Getty
Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet
The Boston Red Sox lost 6-4 to the Houston Astros on Wednesday at Daikin Park. Garrett Crochet allowed five runs across five innings. Carlos Correa broke the game open with a three-run homer in the fifth that put the contest out of reach. Boston has now lost five straight since winning on Opening Day.
The Red Sox were swept in Houston, outscored 23-7 across three games. They led for a total of half an inning during the entire series. The record sits at 1-5 for the first time since 2019.
After the game, Crochet did not look for excuses.
What Crochet Said After the Loss
The Red Sox ace was blunt about what happened Wednesday.
“It’s embarrassing…” Crochet said. “And typically in the past, I’ve played that stopper role. And today I just let the guys down … it’s not acceptable.”
Willson Contreras gave Boston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first. Crochet handed it right back in the bottom of the inning. He called that sequence unacceptable. The Correa three-run homer in the fifth came on a breaking ball that was supposed to be lower. It caught too much of the plate. Crochet knew it immediately.
He acknowledged the frustration but remained forward-looking. A day off on Thursday gives the Red Sox time to reset before Friday’s home opener at Fenway Park. Crochet said he expects a better response once the team gets home.
Garrett Crochet was asked about the team’s 1-5 start and today’s game:
“It’s embarrassing…”
(🎥@NESN)
How Wednesday Unfolded for the Red Sox
The Red Sox clawed back to tie it at two in the second inning after Jarren Duran drove in a run following Connor Wong‘s double. Crochet settled in after the rocky first and struck out the side in the fourth. For a moment, it looked like the ace had found his footing.
The fifth ended that. Alvarez took a pitch off the body and made his frustration known before walking to first. Two batters later, Correa crushed the sweeper for a three-run shot that made it 5-2 and effectively ended the contest.
Wilyer Abreu homered in the eighth, his third of the young season. Roman Anthony delivered a pinch-hit homer in the ninth. Neither was enough. Abreu’s three home runs match the rest of the Red Sox roster combined through six games.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 01: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
A Difficult Road Trip Ends
The numbers from the opening road trip paint an ugly picture.
Seventeen runs scored in six games. The pitching staff has allowed 11 home runs, tied for the second-most in the majors.
Trevor Story went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and an error on Wednesday. He called the team’s performance unacceptable and said there is urgency to turn things around despite the early calendar.
Caleb Durbin finished 0-for-4 and is now hitless in his first 18 at-bats as a Red Sox. The adjustment period has been longer than anyone anticipated.
The home opener against the San Diego Padres is set for Friday afternoon at Fenway Park.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 01: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox attempts to catch a ball hit by Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros during the third inning at Daikin Park on April 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Red Sox
Crochet called it embarrassing. Story called it unacceptable.
The road trip is over. Six games played, one win recorded, and a fanbase waiting at Fenway with questions. The Red Sox know the start has been ugly. Nobody in that locker room is pretending otherwise.
Friday offers a reset. Boston needs to take it.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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