Red Sox shut out by Marlins, win streak snapped at five

Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald on Aug 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Boston Red Sox offense has been on fire since the All-Star break, and the club came into Wednesday riding a five-game win streak with back-to-back late victories to clinch their series with the Miami Marlins.

But sometimes, no matter how much has been going your way, it’s just not your night.

The Red Sox were shut out for the sixth time this season, losing 4-0 in Wednesday’s finale against the Marlins. Boston was stymied by starter Ryan Gusto and the Marlins bullpen, who collectively held the offense to just five hits, and it was also an uncharacteristically sloppy night for the defense, who committed four errors.

“We had some sloppy play, obviously,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “When you get them in positions where they can play their game, which we kept at bay for the most part, but they like to start running and things like that. Obviously some of those errors were on throws, made one late, that obviously contributed to a degree to the runs. But we didn’t score either.”

Coming into the night with a 4.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 57 2/3 innings, Gusto hasn’t exactly been overpowering for the Marlins this season. But he had all seven of his pitches dialed in on Wednesday, and the Red Sox couldn’t figure him out.

The Red Sox had one real opportunity against Gusto in the top of the second when they loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit batsman, but the right-hander drew a groundout to the mound to end the threat.

Gusto stranded men at first and second in the third inning as well, but he escaped the jam and wound up retiring seven straight into the sixth inning.

While Gusto was carving the Red Sox up, Sonny Gray found himself pitching from behind almost immediately.

The Marlins took a quick lead in the first on an RBI single by Heriberto Hernandez, and Miami stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second. Otto Lopez hit a leadoff single, stole second and then came all the way home to score when the throw from catcher Connor Wong bounced off his helmet into the outfield.

Miami wound up getting two men into scoring position later in the inning, but Gray struck out Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine to end the threat. The veteran right-hander escaped another jam in the third, getting help from his infield after Andruw Monasterio was able to throw out a runner at the plate from shortstop, and Gray finished with two runs allowed over five innings, his shortest outing since July 25.

But with virtually no run support, a 17th win wasn’t in the cards for Gray this time.

“Kind of some unlucky runs as far as the throws and the errors ricocheting, but overall he gave us five innings,” Tracy said. “So that was good.”

Gusto finished his outing with 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits, three walks, two hit batsman and tallying two strikeouts. The Red Sox chased him in the sixth after Monasterio was hit by a pitch and Jarren Duran singled to put runners at the corners, but reliever Victor Vodnik struck out Anthony Seigler to preserve Gusto’s brilliant outing.

Miami’s bullpen was even more dominant, retiring the first seven batters it faced before completing the shutout in the ninth. The Marlins scored their last two runs in the eighth after the Red Sox committed two errors, first on a stolen base attempt and then on a grounder to second that ate up Nick Sogard, allowing Lopez to score. Javier Sanoja rounded out the scoring with an RBI single.

The loss snaps Boston’s five-game win streak and drops the club to 73-60. The Red Sox will now have an off day on Thursday before opening a crucial four-game series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Friday.

Whitlock nearing return

Garrett Whitlock (right elbow inflammation) faced live hitters on the field prior to Wednesday’s game, and the Red Sox set-up man told MLB.com that things went well and he believes he’ll be ready to pitch this weekend against the Yankees.

“I feel like I’d be good,” Whitlock said. “I’m just going to let them make that decision. I’m not that decision-maker.”

Whitlock has been on the injured list since Aug. 13 (retroactive to Aug. 10) and has been one of the most dominant relievers in the league. Prior to going on the IL Whitlock had posted a 2.05 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 44 innings over 45 appearances.

Rough night for rehabbers

The Red Sox’s three rehabbing big leaguers had a tough night at the yard with the WooSox on Wednesday. Trevor Story (sports hernia surgery rehab) went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, Roman Anthony (sprained right hand) was 0 for 4 with one strikeout, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm inflammation) was 0 for 2 with two walks and an RBI coming on a fielding error.

____