Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. As expected, Chris Young will be out a few weeks with a hamstring strain suffered in yesterday's game against the Chicago White Sox. He has been placed on the Disabled List and in his place, the Sox called up Bryce Brentz from Pawtucket. Brentz made his ML debut in 2014 and will start in left field until further notice.
As for the game, once again the Boston Red Sox threw up on themselves due to bad pitching only to win it late with a rally. Tonight it was David Price that allowed a whopping 12 hits and 6 runs in just 2 1/3 innings to the Texas Rangers. Matt Barnes also allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings but the Sox offense refused to quit. The Sox fell behind 6-0 and 7-2 but clawed back to make it 7-4 going into the ninth. Down to their final out, the Sox somehow rallied for four runs, 2 on a game tying home run by Mookie Betts and the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Matt Bush to give the Sox the lead. Koji Uehara turned back the clock three years to nail down the bottom of the ninth and give the improbable 8-7 victory to the Sox over the Rangers at Arlington Park.
Nick Martinez got the start for the Rangers and Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a base hit to center. Mr. Mookie would have been out stealing second but the throw went off the glove Elvis Andrus. Dustin Pedroia went down hacking at an inside fastball and Xander Bogaerts popped up to first in foul territory. David Ortiz was intentionally walked and Hanley Ramirez popped up to center to end the inning. Once again the Sox fell behind early in the bottom of the first when Shin-Soo Choo belted the third pitch he saw from David Price into Arizona to give the Rangers the lead. Ian Desmond, old friend Adrian Beltre and Ryan Rua all stroked base hits to load the bases. Prince Fielder hit into a 3-1-3 double play but Elvis Andrus singled home Beltre and Rua to increase the lead. Rougned Odor grounded out to first to end the inning but once again the Sox played from behind down 3-0.
Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to first to start but Bryce Brentz grounded out to third on a bang bang play. Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call to get Brentz his first hit but the call was upheld. Travis Shaw singled to left but Christian Vazquez grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Rangers struck again in the top of the second although Jurickson Profar took strike three to start. Bobby Wilson doubled off the left field wall and Choo singled him to third. Desmond singled to right to score Wilson with another run but Beltre popped up to Bogaerts. Rua flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning but it was 4-0 Rangers.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Mr. Mookie was rung up for strike three to start. Pedroia grounded out to third and Odor made a great diving play to rob Bogaerts of a hit to end the inning. The Rangers finished off Price in the bottom of the third although Fielder grounded out to second to start. Andrus singled to center, Odor singled to right and Profar beat out a single to short to load the bases. Wilson ripped a base hit to score Andrus and Odor to knock Price out of the game. Price had nothing as he allowed 6 runs and TWELVE hits in less than 3 full innings. Matt Barnes came in and plunked Choo to load the bases but Desmond popped up to a running Betts. Beltre whiffed to end the inning with the Rangers up 6-0.
The Sox started their comeback in the top of the fourth as Ortiz cracked a base hit to center to start. Ramirez crushed his 7th home run of the year to dead center to cut the lead but JBJ grounded out to second. Brentz singled past the diving Andrus for his first hit of the season but Shaw banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.
The Rangers struck again in the bottom of the fourth although Rua took strike three to start. The slumping Fielder then hit a home run all the way to Nebraska to increase the lead. Andrus singled to center but Odor whiffed. Andrus was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning with the Rangers up 7-2.
Vazquez was plunked to start the top of the fifth but Mr. Mookie banged into a double play. Pedroia walked but Bogaerts popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning. Barnes returned for the bottom of the fifth and Profar singled to left to start. Wilson whiffed and Choo flied out to left, but Desmond singled to left. Beltre popped up to Betts in foul territory to end the inning.
The Sox inched closer in the top of the sixth although Ortiz grounded out to short to start. Ramirez walked and JBJ crushed his 13th home run into the upper deck to cut the lead. Brentz grounded back to the mound and Shaw hit a 406 foot out to the centerfield wall to end the inning with the Sox down 7-4.
Nomar Mazara pinch hit for Rua to start the bottom of the sixth so Sox manager John Farrell countered by bringing in Tommy Layne. Layne walked Mazara but Fielder popped up to short. Andrus lined out to a running JBJ and Betts made a jumping catch off an Odor line drive to end the inning.
Tony Barnette came in to pitch the top of the seventh and a comical moment occured when Vazquez struck out swinging but the bat went to the mound. Barnette pretended to pick the bat up and throw it to first for the out. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short and Pedroia whiffed to end the inning.
Layne returned for the bottom of the seventh and Brentz made a great diving catch to rob Profar of extra bases to start. Wilson and Choo both went down hacking to end the inning.
Mitch Moreland took over at first for the top of the eighth and Bogaerts flied out to left to start. Ortiz hit a rocket but right at short and Ramirez lined out to Desmond to end the inning. Heath Hembree took over for the bottom of the eighth and Desmond grounded out to short to start. Beltre grounded out to third and Mazara struck out swinging to end the inning.
Things looked bleak in the top of the ninth with Jake Diekman now pitching for the Rangers. JBJ walked to start but Brentz went down hacking. Shaw popped up to short and the Sox were down 3 and down to their final out. Sandy Leon pinch hit for Vazquez and JBJ took second on defensive indifference. Leon doubled into the left field corner to score JBJ and chase Diekman. Matt Bush came in to Mr. Mookie and BETTS HIT A HOME RUN TO TIE THE GAME! Pedroia walked and Bogaerts singled him to third to put the pressure on. Bush then uncorked a wild pitch TO SCORE PEDROIA WITH THE GO-AHEAD RUN! Ortiz flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-7.
Koji Uehara took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and the Rangers had no chance. Fielder swung at air to start before Andrus whiffed on a nasty splitter. Odor waived at strike three to end the game, somehow the Sox had won it 8-7.
Hero of the Night is Mookie Betts. His 2 run homer with 2 outs in the ninth tied the game and led the Sox to victory.
The Good:
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.
Sandy Leon doubled in a run and scored a run as a pinch hitter.
Tommy Layne tossed two scoreless innings.
Heath Hembree got the win with a scoreless eighth inning.
Koji Uehara earned his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
David Price was terrible, allowing 12 hits and 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Bryce Brentz was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Travis Shaw was just 1 for 4.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but was hit with a pitch.
Matt Barnes allowed a home run in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
That was an improbable win for the ages, and coming off the heels of yesterday's come from behind win, it was badly needed. The Sox have had to dig themselves out of holes day after day and this game was no different. David Price was horrible tonight and hats off to the bullpen to allow just 1 run the rest of the game to keep things close. The offense never gave up and the pinch hit double by Leon was clutch. Homers by JBJ, Hanley and especially Betts were much needed. Xander Bogaerts is in the running for AL MVP but Mookie has to be considered as well. Granted, its only June but every win counts especially with the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays all within a few games of first place. The win improved the Sox to 41-32, 1.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to make it 3 in a row when Steven Wright (8-4) looks to keep things rolling for him against Cesar Ramos of the Rangers. The game begins at 9:22 PM Eastern time at Arlington Park.
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