The Sox did absolutely nothing in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out and Dustin Pedroia whiffed. Xander Bogaerts popped up to catcher AJ Pierzynski but AJ dropped it. Bogaerts nearly made Braves starter Julio Teheran pay by driving one deep to center but Mallex Smith ran it down up against the wall for the third out. Rick Porcello got the ball in the bottom of the first and got Nick Markakis flied out to left. Josh Rutledge made a great play at third base to rob Daniel Castro of a hit. Adonis Garcia singled to left to extend the inning. Old pal Pierzynski gave one a right but Betts made a running catch to escape the inning.
Travis Shaw led off the top of the second and whiffed. Josh Rutledge struck out as well but Brock Holt worked a walk. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to third to end the inning. Jeff Francoer led off the bottom of the second by striking out. Freddie Freeman lined one up the middle for a base hit. Jace Peterson grounded out to second and Smith grounded out to end the inning.
Christian Vazquez struck out to open the top of the third. Porcello grounded out to second and Mr.Mookie got the first hit of the game with a double to deep right. Pedroia grounded out to second to end the inning. Teheran struck out to open the bottom of the third. Markakis also whiffed and Castro grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the fourth. Bogaerts struck out but Shaw walked. Rutledge singled but was thrown out at third as Holt struck out. A failed hit and run ruined a promising inning. Garcia grounded out on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth. Pierzynki whiffed and smashed his bat in frustration. Francoer grounded out to end the inning.
JBJ flied out to begin the top of the fifth inning. Vazquez grounded out and Porcello managed to reach first on a bobble by Garcia. Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning. Freeman caught the Sox defense asleep in the bottom of the fifth inning with a bunt single. Peterson forced Freeman at second but was thrown out trying to steal by the cannon armed Vazquez.
The Sox continued to struggle against Teheran in the top of the 6th. Pedroia lined out but Bogaerts singled. Xander stole second but Shaw flied out. Rutledge struck out to end the inning. Porcello struck out Teheran to open the bottom of the 6th. Markakis walked but was erased on the force by Castro. Garcia grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox finally broke through in the top of the seventh. Holt flied out and in stepped Jackie Bradley Jr. JBJ put the Sox on top with his first homer of the year to right, breaking the tie.
Vazquez doubled and Porcello tried to move him with a bunt, except he popped it up.....only Teheran let it drop and Porcello reached. Vazquez couldn't advance because the bunt was popped up so it went down as a single. Mr. Mookie struck out but Pedroia worked a walk to load the bases. Teheran was exhausted but Bogaerts hit a rocket to center and Smith was in the right spot to run it down. The missed chance loomed large as the Braves knocked Porcello out in the bottom of the frame. Rick got Pierzynski to fly out but Francoer doubled and Freeman walked to send him to the showers. Still, 6 1/3 innings of shut-out ball was just what the doctor ordered after the putrid start by Henry Owens last night.
Robby Ross Jr was brought in and the Braves countered with Drew Stubbs as a pinch hitter. Pedroia somewhat muffed the double play ball and only Freeman was erased at second. With the tying run just 90 feet away, Ross struck out pinch hitter Erick Aybar to end the inning.
The Sox threatened to put the game away in the top of the 8th. Aybar moved to short, Stubbs was in center and Castro went to second. Jim Johnson took over on the mound and got Shaw to fly out. Rutledge struck out and Holt grounded out to end the inning. It was Koji Time in the bottom of the eighth. Kelly Johnson hit for Jim Johnson and popped up. Markakis walked but Castro struck out. Garcia popped up to end the inning. Good work Koji.
The Sox had one last chance to pad their lead in the top of the ninth against Arodys Vizcaino. JBJ grounded out and Vazquez whiffed. David Ortiz pinch hit for Koji and whiffed. The maligned Craig Kimbrel chugged in from the bullpen to close out the bottom of the ninth, seeking redemption after blowing the lead last night. Pierzynski was blown away, Francoer grounded out and Freeman was blown away. I'd say Craig was fired up for this one, the Sox had won it 1-0.
Hero of the night for the second night in a row is Jackie Bradley Jr. In a tied contest, he provided the game's only run with a solo shot which ended up being the difference in the game.
The Good:
Rick Porcello was outstanding, tossing 6 1/3 shut-out innings on 4 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Shockingly Porcello, who was never a strikeout pitcher, is among the league leaders in strikeouts. At the plate Porcello went 1 for 3 with a bunt single. Robbie Ross Jr got the final 2 outs of the bottom of the 7th. Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Craig Kimbrel got his 6th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Nothing here tonight.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4. Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 with a walk. Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4. Travis Shaw was 0 for 3 with a walk. Jeff Rutledge was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick. Brock Holt was 0 for 3 with a walk. Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
After bashing opponents into submission for most of their 9 victories, it was nice for them to be on the right side of a shut-out for once. Porcello seems to have it figured out and shockingly he's been the Red Sox most durable pitcher since last August. It was also great to see Kimbrel bounce back in a big way as well. The offense wasn't there tonight but not starting your two best hitters contributed to that. A road win with National League rules is nothing to sneeze at and the Sox will take it. Tomorrow they play one last game at Turner Field (due to close at the end of the year) and David Price takes the hill at 7:10 PM.
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