Civale, defense struggle in 8-3 loss to Red Sox | Jeff Schudel

Jun. 26—Takeaways from the Guardians' 8-3 loss to the Red Sox on June 26 at Progressive Field:

—Aaron Civale's 2022 struggles continued in the series finale against the Red Sox. He didn't get great defensive support in the four innings he pitched, but he also did himself no favors.

Civale allowed eight hits and gave way to reliever Anthony Gose with the Guardians trailing, 3-0, after four innings. Civale threw 87 pitches. He walked two batters, not counting an intentional walk issued to Rafael Devers, Boston's most dangerous hitter.

"On a day when he probably needed a little help (defensively), we certainly didn't give him much," manager Terry Francona said. "They (the Red Sox) didn't go out of the strike zone much. He got into a lot of deep counts. We had four or five plays — some of them weren't errors — but we need to make those plays."

Oscar Gonzalez, who has been steady in right field, got turned around on two fly balls that ended up going for doubles. A weak throw to first by second baseman Andres Gimenez prevented what would have been an inning-ending double play.

Aaron Civale assesses his pitching performance after taking the loss for the @CleGuardians Sunday. The Red Sox completed a sweep by beating the Guardians, 8-3. pic.twitter.com/8iZmLDAiPG

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) June 26, 2022

The start was Civale's second since returning from a 30-day stint on the injured list with left glute tightness. He was sharper in his first game back when he allowed two runs through five innings in a game with the Twins on June 21. The Guardians won the game, 6-5, in 11 innings. The Red Sox, though, have a more lethal lineup. Boston has scored 351 runs in 73 games. The Twins have scored 328 runs in 74 games.

"I thought the command was not the best I've had," Civale said. "I thought I battled pretty well and executed a good amount of pitches. I thought I threw too many pitches as a whole, but I thought I battled pretty well."

June 26 marked Civale's first career start against the Red Sox. He did not pitch with confidence and was probably lucky to escape with only three runs allowed.

Civale has to figure it out quickly. His next start is scheduled to be against the Yankees on July 1 at Progressive Field.

—This wasn't the start to the 11-game home stand the Guardians wanted, but they have a chance to right the ship quickly.

The Flying Gs returned from a nine-game road trip, on which they went 7-2, percentage points ahead of the Twins in the American League Central Division. Now they are two games behind Minnesota as the Twins come to town for a five-game series starting at 7:10 p.m., June 27, when Triston McKenzie (4-5, 3.51 ERA), faces the Twins' Sonny Gray (3-1, 2.53).

A split doubleheader is scheduled for June 28 as a makeup for a rainout earlier in the season. Zach Plesac (2-5, 4.17) will pitch for the Guardians against Twins lefty Devin Smeltzer (4-1, 3.05) in a 1:10 p.m. start. Starters in the 7:10 p.m. game have not been announced.

PHOTOS: Guardians vs. Red Sox, June 26, 2022

Cal Quantrill is scheduled to pitch for the Guardians on June 29. Shane Bieber's normal turn in the rotation would come up June 30.

The Guardians took two of three games from the Twins in Minnesota. That series was viewed as a "showdown series" after the Guardians swept the Rockies and took two of three from the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Getting swept by the Red Sox stalled the Guardians' momentum. But they can get it back by taking at least three from the Twins. This is a critical series with the Yankees coming to town July 1 to start a three-game set.

—Jose Ramirez doubled twice June 26 and now has 23 on the season. ... The Guardians were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. ... Civale wasn't the only Guardians pitcher with control issues. They walked a total of 11 Boston batters, only two of them intentionally. Tanner Tully pitched the final three innings for the home team. He walked four batters and allowed Boston's eighth run on a wild pitch.

—This was the first time the Red Sox have swept the Indians/Guardians in a series lasting more than one game since 2013, when Boston swept a three-game set. Boston beat the Indians in a single make-up game on Aug. 15, 2016.