Ramirez Slams Rays, Sox Win Nailbiter (8/31/16)

Another bad bullpen performance by the Boston Red Sox bullpen and a rough start by the injured Steven Wright was overcame due to some timely late inning hitting and a grand slam by Hanley Ramirez. The Tampa Bay Rays were game but the Sox had just enough left in the tank to win the game 8-6.

                                                     Jacques Necker approves of the win

The injured Steven Wright got the ball in the top of the first and it was obvious he wasn't right, no pun intended. Wright struck out Logan Forsythe to begin the top of the first but Kevin Kiermaier singled. Evan Longoria struck out but a wild pitch moved Kiermaier to second....scoring on the ground rule double by Miller. Nick Franklin walked but Logan Morrison grounded out to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0. The Sox wasted no time scoring against Rays starter Drew Smyly. Dustin Pedroia flied out but Xander Bogaerts blasted his 17th home run of the year to tie the game. David Ortiz hit one up the elevator shaft but Mr. Mookie Betts doubled. Hanley Ramirez whiffed to end the inning.

                                                      Bogaerts ties it up

The Rays struck back in the top of the second. Tim Beckham lined out and Chris Dickerson flied out, but Bobby Wilson doubled. Forsythe then cracked a two run home run, his 17th of the year to give the Rays a 3-1 lead. Kiermaier lined out but the damage was done. This time the Sox couldn't answer in the bottom of the second. Sandy Leon and Chris Young flied out then Aaron Hill struck out to end the inning.

Wright returned for the top of the third and got Longoria to fly out to left. Miller walked but the alert Leon picked him off. Franklin flied out to end the inning. The Sox threatened Smyly in the bottom of the third. Jackie Bradley Jr popped up but Pedroia singled and Bogaerts walked. Ortiz flied out and Mr. Mookie popped up to end the inning....damn.

The Rays got to Wright again in the top of the fourth. Morrison led off with his 11th homer of the year to give the Rays a 4-1 lead. Beckham singled but Dickerson struck out. Wilson popped up but Forsythe walked. Kiermaier singled but the Sox caught a break when Beckham stopped halfway to home plate. Kiermaier expected Beckham to cross the plate so he chugged to second...only to see Forsythe standing there because Beckham foolishly went back to third. Kiermaier was tagged out and the inning was over. That could have been the difference in the game as the lead was 4-1, but it could have been 5-1.

                                                                    That's for you Beckham

Could the Sox rally in the bottom of the fourth? NO! Ramirez grounded out but Leon singled. Young struck out and Hill popped up to end the inning.

Wright was done and Robbie Ross Jr came in to pitch the top of the fifth. Longoria flied out but Miller caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single. Franklin grounded out and Morrison looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox came out swinging in the bottom of the fifth. JBJ and Pedroia hit back to back singles to open the frame. Bogaerts struck out and Ortiz flied out, but Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases for Ramirez. The crowd erupted as Ramirez blasted a grand slam to dead center to give the Sox a shocking 5-4 lead. How big was that missed run for Tampa now? Leon grounded out to end the inning but the Sox had the lead.

                                                 Hanley Grand Slam makes it 5-4

Ross returned for the top of the sixth. Beckham singled but Dickerson bounced into a double play. Wilson grounded out to end the inning. Good work Ross. Kevin Jepsen took the mound in the bottom of the sixth and the Sox struck again. Young struck out and Hill lined out, but JBJ smashed his 22nd homer of the year into the Monster seats to give the Sox a 6-4 lead. Pedroia singled but was thrown out trying to steal to end the inning.

Matt Barnes got the call in the top of the seventh. Forsythe struck out but Kiermaier singled. Longoria whiffed and Sox manager John Farrell wanted the lefty-lefty matchup with Fernando Abad going against Miller. Abad did his job by striking out Miller to end the inning. Danny Farquhar relieved Jepsen in the bottom of the seventh and fared better against the Sox than Jepsen did. Bogaerts and Ortiz lined out then Mr. Mookie popped up to end the inning.

The Rays came roaring back in the top of the eighth. Franklin reached on an infield single as Steven Souza Jr pinch hit for Morrison, only to fly out. Beckham walked but Dickerson flied out, moving Franklin to third. Matt Duffy pinch hit for Wilson and walked to load the bases. That was it for Abad as Farrell once again kept him out there to face right handed hitters. With Brad Ziegler still out with the flu, Farrell turned to Junichi Tazawa to get the final out of the eighth. Forsythe nearly cleared the bases with a single into the gap, tying the game as the boo-birds rained down. Kiermaier grounded out to end the inning but the game was tied 6-6.

                                            Lurch looks over to see the Sox blow the lead

The Sox weren't going to take this lying down in the bottom of the eighth, especially against Erasmo Ramirez. Hanley drew a leadoff walk and Leon laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hanley to second. Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch hit for the lefty Young and singled Ramirez to third. Aaron Hill finally got a clutch hit with a single that scored Hanley with the go-ahead run. JBJ added insurance with a double that scored Holt to make it 8-6. Hill was thrown out at home on a grounder hit by Pedroia and Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning. Still, the Sox had come back to take the lead with 3 outs to go.

                                                                Herculean Hill


Could Craig Kimbrel get the last 3 outs? Longoria popped up, Miller looked at strike three and Franklin flied out to end the game. The Sox had taken it 8-6.

                                                     Win, Dance, Repeat

 Hero of the night is Hanley Ramirez. His grand slam turned the game around and he scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth.





The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 5 with a run scored, he loves the leadoff spot. Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with a pickoff in the field. Brock Holt pinch hit for Young and singled, then scored a run. Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 4 wth 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in, one of which off his 22nd home run of the year. Robbie Ross Jr kept the Sox in the game with 2 innings of scoreless relief. Matt Barnes struck out 2 of the three batters he faced. Craig Kimbrel earned his 24th save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

David Ortiz was 0 for 4. Chris Young was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Steven Wright didn't have it. He lasted just 4 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Junichi Tazawa gave up the game tying, 2 run single to Forsythe.



The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a walk but made the one hit count as it was his 17th home run of the year. Aaron Hill was just 1 for 4 but made his hit count, driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth. Fernando Abad got the final out of the seventh but was charged with allowing the tying runs to score.




Final Thoughts:

With the Toronto Blue Jays winners over Baltimore, the Sox NEEDED this game to keep pace with them. It was a shame to see Steven Wright not ready to go but the offense picked him up big time. Hanley, Bogaerts, Bradley...they'll need them all if they have any hope in the final month of the season. They have to do something in the bullpen. Sign Jon Papelbon, move somebody out of the rotation, bring someone up from Pawtucket....SOMETHING! They can't continue to let leads evaporate in September or there will be no October. The win improved the Sox to 74-59, two games behind Toronto for the AL East lead. After an off-day, the Sox fly out west to Oakland to play the A's in a 3 game set. David Price gets the ball opposite Andrew Triggs in Game 1.

Rays Stun Sox (8/30/16)

If the Boston Red Sox dont ultimately win the American League East this season, losses like tonight will be the reason why. In a game they needed to win, the Sox led 3-0 but the Tampa Bay Rays clawed their way back to not only tie the game, but win it with a pair of well timed homers. The Sox failed to touch the Tampa bullpen and the Rays shocked the Sox 4-3 at Fenway Park.

Drew Pomeranz got the ball in the top of the first inning and the Rays pounced on him. Logan Forsythe led off by grounding out to short to start but Brock "The Hitman" Holt misplayed a ball hit by Kevin Kiermaier for a double. Pomeranz froze Evan Longoria on an outside curve for strike three but Brad Miller lined a base hit off the glove of Dustin Pedroia for an rbi single. Matt Duffy grounded out to second to end the inning but the Rays were up 1-0.

                                                            1-0 Tampa

Dustin Pedroia returned to the lineup by beginning the bottom of the first with a bloop single to right against Jake Odorizzi. The Sox pissed on themselves as Xander Bogaerts whiffed badly on a hit and run and Pedroia was thrown out by a mile at second. David Ortiz grounded out weakly to short to end the inning.

Pomeranz came back for the top of the second inning and Tim Beckham whiffed on a 3-2 fastball. Steven Souza Jr walked on a full count but Corey Dickerson whiffed on a 94 mph fastball. Luke Maile whiffed as well to end the inning. Mr. Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the second by popping up to short to start before Hanley Ramirez popped up to second. Travis Shaw whiffed to end the inning.

Pomeranz opened the top of the third by getting Forsythe to pop up to right to start. Kiermaier popped up to left and Longoria was run up on a check swing in the dirt to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Holt grounded out to first, Bryan Holaday flied out to center and Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed to end the inning.

Miller opened the top of the fourth inning with a single up the middle but Duffy flied out to right. Beckham walked but Souza took an inside fastball for strike three. Dickerson popped up to short to end the inning. Odorizzi got Pedroia to ground back to the mound to begin the bottom of the fourth before Bogaerts popped up to short. Ortiz popped up to second to end the inning.

A graphic on NESN showed Dutch Leonard pitched a no-hitter on this day 100 years ago before the top of the fifth began. Pomeranz struck out Maile on a breaking ball in the dirt before Forsythe grounded out to third. Kiermaier hit a little squibber to Pedroia who gloved it to first for the third out to end the inning. Mr. Mookie popped up to center to begin the bottom of the fifth before Ramirez tucked a cheap 298 foot pop up home run right around the Pesky Pole to tie the game. Shaw whiffed on a high fastball up and away but Holt doubled off the Monster. Holaday whiffed to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.

                                                   Tie game!

Pomeranz returned for the top of the sixth and got Longoria to pop up to center to start. Miller popped up to Shaw into the shift before Duffy grounded out to short to end the inning. JBJ led off the bottom of the sixth with a pop up before Pedroia walked. Bogaerts doubled down the left field line and Souza made a diving catch to rob Ortiz of extra bases but Pedroia scored to give the Sox the lead. Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked and the Sox got a gift when Ramirez popped up to right but Miller and Souza got crossed up, letting the ball drop to score Bogaerts and advance Betts to third. Shaw earned the hat trick with his third strikeout to end the inning but it was 3-1 Sox.

                                                Ramirez gets it done again....by accident

Could Pomeranz pitch with the lead? NO! Beckham started off the top of the seventh with a single but Souza flied out to center. Dickerson whiffed on a high fastball but Maile crushed a 2 run home run into the Monster seats to tie the game. Sox manager John Farrell stormed out of the dugout and chucked a bag of sunflower seeds at Pomeranz as he ran off the mound. Pomeranz looked to be much improved until that home run, now leaving with a no decision at 6 2/3 innings of 3 run ball.

                                                Good, but not good enough

Matt Barnes replaced Pomeranz and immediately walked Forsythe. The alert Holaday gunned down Logan trying to steal to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

Enny Romero took over for the bottom of the seventh as Chris Young pinch hit for Holt only to strike out swinging. Holoday grounded out to third before JBJ whiffed to end the inning.

The enigmatic Clay Buchholz was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth and Pedroia made an outstanding stab to rob Kiermaier of a sure hit to begin. Longoria then crushed a home run completely out of Fenway to give the Rays the lead. Miller grounded out to first and Duffy grounded out to third to end the inning with the Rays ahead 4-3.

                                              Dammit Clay

The heart of the Sox order did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Pedroia grounded out to third, Bogaerts looked at strike three on the outside corner and Ortiz grounded out to first to end the inning.

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel hadn't pitched in 6 days so he was summoned to pitch the top of the ninth inning. Beckham took him for a single off the Monster on a 3-2 count before Nick Franklin pinch hit for Souza Jr, only to fly out to left. Dickerson flied out to deep right and the alert Beckham tagged up, moving to second. Pedroia made another play to make a bang bang throw to first on Maile.....OUT! But wait! Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call and sure enough Maile was ruled safe to put runners at the corners. Forsythe struck out to end the threat and the inning.

                                                 Pedroia making all the plays

Rays closer Alex Colome came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning and Mr. Mookie grounded out to second to begin. Ramirez put the tying run on with a single in the hole at second but Shaw earned the golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout of the game. Ramirez made it to second on a passed ball and Young walked to put the go-ahead run on. Sandy Leon pinch hit for Holoday but took strike three down the middle to end the game. The Rays had won it 4-3.

Jackass of the Night is Clay Buchholz. He came in to protect a tie game and immediately coughed it up.

                                                   Clay the Jackass again


The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Hanley Ramirez was 3 for 4 including 2 total rbis and a solo home run.

Brock Holt was 1 for 3 before leaving the game.

Chris Young walked once in two plate appearances.

Drew Pomeranz pitched well even if he did give up the home run at the end. He ended with 6 2/3 innings of 3 run ball.

Matt Barnes escaped the seventh inning.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Travis Shaw earned a golden sombrero by going 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts.

Bryan Holaday was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr earned a hat trick by going 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

David Ortiz was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.

Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked.



Final Thoughts:

That was a backbreaking loss considering the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays tonight in their respective game. The Sox could have been just 1 game back of Toronto had they were able to pull out the game. The problem with this year's team is they are complete frontrunners. Once they fall behind they're almost guaranteed not to come back. If they are tied they find a way to win and if they have a lead, generally they keep it (tonight not withstanding) but if they are behind they don't fight back more often than not. The loss dropped the Sox to 73-59, 2 games behind Toronto for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to bounce back with tonight's birthday boy Steven Wright (13-6, 3.18 ERA) on the mound facing Drew Smyly. The game begins at 1:30 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Outslug Rays (8/29/16)

If the Sox have any hope of catching the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East division title they're going to have to beat the likes of the Tampa Bay Rays. Tonight the Sox did just that even without Dustin Pedroia who was away grieving for a lost relative. "Slick" Rick Porcello (18-3, 3.26 ERA) was just what the doctor ordered, tossing 7 innings of 3 run ball while the offense lit up the Rays. When all was said and done the Sox had defeated the Rays 9-4 at Fenway Park.

                                           Corporal Chesty approves of the win

Porcello got the ball to begin the top of the first and Logan Forsythe greeted him with a single to right. Kevin Kiermaier blew a hit and run and Forsythe was gunned down by the alert Sandy Leon trying to steal. Kiermaier looked at strike three to boot moments later. Evan Longoria grounded out to second to end the inning. Matt Andriese took the ball in the bottom of the first and Brock "The Hitman" Holt led off by grounding out to second to start. Xander Bogaerts whiffed on a high fastball and David Ortiz whiffed on a change in the dirt to end the inning.

Brad Miller began the top of the second by lining one off the glove of Hanley Ramirez but it went right to Holt who still got Miller at first. Matt Duffy lined out to the busy Ramirez before Logan Morrison grounded into the shift in right to end the inning. Mr. Mookie Betts began the bottom of the second by swatting a tremendous home run off the Selfeo sign in the Monster to give the Sox the lead. Betts joins Ted Williams and Tony Conigliaro as the only Red Sox players to hit 30 homers in one year before the age of 24. Hanley crushed a 400 foot double to center then moved to third on the ground out by Travis Shaw. Ramirez was thrown out at home on the grounder by Chris Young, nothing you can do when you're off on contact with the infield in. Leon singled to left before Jackie Bradley Jr walked to load the bases. Holt singled home Hanley but Leon was thrown out at home to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.

                                                        Betts with number 30

The Rays struck back in the top of the third as Nick Franklin singled through the shift  as did Corey Dickerson, sending Franklin to third. Doesn't get much more lucky than that. Bobby Wilson singled home Franklin to put the Rays on the board. Holt couldn't corral a pop up by Forsythe to load the bases with nobody out. Pitching coach Carl Willis jogged to the mound and informed him that the legend of the rent was way hardcore. Kiermaier hit a ground ball to first but a poor throw by Hanley was only able to nab Dickerson at home. Longoria scored Wilson with a sac fly to tie the game but Miller whiffed to end the nning with the game tied 2-2.

                                            "AH DAMMIT!" - Porcello

Bogaerts popped up to third to begin the bottom of the third before Ortiz grounded out to first. Mr. Mookie popped up to second to end the inning.

Duffy wasted no time popping up to short to begin the top of the fourth before Morrison grounded into the shift for the second out. Franklin took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Hanley opened with a base hit to left and Shaw smacked a ground rule double. Young smoked a double off the glove of Longoria to score both runners to give the Sox the lead. Leon whiffed badly on a pitch in the dirt and JBJ did the same. Holt ended the bad swing parade with an rbi double to center. Bogaerts popped up to Miller in foul territory to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.

                                                  Ramirez scores the go-ahead run

Could Porcello pitch with the lead in the top of the fifth? Franklin smacked a ground rule double to right before Wilson advanced him to third with a grounder to short. Bogaerts made a great play to rob Forsythe of a hit and fired to first....SAFE! But wait! Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call and it was correctly overturned, but the run scored. Kiermaier popped up to Shaw to end the inning but it was now 5-3 Sox.

Ortiz led off the bottom of the fifth with a double off the top of the centerfield wall and Mr. Mookie scored him with a double off the base of the Monster to chase Andriese. Danny Farquhar replaced Andriese and Hanley flied out to deep center as Betts advanced to third. Shaw singled off the glove of Forsythe to score Betts with another run. Young whiffed before Leon grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.

                                                          Betts scores the seventh run

Porcello cleaned out Longoria before getting him to ground out to short to begin the top of the sixth. Miller watched strike three go by before Duffy whiffed to end the inning. Farquhar returned for the bottom of the sixth and JBJ whiffed to begin. Holt grounded back to the mound before Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning.

Porcello returned for the top of the seventh with 91 pitches on his arm and whiffed Morrison on a pitch in the dirt to start. Franklin popped up to short and Dickerson whiffed to end the inning. 7 innings of 3 run ball by Porcello, damn good.

Brad Boxberger took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and the Sox kicked his ass. Ortiz popped up to Miller who made the catch on top of the tarp before Mr. Mookie grounded out to first. Hanley walked, Shaw singled in the hole to right and Young walked to load the bases. Leon hit a grounder up the middle for a hit that scored Hanley and Shaw. JBJ grounded out to end the inning but the Sox were up 9-3.

                                           Goat in the second, hero in the seventh

Clay Buchholz got the ball in the top of the eighth inning and immediately allowed a single to Wilson to start. Forsythe walked and Kiermaier lined a broken bat single to left to load the bases. Sox pitching coach Carl Willis went to the mound to inform Buchholz that getting 10 yards on a screen pass is a first down. Longoria lined out to a running JBJ in center but Wilson scored and Forsythe advanced to third. Miller popped up to right and Duffy was rung up for strike three on a bad call to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-4.

                                             This guy sucks!

Xavier Cedeno came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Holt poked a single to left to begin. Bogaerts whiffed but Holt swiped second. Ortiz walked but Mr. Mookie popped up to center. Ramirez lined out to a running Dickerson to end the inning.

Marco Hernandez took over at third with Fernando Abad on the mound to begin the top of the ninth. Morrison whiffed before Franklin poked yet another hit to right. Dickerson banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-4.

                                                       Another win


Hero of the Night is a tough one with everyone contributing on offense but I'll go with Mookie Betts. Mr. Mookie got the party started with a home run and later added another rbi double. He's been something else this year.

                                                        Mookie the Hero


The Good:

Brock Holt was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.

Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Travis Shaw was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

Chris Young was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Sandy Leon was 2 for 4 with 2 rbi's.

Fernando Abad pitched a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Clay Buchholz allowed a run in the eighth inning.



The Ugly:

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked.



Honorable Mention:

Marco Hernandez played third in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

That was a good bounce back win after last night's disaster against Kansas City. The Sox are still hanging around the AL East division race and they're gonna need a good September to win it. Porcello is on pace to win 22 games in the biggest turnaround since Jim Lonborg 50 years ago. The Sox are gonna need him and Price if they want to make it to October. Ortiz, Betts and Ramirez could be vital as well. The win improved the Sox to 73-58, 2 games behind the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Drew Pomeranz (2-3, 4.06 ERA) goes for the Sox up against Jake Odorizzi.

Royals 8 run sixth Sinks Sox (8/28/16)

Well this game was a sucker punch to the go-nads. The Boston Red Sox were enjoying a nice comfy 4-2 lead over the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals when the champs showed exactly why they won it all last year. In the top of the 6th, the last in the league in runs scored Royals scored 3 runs off the ineffective Eduardo Rodriguez (2-6, 5.35 ERA) and 6 runs off the incompetent Matt Barnes and Robbie Ross Jr. The 8 run inning was more than enough cushion for the Royals as they ran away with a 10-4 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                  Judge Doom hates Sox pitching

Rodriguez took the mound in the top of the first inning and Paulo Orlando led off by grounding out to short to start. Cheslor Cuthbert hit a weak grounder to Travis Shaw at third but he couldn't make the play at first. Lorenzo Cain popped up to Mookie Betts before Eric Hosmer drew a walk. Kendrys Morales popped up to right to end the inning. Yordano Ventura got the start for the Royals and Brock "The Hitman" Holt greeted him by dumping a base hit to left to begin. Xander Bogaerts hit a bullet but right to Cain in right. David Ortiz banged into a double play to end the inning.

Salvador Perez led off the top of the second by launching a home run off the left field foul pole to give the Royals the lead. Alex Gordon ripped a slider between first and second for a base hit before Alcedis Escobar drew a walk as the boo birds came out. Raul Mondesi Jr dropped down a bunt to move the runners over and Orlando hit a bullet to center that scored Gordon and sent Escobar to third. Cuthbert swung and missed at a high fastball for strike three to end the inning but the Royals were up 2-0.

                                                    Good luck getting that one.

Mr. Mookie led off the bottom of the second by lining a base hit off second base to start. Hanley Ramirez banged into a double play but Shaw drew a walk. Chris Young beat out an infield single to third before Sandy Leon popped up to left to end the inning.

Cain led off the top of the third by grounding out to third to start. Hosmer grounded back to E-Rod on the first pitch he saw and Morales lined one off the leg of E-Rod. Rodriguez hurried the throw to first but Ramirez couldn't scoop it for an error. Perez popped up to left to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr led off the bottom of the third by roping a single to right but Holt hit into a double play, the Sox third tonight. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.

Rodriguez got Gordon to ground out to first to start the top of the fourth before Escobar popped up to Holt. Mondesi Jr grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox fought back in the bottom of the fourth as Ortiz crushed his 31st home run of the year into the triangle in center to cut the lead. Mr. Mookie popped up to shallow right before Hanley hit a bullet....right to Cain. Shaw flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                  Big Papi goes yard

Rodriguez got Orlando to pop up to Holt to start the top of the fifth before some idiot ran onto the field. Cuthbert lined out to Holt before Cain grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth as Young singled off the glove of Cuthbert to begin. Leon hit a fly ball to Orlando and the ball ticked off his glove for an error. Young motored to third with Sandy taking second on the error. JBJ walked to load the bases as Holt grounded out to first to score Young and advanced the others. Bogaerts ripped a single up the middle to score Leon and JBJ to give the Sox the lead and chase Ventura. Matt Strahm came in and got Ortiz to bang into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                     Bogaerts gives the Sox the lead

The Royals exploded in the top of the sixth as Hosmer walked to start. Morales hit a ground rule double into the right field seats and Perez walked to load the bases with nobody out. Sox pitching coach Carl Willis sprinted to the mound to remind E-Rod that Law & Order SVU was on and Gordon popped up to left. That was it for E-Rod who ended up being charged 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.

                                                Not E-Rod's best stuff

Matt Barnes came in and completely puked on himself. Escobar hit a Baltimore chop off the plate for a base hit that scored Hosmer and Mondesi Jr tripled into the triangle to give the Royals the lead. Barnes plunked Orlando on the hand and Cuthbert hit a chopper to the mound where the only play was at home but Mondesi Jr beat the throw for another run. Cain singled off the Monster to score Orlando and chase Barnes. Matt was brought in with a 2 run lead and ended up allowing all three inherited runners to score and 3 of his own. Yuck! Robbie Ross Jr came in and poured gas on the fire as Hosmer singled off the Monster to score Cain and Cuthbert. Morales singled to left and both runners moved over on the grounder to third by Perez. Gordon grounded out to second but the Royals put 8 runs on the board to ice the game 10-4.

                                    Mondesi ices the game with a 3 run triple and a run scored

The Sox offense was done for the night in the bottom of the sixth as Mr. Mookie was rung up on a check swing strike three to start. Ramirez grounded out to short and Shaw grounded out to first to end the inning.

Ross Jr came back for the top of the seventh and Ramirez made a great pick on a grounder to first by Escobar to start. Mondesi Jr popped up to first and Orlando grounded out to third to end the inning. Young started the bottom of the seventh by popping up to first. Leon drew a walk but JBJ popped up to short. Holt grounded out to second to end the inning.

Junichi Tazawa came in for the top of the eighth and Cuthbert whiffed to start. Cain popped up to first and Hosmer grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth against Peter Moylan. Bogaerts grounded out to third before Ortiz whiffed. Mr. Mookie hit a sharp grounder to third and beat out the bad throw for a "hit" but Ramirez grounded into a force to end the inning.

Tazawa returned for the top of the ninth as Morales beat the shift with a base hit to left to start. Billy Burns ran for Morales and was erased on the force by Perez. Taz made a great play to nab a liner by Gordon to induce the double play to end the inning. The game ended in the bottom of the ninth as Joakim Soria closed it out by getting Shaw to ground out to first to start. Young watched strike three go by before Leon blooped a single to left. JBJ drew a walk but Holt whiffed to end the game. The Royals had won it 10-4.

Jackass of the Night is Matt Barnes. He allowed 3 inherited runners to score and was charged with 5 of his own to put the Sox completely out of reach.

                                                          Barnes The Jackass


The Good:

Chris Young was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Robbie Ross Jr tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Junichi Tazawa tossed 2 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4.

Eduardo Rodriguez was charged with 5 runs in just 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.



The Ugly:

Brock "The Hitman" Holt was just 1 for 5 with an rbi.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but knocked in two runs.

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run.

Travis Shaw was 0 for 3 with a walk.




Final Thoughts:

This game sucked big portions of ass. The Royals are on a hot streak this month but they're still last in the league in runs scored. The Royals had no trouble scoring runs off Rodriguez and Barnes and the Sox stopped trying after falling behind. Games like this can't happen with the AL East race this close. The Sox have a chance for the first time in 3 years and they have to beat the bad teams as well as the good ones as the calendar turns to September. Apart from Ortiz home run, the less said of this game the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 72-58, 2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox come home for a crucial homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays. "Slick" Rick Porcello (17-3) takes on Matt Andriese at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Smash Royals, End Streak (8/27/16)

That's more like it. After a pitiful 3 game losing streak, the Boston Red Sox got back on track against the Kansas City Royals. Dustin Pedroia nearly broke a major league record with 11 straight hits but fell one short. David Price (13-8, 3.97 ERA) tossed 6 solid innings of 2 run ball while the offense pounced on the world champs for 12 hits and 8 runs. The Sox got back on track with an 8-3 victory over the Royals at Fenway Park.

                                                 The Gronk approves of the win

Price got the ball in the top of the first and Paulo Orlando hit a bullet right to Jackie Bradley Jr to start. Cheslor Cuthbert singled past the diving Aaron Hill into left before Lorenzo Cain beat out a double play ball. Eric Hosmer was frozen on a 95 mph fastball on the back to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Royals starter Danny Duffy in the bottom of the first inning as the scorching hot Dustin Pedroia led off with a base hit to center. Xander Bogaerts blasted his 16th home run of the season completely out of Fenway to give the Sox the lead 2 batters into the game. The Royals then played a game of "I got it...I don't got it" as David Ortiz' routine pop up fell in for a "single". Ortiz then tried to take second on a wild pitch but Salvador Perez fired a bullet to second to nail Big Papi. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center but Hanley Ramirez dumped a base hit to right. Sandy Leon popped up to first to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.

                                                 Bogaerts puts Boston up early

The Royals immediately answered in the top of the second although Kendrys Morales popped up to first to start. Perez then swatted a line drive home run into the Monster Seats to put the Royals on the board. Alex Gordon followed with a double high off the Monster and he scored on the double to left by Alcides Escobar. Christian Colon popped up to Hanley on the infield before Orlando waived at a pitch in the dirt to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                Royals tie it up

The Sox countered in the bottom of the second as Chris Young walked to start. Hill flied out to deep right as a passed ball moved Young to second. Jackie Bradley Jr drove home Young with a ground rule double into the right field corner to give the Sox the lead. Pedroia doubled off the Monster to score JBJ but Escobar threw the ball away to allow Pedroia to advance to third. He was stranded as Bogaerts grounded out to second as did Ortiz to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                 Pedroia drives in another run

Price got Cuthbert to pop up to third to start the top of the third before Cain grounded out to second. Hosmer walked but Morales struck out swinging to end the inning. Duffy cruised in the bottom of the third as Mr. Mookie flied out to the centerfield warning track to start. Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley told a story of how back in 1998, 41 year old Paul Molitor dropped a bunt on Eck to walkoff the Twins over the Red Sox. What Eck forgot is none other than a young David Ortiz scored the tying run in the 6th inning of that game for the Twins. Back to this game, Ramirez grounded out to second and Leon was caught looking for strike three to end the inning.

                                                 "How DARE you try to win the game Paul!"

Price whiffed Perez on an 88 mph cutter to start the top of the fourth before Gordon lined out to a running Betts. Escobar whiffed on a 90 mph cutter to end the inning. The Sox added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Sox broadcaster Dave O'Brien finally pointed out David Ortiz played in the game Eck was talking about. Young drew a four pitch walk before Hill was out on a bang bang play at first after a great play by Hosmer. JBJ took a horrible strike three call but the red hot Pedroia singled home Young to increase the lead. Bogaerts grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.

                                               Pedroia 7 for his last 7

Price continued to pitch well in the top of the fifth as Colon was retired on a swinging bunt to Leon to start. Orlando grounded out to third but Cuthbert doubled down the left field line. Cain flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox displayed some power in the bottom of the fifth although Ortiz flied out to the right field warning track to start. Mr. Mookie and Hanley then belted back to back home runs to light up the crowd. Leon grounded out to third and Young flied out to right to end the inning but it was 7-2 Sox.

                                                   Hanley and Mookie go back to back

Price was nearly perfect in the top of the sixth as Hosmer whiffed to start. Morales grounded out to short but Perez walked. Price finished his outing by catching Gordon looking to end the inning. Price went 6 solid innings while allowing just 2 runs while striking out 7.

                                                   Good work Price

Old nemesis Chien-Ming Wang came in for the bottom of the sixth and the Sox tagged him too. Hill walked but JBJ whiffed. Pedroia continued his hot streak with a base hit up the middle to go 11 for 11 and Bogaerts pounded a ground rule double into the right field corner to score Hill. Ortiz grounded out to second and Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning but it was 8-2 Sox.

                                                 Another rbi for Bogaerts

Brad Ziegler was first out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh and Escobar popped up to first to start. Bogaerts made a great play to rob Colon of a hit and also retired Orlando on a grounder to end the inning. Billy Burns took over for Cain to start the bottom of the seventh and Ramirez grounded out to first to start. Leon grounded out to second and Young flied out to the centerfield wall to end the inning.

Clay Buchholz was summoned for the top of the eighth and Cuthbert grounded out to short to start. Burns beat out an infield single to second....but wait! Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call and replays showed he was OUT! Hosmer drew a walk but Hanley fell on his ass making a catch to rob Morales of a hit to end the inning. Sox fans stood in the bottom of the eighth to see if Pedroia could tie the major league record of 12 straight hits. First Hill grounded out to short before JBJ poked a base hit to center. The record remained intact as Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning. Oh well!

Robbie Ross Jr came in for the top of the ninth with Travis Shaw now at third base. Perez jacked a home run off the hands of a fan in the centerfield bleachers to cut the lead. Ross got mad and caught Gordon looking for strike three before Escobar was rung up for strike three on a check swing. Colon got plunked but Betts made a running catch on Orlando to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-3.

                                                   Big win for the Sox.



Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He drove in as many runs by himself as the entire Royals did and hit the big two run home run.

                                                     X-Man Hero



The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 4 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Chris Young walked twice and scored 2 runs in 4 at bats.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

David Price got the win with 6 innings of 2 run ball. He struck out 7 batters as well.

Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Clay Buchholz pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Sandy Leon was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Robbie Ross Jr gave up a run in the ninth inning.



The Ugly:

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4.

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Aaron Hill was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.



Honorable Mention:

Travis Shaw played third base in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

That was an impressive win against the red hot Duffy who was 11-1 coming into this game. Not only that but Price pitched his ass off in this one. Buchholz pitched well out of the bullpen and the offense continues to click. Would have been nice to see Pedroia tie the ML record for consecutive hits but at least the game was well in hand when he hit into the double play. Mookie Betts needs a strong September to challenge Mike Trout in the AL MVP race but then again, the entire teams need a strong September to win the AL East race. All in all it was a good win against the current champs and hope they can continue the trend. The win improved the Sox to 72-57, 1 game behind the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row over the champs tomorrow night. Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5) goes up against Yordano Ventura at 8:05 PM at Fenway Park.