Red Sox Notes: Boston ‘Better Than’ Recent Stretch Of Struggles

The Boston Red Sox are falling off schedule in a stretch of games they absolutely have to have to keep their playoff hopes alive.

After returning to Fenway Park following a productive road trip, the Arizona Diamondbacks instantly swept Boston to crush any momentum. The Red Sox then began a stretch on Monday of 14 consecutive games against non-playoff teams. To start with a continuation game, Boston could not capitalize in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

A slow day for the offense paired with key defensive mistakes spoiled six solid innings on the mound from Nick Pivetta. Boston took another step back in the wild card standings. With urgency beginning to press, Alex Cora reassured the capabilities of his Red Sox club.

"It's not happening right now, to be honest with you," Cora told reporters, per NESN's postgame coverage. "It's been going on for a while here, right? Most of them, they haven't been in this situation before, right? Every pitcher matters. Every at-bat matters. We just gotta make sure we slow it down. I don't know if its pressure or good pitching. We're better than this. We know that. Right now, we're not going through a good stretch. We'll turn it around."

Now trailing by more than five games for the final American League playoff spot, the Red Sox have to lock in on the details coming up.

"I think we're just more focused on the game, executing the pitches and going out there and trying to win a baseball game," Nick Pivetta told reporters, per NESN's postgame coverage. "... Erase what's gone on in the past and focus on the game at hand."

Here are more notes from Monday's Blue Jays-Red Sox game:

-- The loss for the Red Sox schedule-wise reverts back to June 26. In the current string of days, Boston has lost four straight games for the fifth time this season.

-- Jarren Duran tied his professional career-high with 18 home runs this season. He combined for 18 homers in 2021 between MLB and Triple-A Worcester.

-- Pivetta tallied his fifth outing of 10 strikeouts on the season.

-- The Red Sox have lost two straight games to the Blue Jays after starting the season 5-0 against Toronto.

-- Danny Jansen made history in the game by becoming the first MLB player to play for both teams in a game. In the continuation, Jansen went 1-for-4 with a single.

-- With Boston's loss and the Kansas City Royals beating the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 to start their doubleheader on Monday afternoon, the Red Sox fell to 5 1/2 games out of the final American League wild card spot.

-- Zack Kelly will start Monday night's game as an opener for the Red Sox.

-- The Red Sox and Blue Jays now start their four-game series and complete the doubleheader when they reconvene at Fenway Park with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET. You can catch the game on NESN.