During the all-star break the Boston Red Sox made a bevy of roster moves. Noe Ramirez was optioned down to Pawtucket and Eduardo Rodriguez was activated from the Disabled List to take his place. Junichi Tazawa was placed on the Disabled List with a bad shoulder and William Cuevas was called up to take his place. Finally, the Sox traded 18 year old pitcher Anderson Espinoza to the San Diego Padres for starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz. The big lefty was 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for the Padres. If he can pitch that well with the Sox already boasting David Price, Steven Wright and Rick Porcello, the Sox just became one of the favorites to win the AL East.
IN
Reena Sky approves of the win
Home Run Hanigan
As for the game, the Red Sox came out of the all-star break swinging. The Sox won their fifth game in a row by coming to New York and beating the Yankees. Steven Wright (11-5, 2.78) continued his march toward 20 wins and the AL Cy Young award by tossing 6 solid innings, allowing 3 runs to keep the Sox in reach. Meanwhile the Sox played home run derby with Michael "Pine Tar" Pineda. Ryan Hanigan and Travis Shaw went yard but it was Xander Bogaerts two run jack that proved to be the difference. The vaunted Sox bullpen stepped up as Brad Ziegler, Robbie Ross Jr and Koji Uehara slammed the door on the Yankees. It all added up to a 5-3 win over the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.
Pineda got the ball to start the top of the first inning and Mr. Mookie Betts was robbed of a base hit by Mark Teixeira to start. Dustin Pedroia struck out swinging and Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Wright got the ball in the bottom of the first as Brett Gardner flied out to left to start. Jacoby Ellsbury flied out to left and Carlos Beltran struck out swinging to end the inning.
David Ortiz struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Hanley Ramirez grounded out to second. Jackie Bradley Jr also grounded out to second to end the inning. Brian McCann popped up to first to start the bottom of the second before Teixeira lined out to left. Alex Rodriguez grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third as Travis Shaw struck out swinging to start. Brock "The Hitman" Holt was rung up for strike three but Ryan Hanigan hit his first home run in almost a year to put the Sox on top. Mr. Mookie beat out a roller to third but Pedroia grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Didi Gregorius struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Mr. Mookie made a great catch on a Starlin Castro fly ball. Chase Headley grounded out to first to end the inning.
Bogaerts lined out to to third to start the top of the fourth before Ortiz lined out to right. Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning. Gardner was retired on a nubber in front of the plate to start the bottom of the fourth before Ellsbury took strike three. Beltran flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth as JBJ walked to start. Shaw then smashed his 10th home run of the season to increase the lead. Holt struck out swinging, Hanigan grounded out to short and Mr. Mookie lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
McCann struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth before Teixeira popped up to short. A-Rod got the Yankees first hit of the game with a nubber in front of the plate. Gregorius popped up to short to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the sixth as Pedroia got a base hit to left to start. Bogaerts belted his 11th home run of the season to chase Pineda from the game. Chasen Shreve came in and Ortiz got a base hit to the centerfield fence. Ramirez forced Ortiz at second but JBJ lined out to left. Shaw and Holt worked back to back walks to load the bases, chasing Shreve from the game. Nick Goody came in to face Hanigan and Ryan flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
The Yankees finally got to Wright in the bottom of the sixth as Castro looped a base hit to center to start. Headley was hit with a pitch but Gardner flied out to center. Ellsbury walked to load the bases and Beltran ripped a base hit down the line to score Castro and Headley. Ellsbury moved to third on the hit and he scored on the force at second by McCann. Teixeira popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox still up 5-3. That was it for Wright who tossed six solid innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk.
Mr. Mookie lined out to left to start the top of the seventh but Pedroia drew a walk. Bogaerts struck out swinging and that was it for Goody. Nathan Eovaldi was brought in to face Ortiz and David grounded out to first to end the inning. Brad Ziegler came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and A-Rod grounded out to first to start. Gregorius grounded out to second and Castro popped up to second to end the inning.
Ramirez got a base hit down the third base line to start the top of the eighth but JBJ hit a bullet to Gregorius. Shaw lined out to third but Holt roped a base hit to left. Sox analyst Dave O'Brien brought up how Boston prospect Michael Kopech hit 105 on the gun down in Salem and Jerry Remy said that would have scared him in his playing days. Hanigan struck out swinging to end the inning.
Robbie Ross Jr came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Headley singled past the diving Bogaerts to start. Gardner flied out to center and Ellsbury was rung up on a check swing strike three. Beltran flied out to right to end the inning.
Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Mr. Mookie struck out swinging to start. Pedroia struck out swinging and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Koji Uehara came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and McCann struck out swinging to start. Teixeira flied out to center and A-Rod popped up to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-3.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. His two run home run proved to be the runs needed to win the game.
The Good:
Travis Shaw was 1 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.
Brock Holt was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Steven Wright got the win allowing 3 runs in 6 innings off 3 hits and a walk.
Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Robbie Ross Jr pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Koji Uehara earned his 5th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Ryan Hanigan was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Final Thoughts:
Everything is clicking right now for the Red Sox. The starters are pitching well, the trade for Ziegler shored up the bullpen and the offense has been hitting the ball out of sight. Once Craig Kimbrel comes back healthy this bullpen will be devastating down the stretch. As long as the Sox don't suffer any more catastrophic injuries this just might be the team to beat going forward. Uehara as a closer is like old times again and the Sox shorten the game with Ziegler out there. With the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays all within jockeying position of the Red Sox, this is going to be a hell of a stretch run. The win improved the Sox to 50-38, 2 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees tomorrow when Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 8.59 ERA) looks to get back on track against CC Sabathia of the Yankees. The game begins at 4:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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