As for the game, what a massacre. Sox fans now have dueling choices for AL Cy Young Award nominees as Steven Wright (13-5, 3.01 ERA) took a big step forward with a complete game, 3 hit shutout against a damn good Los Angeles Dodgers team. Wright allowed a hit in the first inning and just two the rest of the way in total domination. Offensively the Sox got to Scott Kazmir for four runs with home runs by Sandy Leon and Mookie Betts. Then the Sox got 5 runs in the eighth inning with Sandy Leon driving in more runs and Travis Shaw going yard as well. It all added up to a much needed 9-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.
3T approve of the win
Kazmir got the ball in the top of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts got a base hit to center to start. Dustin Pedroia grounded into a double play and Xander Bogaerts flied out to center to end the inning. Wright got the ball in the bottom of the first and Chase Utley popped up to Bogaerts who nearly cleaned out Bryce Brentz to start. Corey Seager flied out to left but Justin Turner doubled over the head of Mr. Mookie. Old friend Josh Reddick flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Hanley Ramirez walked to start. Jackie Bradley Jr forced Hanley at second but Aaron Hill drilled a base hit to center to move JBJ to third. Sandy Leon hit a sac fly to left to score JBJ but Bryce Brentz forced Sandy at second to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Old friend Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Yasmani Grandal did the same. Howie Kendrick also went down hacking to end the inning.
The Sox got another run in the top of the third as Wright struck out swinging to start. Mr. Mookie struck his 23rd home run of the season to increase the lead. Pedroia grounded out to second and Sox analyst "Psycho" Steve Lyons said you can eat off the floor at Dodger Stadium. Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Joc Pederson walked to start the top of the third and Kazmir bunted him over to second. Utley flied out to center and Seager grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth as Ramirez grounded out to short to start. JBJ struck out swinging but Hill walked. Leon belted his fourth home run of the season to increase the lead and Brentz got a base hit to center. Wright lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.
After taking a foul ball off his foot, Pedroia came out of the game and Travis Shaw took his spot in the lineup for the bottom of the fourth. Turner struck out looking before Reddick went down hacking. Gonzalez lined out to left to end the inning.
Seager booted a grounder by Mr. Mookie for an error to start the top of the fifth before Shaw popped up to short. Bogaerts grounded into a double play to end the inning. Grandal grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth and Kendrick flied out to right. Pederson took strike three to end the inning.
Ramirez popped up to second to open the top of the sixth but JBJ walked. Hill walked and that was it for Kazmir. Josh Fields came in and Leon grounded into a double play to end the inning. Scott Van Slyke pinch hit for Fields to start the bottom of the sixth and grounded out to third to start. Utley flied out to right and Seager grounded out to short to end the inning.
Jesse Chavez came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch hit for Brentz. Holt lined out to short and Wright struck out swinging. Mr. Mookie flied out to right to end the inning. Turner took strike three to start the bottom of the seventh and Reddick did the same. Gonzalez flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the top of the eighth as Shaw belted his 14th home run of the season to increase the lead. Bogaerts got a base hit to center but Ramirez struck out swinging. JBJ got a base hit to right that moved Xander to third and Bradley took second on the throw to nowhere. Hill was intentionally walked for some inane reason to load the bases and Leon made the Dodgers pay by missing a grand slam by eight feet, settling for an rbi single as Bogaerts scored. JP Howell came in to face Holt and Utley booted a grounder to allow both JBJ and Hill. Wright struck out swinging but Mr. Mookie singled to right to score Leon. Shaw grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 9-0.
Andrew Benintendi took over for Bradley to start the bottom of the eighth and Grandal got a base hit to right to start. Kendrick flied out to right and Pederson forced Grandal at second. Enrique Hernandez pinch hit for Howell and got a base hit to right to move Pederson to third. Utley flied out to left to end the inning.
Chris Taylor came in for Turner with Luis Avilan in to pitch the top of the ninth. Bogaerts grounded out to second to start. Ramirez struck out swinging and Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning. Wright came back to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth and Seager popped up to third to start. Taylor struck out swinging and Reddick popped up to short to end the game. Wright had tossed a complete game shutout and the Sox had won it 9-0.
Sox win
Hero Wright
Sandy Leon was 2 for 3 with a 2 run home run, 4 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.
Hero of The Night is Steven Wright. He tossed a complete game 3 hit shutout allowing just a walk and striking out 9.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 rbis.
Travis Shaw was 1 for 3 with a home run.
Jackie Bradley was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Aaron Hill was 1 for 1 with 3 walks and a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 2 for 3 with a 2 run home run, 4 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.
Bryce Brentz was 1 for 2.
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 2.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Brock Holt was 0 for 2 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
Looks like the Sox have dueling chances to win the American League Cy Young Award. Rick Porcello has one more win but Wright has the better ERA. Both of them have a chance at 20 wins this early in August and if David Price has a strong stretch run, this would be a VERY tough team to beat. The Sox haven't made the playoffs in 3 years but if the rotation holds up as well as the offense, they just might pull it off. This was a straight demolition of the Dodgers and the Sox need to keep the momentum going in the final 54 games of the season. The Sox have a gauntlet of AL East teams to run in September and having a good month of August will be key in that stretch. The bats stepped up tonight, hopefully they can keep this momentum. The win improved the Sox to 60-48, 2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Dodgers tomorrow evening when Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4, 5.91 ERA) takes on old pal Rich Hill. The game begins at 7:00 Eastern time at Dodger Stadium.
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