Spring Training Report #3: Sox Post Amazing Comeback....that doesn't count (3/31/15)

For 8 innings, the Boston Red Sox appeared headed to a normal spring training loss. Most of the crowd had gone home and Sox manager John Farrell had the Pawtucket Red Sox in the game to play out the string. Then something interesting happened.

Quentin Berry (remember him?) led off the top of the 9th with a walk. Devin Marrero the Pawsox shortstop followed with a walk. Blake Swihart then tripled home the two runners. Brock Holt singled home Swihart to make it 8-5 and was replaced by pinch runner Alejandro Rodriguez. Rusney Castillo singled Rodriguez to third and Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash (08 Sox) brought in Colton Reavis. Reavis pitched like Beavis and Daniel Nava singled home Rodriguez as Castillo made a mad dash to third. Suddenly the tying runs were aboard with nobody out. Portland Sea Dogs first baseman/DH David Chester singled home Castillo as Nava went to third. Strikeout machine Jackie Bradley Jr walked to load the bases. Jemile Weeks then lashed a grounder to third basemen Jake Elmore who fired a desperation throw home, but Daniel Nava chugged and chugged and slid.....safe! Tie game! 

That was it for "Beavis" Reavis as Kyle "Flipping the" Bird replaced him with the impossible task of keeping the game tied. It didn't happen as the man who started the inning, Berry, grounded out to first but the runners all advanced, giving the Sox an improbably 9-8 lead. Marrero singled home Bradley Jr and Weeks advanced to third. Swihart put the icing on the cake with a single that scored Weeks and made the score 11-8. Nine runs scored with only one out in between. Rodriguez whiffed but Castillo got his second hit of the inning to re-load the bases. Unfortunately Nava grounded out but that was a heck of a comeback, even if it was against the Durham Bulls at this point.

Now could the Sox actually win the game? Pawtucket post-season hero Keith Couch had actually gone in the clubhouse expecting the game to be over. He had thrown the last three innings and gave up 4 runs (3 earned). Rather than sprint out of the dugout in his skivvies, Sox manager John Farrell actually had Keith warm him up in the bullpen again. Finally, he came on to close out the game. Couch got the final three outs without a sweat and the Sox had won it.

Yes, the Sox were down 6 runs in the ninth and won.....only problem is it's still spring training and it doesn't officially count. It makes a good one day story and its nice to see the guys getting hits, especially the prospects such as Castillo, Swihart and Marrero.

Bad news was Junichi Tazawa got lit up for 3 runs in one inning and the Sox committed four errors on the day.

Good news was Anthony Varvaro and Tommy Layne each pitched shutout frames.

Ugly news was Ed Mujica gave up a run but it was unearned.

What does this mean? Once again, absolutely nothing. Although the same exact players most likely won't be on the club, the same exact situation may pop up with a similar result. The Sox pitching staff is attrocious and the offense is going to have to carry them until help arrives from Pawtucket or elsewhere.