BOSTON -- It was another disappointing night at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox as they fell 8-3 to the Seattle Mariners in Wednesday's rubber match, losing the series. Wednesday's loss was the latest in a string of rough outings for a Red Sox pitching staff that has carried the team for much of the 2026 season, joining an unfortunate group in Red Sox history. 

After allowing eight runs to Seattle on Wednesday, Boston pitching has now allowed eight or more runs for the fifth consecutive game, which, as noted by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, is only the fourth time in franchise history that such a streak has occurred, joining the 2020, 1930, and 1909 teams as the only four to have such a streak. 

While the 1909 Red Sox finished the season with a team ERA of 2.59, the 11th-lowest mark in franchise history since 1901, both the 2020 and 1930 staffs were among the worst in the last 126 years. The 1930 club finished the season with a team ERA of 4.68, the 16th-worst mark, while the 2020 staff's 5.58 ERA is the worst season in franchise history. 

After posting a 3.52 ERA over the first 127 games of the season, the third-lowest mark in baseball, the Red Sox pitching staff has been depleted by both underperformance and injuries. However, the staff has struggled mightily over the last 13 games, posting a 5.53 ERA, one of the worst marks in baseball over that stretch as the team has gone 7-6. 

During that stretch, the Red Sox have seen three key relievers, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten and, most recently, Tyron Guerrero, land on the injured list. Over in the rotation, Ranger Suarez has yet to return to his pre-All-Star break form, struggling since returning from the injured list, while Sonny Gray had his scheduled start on Tuesday pushed back to give the veteran an extra couple of days to rest.

A historic month of July has given Boston a comfortable cushion in the American League playoff picture, as they hold a 4.5-game lead over Cleveland for the second wild-card position and a six-game lead over Texas and Baltimore for the final playoff spot. However, this iteration of the Red Sox was built on the backs of an excellent pitching staff, and they'll need the entire staff, but Suarez and Gray especially, to return to form if they have hopes of making a deeper playoff run than 2025. 

Boston will look to turn the page on the series loss to Seattle when they head to Baltimore for a crucial four-game set with the Orioles that gets underway on Thursday night from Camden Yards. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.27 ERA) will get the start for the Red Sox while Baltimore has yet to name its starter. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET.