Rasmus Grand Slam Sinks Sox (4/23/16)

It was learned before the game Xander Bogaerts did NOT break his wrist, but was experiencing soreness so he was held out of today's game. They could have used his offense as Clay Buchholz once again crumbled in a pressure packed situation. The Houston Astros took advantage by swatting a grand slam, tacking more runs on late and winning the game 8-3.

                                         Sox fans are on strike for better starting pitching

The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the first when Mr. Mookie Betts led the game off with a single. Houston starter Mike Fiers tried to pick off Mookie and threw the ball away. Betts slid into second base safe but then grimaced in pain. Apparently he jammed his finger, but he decided to stay in the game. Pedroia walked on a full count and David Ortiz singled Betts home, advancing Pedroia to third. Hanley Ramirez and Travis Shaw killed the rally with back to back strikeouts. Brock Holt grounded out to end the inning. That should have been a bigger inning but it was 1-0 Sox. The Astros threatened to get the run right back when Jose Altuve singled to begin the bottom of the first. George Springer hit one in the hole at short but Carlos Correa popped up. Colby Rasmus popped up to first and Preston Tucker popped up to Christian Vazquez to end the inning.

Chris Young led off the top of the second inning by looking at strike 3. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out and Christian Vazquez grounded out as well to end the inning. The Astros struck back in the bottom of the second. Carlos Gomez popped up to short but Marwin Gonzalez caught Ramirez asleep at first with a bunt single. Luis Valbuena doubled him to third and Jason Castro brought Gonzalez home with a ground out. Altuve struck out but the game was tied 1-1.

Mr. Mookie gave one a ride but Springer ran it down in right to start the top of the third. Pedroia singled off the glove of Correa at short. Ortiz popped up to left and Ramirez flied out to right to end the inning. Springer grounded out to start the bottom of the third. Correa and Rasmus whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox went hitless in the top of the fourth as Shaw grounded out to begin the inning. Holt looked at strike 3 and so did Young to end the inning. That's twice now Young didn't even swing.

                            Leaving the bat on your shoulder is good for a picture, NOT at the plate, Chris.

Tucker struck out to begin the bottom of the fourth. Gomez flied out to left and Gonzalez struck out to end the inning.

The Sox continued to do nothing against Fiers as JBJ popped up to begin the top of the fifth. Vazquez lined out to right and Betts lined out to left to end the inning. The Sox have had one baserunner since the first inning, how big was the Ramirez strikeout now? It loomed even larger as Valbuena walked to begin the bottom of the fifth. Castro flied out to right and Valbuena was erased at second on the force by Altuve. Springer reached on an infield single and Correa was hit with a pitch to load the bases. As usual, with pressure on, Clay crumbled by giving up a grand slam to Rasmus to give the Astros a commanding (and deciding) 5-1 lead. Tucker grounded out to first but the game was pretty much decided.

Could the Sox answer in the top of the 6th? Pedroia doubled to start the frame but Ortiz struck out. Ramirez walked and Shaw singled to load the bases. All Holt could do was hit a sac fly to cut the lead 5-2. With a chance to do some damage, Young grounded out. Wonderful. Buchholz returned for the 6th and struck out Gomez. Gonzalez flied out and that was it for clay. Sox manager John Farrell decided enough was enough and brought in Tommy Layne. Clay did well for the most part, just made one mistake. Valbuena walked but Castro struck out.

Pa Neshek took over for the top of the 7th. JBJ struck out but Vazquez singled. Mr. Mookie grounded into a force but Pedroia grounded out. Noe Ramirez replaced Lane for the top of the 8th inning. Altuve doubled but was thrown out at third trying to stretch. Springer walked and Correa singled to chase the ineffective Ramirez. Roenis Elias made his season debut by walking Rasmus to load the bases. He bore down to struck out pinch hitting Evan Gattis. Gomez grounded out to end the inning, great job by Elias to get out of that jam.

The Sox tried to rally again in the top of the eighth against Ken Giles. Ortiz singled but Ramirez whiffed. Shaw flied out and Holt singled Ortiz to third. Josh Rutledge pinch hit for Young and doubled home Ortiz. With a chance to put the Sox closer....Bradley Jr  flied out. Still, the Sox had clawed back to 5-3. It wasn't over yet.....until Elias came back for the bottom of the eighth. Rutledge stayed in at short and Holt moved to left. Gonzalez doubled to start the inning and Valbuena doubled him home. Castro grounded out and Altuve put the game away with a double to make it 7-3. Springer grounded out and Sox manager John Farrell threw up on himself. He had Correa intentionally walked to face Rasmus...who burned the Sox again with a double to make it 8-3. Gattis grounded out to end the inning but the game was out of reach. It wasn't even Elias' fault so much as it was Farrell leaving him in to get pounded and walking Correa.

Josh Fields, the former Portland Sea Dog came on to finish off the 9th. Vazquez grounded out, Betts flied out and Pedroia struck out to end the game. If the Sox had to lose, at least it was to an old friend.

                                                   Josh Fields says "You lose!"

Jackass of the Night is easy, Clay Buchholz gave up the grand slam on a straight fastball to Rasmus. Giving up 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings. If he didn't pitch so bad, Elias wouldn't have come in and stunk out the place in the 8th.

                                               Better off kicking yourself in the ass, Jackass.


The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a run scored and rbi. Brock Holt was 1 for 3 with a sac fly for an rbi. Josh Rutledge was 1 for 1 as a pinch hitter with a double. Tommy Layne got the last out of the top of the 6th inning.


The Bad:

Chris Young continues to stink up the place by going 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Roenis Elias made his season debut by getting lit up for 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to put the game out of reach.


The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 with a run scored. Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 but walked. Travis Shaw was just 1 for 4. Christian Vazquez was 1 for 4. Noe Ramirez faced 3 batters and all 3 reached, but an out was recorded when one of them was thrown out at third.


Final Thoughts:

As the season continues to spiral down the drain, Sox fans are looking for answers. The quick fix will be the return of Carson Smith to the bullpen and Eduardo Rodriguez to the rotation. With the way Wright and Porcello are holding the fort, Rodriguez coming back and pitching will would be a huge shot in the arm. Meanwhile the return of Smith will save Kimbrel, Tazawa and Uehara for better days and get rid of the Pawtucket pitchers that have been stinking up the place recently.  Tomorrow Henry Owens makes his season debut, taking the place of the injured Joe Kelly, against Houston at 8:00 on Sunday Night Baseball. Good luck Henry.