Red Sox reactions: Offense goes ice cold in loss after Yankees bludgeon Ranger Suárez early

Fried needed just 12 pitches to strike out the bottom three hitters in Boston’s order — the trio of Caleb Durbin, Connor Wong and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Kiner-Falefa chased a two-strike curveball in the dirt to end the inning. All three hitters saw just four pitches.

The Red Sox have consistently failed to put the ball in play when they need to most. It was more of the same in that department.

3) The Red Sox were one out away from their second straight shutout loss when Duran laced an RBI single to plate Boston’s first run of the series in the ninth. That broke a 29-⅔ inning scoreless streak against the Yankees, dating back to last year’s postseason.

In total, the Red Sox had just five hits, including three by Duran... and just three before the ninth inning when lefty Brent Headrick came in and struggled.

Fried absolutely dominated, striking out nine Red Sox while allowing three hits and walking two more in eight shutout innings. Boston chased 20 pitches against him.

4) Suárez settled down over the next few innings but still found himself the victim of an early hook, as Alex Cora pulled him at just 71 pitches with two outs in the fifth. Suárez did not look particularly pleased with the decision Cora made to not have him face Stanton for a third time with a runner on second base in a four-run game.

In all, Suárez was tagged for four earned runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked two. Through five starts, he has a 4.00 ERA.

5) Quick middle innings plagued the Red Sox against Luis Gil on Tuesday and the fifth inning against Fried was more of the same. Kiner-Falefa lifted a lazy fly ball on the first pitch, Ceddanne Rafaela struck out and Willson Contreras popped out on the first pitch as the lefty needed just eight pitches to get three outs.

6) Duran showed signs of life offensively, putting together his best game of the year. He doubled twice the other way — both with an exit velocity of 100.3 mph — and added his third hit when he drove in Trevor Story in the ninth.

It was the third multi-hit game of the year for Duran, who entered hitting .162 with a .490 OPS and just three doubles all season.

7) Suárez’s shortened start paved the way for the major league debut of big lefty Eduardo Rivera, who was called up Wednesday despite never pitching above Double-A. As other rookie pitchers have been in losses this year, Rivera was a bright spot in an impressive showing.

The 22-year-old struck out the first batter he faced, sitting down Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a 97 mph fastball in the sixth. From there, he cruised, allowing one hit and striking out three batters in 3 ⅓ innings. Rivera might be sent down Thursday after a 41-pitch showing but he should be back in the majors at some point.

8) Stanton continues to be a problem at Fenway. He homered and doubled Tuesday and ripped two more doubles Wednesday. In his third at-bat, Cora turned to Zack Kelly to replace Suárez and Kelly got the slugger to pop out to end the inning.

9) A check-in on Boston’s home run total at home? Four, through 13 games. Willson Contreras has three and Marcelo Mayer had the big one during the home opener. That’s it.

At last check, the Sox remained tied for last in the majors with 13 total homers. Since April 4 (17 games), only three members of the club have homered (Contreras three times, Jarren Duran and Trevor Story).

10) The Red Sox haven’t named a starter for Thursday’s series finale but it’ll likely be lefty Payton Tolle who is called up to try to snap Boston’s latest skid. The Yankees will send another tough customer to the mound in righty Cam Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA), the Walpole, Mass. native who will make his first Fenway start as a big leaguer.

More Red Sox coverage

• Top Red Sox prospect belts fifth homer in six games; Vaughn Grissom trade return hits big grand slam
• Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran: ‘We’re putting pressure on ourselves’
• As Red Sox shuffle rotation plan, top prospect likely to face Yankees on Thursday
• Red Sox 6-foot-7, 275-pound call-up ‘opened’ Fenway Park this morning; ‘I couldn’t wait’
• Roman Anthony injury: Boston Red Sox star not in lineup with sore/tight back

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