Red Sox Drop Fifth Straight, Fall to Fourth in AL East

The Boston Red Sox, despite making notable offseason moves to become contenders, continue to struggle with inconsistency and fundamental mistakes, reflected in their mediocre 27-28 record and recent five-game losing streak. Manager Alex Cora has openly criticized the team's poor execution and defensive lapses, which were especially evident in a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers, where rookie Kristian Campbell's struggles at multiple new positions contributed to costly errors. Cora's decision to overload Campbell defensively has drawn scrutiny, especially given the reluctance of veterans like Rafael Devers to demonstrate similar flexibility. Another rookie, Marcelo Mayer, also made a notable mistake on the bases but was defended by Cora, who emphasized the importance of learning from aggressive play. The Red Sox's inability to build any sustained momentum has led to a sense of stagnation, with Cora admitting the team is only average and in need of meaningful change to become playoff contenders without injured star Alex Bregman. The overall sentiment is that the Red Sox must improve their fundamentals and find a spark to break out of their cycle of mediocrity.