Before the game the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Anthony Varvaro was designated for assignment and Jackie Bradley Jr was sent back to Pawtucket. To replace them on the roster the Sox called up Dalier Hinojosa and Tommy Layne from Pawtucket. The offense has been fine to the point they can do without JBJ but the pitching has been so bad they could use another arm, maybe Hinojosa or Layne could be a nice surprise.
OUT
IN
Ann Margret approves of the win
Porcello got the ball in the top of the first and Devon Travis led off with a walk to make the sparse crowd groan. Porcello got Josh Donaldson to swing at a slider out of the zone for strike three before Jose Bautista also swung at air down and away for strike three. Edwin Encarnacion also went down hacking to end the inning. Dickey took the mound in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a grounder to third. Dustin Pedroia lined out to a running Donaldson before David Ortiz dumped a base hit to center. Hanley Ramirez swung and missed for strike three to end the inning.
The Jays looked to start a rally when Kevin Pillar doubled into the left field corner on a bad changeup to start the top of the second. Michael Saunders hit a grounder to Napoli who flipped to Porcello for the out....NO! Porcello missed the bag completely and there were runners at the corners. Dalton Pompey was hit in the foot to load the bases and Josh Thole hit a liner off the glove of Bogaerts. Pillar scored but Saunders was thrown out at third on the technical force. Pompey swiped third but the biggest play of the game came when Porcello got Ryan Goins to bang into a double play to end the inning. Porcello had thrown 38 pitches and had given up a run, walk, double and a HBP while trailing 1-0.
"We're losing again....."
Pablo Sandoval lined out to left to begin the bottom of the second before Mike Napoli flied out to center. Brock "The Hitman" Holt was hit with a pitch before moving to second on a passed ball. Bogaerts popped up to first to end the inning.
Mr. Mookie made a spectacular diving catch to rob Travis of extra bases to begin the top of the third. Hanley made a much less dramatic catch on a Donaldson fly out and Bautista popped up to Sandoval in foul territory to end the inning.
"I'm okay...I guess...."
The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the third as Ryan Hanigan started the rally with a base hit to center. Mr. Mookie flied out to center but Pedroia dumped a single to right. Ortiz also dumped a base hit to right but the slow Hanigan took forever to score which got Pedroia thrown out at third in the process. Ramirez got tired of the bloop hits and pounded his 10th home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Sandoval grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 3-1.
Kiss it goodbye
Could Porcello pitch with the lead in the top of the fourth? YES! Encarnacion swung at a nasty sinker for strike three to start before Pillar flied out to center. Saunders grounded out to second to end the inning, 8 in a row retired by Porcello. Dickey cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Napoli grounded out to short, Holt lined out to left and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning.
Porcello cruised in the top of the fifth as Pompey struck out swinging to start. Thole lined one off the glove of Porcello but right to Pedroia who threw Josh out at first. Goins grounded out to third to end the inning, 11 in a row retired by Porcello. Dickey got Hanigan to swing at air to start the bottom of the fifth before Mr. Mookie was frozen for strike three. Pedroia beat out an infield single over Dickey's head but Ortiz grounded into the shift to end the inning.
Porcello froze Travis for strike three to open the top of the sixth before Donaldson popped up to Napoli in foul territory. Bautista flied out to center to end the inning to make it 14 in a row retired by Porcello. Dickey matched Porcello in the bottom of the sixth as Ramirez whiffed to start. Sandoval grounded back to the mound and Napoli grounded out to third.
Encarnacion broke up the out streak with a bloop single to right to open the top of the seventh. Pillar beat out a double play ball but Saunders walked. Pillar moved to third on the Pompey liner to center before Thole flied out to center to end the inning. Porcello gave the Sox 7 innings of 1 run ball to put them in position to win.
Porcello mowed them down
The Sox finally chased Dickey in the bottom of the seventh as Holt dropped a base hit to left to start. Bogaerts singled up the middle and Hanigan sacrificed both runners over with a bunt. Mr. Mookie singled to right to score Holt but Bogaerts was thrown out at home on the throw. Sox manager John Farrell challenged that the catcher was blocking the plate but the umpires disagreed. Pedroia grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Holt scores a run
It was Orient Express time as Junichi Tazawa took over for the top of the eighth. Goins dropped a base hit in front of Betts to start but Travis lined out to right. Donaldson advanced Goins to second on a grounder but Tazawa blew away Bautista to end the inning. 2007 World Series Game 1 Colorado Rockies starter Jeff Francis took over for the bottom of the eighth and Ortiz popped up to Travis in right field to start. Ramirez was rung up on a bad strike 3 pitch and Sandoval whiffed to end the inning.
The other half of the Orient Express, Koji Uehara, came in to close out the top of the ninth inning. Uehara threw an 88 mph fastball by the fooled Encarnacion to start before Pillar also was fooled for strike three swinging at a fastball. Russell Martin pinch hit for Saunders and Koji froze him for strike three to end the game. The Sox had taken the game 4-1 to head into May with a 12-10 record.
"Nipple pinchy!" - Uehara
Hero of the Night is Rick Porcello. He tossed a 7 inning gem allowing just 1 run on just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
Porcello is the Hero
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4.
David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Brock Holt was 1 for 2 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3.
Ryan Hanigan was 1 for 2 with a run scored.
Junichi Tazawa tossed a scoreless 8th inning.
Koji Uehara earned his 4th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Pablo Sandoval was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Mike Napoli was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 2 run home run.
Final Thoughts:
That was a bigger win than it looks like because Dickey owned the Red Sox last year. Not only did Porcello show signs of life but the Sox getting to Dickey erased some of the stench of last year. Ending April with a win is never a bad thing but its very apparent the pitching is problematic. Buchholz and Porcello need some help if they're going to compete in the AL East and Wade Miley, Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly have to step up in May. Hanley Ramirez continues to pound the ball and the offense looks to be fixed pretty well. The Sox go into May with a 12-10 record, 1 game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox return to action Friday night against the Yankees with CC Sabathia going for the Yankees against Justin Masterson of the Sox at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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