Boston Red Sox fans are losing their patience.
After witnessing the Red Sox surrender a four-run lead to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, the spectators delivered an emotional message to principal owner John W. Henry: “Sell the team … sell the team … sell the team …”
The chants reverberated through Fenway Park after Fernando Tatis Jr.’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly, which capped the Padres’ 8-6 victory. The loss dropped the Red Sox to 2-7, losers of two straight.
Opening the season with a payroll that ranked No. 6 in the league ($265.1 million), the Red Sox ended their third series in last place in the AL East.
Boston Red Sox struggling at start of season
The Red Sox faithful reacted differently in the third inning after Jarren Duran connected on a two-run double, Wilyer Abreu stretched out an RBI triple and Masataka Yoshida added a two-out, run-scoring single.
By the fifth inning, the Red Sox trailed 6-4.
Center fielder Jackson Merrill’s solo home run in the eighth gave the Padres the lead for good as Tyler Uberstine (0-1) suffered a loss during his MLB debut.
The Red Sox have dropped seven of eight.
Frustrations are evident.
New starting pitcher Ranger Suarez’s second start unraveled in the fourth inning, low-lighted by Manny Machado’s three-run home run.
Despite scoring six runs for the first time this season, league insiders suggest the team’s morale dispersed last offseason when the ownership group failed to bring back players like Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers.
Have the Red Sox hit rock bottom yet?