The Boston Red Sox's offense went silent in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 19, 2025. Lucas Giolito took the loss as the team's two-game skid continues.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
On a picturesque Saturday at Wrigley Field, the Boston Red Sox offense went into hibernation. The team dropped its second straight game, falling 4-1 to the Chicago Cubs as a promising start to the road trip has quickly soured. Despite putting men on base, the clutch hit remained elusive, leaving fans frustrated and the team searching for answers.
The Red Sox managed just one run on seven hits, extending their losing streak to two games.
The game was lost almost as soon as it began. The Cubs ambushed starter Lucas Giolito for three runs in the first inning, putting Boston in a hole they'd never climb out of. Giolito settled down but ultimately took the loss, his record falling to 6-2. The Red Sox's lone run came in the third inning, but they couldn't muster any further rallies. Despite solid seasons from players like Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story, the lineup as a whole was stifled by the Cubs' pitching, while Chicago's Seiya Suzuki continued his All-Star caliber year.
The loss drops the Red Sox to 53-46 on the season, keeping them in third place in the competitive AL East. After a hot streak that saw them win eight of their previous ten games, this two-game skid is a concerning development. The issue is a familiar one: offensive inconsistency. While Boston's season-long numbers are solid, their inability to string together runs in key moments has cost them, turning a winnable game into a decisive loss and halting their momentum.
While the on-field news was disappointing, there was a glimmer of positive news from the training room. Manager Alex Cora confirmed that reliever Justin Slaten has resumed a throwing program after being sidelined with shoulder inflammation since early June. While he's not on a mound yet, it's a crucial first step toward a potential late-season return. His presence would be a welcome boost for a pitching staff still monitoring the health of key arms like Liam Hendriks and Zack Kelly.
The Red Sox will look to salvage the series finale at Wrigley Field on Sunday and snap this brief but frustrating losing streak. With the offense sputtering, the pressure is on the lineup to wake up and provide some run support. This team has shown it can win in bunches, but they need to rediscover that spark quickly to stay in the thick of the AL East race.
