![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26260062754509.jpg\")
Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Bennett attempts to reach an infield single by Texas Rangers’ Danny Jansen in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)<\/p>\nThe limp to October goes on for the Boston Red Sox, who blew an early 2-0 lead Wednesday night, and dropped the series in Texas with a 7-3 loss that improved the Rangers to 76-76.<\/p>\n
Boston batters managed just three hits, their runs coming via Willson Contreras\u2019 first-inning two-run homer and Caleb Durbin scoring on a balk in the fifth.<\/p>\n
Early on, it looked like both starting pitchers were not going to last long.<\/p>\n
Rangers lefty MacKenzie Gore began Wednesday\u2019s game with a four-pitch walk, three of which were nowhere near the zone, to Red Sox leadoff man Roman Anthony, and gave up Contreras\u2019 team-leading 27th homer.<\/p>\n
Sox rookie southpaw Jake Bennett labored through a 26-pitch bottom of the first in which he faced six batters and gave up a run.<\/p>\n
Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Bennett attempts to reach an infield single by Texas Rangers’ Danny Jansen in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)<\/p>\n
But after a second-inning delay in which it seemed like Gore was about to depart, he completed four innings. Bennett went 4 2\/3. Both starters allowed three earned runs, though Gore only yielded two hits to Bennett\u2019s eight.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, not horrible,\u201d Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters of Bennett. \u201cThe first inning they were able to make him throw some pitches, so the pitches stacked up on him. But at the end of the day, he left with the lead, was competitive. \u2026 Usually you\u2019re accustomed to see him pitching deeper, but they were pesky with their at-bats, fouled a lot of stuff off, and drove the count up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Red Sox retook the lead on Jakob Junis\u2019 fifth-inning balk. It evaporated for good one pitch into Greg Weissert\u2019s appearance when he took over for Bennett in the bottom of the inning.<\/p>\n
Erik Miller\u2019s three-run blowup seventh inning was the unnecessary coup de gr\u00e2ce for a Red Sox team struggling to so much as collect a hit, much less score a run. But it marked Miller\u2019s worst outing of the season, with Boston or San Francisco, and his third time allowing runs in his last six appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust not doing what I\u2019ve been doing well, just not getting ahead of guys, falling behind counts, getting into hitters counts,\u201d a subdued Miller told reporters postgame. \u201cI mean, doesn\u2019t really matter how good your stuff is; guy knows what\u2019s coming, it usually doesn\u2019t end as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust kind of working through some stuff right now,\u201d Miller continued. \u201cThere\u2019s some stuff (I\u2019m) trying to clean up a little bit on the mechanical side. \u2026 At some point throughout the year, stuff crops up. And I\u2019d been doing really well, and some bad habits kind of fallen back into. So yeah, just got to work through it, kind of get back to what I was doing, and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
2018 World Series hero Nathan Eovaldi closed out the win with four shutout innings against his former team. It marked the veteran righty\u2019s first relief appearance since 2020: Game 4 of the 2021 ALCS with the Red Sox.<\/p>\n
To add insult to the injury of Boston\u2019s decision not to re-sign Eovaldi following the 2022 season, his 46 wins since 2023 are tied for second-most among all American League pitchers in that span.<\/p>\n
Trevor Story\u2019s infield single in the fifth and Nick Sogard\u2019s pinch-hit single in the sixth comprised the rest of Boston\u2019s hits. The lineup managed three walks and struck out three times in the contest. They were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left three men on base.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019re going through it a little bit,\u201d Tracy said of his lineup. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a ton, we didn\u2019t create a ton of opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Game highlights were few and far between for the Red Sox. The short list included the usual elite defense from right fielder Wilyer Abreu, who is all but guaranteed to win his third consecutive Gold Glove Award, and continued displays of ABS expertise by new catcher Adley Rutschman, who went 3 for 3 in challenges.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox have lost five of their last seven games since their five-game win streak. They are 7-7 in September, 10-11 in their last 20 games, and 82-70 overall.<\/p>\n
Their magic number to clinch a postseason spot is five. But there is little magic lately.<\/p>\n
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