Red Sox lose 3-2 to the Phillies on July 22 despite homers from Wilyer Abreu & Trevor Story. Another one-run loss highlights Boston's offensive struggles.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another night of 'almosts' for the Boston Red Sox, who dropped a tight 3-2 contest to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Despite home runs from Wilyer Abreu and Trevor Story, the offense couldn't muster enough support, marking their second straight loss and dropping them to 54-48 on the season. In a game that felt frustratingly familiar, the Sox once again found themselves on the wrong side of a one-run decision, a trend that's becoming all too common as they fight to stay in the AL East race.
The Red Sox remain third in the AL East, six games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.
The box score tells a simple story: not enough runs. Wilyer Abreu continued his breakout season by launching his 20th home run, while Trevor Story added his 15th. But outside of those solo shots, the lineup was quiet against a tough Phillies squad led by Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner. For a team that ranks a respectable 8th in the league in batting average, converting hits into runs remains a challenge. Leaving runners stranded and failing to string together rallies in key moments cost them dearly in a game where a single timely hit could have changed the outcome.
You can't talk about the Red Sox's struggles without looking at the infirmary. The pitching staff is a veritable M.A.S.H. unit, with Tanner Houck, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, and a host of key relievers all sidelined. While there was a sliver of good news with Zack Kelly throwing a live bullpen session, the reality is that the team is missing a huge chunk of its pitching depth. This puts immense pressure on the healthy arms to be perfect and leaves little room for error, which is exactly what happened in this 3-2 loss. The absence of ace-level talent like Houck is felt every time the team enters a tight, late-game situation.
Statistically, the 2025 Red Sox are the definition of a middle-of-the-pack team. They rank 8th in MLB in batting average (.254) and 9th in homers (126), but only 12th in runs scored. Their pitching is a similar story, sitting 10th in ERA (3.76). These numbers paint a picture of a team that is good enough to compete every night but lacks the elite edge to dominate. They hang around, they fight, but they don't have that extra gear to turn these close losses into wins, leaving them stuck in third place in a competitive division.
With the team treading water at 54-48 and the trade deadline looming, the next week feels pivotal. Can the offense find another gear? Will the front office make a move to bolster the decimated pitching staff? The series finale against the Phillies is more than just another game; it's a chance to stop the bleeding and prove this team still has a playoff run in them. All eyes are on what comes next.
