The Red Sox offense failed to score in the top of the first against Tepesch who hadn't pitched in 19 days. Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed badly on a 3-2 pitch. Dustin Pedroia worked a walk and stole second on the 3-2 strikeout by Xander Bogaerts. Andrew Benintendi flied out meekly to left to end the inning, pathetic. "Slick" Porcello (2-4, 3.95 ERA) got the ball in the bottom of the first and got Robbie Grossman to fly out to left. Joe Mauer struck out but Miguel Sano lined one over the head of Bogaerts for a base hit. Kennys Vargas grounded out to end the inning.
In an absolute shock, the Sox exploded in the top of the second inning. Hanley Ramirez grounded out, Mitch Moreland flied out but Chris Young blasted a solo home run into the upper deck in left to give the Sox the lead. Sandy Leon singled up the middle and Josh Rutledge hit one to Jorge Polanco who bobbled it for an error. Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases and Pedroia cleared them with a 3 run double. Bogaerts singled to right and Benny The Kid tripled down the left field line to score the two runners and chase Tepesch after just 1 1/3 innings. Twins manager Paul Molitor pulled him for Drew Rucinski and Ramirez greeted him with a single to score Benintendi. Moreland doubled home Ramirez to make it 8-0. Chris Young struck out to end the inning but the Sox had a commanding lead.
Could Porcello pitch with a lead for the first time in weeks? YES! Max Kepler looked at strike three and Eduardo Escobar whiffed, but Jason Castro singled. Polanco singled but Eddie Rosario struck out to end the inning.
The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the third. Leon grounded out, Rutledge grounded out and Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning. The Twins tagged Porcello in the bottom of the third as Grossman homered to right. Mauer grounded out and Sano flied out before Vargas grounded out to end the inning. The Twins were now down 8-1.
The Sox threatened in the top of the fourth. Pedroia lined out but Bogaerts and Benny The Kid stroked back to back singles. Ramirez whiffed an so did Moreland to end the inning. Porcello cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Kepler popped up and Escobar grounded out. Castro struck out to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth when Young blasted his second home run into the upper deck as Hanley Ramirez danced in the dug-out. Leon struck out but Rutledge walked. Mr. Mookie banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 9-1.
Porcello got some schizophrenic defense in the bottom of the fifth inning. Benintendi made two great running catches to rob Polanco and Rosario of hits but dropped a routine ball hit by Grossman. Benintendi than ran down a line drive by Mauer to end the inning.
Old buddy Craig Breslow took the mound in the top of the sixth inning. Pedroia hit a 400 foot out but Bogaerts stretched out a double. Bogaerts got caught in a run-down after Benny The Kid hit one back to Breslow but he survived long enough for Benintendi to reach second before getting tagged out. Ramirez lined out to center to end the inning. Porcello returned for the bottom of the 6th inning. Sano struck out but Vargas hit a ground rule double. Kepler flied out but Vargas went to third.
Ryan Pressly got the ball in the top of the seventh inning. Moreland greeted him with a single before being lifted by pinch runner Deven Marrero. Young grounded out but Marrero moved to second. Leon and Rutledge hit back to back singles to score Marrero to increase the lead. Mr. Mookie popped up and Pedroia grounded out to end the inning but the Sox were now up 10-1.
Rutledge moved from third to first with Marrero moving to third as Porcello returned for the bottom of the seventh. Castro greeted Rick with a double but Polanco and Rosario flied out. Grossman also flied out to end the inning. Porcello as great again, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball to earn his second win.
Michael Tonkin came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning. Bogaerts lined out but Benny The Kid singled to right for his third hit of the game. Ramirez whiffed but Marrero walked. Young grounded into a force to end the inning. Rookie Ben Taylor took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and Mauer greeted him with a single. Ehire Adrianza pinch hit for Sano and flied out. Vargas grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the ninth when Leon homered to dead center to increase the lead. Rutledge worked a walk but Mr. Mookie popped up. Pedroia walked and Twins manager Paul Molitor brought in backup catcher Chris Gimenez to get the final two outs. Somehow he got Bogaerts and Benintendi to fly out to end the inning with the Sox up 11-1.
Fernando Abad got the ball in the bottom of the ninth. Kepler flied out, Escobar popped up and Castro flied out to end the game. The Red Sox had won 11-1.
Hero of the Night is Chris Young. His two home runs were the difference in the game even if the 9 other runs weren't scored. The Sox have been lacking home runs all year so this was a big lift.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia knocked in a 3 run double, walked twice, stole a base and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 6 with a run scored.
Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 6 with 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Deven Marrero walked and scored a run.
Sandy Leon was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a home run
Josh Rutledge was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and a run scored.
Rick Porcello was outstanding, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 6 to earn the win.
Ben Taylor pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Fernando Abad pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 5 but walked and scored.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 5 but made the hit count as he drove in a run and scored.
Final Thoughts:
Now THAT'S more like it. That's the Red Sox offense everyone expected this year. It was great to finally see the offense explode since they did it so frequently last year. Not only that, Porcello pitched well again so it looks like he's back to where he was last year as well. Hopefully this can continue because it looks like the New York Yankees are for real this year. The win improves the Sox to 16-14 on the season, 4 games behind the Yankees. Tomorrow is the monster match between Chris Sale and Ervin Santana as the Sox and Twins wrap up their three game set at 2:05 PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment