Reunion weekend ends with loss in finale of crucial series

BOSTON -- The reunion with Mookie Betts was fun while it lasted for Red Sox manager Alex Cora, his coaches and the two players (Rafael Devers and Chris Sale) who remain from the superstar’s time in Boston.

By weekend’s end, nobody was sad to see the seven-time All-Star leave town.

Betts made his presence felt in all three games, particularly in Sunday’s rubber match, when he bashed three hits (including a two-run homer and an RBI single) to lift his Dodgers to a 7-4 victory at Fenway.

Needing all the wins they can get to stay in contention, any series loss is painful at this point of the season for the Red Sox.

Betts, who received standing ovations in his first at-bat all three days, was prominent while leading the Dodgers to their eighth consecutive road series win. The leadoff man went 7-for-15 with five runs in the series.

The love Betts felt from the three packed houses at Fenway is something he will hold close to his heart.

“Super dope,” Betts said. “All that the city has done for me and all everyone here has done for me. I’m very blessed and I thank everyone for the opportunity, because it definitely shaped me into who I am today.”

Cora would have preferred for his team to shut down Betts during this lively weekend at Fenway, but he was pleased with the way the fans welcomed back the 2018 AL Most Valuable Player.

“That’s great,” Cora said, “this place is special and the kid is special, and they recognize how good he was on the field for us and off the field. So not surprised at all. I mean, these people get it.”

As Betts and the Dodgers left Boston, the Red Sox had no time to dwell on Sunday’s defeat. Not with the Astros coming to town for a three-game series that starts Monday.

Boston (69-62) trails Houston (74-58) by 4 1/2 games in the quest for the third American League Wild Card spot. The Blue Jays (71-60), also on the outside looking in at the moment, also lead the Red Sox by two games.

Last week, the Sox helped keep their hopes alive by winning the final two games in Houston after losing the first two.

“Just keep going,” said Cora. “We know who we get [Monday]. We just played them, so there's not too many secrets. Just go out there and play good baseball.”

Here were a couple of things that stood out from Sunday’s game.

Houck still building up; Murphy pays price
Due to the fact it was Tanner Houck’s second start back from the injured list after missing two months, Cora had little choice but to pull Houck after four innings and 80 pitches. It was a shame, because Houck kept the Sox in the game, allowing just one run despite giving up five hits and two walks.

“It’s tough, but we have to do it,” said Cora. “First things first, the player’s health. He did a good job against them and they were fouling off pitches early on. He did a good job, but this is where we’re at. I think the next one is a full go, so we should be better.”

Because the Red Sox didn’t get an extended start all weekend -- Kutter Crawford’s five-inning start on Friday was the lengthiest -- Cora stayed away from all of his leverage relievers in a game his team trailed from the fourth inning on.

That left long man Chris Murphy on the hook for nine hits and six runs over four innings.

Houck will get the ball next in Kansas City next weekend.

“I thank the Red Sox and the front office for not letting me get to the 100-pitch mark today, understanding that I'm still coming back [from a facial fracture],” Houck said. “Still building up the arm. But all that being said, I’m excited to be able to go back out there and get to 100 pitches.”

Power surge
Thanks to some late power -- coming in the form of home runs from Triston Casas, Justin Turner and Adam Duvall -- the Sox made the game interesting. The opposite-field shot by Casas slimmed the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2. When Turner and Duvall went back-to-back in the eighth, it was a 7-4 game.

“For us it happens really quick,” said Casas. “Just one swing to the other and we gain momentum and it's a snowball effect. Our offense is definitely relentless.”

The Sox have homered in 16 consecutive games, their longest stretch since going deep in 19 straight games in August 2019.