Boston Red Sox Suffer Tough Loss to Toronto Blue Jays, Fall Four Games Behind Wild Card Spot
Saturday was a disappointing day for the Boston Red Sox as they dropped a crucial game to their American League East rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays. The final score was Toronto 5, Boston 4, pushing the Red Sox four games behind the third and final American League wild-card spot. The game ended in a dramatic fashion when Reese McGuire of the Blue Jays was doubled off second base on a deep drive to center field by Connor Wong.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed his frustration with McGuire’s base-running mistake, calling it a “bad baseball play all around.” Cora stated, “We all thought it was gone,” highlighting the team’s disappointment in the missed opportunity.
However, the Red Sox faced trouble even before the game began. Right fielder Alex Verdugo was unexpectedly scratched from the starting lineup. The team cited it as a “manager’s decision,” leading to speculation about the reasons behind the decision. Cora, clearly annoyed, emphasized the need for every player to be available every day. When asked about Verdugo’s benching, Cora stated, “We have to make sure everybody is available every single day here for us to get to wherever we’ve got to go. That wasn’t the case. As a manager, I’ve got to take charge of that. I decided he wasn’t gonna play.”
Reports later revealed that Verdugo had arrived at Fenway Park merely two hours before the game, a significantly shorter time compared to the typical arrival of position players, who usually arrive about five hours before the first pitch. This is not the first time Verdugo’s reporting times have caused friction between him and Cora. Earlier this season, Cora benched Verdugo due to a lack of hustle on the bases, and the two have reportedly clashed on multiple occasions.
Verdugo commented on his benching, stating, “Just a manager’s decision. I don’t really wanna go too far into it. It’s his decision, and that’s what we went with…All we can do now is look forward to tomorrow, come here and be ready to play.”
The 27-year-old outfielder, Verdugo, was previously rumored to be available for trade before the trade deadline. Although he started the season strongly, his performance has declined significantly lately, with a batting line of .157/.245/.277 since July 1. This slump has dragged down his overall season batting line to .270/.343/.424. The Red Sox acquired Verdugo as the key player in the Mookie Betts trade.
The Red Sox will have to regroup quickly and make adjustments to get back on track for a shot at the wild-card spot. With the season entering its crucial stage, the team cannot afford any more missteps if they hope to secure a postseason berth.