Red Sox battle back late but fall to Padres as thin margin for error is magnified

BOSTON -- On a day their sluggish offense battled back to tie the score late against a tough lefty reliever, their Gold Glove-winning center fielder misread a hard liner in the ninth as their All-Star closer lost the game. It's been that kind of start to the season for the Boston Red Sox, who've left themselves so little margin for error that any miscues by their best players are magnified. On Saturday, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 113 mph liner to center sailed over Ceddanne Rafaela's head with two outs in the ninth with the score tied before closer Aroldis Chapman allowed a single that plated the winning run as the Red Sox fell to the San Diego Padres 3-2 on a raw, windy day at Fenway Park. And just like that, the positive vibes of the home opener were wiped away. "It just seems like we're one big hit away or one really good at-bat away from blowing it open and then playing with some freedom," shortstop Trevor Story said. "Right now, we just got to think small and big things will happen." The Red Sox have been imprisoned through the early part of the season by an offense that has shown ability in spurts, but little consistency, adding pressure to the pitching staff. Starter Connelly Early lacked command in his second start of the season and battled through four innings. He needed 88 pitches and threw just 53 for strikes, issuing four walks, but managed to keep the Red Sox in touch, surrendering two runs. "I struggled getting the grip on the ball a little bit," Early said. "But I've got to do a better job with figuring out how to keep my hand warm and go out there and be able to execute from Pitch 1." Still, the 24-year-old lefty (his birthday was Friday) showed some grit, returning to the mound in the fourth with 80 pitches already thrown. He needed just eight pitches to get through the inning before manager Alex Cora turned to the bullpen. Ryan Watson, Danny Coulombe, Justin Slaten and Zack Kelly kept the Padres in check, but it was the offense, once again, that left more to be desired. "I think we've got to swing less, to be honest with you," Cora said. "Get pitches in the zone, not chase. I think from our end, (we need to) slow it down." Marcelo Mayer's sacrifice fly in the second gave the Red Sox their first run, but they trailed 2-1 much of the day. It wasn't until a rally in the eighth that it appeared the Red Sox might pull off their second win at home this season. Rafaela beat out an infield single, and Roman Anthony followed with a single on a slider from lefty reliever Adrian Morejon. After Story struck out, Cora pinch hit for Jarren Duran with Andruw Monasterio, whose .829 OPS against lefties last year was part of the reason he made the roster in Romy Gonzalez's absence. Monasterio battled for nine pitches, fouling off five, before a hard shot back to the mound. Morejon, though, made a bad throw to second getting the lead runner and Monasterio beat the throw to first to prevent the double play, allowing Rafaela to score the tying run, breathing life into a frigid Fenway crowd. "I don't know if he spread out and tried to put the ball in play, but it looked like there was intent behind it," Cora said of Monasterio, who was facing his first lefty of the season. "He didn't want to strike out. If you put the ball in play, good things can happen." But the Red Sox have put the ball in play far too little through the first week of the season. Willson Contreras squashed the rally with a strikeout in the next at-bat to end the inning. The Red Sox had eight strikeouts on the day, three in the bottom of the ninth against flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, and they've lacked patience at the plate. "I think overall offensively we need to be better," Story said. "That's part of it, getting your pitch, being patient for your pitch throughout the at-bat, and when you get it, don't miss it. Personally, that's happened to me a little too often, more than I like. So I've got a lot of confidence in this group. I know offensively, we'll get it going." With one step forward and two steps back, the Red Sox offense has yet to prove it can do so.