The Red Sox offense faltered in a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, 2025, as starter Brady Singer dominated. Can Boston's bats wake up?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another frustrating night at Fenway Park, as the Boston Red Sox offense was completely stifled in a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Reds starter Brady Singer carved up the lineup, and a familiar lack of timely hitting sent the Sox spiraling to a 42-45 record on the season. For a team trying to climb back to .500, Wednesday's performance was a step in the wrong direction.
Not a single Red Sox batter managed more than one hit as the team once again failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position.
The story of the game was Cincinnati's starter, Brady Singer, who was in complete control from the first pitch. Over his dominant outing, Singer faced just 14 batters and needed only 56 pitches to keep the Sox off balance. Boston's offense couldn't muster any real threats, failing to hit a single home run and scratching across just two runs. A two-run single by the Reds in the middle innings provided all the cushion they'd need, as their bullpen shut the door, leaving the Fenway faithful with little to cheer about.
The challenges for the club extend beyond the diamond. Before the game, the team announced that top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer was placed on the bereavement list to handle a personal matter. Our thoughts are with him and his family. In his place, the versatile Nick Sogard has been recalled from Triple-A Worcester to provide infield depth. Meanwhile, the training room remains busy. While Masataka Yoshida continues to be sidelined, there's a glimmer of good news with RHP Hunter Dobbins, who is nearing a rehab assignment. However, help isn't arriving immediately, as RHP Luis Guerrero just hit the IL and RHP Justin Slaten remains on the 60-day IL, unable to return before late July.
As the Red Sox look to bounce back, the pressure mounts on the current lineup to find a spark. With the team falling further below .500 and key players still on the mend, they need to manufacture runs and find a way to win these tight games. The next few series will be critical in determining the direction of this season. Can the offense wake up, or will these quiet nights at the plate become the story of the summer?