As for the game, the Sox were on the verge of falling below .500 heading into a series with Tampa Bay but they showed some serious balls to pull off a come from behind win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2 PM makeup game of last week's rain out. The Sox had taken the game 4-3 at Fenway Park.
Eduardo Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first and promptly crapped his pants. He walked Jordy Mercer but Starling Marte struck out on a check-swing. Andrew McCutchen launched a 2 run home run into the Monster Seats to give the Pirates a quick 2-0 lead. Gregory Polanco smashed a 3-2 fastball down the middle into center for a single. David Freese blooped one for another single but Rodriguez whiffed Josh Harrison. Josh Bell struck out on a full count to end the inning but Rodriguez had thrown over 30 pitches and was trailing 2-0.
Ever heard of throwing strikes?
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the first against Chad Kuhl. Dustin Pedroia led off by striking out on a pitch in the dirt although Andrew Benintendi singled to right. Mr. Mookie Betts continued to slump by popping up to center. Hanley Ramirez flied out to end the inning.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the first against Chad Kuhl. Dustin Pedroia led off by striking out on a pitch in the dirt although Andrew Benintendi singled to right. Mr. Mookie Betts continued to slump by popping up to center. Hanley Ramirez flied out to end the inning.
Rodriguez settled down in the top of the second inning, Phil Gosselin popped up to first, Chris Stewart grounded out to short and Mercer flied out to left to end the inning in short order. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second. Mitch Moreland doubled for the 7th game in a row although Xander Bogaerts flied out to right. Marco Hernandez doubled off the Monster to score Moreland and cut the lead in half. Christian Vazquez grounded out but Marco moved to third. Brock "The Hitman" Holt struck out to end the inning but the score was now 2-1 Pittsburgh.
"Down by one, let's go!" - MH
Rodriguez once again walked the lead-off man in Marte to open the top of the third. This time he recovered to strike out Marte and the bazooka-armed Vazquez gunned down Marte trying to steal. Rodriguez struck out Polanco to end the inning. The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third. Pedroia grounded out, Benny The Kid struck out and Bogaerts lined out to short to end the inning.
Rodriguez AGAIN walked the lead-off man to open the top of the fourth inning, This time it was Freese although Harrison and Bell both flied out. Gosselin popped up to end the inning. The Sox didn't score in the bottom of the fourth either as Ramirez whiffed to start the inning. Moreland popped up and Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
Rodriguez appeared to have walked the lead-off man again only the umpire bailed him out by ringing up Stewart on a bad call to start the top of the fifth. The ump then rang up Mercer as well on a borderline pitch, angering Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Martie flied out to deep center to end the inning. Rodriguez hadn't allowed a hit after Freese singled in the first. Once again the bats were silent in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hernandez popped up to Harrison, Vazquez looked at strike three and Hitman Holt popped up to end the inning.
Rodriguez returned for the top of the sixth and whiffed McCutchen on a 3-2 pitch. Polanco then doubled off the right field wall and Freese walked to chase Rodriguez. Once again walks killed him as he left trailing 2-1 with Heath Hembree replacing him.
Better luck next time
Hembree did manage to strike out Harrison but the Pirates pulled off a double steal compounded by a rare Vazquez throwing error to allow Polanco to score. Bell grounded out to end the inning but the damage was done. A 3-1 lead may as well been 300-1 because the Sox offense remained asleep in the bottom of the sixth. Pedroia lined out to right and Benintendi flied out to center although Mr. Mookie lashed a single to left. Ramirez popped up to end the inning.
Hembree did manage to strike out Harrison but the Pirates pulled off a double steal compounded by a rare Vazquez throwing error to allow Polanco to score. Bell grounded out to end the inning but the damage was done. A 3-1 lead may as well been 300-1 because the Sox offense remained asleep in the bottom of the sixth. Pedroia lined out to right and Benintendi flied out to center although Mr. Mookie lashed a single to left. Ramirez popped up to end the inning.
Hembree returned for the top of the seventh inning and got Gosselin to ground out to start the frame. Stewart doubled off the Monster and Mercer singled him to third to put runners at the corners. Hembree recovered to strike out Marte on a 3-2 pitch and Sox manager John Farrell left him in at 22 pitches to face McCutchen. The move worked as McCutchen flied out to right to end the inning. John Jaso took over at first base as the Sox once again went quietly in the bottom of the seventh inning. Moreland whiffed but Bogaerts lashed a single off the third baseman's glove. That was it for Kuhl as Clint Hurdle pulled him for Felipe Rivero. Hernandez beat out a double play ball even though the shortstop never touched second base. Farrell challenged but the call upheld. Vazquez grounded out to end the inning.
Matt Barnes took over in the top of the eighth inning. Polanco lined out to begin but Freese walked. Harrison popped up and Jaso grounded out to end the inning. The Sox rallied against Daniel Hudson in the bottom of the eighth. Holt grounded out but Pedroia worked a walk. Benintendi blooped a single to center but it was ruled an error to chase Hudson. Juan Nicasio came in to pitch to Mr. Mookie. Betts walked to load the bases. Ramirez then lashed one past Marte in deep center to score both Pedroia and Benintendi easily. Betts was initially called safe at home to give the Sox the lead but the replay showed he was out with Ramirez still at second. Moreland was intentionally walked to get to Bogaerts. Bogaerts made the Pirates pay by lashing a single to right field to score Ramirez with the go-ahead run. Hernandez whiffed on a full count but the Sox had taken the lead with just 3 out to go.
Ramirez scores the go-ahead run
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came on to pitch the top of the ninth with Chris Young now in left field. The Pirates stormed back as Pinch hitter Adam Frazier singled to center and pinch hitter Fransisco Cervelli damn near put the Pirates back in front with a long drive but it was caught at the wall for a loud, long out. For some stupid reason Frazier tried to steal and Vazquez gunned him down at second for the second out. Mercer grounded out and the Sox had stunned the Pirates 4-3 to win the game.
Hero of the night is Hanley Ramirez. His nearly bases clearing triple tied the game to set the stage for Bogaerts' go ahead hit.
Hero of the Night: Hanley Ramirez
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 and drove in the winning run.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief
Matt Barnes got the win with a scoreless 8th inning
Craig Kimbrel earned his 3rd save with a scoreless 9th inning
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Brock Holt was 0 for 3 with a strikeout
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but scored a run
Marco Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run
Eduardo Rodriguez failed to go 6 innings but left trailing 2-1 and ended up allowing just 2 earned runs.
Honorable Mention:
Chris Young played left field in the ninth inning
Final Thoughts:
Better late than never when it comes to winning a game. The Sox looked dead in the water in the first inning when Rodriguez was getting rocked and rolled and again in the 8th when they were down 3-1 but they still pulled off a win. Tremendous pitching by Hembree, Barnes and Kimbrel along with top notch defense by Vazquez aided the late inning hitting to win this one. The long ball continues to elude them but for now any run counts. Rodriguez battled back to nearly finish the 6th inning when it looked like he wouldn't go five and Mitch Moreland looks tailor made for Fenway Park. All in all it was a gutsy win and they needed it big time going into the next series against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays. Tomorrow night its the aces Chris Archer and Rick Porcello set to duel at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
Hero of the night is Hanley Ramirez. His nearly bases clearing triple tied the game to set the stage for Bogaerts' go ahead hit.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 and drove in the winning run.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief
Matt Barnes got the win with a scoreless 8th inning
Craig Kimbrel earned his 3rd save with a scoreless 9th inning
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Brock Holt was 0 for 3 with a strikeout
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but scored a run
Marco Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run
Eduardo Rodriguez failed to go 6 innings but left trailing 2-1 and ended up allowing just 2 earned runs.
Honorable Mention:
Chris Young played left field in the ninth inning
Final Thoughts:
Better late than never when it comes to winning a game. The Sox looked dead in the water in the first inning when Rodriguez was getting rocked and rolled and again in the 8th when they were down 3-1 but they still pulled off a win. Tremendous pitching by Hembree, Barnes and Kimbrel along with top notch defense by Vazquez aided the late inning hitting to win this one. The long ball continues to elude them but for now any run counts. Rodriguez battled back to nearly finish the 6th inning when it looked like he wouldn't go five and Mitch Moreland looks tailor made for Fenway Park. All in all it was a gutsy win and they needed it big time going into the next series against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays. Tomorrow night its the aces Chris Archer and Rick Porcello set to duel at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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