Also before the game the Sox made roster moves. Robbie Ross Jr and Steve Selsky were optioned to Pawtucket and Ben Taylor was brought back. Robby Scott has taken over Ross' role and Selsky was just holding the fort until Josh "Razor" Rutledge returned. Taylor had been pitching well before he was demoted so let's see how this turns out.
It was a great day for Boston sports as the Boston Celtics eliminated the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 of their first round NBA playoff series and the Boston Red Sox beat the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs. In a typical manner this season, the Red Sox offense came alive for just one inning out of nine tonight in the game against the Cubs. Fortunately they scored just enough runs and held on late due to some clutch late inning pitching to beat the champs 5-4 at Fenway Park.
Drew Pomeranz (2-1) got the ball in the top of the first and the Cubs wasted no time getting on the board. Kyle Schwarber whiffed to begin the ballgame but Krys Bryant smashed a home run completely out of Fenway Park. Former Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo popped up to left and Mookie Betts slid to rob Ben Zobrist of a single to end the inning but the rout was on, 1-0 Cubs. Jake Arrieta got the start for the Chicago Cubs and the futile Red Sox offense somehow touched him in the bottom of the first. Xander Bogaerts meekly grounded out to the pitcher but Andrew Benintendi blasted a solo home run into the bullpen right in front of Officer Horgan to tie the game. Somehow Mr. Mookie doubled and Ramirez singled him home to give the Sox the lead. A wild pitch moved Ramirez to second and Mitch Moreland doubled down the right field line to score him. Another wild pitch moved Moreland to third and Dustin Pedroia walked. Jackie Bradley Jr singled up the middle to score Ramirez and advance Pedroia to third. Christian Vazquez singled home Pedroia but Marco Hernandez popped up. Bogaerts struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Pomeranz nearly crapped himself in the top of the second as Addison Russell singled down the right field line. Wlllson Contreras singled but Jason Heyward struck out and Javier Baez bounced into a double play to end the inning. Arrieta returned to form in the bottom of the second as he struck out Benny The Kid on 3 pitches. Mr. Mookie popped up so far into the sky Addison Russell had time to drop down and do the breast stroke on the ground before getting up to catch it. Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.
Pomeranz failed to hold the lead in the top of the third. Albert Almora Jr blasted a home run into the Monster Seats but Schwarber struck out. Bryant grounded out and Rizzo flied out to end the inning but the Cubs had cut it to 5-2. Arrieta cruised in the bottom of the third. Moreland grounded out before both Pedroia and JBJ struck out to end the inning.
Pomeranz nearly screwed himself in the top of the fourth inning. Zobrist lined out and Pomeranz took a ground ball by Russell and threw it completely out of Fenway Park, allowing him to reach second. Pomeranz recovered to get Contreras to line out and Heyward to strike out to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fourth but couldn't cash in. Vazquez and Hernandez stroked back to back singles and Bogaerts walked to load the bases. The rally ended as Benny The Kid struck out and Mr. Mookie grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Drew ran into more trouble in the top of the fifth inning. Baez struck out and Almora Jr struk out but Schwarber singled and Bryant walked. Rizzo somehow grounded out to end the inning. The Sox knocked out Arrieta in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ramirez singled but was foolishly thrown out trying to steal. That loomed large as Moreland walked and Pedroia singled to chase Arrieta. Mike Montgomery came in and JBJ immediately grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Pomeranz once again nearly gave it away in the top of the sixth inning. Zobrist walked but Russell looked at strike three. Moreland fielded a ground ball but nobody covered first and Mitch was credited with an error. Pomeranz recovered to strike out Heyward and get Baez to ground out to end the inning. Pomeranz battled for 6 innings but only allowed 2 runs.
The Sox once again couldn't get any runs in during the bottom of the sixth. Vazquez grounded out but Hernandez and Bogaerts hit back to back singles. Stop me if you've heard this, Benny The Kid hit into a double play to end the inning. Three innings in a row.
The Cubs continued to claw back in the top of the seventh. Robbie Scott came in to pitch the top of the seventh and walked Albert Almora Jr although he did strike out Schwarber. That was it for Scott as Joe Kelly replaced him. Joe punched out Bryant but Rizzo singled Almora Jr to third, where he scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead. Zobrist singled home Rizzo to make it a 1 run game. All those missed chances loomed large as Russell flied out to end the inning. The Sox either had to score some insurance or it was just a matter of time before the Cubs tied, went ahead and won it. Pedro Strop came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Sox rolled over. Mr. Mookie flied out, Ramirez struck out and Moreland did too to end the inning.
Heath Hembree was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth and the Cubs nearly completed their comeback. Contreras lined out but Heyward singled and pinch hitter Jon Jay singled as well. Cubs manager Joe Maddon pinch hit lefty Miguel Montero so Sox manager John Farrell countered with Fernando Abad. Maddon re-countered with Matt Szczur. Somehow Abad struck out Szczur and Schwarber to end the inning. Carl Edwards Jr came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Pedroia greeted him with a single. JBJ, Vazquez and Hernandez whiffed to end the inning.
It was up to Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel to nail down the high leverage safe in the top of the ninth. Kimbrel struck out Bryant on a check swing and Rizzo swinging as well. One strike away from victory, Zobrist slammed a double past Moreland to put the tying run on. Kimbrel managed to blow away Russell to end the game. The Sox had survived 5-4.
Hero of the Night is Fernando Abad. Staked to a one run lead with 2 men on, Abad struck out two batters to keep the lead intact for Kimbrel to finish it off.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk, run scored and an rbi.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4.
Drew Pomeranz got the win by tossing 6 solid innings of 2 run ball, working his way out of one jam after another.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 8th save by striking out the side in the ninth inning.
The Bad:
Robbie Scott was charged for his first run of the year when the man he walked came around to score.
Joe Kelly gave up a run in just 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but made the one hit count as it was a solo home run.
Mookie Betts was 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Heath Hembree allowed an inherited runner to score but allowed none of his own.
Final Thoughts:
Once again the Sox could only score in one inning but Pomeranz, Abad and Kimbrel did just enough to lock the game down. This is getting pretty serious because the Sox looked like they were going to cruise to an easy victory after beating Arrieta's brains in during the first inning before knocking him out in the 5th...but one double play and strikeout after another failed to bring in any further runs. This team is beginning to remind me of the 2014 Red Sox who always seemed to strike out or hit into a double play in almost every game they played. That's not a good thing. Still, a win is a win especially against the champs. The Sox look to take Game 2 of the series with Steven Wright on the mound against our old buddy John Lackey at 4:05 PM.
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