Last month, the Boston Red Sox couldn't lose. Now, they can't buy a win.
After losing again on Wednesday, the slumping Red Sox have now lost five in a row, matching their longest losing streak this year from the beginning of the season. After dropping their weekend series against the Athletics and losing three to the Toronto Blue Jays, they've now lost back-to-back series for the first time since late May.
The main issue for Boston has been its bats, which have averaged just 2.8 runs per game during the skid. Four of the five losses have been by only one or two runs, so at least the games have been close.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, they're still in good shape after their remarkable 32-5 stretch that ended over the weekend. They're still eight games over .500 and control the second wild card spot in the American League.
Boston will try to salvage Thursday's series finale in Toronto before heading to Pittsburgh to face the fading Pirates, who have lost 15 of their last 20 games entering play on Thursday.