BOSTON -- Coming off a 5-2 road trip that gave them some life in the American League East, the Boston Red Sox opened their final homestand before the All-Star break with a wild loss that had a little of everything. After erasing deficits of three runs, two runs and one run against the AL West-leading Houston Astros, Boston dropped a 12-8 decision in 10 innings Friday night, its seventh loss in the last nine home games.
How it happened: Red Sox manager John Farrell talked pregame about the need to make Fenway Park an advantage again for a team that has struggled in the cozy confines. For three innings it was, as Hanley Ramirez slugged a solo shot and starter Justin Masterson seemed to be in control to help the Sox build a 2-0 advantage.
Then came the fourth, and 11 Astros hitters stepped to the plate, five of whom scored. Although no error was given, Ramirez dropped a ball before throwing in on Jason Castro's two-run double and he had a slight hesitation on Preston Tucker's RBI double later in the frame. It was all part of an ugly inning that saw Masterson give way to Tommy Layne after just 3 2/3 innings.
The Sox rallied for three to tie it in the fifth, two more to knot it 7-7 in the seventh and one more to forge an 8-8 deadlock in the eighth. Mookie Betts was thrown out trying to steal third with one out in the eighth and Xander Bogaerts up at the plate, a play that will prompt second-guessing, and rookie Noe Ramirez allowed four runs in the 10th in an ugly major league debut to give Houston its fourth and final lead.
What it means: The Sox continue to score runs at an OK clip -- they have 20 in the past two days alone. However, the starting pitching has gone into another tailspin, not including Clay Buchholz. It is beginning to tax the bullpen, which added another fresh arm Friday in the form of Noe Ramirez and could require more before the holiday weekend is up. Removing Buchholz's stellar start at Toronto earlier this week, the bullpen has had an eight-game stretch in which it has been asked to work 34 1/3 innings, or more than four a game. Five relievers -- including closer Koji Uehara -- were used after Masterson in this one. Curiously, Junichi Tazawa was a no-show.
Caught napping: The Sox had 11 hits and every player reached base at least once, with the exception of Mike Napoli, who struck out three more times in an 0-for-5 showing and committed the error in the 10th that ignited Houston's decisive four-run rally. Napoli's average is down to .195 and the error was his fifth.
That's using your head: David Ortiz has a big head. It helped the Sox score a pair of runs in the fifth. After Ortiz pulled his team within 5-3 on an RBI single, sending Bogaerts to third, Hanley Ramirez followed with a grounder to third. Luis Valbuena fired to second to force Ortiz, but the relay to first caught Big Papi on the helmet, sending what could've been the third out bounding into the stands behind the Red Sox dugout. Bogaerts scored and Pablo Sandoval followed with a single to score Ramirez, both runs courtesy of Ortiz's noggin.
Get in the game: The Sox have had notable mental lapses of late with players forgetting the number of outs. In this one, Ramirez stood at home plate for several seconds after drawing ball four in the seventh before 30,000-plus urged him to move. The inning ended in bizarre fashion when the third out was recorded at first but first baseman Chris Carter threw to third to try to nab Alejandro De Aza, who, like Carter, must've thought there were still two outs. De Aza slid in, rose up and saw the Astros leaving the field. He assumed he was out and gestured for a replay review. Third base coach Brian Butterfield told De Aza the inning was over, and we once again were left to wonder if Boston's counting skills are up to snuff.
Up next: A pair of streaking right-handers will meet when the Astros send Collin McHugh (9-3, 4.51 ERA) to the mound opposite Buchholz (6-6, 3.48). Both pitchers have been victorious in three straight starts. First pitch for the Independence Day matinee is set for 1:35 p.m. ET.