Red Sox reaction: Boston falls behind early, can’t catch up

TL;DR

The Red Sox lost 6-3 to the Astros, falling behind 4-0 early and failing to recover. Rookie pitcher Connelly Early had a rough outing, allowing five runs in four innings.

Key points

Red Sox lost 6-3 to Astros at Fenway Park
Connelly Early allowed five runs in four innings
Red Sox have not won when trailing by two runs or more this season
Team stranded 10 runners in four innings

Red SoxAstrosConnelly Early

BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros Saturday at Fenway Park

The Red Sox fell behind (4-0) by the fourth inning and never could catch up. That’s been a pattern too often this season, as the Red Sox have not won a game all year in which they’ve trailed by two runs or more. The Sox chipped away with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh. But they also frittered away numerous chances. From the third inning through the seventh, the Sox twice left two runners on base and twice left them full — that’s 10 runners stranded over the course of four innings. The loss dropped the Sox to 1-4 against Houston this season.
Starter Connelly Early had the worst start of his young career, allowing five runs in just four innings of work. Three walks didn’t help. This marked the first time this season that Early had given up more than three runs in an outing. as the rookie lefty has been the most dependable starter in the Sox’ rotation. But not on this day. After seemingly settling down in the second and third, when he retired six of the seven hitters he faced, the fourth inning was a disaster as the Astros sent eight hitters to the plate and scored four times.
One way or another, Early has to figure out a way to be more efficient with his pitches. He has a history of having his pitch count escalate, to the point that he had only completed six innings in two of them. Some of the inefficiency is a matter of opposing hitters fouling off a lot of pitches, but some of it is on Early, too, who could stand to be more aggressive within the strike zone. When he left after just four innings, he had thrown 77 pitches.