MLB notes: How, and why, have Red Sox lost so many one

Why can’t the Red Sox win any one-run games?

That question sums up the Red Sox’s season so far, which has been a massive disappointment largely because the club has come up short in so many close games. Entering Saturday the Red Sox were 6-17 in one-run games, which is the most such losses of any team in baseball, accounting for nearly half of the club’s total 35 losses.

Had the club flipped a few of those the other way, the Red Sox could easily be in playoff position right now instead of 10.5 games out of first place in the AL East.

How does this keep happening, and who is most to blame? Is it an offensive issue? A symptom of poor pitching and defense?

As with everything else in life the truth is more complex, but a game-by-game analysis shows there are a couple of problems that repea