Red Sox blow another late lead, drop series to majors-worst Rockies

DENVER — Marcelo Mayer’s fielding error in the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon proved to be the turning point in the Red Sox’ 8-6 loss to the Rockies.

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It was another bad moment and another bad day in a growing list for the spiraling Sox, who could have swept the series but instead lost two of three to the team with the worst record in the majors — a title the Red Sox are threatening to take.

The Red Sox are 32-46. The Rockies are 32-49.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Goodman rolled a routine grounder to shortstop. Mayer fumbled it, ensuring both Colorado runners were safe. Three consecutive run-scoring singles off righthander Tyron Guerrero and lefthander Danny Coulombe ensued; the last tied the game.

In the eighth, Justin Slaten gave up two runs and four hits.

The Red Sox had one base runner over the final 4⅔ innings. It was Carlos Narváez, who in the sixth inning tripled but was ruled out when he came off the bag while the tag was still applied.

Ceddanne Rafaela finished 3 for 5, a home run away from the cycle.

Lefthander Ranger Suarez gave up three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings — a quality start that nonetheless registered as the worst of the three very good ones the Sox received this series.

Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Jake Bennett combined to yield three earned runs in 19 innings against the Rockies. That is good for a 1.42 ERA.

Colorado lefty Kyle Freeland allowed six runs and 11 hits in six innings. His ERA rose from 7.36 to 7.50.

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The Sox were in the lead, though not always in control, into the late innings.

Willson Contreras’ two-out double off the wall in right-center field brought in Ceddanne Rafaela.

In the second, Connor Wong lined a two-run home run to left — his first long ball since Sept. 8, 2024.

Colorado made it close by plating two runs in a wacky bottom of the third. It started with a throwing error by Anthony Seigler, who had just moved from second base to third to replace Caleb Durbin, who exited with a partially dislocated left pinky finger.

Moments later, TJ Rumfield’s double plated a run. Cole Carrigg’s sacrifice fly to left brought in another; right fielder Wilyer Abreu dropped the line drive but wound up getting a force out at second base.

Andruw Monasterio’s homer and Rafaela’s RBI single re-expanded the cushion for the Sox.

Similarly, after Tyler Freeman’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, the Red Sox got it back on back-to-back doubles from Mayer and Seigler in the top of the fifth.

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That set the stage for the late chaos.