FOXBORO – The New England Revolution’s lively four game win streak died hard.

The reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew scored three unanswered goals in the first half and rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Revolution before 24,004 on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. Crew striker Juan “Cucho” Hernandez and forward Diego Rossi recorded a goal and two assists apiece.

The Revolution fell to 6-11-1 in the first of three matches in eight nights. The Revolution host Atlanta United FC on Wednesday (7:45) and play at Seattle Sounders FC (10:30) on July 6.

“That’s what good teams do, they punish you and I thought Columbus punished us,” said Revolution head coach Caleb Porter. “We will be better for this game but we can’t dwell on it, we have a quick turnaround with Atlanta and it is really important we come back on Wednesday and get that win.”

Porter was compelled to make two significant changes to the Starting XI that beat FC Cincinnati at on June 22 at TQL Stadium. Leading goal scoring and playmaker Carles Gil, the Revolution captain, was sidelined with a lower leg injury and was replaced by homegrown Noel Buck of Arlington. Midfielder Matt Polster wore the captain’s arm band at the start of the game.

Dynamic forward Dylan Borrero was out with a hip injury was replaced on the left wing by homegrown Esmir Bajraktarevic. Porter hopes to have Gil and Borrero ready for Atlanta United FC.

“It is difficult because obviously he is our best player and he’s the key player in our game bottle, the 4-2-3-1,” said Porter. “Carles and Dylan, these are two guys that make us go and we didn’t have either one in.

“We tried to adjust into a 4-3-3 and press them and there were times it looked good early in the game and moments that didn’t look good.”

The Revolution’s possession probes delivered in the ninth minute of a hustle play by midfielder Emmanuel Boateng, who was making his fourth start and 13th appearance. Boateng forced a turnover from Crew defender Steven Moreira at the top of the box on the left side. Boateng closed on the cage from a tight angle and lofted a chip shot over advancing Crew keeper Patrick Schulte for his second of the season.

“I thought we started really well in the game and we disrupting them when we went up 1-0,” said Porter.

The Crew tied the game 1-1 on a transition play by Hernandez in the 17th minute. Crew attacker Christian Ramirez (two assists) launched rainbow clear to Hernandez, who got behind center back Xavier Arreaga in the Revolution third. Hernandez made an uncontested run at the goal and beat keeper Aljaz Ivacic with a slide kick off the right foot for his 10th tally in 13 games.

“Against the run, Cucho finds a goal there and our mentality dipped a little bit and I hadn’t seen that in the last four games,” said Porter. “We have to be stronger there.

Columbus administered a relentless pounding in the New England end over the final 10 minutes that rendered two goals. Hernadez connected with midfielder Max Arfsten as he cut diagonally through the box. Arfsten found a seam in the coverage and potted his third of the season in the 42nd minute.

Hernandez registered his second quality helper on the half when he set up Rossi for his fifth of the season in stoppage time.

“The second goal was a great strike and he’s the best striker (Hernandez) in the league, he’s a killer and Cucho made a great assist on the third goal as well,” said Porter. “That was a back breaker a little bit but they were better overall.

“It was their good play and credit goes to them but we will grow from this game.”

The beatdown continued unabated in the second half. The Crew went up 4-1 on a disputed set piece in the 72nd minute. Rossi lofted a corner kick in the middle of the penalty area where defender Rudy Camacho headed it by Ivacic for his first of the season. The Crew went up 5-1 in the 79th minute when Rossi set up Moreira for an unchallenged tap in from five feet.