The last time Walker Buehler took the mound at Yankee Stadium before Friday’s matchup against the Yankees, he helped the Dodgers secure the final outs in their 2024 World Series triumph. However, his first start in The Bronx as a Red Sox player was far less successful. Buehler was pummeled, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on seven hits, two walks, and two strikeouts over just two innings, leading to Boston’s 9-6 defeat to New York on Friday. All five earned runs came in the opening inning, with the Yankees batting around the order. Jazz Chisholm launched a three-run homer, followed by Anthony Volpe’s two-run shot, both with two outs.

Friday marked Buehler’s second consecutive game allowing five earned runs, having done the same against the Braves last Saturday. While Buehler’s first season in Boston has been inconsistent, he did not hesitate to voice his dissatisfaction with his performance. “This organization placed a lot of trust in me this offseason, and I’ve been [expletive] embarrassing for us,” Buehler told reporters. Buehler, who inked a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox this offseason hoping for a bigger payday in the future, now holds a 5.18 ERA this season. He has managed a quality start (six-plus innings with three or fewer earned runs) in just three of his initial 10 games and has pitched five or fewer innings in six starts.

There was hope that Buehler had turned a corner prior to last Saturday’s start against the Braves, as he posted a 3.44 ERA over six starts before that, despite missing almost a month due to injury. However, Friday’s appearance reignited concerns as the Red Sox aimed to reach a .500 record. “It’s tough,” Buehler admitted. “This was a big game and a significant rivalry I was eager to be part of. For it to unfold the way it did is incredibly disappointing, especially after the past few weeks of preparation and how I’ve been feeling physically. For it to happen this way, it sucks.”

Buehler’s first-inning woes on Friday are part of a larger issue for the Red Sox pitching staff, which has allowed 21 runs in the first inning of their last 13 games. Boston has a 7.06 ERA with 16 home runs given up in the first inning over its first 65 games. “It’s hard to play this way,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora commented on the team’s first-inning difficulties.

Lucas Giolito, also in his inaugural season with the Red Sox after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury, struggled in the first inning against the Angels on Wednesday, conceding four runs and similarly expressing frustration. “I need to figure it the [expletive] out,” Giolito said.

Buehler is also trying to sort things out. Out of his 67 pitches, only seven were fastballs, with all Yankees hits coming from his off-speed or breaking pitches. His slider was the most used pitch on Friday, thrown 27 times. Opposing teams have hit .304 against Buehler’s slider this season, with his knuckle curve (.429) and cutter (.406) faring worse.

“I don’t want to delve too deeply into it. I’m throwing a lot of sliders and two-seamers,” Buehler said regarding his pitches. “These aren’t typically what I rely on. When the sweeper isn’t in the zone, the curveball and cutter get hit more.”

Buehler’s ineffectiveness is undoubtedly a setback for a 30-35 Red Sox team that had playoff aspirations. It also continues his struggles and inconsistency from his final seasons with the Dodgers, where he posted a 4.75 ERA over his last two years, missing the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery.

“I feel like I’ve said this for two years now, but I feel like I’m getting closer, as strange as it sounds,” Buehler said. “But to have had the four- or five-start stretch that I did before going on the IL and then to have these consecutive outings is [expletive] super disappointing.”