How are the Red Sox bats in close games?

Why does it seem like the Boston Red Sox win a lot of blowouts but struggle in close games? Because it is true.

What is the cause?

All facets of the team can be blamed. At times it's the starting pitching. Other times it is the relievers. Occasionally it is base running and fielding.

Let's focus on the offense.

Here are the batting statistics based on the run outcome of the game whether the Red Sox won or lost.

GAME OUTCOME	W/L	R/Diff	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1 run game	(13-14)	-1	944	127	263	59	4	36	122	73	191	0.279	0.333	0.464	0.797
2 run game	(25-27)	-3	1,812	231	487	107	8	50	224	165	376	0.269	0.332	0.419	0.752
3 run game	(30-35)	-12	2,240	269	579	121	8	59	259	218	490	0.258	0.327	0.399	0.726
4 run game	(42-43)	4	2,937	378	780	164	13	97	361	274	631	0.266	0.331	0.429	0.761
5 run game	(48-47)	14	3,296	448	892	190	16	108	429	314	690	0.271	0.337	0.436	0.774
≥ ± 6 run game	(14-5)	72	714	170	244	67	6	34	162	73	122	0.342	0.405	0.595	1.001

Again, this is why run differential is not a true precursor for success. The best use of run differential always will be in games decided by 5 runs or less. High scoring games are aberrations.

To put it in perspective, there aren't many people that would say Hanley Ramirez is have a very good year despite the fact that he is tied for 18th in the AL in RBI and 30th in all of MLB.

Why does it seem like Hanley isn't having that good a year?

Here are the games where Ramirez numbers in games where he has ≥

 2 RBI vs games he has less than that.

RESULT	GS	AB	R	Hits	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OPA	SLG	BA
≥ 2 RBI	15	59	18	29	5	1	10	42	0.492	0.545	1.119	1.664
≤ 1 RBI	87	333	38	78	16	0	6	28	0.234	0.312	0.336	0.648

Like the team, most of Hanley's offensive prowess is concentrated in a small percentage of the games played.