Drew Pomeranz got the ball and immediately put the Sox in a hole. Steven Souza Jr and Kevin Kiermaier worked back to back walks to begin the top of the first. Drew recovered to strike out Evan Longoria but Brad Miller tripled home both runners on a ball Jackie Bradley Jr would have caught if he wasn't out injured. Christian Vazquez allowed a rare passed ball which scored Miller. Pomeranz froze Rickie Weeks Jr but Corey Dickerson singled to bring out the boo birds already. A wild pitch moved Dickerson to second but Drew recovered to strike out Daniel Robertson to end the inning with the Rays ahead 3-0. Woof.....
The Sox weren't going to go quietly in the bottom of the first against Tampa starter Alex Cobb. Dustin Pedroia grounded out but Andrew Benintendi doubled. Mr. Mookie Betts drove home Benny with a ground rule double and Hanley Ramirez singled him to third. Mitch Moreland began his Herculean day by singling home Betts to cut the deficit to 1 but Xander Bogaerts killed the rally by banging into a double play. Still, it was great the Sox showed some life to trail 3-2.
Pomeranz turned up the power in the top of the second by striking out Jesus Sucre, Tim Beckham and Souza Jr in short order. Ironically he had gotten all 6 outs by way of the K. Pablo Sandoval grounded out to open the bottom of the second and Chris Young flied out. Christian Vazquez singled but Pedroia popped up to end the inning.
Pomeranz began the top of the third with his 7th strikeout, Kiermaier. Longoria grounded out and Miller lined out to end the inning. Benny The Kid lined out but Mr. Mookie singled. Unfortunately Betts was needlessly picked off because he was distracted by a hot woman in the crowd, thanks a lot Mookie. Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.
The Rays struck back in the top of the fourth. Weeks whiffed again but Dickerson crushed a solo shot to dead center. Robertson and Sucre both struck out to give Pomeranz a total of 10 in just 4 innings although he allowed 4 runs.
The Sox roared back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moreland popped up but Bogaerts double. Sandoval then crushed a two run home run into the Monster Seats to tie the game. Its all or nothing with Sandoval this season. Young and Vazquez stroked back to back singles but Pedroia flied out and Benny The Kid popped up to end the inning but the game was tied 4-4.
Just as soon as the Sox got back in it, Pomeranz coughed it up in the top of the fifth inning. The light hitting Beckham blasted one to dead center to give the Rays the lead back. Souza Jr lined out but Kiermaier singled to chase Pomeranz. He lasted just 4 1/3 although he struck out 10 guys.
Joe Kelly came on in relief and immediately got an inning ending double play by Longoria. That helped. The Sox couldn't crack Cobb in the bottom of the fifth. Mr. Mookie grounded out but Ramirez singled. Moreland walked but Bogaerts bounced into another double play to end the inning.
Kelly remained tough in the top of the 6th inning. Miller and Weeks grounded out and Dickerson flied out to end the inning. Danny Farquhar relieved Cobb in the bottom of the sixth and cruised. Sandoval and Young both struck out and Vazquez flied out to end the inning.
Kelly returned for the top of the seventh and got Robertson to ground out to start the inning. Sucre grounded out but Beckham singled. Souza grounded out to end the inning. Not a bad effort by Kelly to toss 2 2/3 scoreless innings to keep the Sox in it. The Sox finally took command in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pedroia flied out but Benny The Kid and Mr. Mookie stroked back to back singles. Ramirez worked a walk to chase Farquhar and lefty Xavier Cedeno was brought in to face Moreland. The move backfired as Morleland singled home both Benintendi and Betts to give the Sox a 6-5 lead with 6 outs to go. Unfortunately Ramirez was hurt running the bases and Steve Selsky came in to run for him. Bogaerts and Sandoval lined out to end the inning but the Sox had the lead.
It was up to Matt Barnes to hold the fort in the top of the eighth. Kiermaier didn't make things easier by getting a base hit and somehow stealing second off Vazquez. Barnes recovered to whiff Longoria and Miller but pinch hitter Logan Morrison walked. Sox manager John Farrell then went for the lefty/lefty matchup, bringing in Robbie Scott to face Dickerson. Scott got him to pop up to end the inning. Great work Robbie. The Sox got some insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning off Austin Pruitt. Young singled and Vazquez doubled him home. Pedroia flied out and Vazquez was thrown out at third trying to advance. That extra run lost loomed large as Benny The Kid doubled. Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked but Selsky struck out to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the game in the top of the ninth. Vazquez made a jumping catch behind home on a pop up by Robertson. Kimbrel locked up the save by blowing away Peterson and Beckham to win the game. The Sox had taken it 7-5
Hero of the Night is Mitch Moreland. He was 2 for 3 with a walk and drove in 3 crucial runs, including the go-ahead runs in the 7th.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Mookie Betts was 3 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a walk before leaving with a tight hamstring.
Chris Young was 2 for 4 with a run scored
Christian Vazquez was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Joe Kelly earned the win by tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Matt Barnes got the first 2 outs of the 8th inning
Robbie Scott got the final out of the 8th inning
Craig Kimbrel earned his 5th save with a scoreless 9th inning
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 5
Steve Selsky was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter/runner.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with 2 double plays but scored a run.
Pablo Sandoval was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a game-tying 2 run home run
Drew Pomeranz was the definition of ugly. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings and giving up 5 runs, but he struck out 10 guys which is a record for someone who failed to go 5.
Final Thoughts:
Moreland is never going to be David Ortiz but so far he's been as good as anybody. He was pegged as someone tailor made for Fenway and so far he has been. The long balls continue to elude anyone not named Sandoval but Betts and Bogaerts are heating up with singles and doubles. Its disheartening to see Pomeranz struggle especially since he dominated the Baltimore offense last time out. Still a win's a win. Farrell is trying to hold the fort in the bullpen until Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith returns, and if they're effective when they return, watch out. The Sox play a Patriots Day matinee at 11 AM tomorrow against Tampa with Steven Wright looking to right himself (no pun intended) opposite Ian Snell.
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