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MONTERREY, MEXICO - MARCH 24: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox enters the field prior to the MLB Monterrey Series between the Boston Red Sox and Sultanes de Monterrey at estadio Mobil Super on March 24, 2025 in Monterrey, Mexico. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)
After splitting a series with the Detroit Tigers over the weekend at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox were looking to turn things around in the 2026 season against the New York Yankees. In typical Red Sox fashion, early in 2026, it didn’t go as planned.
Instead of turning their season around, the frustration continued to mount for Alex Cora and his team. They began the series three games below .500 and now are six games below .500 after being swept. It was so much that they were swept, but more of how they were swept.
Over 27 innings, they scored a grand total of three runs in three games. They were shut out in Game 1, but scored with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2. They took a 1-0 and 2-1 lead in Game 3, only to watch New York score three seventh-inning runs for the 4-2 win.
After the game, Cora didn’t beat around the bush as to why Boston lost the series.
Frustration is setting in with the fanbase. It has been for a couple of weeks now. There have been “sell the team” chants at Fenway Park. It’s only April. Cora was blunt after falling to 9-15 on Thursday night.
“They pitched a lot better than us and got clutch hits, and we got swept, that’s it,” said Cora.
He’s right, but that hasn’t been the story against the Yankees; it’s been the story all season long. That’s what happened when the Houston Astros swept them. It’s what happened when the Cincinnati Reds won the last game after an Opening Day loss. The list goes on and on.
What made Thursday night’s loss more frustrating was the performance Payton Tolle gave them. He battled New York’s Cam Schlittler pitch for pitch. He finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts and needed just 93 pitches to do it over six innings. Danny Coulobe and Greg Weissert melted down in the seventh when the Yankees scored three runs for the win.
“He was really good. The fastball played early, then he started mixing up his pitches. He was impressive. He was under control,” said Cora. “The moment wasn’t too big for him. Pounded the strike zone, which is the most important thing.”
All for not.
Now, Boston hits the road for a six-game road trip. It begins with three games against the Baltimore Orioles, then three against the Toronto Blue Jays. They won’t be back at Fenway Park until May 1. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Roman Anthony is dealing with a back injury, which isn’t good. Sonny Gray went on the injured list after leaving his start on Monday against the Tigers in the third inning. Garrett Crochet has struggled, and the Red Sox can’t produce in any situation.
Add all of that up, and you’ve got a team in last place in the American League East. Maybe getting out on the road will be good for them. If not, then things could go further south than it already has.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
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