With multiple high-leverage relievers unavailable for Monday’s series-opener against the Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox were already in a precarious situation in the late innings of a close game.
A 90-minute rain delay during the ninth inning only exacerbated the problem.
The Red Sox took a 4-3 against the Twins in the top of the ninth on Monday night before the skies opened up. When the contest resumed, right-hander Jordan Hicks took the bump and promptly surrendered a single, hit back-to-back batters and after recording one out, allowed a two-run, walk-off single.
Manager Alex Cora said that given the circumstances, putting Hicks on the mound for the bottom of the ninth wasn’t ideal.
“Cora says Jordan Hicks was the last pitcher available and having him go back out after warming up before the rain delay was uncomfortable,” Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald posted on Bluesky.
Story continues below advertisement
With All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman nursing a back injury and right-hander Garrett Whitlock also out of commission, the Red Sox were severely shorthanded.
The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reported after the game that Boston plans to call up a pitcher on Tuesday (with starter Richard Fitts likely being sent down) and “the hope” is that Chapman and Whitlock will be available for the second game of the series.
Boston enters Tuesday’s action at 57-51 and narrowly hanging onto the third and final AL wild-card spot. The Red Sox are five games ahead of the Twins (51-55), but just 1/2 game up on their closest competition, the Texas Rangers (56-51).
