It was a good day for Boston sports. The Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of their first round NBA playoff series and the Boston Red Sox beat the Houston Astros. The Sox got a much-needed victory thanks to superb pitching from Steven Wright (1-2, 1.40 ERA). Mookie Betts nearly hit for the cycle and the Sox took the opener against the Houston Astros 6-2 in Houston.
Ryan Hanigan lined out to begin to begin the top half of the second. Jackie Bradley Jr stroked a double and Mr.Mookie doubled him in. All Mookie needs is a homer and a single for the cycle. Pedroia struck out and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning, but Wright had a 3-0 lead to work with. Evan Gattis struck out to open the bottom of the second but Carlos Gomez caught Shaw asleep at third with a bunt single. Luis Valbuena struck out and Erik Kratz struck out to end the inning.
Ortiz lined out to a charging Gomez to begin the top of the third inning. Ramirez singled and Shaw singled him to third. Shaw took second on the wild pitch by McHugh to put runners at second and third. Holt then singled home Ramirez, advancing Shaw to third to give the Sox a 4-0 lead. The Sox then let McHugh off the ropes when Hanigan lined to second and Holt was doubled off first. Altuve grounded out to begin the bottom of the third. Springer lined out but Correa walked. Carlos took second on the passed ball by Hanigan but Rasmus grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth. JBJ grounded out but Betts singled, just a homer away from the cycle. Pedroia advanced Betts to second on a groundout and Bogaerts doubled home Betts to make it 5-0. Ortiz struck out to end the inning. Wright continued to dominate in the bottom of the fourth. White grounded out, Gattis lined out and Gomez lined out to end the inning.
The Sox threatened again in the top of the fifth inning against new pitcher Chris Devenski. Ramirez singled but was thrown out at second trying to stretch.
Shaw singled but Holt banged into a double play to end the inning. Wright continued to stay tough in the bottom of the fifth. Valbuena walked but was erased on the Katz double play. Altuve lined out to short to end the inning. Wright had only thrown 71 pitches.
The Sox got more offense in the top of the 6th. Hanigan singled but JBJ struck out. Betts was 100 feet short of the home run in his fly out to center. Pedroia blooped one to right for a single but Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning. The Astros shot themselves in the foot in the bottom of the 6th. Springer singled and took second on the passed ball by Hanigan. Springer foolishly tried to steal third and Hanigan got him for the first out....or was he? The Astros challenged the call but replays were inconclusive. Correa singled to compound Springer's mental error but Rasmus flied out. White struck out to end the inning. Springer cost the Astros a run big time.
Ortiz grounded out to start the top of the 7th inning against new pitcher Tony Sipp. Ramirez whiffed badly and Shaw grounded out to end the inning. Wright returned for the bottom of the seventh inning and walked Gattis. Bogaerts made a great snare to rob Gomez of a hit, getting the force at second base. Sox pitching coach Carl Willis came out to the mound to buy Tommy Layne and Heath Hembree some time to warm up. Valbuena walked and Marwin Gonzalez pinch hit for Katz. Gonzalez struck out but Hanigan allowed another passed ball to advance the runners to second and third. ANOTHER passed ball put the Astros on the board when Gattis scored. Altuve walked and that was it for Wright. If it wasn't for Hanigan's inability to catch knuckleballs, he'd have left with the shut-out. Still, another great start by Wright gave the Sox a chance to win. Heath Hembree relieved Wright and struck out Springer to end the inning. Nice for Wright to finally get some run support.
Jason Castro came in to catch for Houston and Will Harris came in to pitch. Holt and Hanigan grounded out and JBJ struck out to end the inning. Hembree returned for the bottom of the eighth and struck out Correa. Rasmus struck out but White walked. Gattis flied out to right to end the inning.
Betts stood at the plate for his last chance at a home run to begin the top of the 9th against Luke Gregerson. He hit a ball that rolled to the wall but stopped at third for another triple. Pedroia failed to drive him in with a sharp ground out. Betts scored anyway on a wild pitch to make it 6-1. The Sox got a scare when Bogaerts was hit on the wrist and had to leave the game. Chris Young pinch ran for Bogaerts and was erased on the double play by Ortiz. Losing Bogaerts is not what this team needed. Young stayed in at left field as Holt moved to short. Robbie Ross Jr came in to pitch. Gomez started the bottom of the 9th with a single. Valbuena struck out and Jake Marisnick pinch hit for Castro. Marisnick walked but Altuve moved Gomez to third on a fly out. Springer singled and Sox manager John Farrell had seen enough. Farrell brought in closer Craig Kimbrel to get the final out. Springer took second on defensive indifference. Correa grounded out to end the game, the Sox had won 6-2.
We have Co-Heroes of the Night Tonight. The first is Steven Wright. He pitched 6 2/3 innings of 1 run (and it was unearned) ball on 4 hits, 5 walks and 6 strikeouts. The second hero is Mookie Betts. Mr. Mookie was 4 for 5 with an rbi, 3 runs scored and nearly hit for the cycle.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an rbi.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an rbi.
Travis Shaw was 2 for 4.
Heath Hembree pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Craig Kimbrel got the final out of the 9th for his 5th save of the year.
The Bad:
Robbie Ross Jr failed to close the game out, allowing 2 hits and a walk, only getting 2 outs.
Robbie Ross Jr failed to close the game out, allowing 2 hits and a walk, only getting 2 outs.
The Ugly:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with a walk.
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with a walk.
Brock Holt was 1 for 4 with an rbi.
Ryan Hanigan was 1 for 4 with a bundle of passed balls.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Honorable Mention:
Chris Young pinch ran for Bogaerts and played left field in the 9th.
Final Thoughts:
Wright pitched well again and Betts is starting to heat up. Both are good signs for the future. The injury to Bogaerts is the main story because if he goes down, a huge chunk of offense is going with him. Brock Holt can play short and get on base, but then you'd have to start Chris Young in left or bring Castillo back. Still, it was a good win and the Sox remained out of last place. Tomorrow afternoon Clay Buchholz goes for his second straight good start against Mike Fiers.
Chris Young pinch ran for Bogaerts and played left field in the 9th.
Final Thoughts:
Wright pitched well again and Betts is starting to heat up. Both are good signs for the future. The injury to Bogaerts is the main story because if he goes down, a huge chunk of offense is going with him. Brock Holt can play short and get on base, but then you'd have to start Chris Young in left or bring Castillo back. Still, it was a good win and the Sox remained out of last place. Tomorrow afternoon Clay Buchholz goes for his second straight good start against Mike Fiers.
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