The Red Sox gave up a little league home run to the Rays with defensive plays that had fans wondering if they even know how to baseball.
Baseball is hard, which is why it's so satisfying when a player pulls off an elite defensive play and makes it look so easy.
That's also why it's so very cringe when an otherwise routine play goes arry.
On Sunday, the Red Sox defense entered the cringiest of cringe territory, to the delight of rivals, when they gave up a little league home run to Yandy Diaz and the Rays.
Red Sox defense collapsed against the Rays
The Rays had a 4-2 lead and Manuel Margot on first when Diaz came to the plate and chopped a single into the gap in right field. Boldly, they sent Margot home and completely flummoxed the Red Sox defense.
Enmanuel Valdez cut off Kiké Hernández's throw from right field and sent the throw home wide, allowing Margot to score. Then Connor Wong botched his throw to second to try for the final out, sending Diaz around the bases for a run.
The end result was two runs for the Rays and a 6-2 lead.
That wasn't even the only Red Sox error that scored a run in the game. Masataka Yoshida's fielding error in the fourth inning also gave Tampa Bay a 3-1 advantage.
Boston lost the game 6-2 after splitting Saturday's double-header. They'll have one more chance against the Rays on Monday but at best they can secure a series split.
They're fighting to get out of the bottom of the AL East but it's not exactly going well. While the Blue Jays have won four in a row and seven of their last 10, the Red Sox are 4-6 in the same span. Tightening up their defense would certainly help.
