Red Sox Get Crushed by a Rookie
The Boston Red Sox just lost a game they should have won. A 21-year-old rookie named Lazaro Montes hit a home run in his very first big-league game. He helped the Seattle Mariners beat Boston 9-6 on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. This was a bounce-back win for Seattle to end their five-game losing skid. For Boston, it was another night of watching a team they know well take a win. The Red Sox have lost three of their last four games. They could not overcome a 9-1 deficit even after Jahmai Jones hit a two-run homer late. The Sox got hit hard in the second inning when they allowed five runs. It was a bad start for pitcher Jedixson Páez, who lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He gave up eight runs on 10 hits. That is a rough night for any pitcher, especially a rookie making his debut.
Montes Brings Energy the Sox Lack
Montes did not just hit a ball. He brought a vibe that Seattle desperately needed. He reached base in his first three times up. In the fifth inning, a mammoth shot was struck straightaway to center field by him. He celebrated by running the bases with joy, nearly bumping into his coach. Back in the dugout, he strummed a team trident like an air guitar. He even played rock-paper-scissors with Randy Arozarena. This is the kind of fun the Red Sox have missed. “I’m trying to be me, be myself, like they told me,” Montes said. Winning for the team is what matters most to me, as I help achieve that. The Mariners players are happy to have him. “It’s been a tough stretch, but certainly that energy has been a big lift,” manager Dan Wilson said. Bryan Woo, who pitched six strong innings for Seattle, added, “That type of energy, it can do something for a team for sure”
Fenway Needs More Fun, Less Pressure
Here is the hard truth for Red Sox fans. This team is playing with too much weight on their shoulders. They are losing games because they look tired and stressed. Montes looked like he was having a blast. He is young, he is Cuban, and he is playing with pure joy. “He carries life very light, and it’s awesome,” Wilson said. The Red Sox need that same spark. They need a player who makes the game look easy again. The Sox have great players, but they are not having fun. They are grinding through a tough season. A 9-6 loss to a rookie is a wake-up call. The Mariners are 65-74, but they just won with confidence. The Red Sox are struggling to find their footing. They need to remember why they love this game. If they do not find that energy, they will keep losing close games to teams that are just more alive. The next game is against Bryce Miller and Patrick Sandoval on Wednesday. The series ends then. The Red Sox must figure it out fast.
