Manager Alex Cora was left trying to take solace in his team coming back to tie the game in the eighth inning.

“It wasn’t a bad game from our end,” he said.

That wasn’t true in the ninth inning.

In a 2-2 game, closer Aroldis Chapman got two quick outs. Fernando Tatis Jr., who had already struck out four times, fell behind 1-2 in the count. Chapman had him set up but left a sinker high in the strike zone that Tatis drilled to center field.

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Ceddanne Rafaela did not get a good jump on the ball and it flew over his head for a double.

“Everybody knows how good of a player [Tatis] is,” Chapman said via a translator. “It was a good at-bat. He put a good swing on that fastball.”

It was only the second time Tatis had faced Chapman in his career.

Chapman also got ahead of Ramón Laureano, but threw a splitter over the plate that was lined to left field for a single. Roman Anthony, who had entered the game defensively at the start of the inning, made a throw that was up the third-base line and Tatis scored the go-ahead run.

Chapman watched the play unfold from the mound and didn’t back up the throw. Laureano went to third on Anthony’s error but was stranded there.

Chapman said the pitch was where he wanted it and that Laureano made a good adjustment. Perhaps, but the ball was up and over the outer corner of the plate on a 1-and-2 count. Why give Laureano something he could get to?

San Diego then unleashed closer Mason Miller, who struck out the side on 11 pitches to end the game.

For months, we’ve been writing that the Sox are a hitter short, something that’s unlikely to change anytime soon, if at all.

Plate discipline can help paper over a lack of power. But the Sox have one of the highest strikeout percentages (28.1) in the majors and lowest walk percentages (8.1). They’re also hitting .167 with runners in scoring position.

“I think we got to swing less to be honest with you,” Cora said. “Get [opposing pitchers] in the zone, not chase …Slow it down.”

There’s not much speed, either. The Sox have two stolen bases, both by Jarren Duran, and none in the last six games. They’ve attempted only two all season.

“Overall offensively we need to be better,” shortstop Trevor Story said. “That’s part of it. Getting your pitch. Being patient for your pitch throughout the at-bat and when you get it don’t miss it. Personally that’s happened to me a little to often.”

That’s for sure. Story, who has hit second all season, is 4 for 37 (.108) with one run scored and two RBIs. He has struck out 15 times including in the eighth inning with a runner on third and no outs and the Sox down, 2-1.

The Sox managed to push across the tying run when pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio grounded back to the mound and Padres reliever Adrian Morejon threw low to second base and missed a chance at an inning-ending double play.

“Situationally, personally, got to do better there,” Story said. “It just seems like we’re one big hit away, one really good at-bat away from blowing it open and then playing with some freedom.

“Right now we’ve got to think small and big things will happen.”

“Do Damage” was the motto in 2018 when the Red Sox slugged their way to a World Series championship. Something tells me the Sox won’t be selling any “Think Small” T-shirts.

Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social‬.