Red Sox Lose to Orioles 5-3 at Fenway

Kutter Crawford made his 30th start of the season for the Boston Red Sox but suffered a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, despite delivering a quality performance with three earned runs allowed over 6 1/3 innings. Crawford, who has been consistent in his outings, now has a league-high total of 31 home runs allowed this season, contributing to a frustrating trend as the Red Sox have lost all five of his most recent starts. Cedric Mullins was a key player for the Orioles, hitting two home runs off Crawford, further complicating the Red Sox's playoff aspirations as they fall four games behind in the wild-card race. Manager Alex Cora praised Crawford's performance, noting his increased velocity and effectiveness, but the team's offensive struggles continued with only six hits in the game. With the season winding down, Crawford remains focused on achieving his goals of pitching 170-180 innings and staying healthy. The Red Sox are now 73-72 overall and must win to stay competitive in their playoff chase.