Red Sox Offense Sputters in Chilly 3-2 Loss to Padres at Fenway

Boston rallies to tie it in the 8th, but San Diego regains the lead in the 9th for the win.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:52am

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In a cold afternoon game at Fenway Park, the Red Sox offense struggled against the Padres, falling 3-2 despite a late rally to tie the game. Starter Connelly Early had a tough outing, allowing two runs over 4 innings, before the bullpen took over. Boston tied it in the 8th, but San Diego scored the go-ahead run in the 9th to secure the victory.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Red Sox to 2-3 on the young season, as they continue to search for consistency at the plate. Meanwhile, the Padres improve to 4-1, showing their ability to win close games on the road in tough conditions.

The details

The Red Sox fell behind 2-1 early, but rallied to tie the game in the 8th inning on a fielding error by the Padres. However, San Diego regained the lead in the 9th on a go-ahead RBI single by Ramon Laureano, handing the Red Sox their third loss of the season.

  • The game was played on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.
  • Connelly Early made his second start of the season for the Red Sox.

The players

Connelly Early

The Red Sox starting pitcher, who allowed 2 runs over 4 innings with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Ceddanne Rafaela

The Red Sox outfielder who sparked their 8th inning rally with a leadoff single.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

The Padres star who hit a double in the 9th inning to set up the go-ahead run.

Ramon Laureano

The Padres outfielder who delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the 9th inning.

Alex Cora

The Red Sox manager who made several key lineup and pitching decisions in the close game.

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What they’re saying

“Two pitches, Tatis with two strikes hit the ball hard up the middle, and then a split that hung to Laureano. He's been doing that the last few years. You tip your hat to them, and we've got to regroup and be ready tomorrow to win the series.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

“I thought that was better. Yeah, much better. He had the angle, I know the ball tailed. I was just talking to Huddy (Kyle Hudson), but there was more conviction on it. That was very good.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

What’s next

The Red Sox and Padres will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss, the Red Sox showed fight by rallying to tie the game late. However, they were ultimately undone by a timely hit from the Padres' offense. Boston will look to regroup and take the series finale as they try to get back to .500 on the young season.