Red Sox reactions: Patrick Sandoval’s 44-pitch inning dooms Boston as final road trip starts

Patrick Sandoval's 44-pitch second inning marked the beginning of the end for the Boston Red Sox as they suffered a 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers during their final road trip of the season. The Red Sox, currently 82-69, are now 7-6 in September and still have five games left on their Texas road trip. A 4-2 loss to the Rangers pushes the Red Sox' playoff odds down to five games remaining, as the Rangers leapfrogged Toronto in the standings with this victory.

Sandoval struck out the first four batters he faced, only to be overwhelmed in a 44-pitch inning that seemed to last an eternity. The Rangers capitalized on Sandoval's struggles, scoring four runs in the second inning with hard-hit singles from Brandon Nimmo and Ezequiel Duran. Sandoval's struggling performance, coupled with the Red Sox's inability to capitalize on bases-loaded situations, led to a 0-for-4 performance with runners in scoring position and nine on base for the remainder of the game.

Despite their struggles, the Red Sox had their chances to mount a comeback. In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs against Rangers closer Jacob Latz, pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio narrowly missed a grand slam, and the Red Sox led a dramatic rally that came to an abrupt end with Latz's 97 mph fastball. Boston's bullpen, featuring rookies Chad Tracy, Wyatt Olds, and Jovani Morán, kept the team in the game but appeared to be auditioning for the postseason roster.

The Rangers' bullpen, featuring rookies Jake Bennett and Mickey Gasper, provided valuable support, keeping the Red Sox in contention. With the season nearing its end, the Red Sox will need to secure at least one more win in the next two games to clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Rangers will be hoping to maintain their lead in the standings and secure a playoff spot.