CHICAGO — The Red Sox had a one-run lead with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night. Their pitchers to that point had retired eight in a row.
When Jose Rondon grounded to third base, it should have been another step toward the first four-game win streak of the season.
“That’s a routine play,” manager Alex Cora said.
But no play is routine for third baseman Rafael Devers. He overran the ball and the error led to the latest gut-punch loss for the Red Sox.
Nicky DelMonico’s three-run homer off Brasier gave the White Sox a 6-4 walk-off victory.
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It was Delmonico’s first home run of the season. It came on a high slider from Brasier after Yonder Alonso singled to left field.
“I made a bad pitch and he did what he was supposed to do with it,” Brasier said.
Devers sat at his locker for several minutes after the game, still in his uniform pants. He finally trudged off to the shower after many of his teammates had already left the ballpark.
Devers has nine errors, the second-most in the majors. The 22-year-old, who made a nice sliding play down the line to steal a hit away from Jose Abreu in the first inning, is wildly inconsistent. He has committed 33 errors over the last two seasons.
Cora thought Devers was too out of control when he came charging in on Rondon’s ball.
“Definitely a play I should have made,” Devers said. “Things happen. I went after the ball aggressively.”
David Price worked six solid innings. Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes had perfect innings before Brasier came in.
“We’ll take our chances with those guys every time,” Cora said.
Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez were 8 of 13 with four runs scored and two RBIs at the top of the order. The rest of the Red Sox were 0 for 20, although Devers did drive in two runs.
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The Sox were 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. That came back to bite them.
On a 43-degree night, the teams combined for three runs on four hits in the first inning.
The Sox loaded the bases against White Sox starter Lucas Giolito when Betts singled, Martinez singled and Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. Devers’ deep fly ball to left field scored Betts.
Price allowed a two-run homer by James McCann in the bottom of the inning.
The Sox took the lead back in the third inning. Benintendi homered to left field. Betts and Martinez then singled before two groundouts resulted in a run.
Price walked Abreu with one out in the sixth inning before McCann doubled to the base of the fence in right center.
Abreu got a poor jump off first base but third base coach Nick Capra sent him to the plate. The Red Sox executed the relay perfectly, Jackie Bradley Jr. hitting Bogaerts before Bogaerts threw a strike to the plate in time for Christian Vazquez to make the tag.
When Yoan Moncada grounded to shortstop, Price should have been out of the inning. But Bogaerts had trouble getting a grip on the ball and his throw to first was late.
McCann then scored the tying run when Rondon singled to center.
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Price allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He has a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts, 3.75 for the season.
Workman pitched a perfect seventh inning. He has pitched seven consecutive scoreless and hitless innings. Opponents are 2 of 55 against the righthander this season.
Barnes was the choice for the eighth inning with the 2-3-4 hitters coming up. He struck out Tim Anderson, Abreu and McCann on 14 pitches.
Chris Sale starts for the Red Sox on Friday night. The Red Sox are winless in Sale’s six starts with the lefthander going 0-5 with a 6.30 earned run average.
Sale was with the White Sox from 2010-16, making the All-Star team five times. He has faced Chicago one previous time at Guaranteed Rate Field, on May 30, 2017.
Sale allowed five earned runs on 10 hits over six innings but was the winning pitcher in a 13-7 game.
“You turn the page. Our goal is to win the series,” Cora said.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.