The revolving door of 5th starters continued to produce nothing but headaches. It doesn't matter who the Boston Red Sox plug in, they get pounded just the same. Tonight Hector Velazquez (0-1, 10.80 ERA) took the beating as struggling Oakland ace Sonny Gray shut down the Sox, leading to an 8-3 Oakland victory at Oakland Coliseum.
The Sox initially started well against Gray in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts singled and Dustin Pedroia singled him to third. Xander Bogaerts struck out but Hanley Ramirez singled home Mookie to give the Sox a quick lead. Mitch Moreland walked to load the bases and Chris Young scored Pedroia with a sac fly. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to end the inning but the Sox had a 2-0 lead.
Hector Velazquez made his major league debut in the bottom of the first....and crapped his pants. Rajai Davis led off with a single but foolishly tried to run on Christian Vazquez, getting thrown out at second. Matt Joyce walked and old pal Jed Lowrie crushed a two run homer to dead center to tie the game. Not to be outdone, Khris Davis blasted a solo home run to center to give the A's the lead. Velazquez recovered to strike out Ryon Healy and Stephen Voght grounded out to end the inning, but the A's led 3-2....woof.
Gray recovered in the top of the second inning. Vazquez grounded out, Deven Marrero flied out and Mr. Mookie grounded out to end the inning. Velazquez also recovered in the bottom of the second inning. Trevor Plouffe struck out, Chad Pinder grounded out and Adam Rosales flied out to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third inning. Pedroia lined out, Bogaerts grounded out and Ramirez whiffed to end the inning. The Sox caught a break in the bottom of the third when Davis tried to stretch a double into a triple and was thrown out by JBJ. Its a good thing too because Joyce and Lowrie stroked back to back singles. The other Davis banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox tied the game quickly in the top of the fourth when Moreland absolutely clobbered a home run to dead center. Young struck out but JBJ walked. Vazquez whiffed but JBJ swiped second base. Marrero grounded out to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 3-3.
Just as soon as the Sox tied it, Velazquez crapped himself again in the bottom of the fourth. Healy singled but Vogt flied out. Plouffe doubled to score Healy and Pinder blasted a 2 run bomb to dead center. Rosales struck out and Davis struck out to end the inning but the A's were now up 6-3.
Now that he had the lead, Gray settled down in the top of the fifth. Mr. Mookie grounded out, Pedroia whiffed and Bogaerts struck out to end the inning. Velazquez came back out for the bottom of the fifth and struck out Joyce. Lowrie grounded out but Davis walked. Healy grounded out to end the inning. Hector got lit up but still went 5 to give the tired bullpen only 3 innings to throw instead of 6.
Gray cruised in the top of the sixth as Ramirez whiffed, Moreland grounded out and Young whiffed to end the inning. Robbie Ross Jr came on in the bottom of the sixth and he too crapped his pants. Vogt walked, Plouffe singled and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Ross recovered to strike out Pinder but Rosales singled home Vogt, advancing Plouffe to third. Davis beat out a double play ball to score Plouffe but Joyce popped up to end the inning. The game was now out of reach 8-3.
That was it for Gray as Liam Hendriks came in to pitch the top of the seventh. JBJ flied out, Vazquez grounded out and Marrero whiffed to end the inning. Matt Barnes came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh and nearly cruised. Lowrie struck out but Davis singled. Healy looked at strike three and Vogt popped up to end the inning.
Frankie Montas replaced came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Mr. Mookie flied out. Pedroia singled and Bogaerts walked, but Ramirez whiffed again. Daniel Coulombe came in to pitch to Moreland and Mitch grounded out to end the inning. With the game out of reach, Josh Rutledge came in to play second to give Pedroia a breather. Plouffe doubled but Pinder struck out. Rosales and Davis also struck out to end the inning. Barnes struck out 5 of the 6 guys he got out.
Ryan Madson finished the game off in the top of the ninth inning. Young singled but JBJ lined out and Vazquez grounded into a double play to end the game. The A's had won it 8-3.
Jackass of the night is Hector Velazquez. He made his major league debut by giving up 3 home runs and 6 total runs in just 5 innings, making the depleted bullpen throw 3 innings it could ill afford.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.
Chris Young was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Matt Barnes struck out 5 of the 6 men he got out.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Deven Marrero was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Robbie Ross Jr gave up 2 runs in his inning of work.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 4 with an rbi but earned a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked, stole a base and had an outfield assist.
Honorable Mention:
Josh Rutledge played 2nd base in the eighth inning
Final Thoughts:
Is it possible for the Red Sox to find someone in Triple A that can pitch? Two years in a row the Sox have had a revolving door when guys are hurt of Pawtucket pitchers that stunk the joint out. Last year it was Henry Owens, Sean O'Sullivan and William Cuevas. This year it was Kyle Kendrick, Brian Johnson and now Velazquez. The lack of depth is appalling but that's what happens when you trade prospects like Michael Kopech to get Chris Sale. The Sox cant get David Price back fast enough because after Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez, the starters have been either average or god awful, including Rick Porcello. The loss dropped the Sox to 21-19, 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. Tomorrow Chris Sale goes for the Sox opposite Kendall Graveman at 9:30 PM.
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