitters out of the way, brighter days on the diamond are needed for the Red Sox to keep their “good vibe” from further dissipating.