Isiah Kiner-Falefa filling in nicely for shorthanded Red Sox infield

Early in the season, Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s hold on a roster spot seemed tenuous. Signed to a one-year, $6 million deal in February, he went a week between starts at one point, and averaged less than one plate appearance per game through the Red Sox’ first 47 contests.

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That’s changed significantly. Injuries to Trevor Story and Nick Sogard opened a door, and Kiner-Falefa has emerged as a lineup constant.

Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays marked the 25th consecutive Sox game in which he’s played, during which he’s been a strong offensive contributor (.312/.384/.429 after going 1 for 3 with a homer) with impressive defense at second, short, and third.

“The goal was always to get back in the lineup at some point,” said Kiner-Falefa. “I kind of was like the last pick, and then finally got a chance and ran with it for a little while, and now I’m back in there. Now it’s about staying in there and helping the team win.”

Even as his role has grown, however, Kiner-Falefa takes little satisfaction in it given his team’s performance. Being a regular contributor on a team mired in last place wasn’t what drew him to Boston.

“When I originally signed here, I thought it was going to be a breeze to get to the playoffs. I really looked at how the team was last year and I was like, ‘We’ll take the next step,’ ” said Kiner-Falefa. “I signed up to be a bench player for a championship team. When I wasn’t playing [earlier this year], I was still optimistic we were gonna be a contender. Being a bench player on a contender isn’t a bad thing.”

And now?

“Things aren’t really working out that way,” said Kiner-Falefa. “It’s nice to be back in the lineup, for sure, but at the same time, I wish we were in a better spot.”

The phrase “scoring position” sometimes feels like an oxymoron. The Sox went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position Thursday, concluding a series against the Jays in which the team forged a 1-for-29 (.034) mark in such situations.

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It’s the worst performance since at least 1974 by the Sox in a single series with at least 25 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“It’s hard to believe,” interim manager Chad Tracy acknowledged of those woes.

Last week, Marcelo Mayer’s introduction of a toe tap raised the possibility of more authoritative contact. He collected extra-base hits in back-to-back games in Tampa Bay, then missed the series finale due to upper back and neck spasms.

Since returning to the lineup, he is 2 for 15, dropping his line for the season to .216/.285/.303. Tracy gave him Thursday off.

“There’s periods where you kind of feel like it’s getting a lot better and then some stretches of at-bats where you feel like it’s not as good,” Tracy said of Mayer’s offense.

Through 72 games, Sox outfielders Wilyer Abreu (71 games), Ceddanne Rafaela (69), and Jarren Duran (67) have been lineup constants. The Sox hope to give all three a respite during the upcoming road trip, either with a day off or a day at DH. The Sox will use Nate Eaton to help spell the trio . . . Romy Gonzalez, who went 1 for 5 with a homer and a walk in two rehab games with Double-A Portland, was off on Thursday. He’s expected to play first base for the Sea Dogs on Friday. While Tracy said there’s an “outside chance” Gonzalez, who underwent shoulder surgery during spring training, gets activated during the road trip, the interim manager identified the homestand that starts on June 25 as a more likely target.

Red Sox players donned World Cup jerseys for the cross-country trip to Seattle. Mindful that several of his mates might forget the required apparel, avuncular reliever Tommy Kahnle, who has been wearing a rotation of soccer jerseys this week, brought eight extra shirts for members of the club . . . Neither outfielder Roman Anthony (partially torn right ring finger ligament) nor lefthander Garrett Crochet (lat strain) will accompany the Sox on their road trip, instead staying in Boston to continue their rehabs . . . As part of Black and African American Celebration Day at Fenway Park, two Tuskegee Airmen with deep roots in Massachusetts, Dr. Harold May and Brigadier Gen. Enoch Woodhouse, threw out ceremonial first pitches.

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