The Boston Red Sox overcame an early three-run deficit to take down Matt 'Tugboat' Wilkinson and the San Francisco Giants.
The San Francisco Giants have now lost four in a row as highly touted rookie Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson suffered his first career loss on Sunday, Aug. 23.
After being used as an opener back in his MLB debut on Aug. 18, Wilkinson returned to action to end the Giants' weekend series at Fenway Park.
Sadly, things didn't go his way this time around. The 23-year-old may have thrown two scoreless innings a few nights ago, but the Boston Red Sox proved why they're a playoff-caliber team as they picked him apart.
Boston tallied four earned runs on seven hits, capturing seven of their 11 against Wilkinson. In the end, the Red Sox prevailed, 5-4, despite the Giants jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings.
Wilkinson spoils Giants' three-run lead
At the end of the day, Giants fans know this season is a lost cause, but games like this one are what truly matter. Wilkinson went out there and did his thing for nearly four innings, which was double what he did in his first career appearance.
While the Red Sox handed him his first career loss, it's a major learning experience for one of the biggest names in this organization.
The Giants offense looked tremendous early, but their lead quickly faded, and San Francisco couldn't even capitalize on the Red Sox's two errors.
Ultimately, this is a big learning experience for Tugboat. JT Brubaker allowed the Red Sox a crucial fifth run shortly after Wilkinson was pulled, but this is a game the Giants should've still won.
Bryce Eldridge, Jonah Cox had half of the Giants' hits
No matter what, the Giants' youth movement continues to deliver. Jonah Cox may be batting eighth in this lineup, but the 25-year-old went 2-for-4 and gave the Giants their lone home run of the game.
Cox's second-inning blast marked his second of the year while Bryce Eldridge added his 35th RBI. Eldridge also went 2-for-4, and it's worth noting these two combined for exactly half of their team's hits.
Elsewhere, Willy Adames recorded a hit to keep his solid stretch going. San Francisco's three through five hitters combined for five of the team's eight hits, and that includes Buddy Kennedy, who went 1-for-1 and replaced Adames after the veteran shortstop was dealing with a left elbow injury.
Victor Bericoto's replacement, Drew Gilbert, went 0-for-2. The status of Bericoto is certainly worth monitoring as he was also pulled due to a potential injury.
