Clay Buchholz took the mound in the top of the first and got Michael Saunders to pop up to left on a full count. Josh Donaldson walked on a full count but was erased on the Jose Bautista double play. A shocking good start for Clay. JA Happ got Mr. Mookie Betts to fly out to begin the bottom of the first. Dustin Pedroia also flied out and Xander Bogaerts struck out to end the inning. Both Betts and Bogaerts have been useless pretty much to this point in the season.
Edwin Encarnarcion worked the count full before flying out to Mr. Mookie in the top of the second. Troy Tulowitzky singled and was erased on the Russell Martin double play. Buchholz was playing with fire by nibbling but its worked so far. Travis Shaw grounded out to second to begin the bottom of the second inning. Hanley Ramirez stroked an opposite field ground rule double but Chris Young popped up (1 for 13 now). Josh Rutledge made his season debut by lighting up the crowd with a run scoring double to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Christian Vazquez struck out but the Sox were on the board.
Ryan Goins grounded out to open the top of the third. Kevin Pillar singled and Ezequiel Carrera popped up on a 3-2 count. Pedroia made a diving stab and toss to first to rob Saunders of a hit to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr worked a walk to start the bottom of the third. Mr. Mookie flied out and Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning.
Donaldson walked to lead off the top of the fourth and was erased on the Bautista double play. Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley said "Go figure." Encarnarcion singled and Tulowitzky flied out to end the inning. Bogaerts flied out to begin the bottom of the fourth. Shaw hit a shot snared by Encarnarcion but Shaw never left the batter's box, believing it to be foul. It was fair and Shaw was out. Ramirez struck out to end the inning.
Martin grounded back to Buchholz to start the top of the fifth. Goins hit a shot to right but it was snared by Betts for the second out. Pillar singled and advanced to second on a passed ball by Vazquez. Carrera struck out to end the inning. Chris Young continued his lousy season with a pop up to begin the bottom of the 5th. Rutledge grounded out then Vazquez grounded out to end the inning. What a pitcher's duel.
Saunders singled to open the top of the sixth inning. Donaldson lofted a broken bat liner to Young in left and Bautista grounded into his third double play of the day. Brutal day for Jose but Sox fans will take it. JBJ lined out to begin the bottom of the sixth. Mr. Mookie lined out to second and Pedroia struck out to end the inning.
Buchholz returned for the top of the 7th and struck out Encarnarcion. JBJ made a great diving catch on a flare by Tulowitzky, who was not aware JBJ made the play and was standing on second base shaking his head in amazement. Martin singled and that was it for Buchholz. Sox manager John Farrell gambled by taking out Buchholz after 98 pitches and replaced him with Junichi Tazawa. Taz got Goins to ground out to end the inning, preserving the shut-out.
Happ returned for the top of the 8th and got Bogaerts to ground out. Shaw singled but was erased on the Ramirez double play to end the inning. It was Koji Time in the bottom of the eighth. The Jays took control of the game when Rutletdge airmailed a throw on a grounder by Pillar and Kevin took second. Smoak pinch hit for Carrera and walked. Darwin Barney pinch ran for Smoak and a passed ball by Vazquez advanced the runners. Saunders tied the game with a ground out that scored Pillar, ruining the effort by Buchholz. Donaldson was plunked and Bautista walked to chase Uehara. Koji's first stinker of the season ruined a fine day. Sox closer Craig Kimbrel was brought in to face Encarnarcion. Kimbrel blew him away for the second out. Kimbrel walked Tulowitzky to give the Jays the 2-1 lead. Martin singled home 2 runs to put the game away 4-1. Goins struck out but the damage was done. The two automatic relievers blew the game amidst a chorus of boos. Bautista moved to right, Smoak stayed in the game for the bottom of the eighth. The Sox got some more bad luck when Young absolutely crushed a double high off the monster, any other ballpark it was gone. Brett Cecil relieved Happ. Sox manager John Farrell left Brock Holt on the bench and Rutledge struck out. Vazquez grounded out but Young moved to third. Pillar than made a running catch to rob JBJ of a hit and that was it. Another wasted chance spelled their doom.
Noe Ramirez had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and he immediately walked Pillar. Chris Colabello pinch hit for Brett Cecil (yes, when you pinch hit for the DH, the DH is gone) and banged into a double play. Saunders walked but Donaldson struck out to end the inning. Drew Storen came on to close out the game. Mr.Mookie continued his season long slump by flying out. Somehow, Pedroia singled. Bogaerts continued HIS season slong slump by flying out. Shaw doubled home Pedroia to cut the lead 4-2 and bring the tying run to the plate. This is where the Martin single was huge as Ramirez singled home Shaw to make it 4-3. David Ortiz pinch hit for Young and....looked at strike 3. Goodnight.
Jackass of the Night is an easy one. Koji Uehara. He spoiled Buchholz' great start by giving up 4 runs, part of which was out of his control, but he still gave up 4 runs.
The Good:
Travis Shaw and Hanley Ramirez were both 2 for 4 with a run scored and an rbi. Chris Young was 1 for 3. Clay Buchholz was outstanding, pitching 7 2/3 shut out innings. Junichi Tazawa retired the only batter he faced. Noe Ramirez pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4. David Ortiz struck out pinch hitting in the ninth. Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and 2 passed balls. Craig Kimbrel allowed all 3 inherited runners to score on a walk and 2 singles.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4. Josh Rutledge was 1 for 3 with an rbi but his throwing error led to the 8th inning meltdown. Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 with a walk.
Final Thoughts:
Another game blown by the bullpen and another game with no offense. There are no words for this other than thank the heavens Toronto is gone for a while. The Sox welcome in the bottom dwelling Tampa Bay Rays next and Drew Smyly tomorrow night.
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