Fernando Abad had 4 Good appearances, 2 Bad appearances an 1 Ugly.
Matt Barnes had 9 Good appearances and 3 Bad appearances.
Andrew Benintendi had 9 Good appearances, 5 Bad appearances, 9 Ugly appearances and 2 Heroes.
Mookie Betts had 10 Good appearances, 5 Bad appearances, 10 Ugly appearances, 2 Heroes and 1 Jackass.
Xander Bogaerts had 12 Good appearances, 7 Bad appearances, 8 Ugly appearances and 1 Hero.
Blaine Boyer had 8 Good appearances, 1 Bad appearance, 1 Ugly and 1 Hero.
Jackie Bradley Jr had 14 Good appearances, 3 Bad appearances, 7 Ugly appearances and 1 Hero.
Doug Fister had 2 Ugly appearances.
Hanley Ramirez had 7 Good appearances, 5 Bad appearances and 10 Ugly appearances.
Heath Hembree had 6 Good appearance, 3 Bad appearances and 1 Ugly appearance.
Brian Johnson had 1 Bad appearance and 1 Ugly.
Joe Kelly had 10 Good appearances and 1 Ugly.
Craig Kimbrel had 6 Good appearances, 1 Ugly, 1 Hero and 1 Jackass.
Sandy Leon had 5 Good appearances, 3 Bad appearances, 4 Ugly appearances and 1 Hero.
Tzu-Wei Lin had 2 Good appearances, 2 Bad appearances, 1 Ugly and 2 Honorable Mention.
Austin Maddox has 2 Good appearances.
Deven Marrero had 4 Good appearances, 7 Bad appearances, 4 Ugly appearances, 1 Hero and 3 Honorable Mention.
Mitch Moreland had 7 Good appearances, 7 Bad appearances, 7 Ugly appearances and 1 Hero.
Dustin Pedroia had 8 Good appearances, 2 Bad appearances, 5 Ugly appearances, 1 Hero and 1 Jackass.
Drew Pomeranz had 1 Good appearance, 1 Ugly appearance and 1 Jackass.
Rick Porcello had 1 Good appearance, 1 Bad appearance and 3 Jackasses.
David Price had 2 Good appearances, 2 Ugly appearances, 1 Hero and 1 Jackass.
Eduardo Rodriguez had 1 Jackass.
Josh Rutledge had 1 Good appearance, 8 Bad appearances, 7 Ugly appearances and 1 Honorable Mention.
Chris Sale had 3 Good appearances, 2 Heroes.
Pablo Sandoval had 5 Good appearances, 6 Bad appearances, 1 Ugly appearance and 2 Honorable Mentions.
Robby Scott had 8 Good appearances, 1 Bad appearance, 1 Ugly appearance and 1 Jackass.
Sam Travis had 2 Good appearances, 2 Bad appearances and 2 Ugly appearances.
Christian Vazquez had 3 Good appearances, 4 Bad appearances, 5 Ugly appearances, 1 Hero and 2 Jackasses.
Hector Velazquez had 1 Good appearance and 1 Hero.
Brandon Workman had 1 Ugly appearance.
Chris Young had 7 Good appearances, 4 Bad appearances and 3 Ugly appearances.
The Tri-Heroes of the Month are Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Chris Sale with 2 credits apiece.
Jackass of the Month is Rick Porcello with 3 demerits.
Most Valuable Player is Jackie Bradley Jr with 14 credits.
Least Valuable Player is Josh Rutledge with 8 demerits.
The Co-Ugliest Players of the Month are Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez with 10 apiece.
The Honorable Player of the Month is Deven Marrero with 3 credits.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Sox Outlast Jays in 11 (6/30/17)
Before the game it was announced that the Boston Red Sox had released Allen Craig after 4 ridiculous seasons. After being an All-Star in St. Louis, his career evaporated upon being traded to the Red Sox. He was horrible in the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015 before being demoted to Pawtucket. He never returned and was struggling in Pawtucket this season. The John Lackey trade is simply Joe Kelly for Lackey now. At least the Sox have Kelly going for them....right?
National League All-Star in 2013, International League scrub in 2017
As for the game, what a weird one. The Toronto Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off Sox starter Doug Fister but the Sox fought their way back to take the lead, only for Toronto to tie the game. The Sox failed to get men home for the next 5 innings before pulling off a rally in the top of the 11th. In the end it was the Sox that outlasted the Jays in 11 innings in front of a great turnout (44,000 fans) at the Skydome.
Happy Sox fan
The incompetence began in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to right but Andrew Benintendi drew a walk....only to be thrown out at second trying to steal. Dustin Pedroia worked a walk but Mitch Moreland grounded out to end the inning. The Jays immediately pounced on Sox starter Doug Fister in the bottom of the first inning. Jose Bautista led off with a single to left but Ezequiel Carrera struck out. Josh Donaldson was plunked and the suddenly All-Star Justin Smoak smashed a 3 run bomb to put the Sox down early. Kendrys Morales struck out and Troy Tulowitzky popped up to end the inning but it was 3-0 Jays.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the second as Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley Jr both struck out before Christian Vazquez popped up to end the inning. Fister rebounded in the bottom of the second as Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar both whiffed. Luke Maile claimed he was hit by a pitch and ran into the dugout hopping up and down screaming to have the play reviewed. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the umpire and said to review it and the replays showed he wasn't hit. The Jays lost their challenge on a play that wasn't even important. Fister got his revenge for the waste of time by getting Maile to ground out to end the inning.
Suddenly Estrada couldn't find the plate in the top of the third inning. Tzu-Wei Lin, Deven Marrero and Mr. Mookie all walked to load the bases. Naturally the Sox let him off the hook as Benny The Kid flailed at a pitch at his hands and hit one up the elevator shaft. Pedroia hit a measly pop up and Moreland swung and missed at strike three up in his eyes to end the inning. Are we really that surprised? Fister almost had a 1-2-3 inning but then crapped his pants. Bautista hit a rocket to center but JBJ snared it. Carrera smoked one deep to left but Benintendi caught it at the wall. Finally Donaldson smacked one down to left for a double. Smoak was intentionally walked and Morales hit a ball in the one spot into the shift that could allow him to reach. Now the Jays had the bases loaded and guess what Tulowitzky did? He grounded right back to Fister to end the inning. That's why the Jays mostly suck as well.
Ironically even though he had walked a career high at this point, Estrada kept a no-hitter through four innings. Ramirez hit a bullet but right to short and JBJ worked the 6th walk allowed by Estrada. Naturally after walking JBJ, Vazquez hacked at the first pitch and popped up to first. Lin popped up to end the inning. Fister did what he could in the bottom of the fourth by getting Goins to pop up on the first pitch. Pillar grounded out and Maile whiffed to end the inning.
The weirdness continued in the top of the fifth as Marrero walked to prompt analyst Dennis Eckersley to say "This is horrible." FINALLY the Sox got their first hit on a little roller to third by Mr. Mookie. Benny The Kid popped up on the first pitch but Pedroia made Estrada pay for his wildness by doubling home both runners to chase him. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the mound to get Estrada out of there and brought in Matt's evil twin Danny Barnes. Moreland flied out on a 3-2 count but did manage to advance Pedroia to third. Ramirez grounded out to end the inning but the Sox were back in it 3-2.
Marrero "An IRS agent walked into his office carrying a dead penguin" Betts" Bahhahahahha!"
Naturally after the Sox scored 2 runs, Fister almost gave it right back as he walked Bautista to begin the bottom of the fifth. Carrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Vazquez nearly got Fister called by calling time with Fister in midmotion, causing him to stumble awkwardly. Donaldson walked and Fister buzzed Smoak up and in. That worked just enough to get Smoak to fly out to right. Morales popped up to Benintendi to end the inning. Fister had gone 5 innings and kept the Sox in the game, just making that one mistake to Smoak.
Mistah Fistah keeping them in it
The Sox caught a break when JBJ lofted a routine fly to Carrera but somehow he lost it in the moonlight, allowing JBJ to reach second with a credited double. Vazquez worked a walk on a borderline 3-1 pitch to once again have 2 guys on to start the inning. This time Lin managed to get both guys over with a groundout to the pitcher. Somehow the Sox tied it up as Marrero blooped a single to right to score JBJ with the tying run, advancing Vazquez to third. Mr. Mookie popped up as Gibbons waddled to the mound to get Barnes out of there. Jeff Beliveau hadn't allowed a hit in his last 4 appearances and buzzed Benny The Kid up and in. Benny responded by doubling down the left field line to score Vaz with the go-ahead run. Pedroia was intentionally walked to load the bases. Moreland looked at strike three to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 4-3.
"Show of hands, who cried when Mickey said he loved Rocky?" - Vaz
After another showing of the horrific Southwest commercial, it was up to the Boston bullpen to nail down the final 12 outs with Fister out of there. The lead lasted approximately 25 seconds as Heath Hembree's first pitch to Tulowitzky in the bottom of the sixth was blasted out of the yard for a home run. Hembree then walked Goins but got Pillar to fly out. JBJ sprinted to run down a fly ball by Maile and Hembree did manage to whiff Bautista, but the Jays had tied it 4-4.
Dominic Leone got the ball in the top of the 7th inning and cruised. Ramirez grounded out but JBJ singled past the diving Tulowitzky. Vazquez popped up and Lin whiffed to end the inning. The much maligned Matt Barnes got the call to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and once again crapped his pants. Carrera grounded out as Sox analyst said 41,000 people were at the Skydome tonight. Donaldson ran to the mound to swat at a gnat, sending Barnes diving for cover. Then Barnes walked both Donaldson and Smoak. Somehow Barnes punched out Morales and got Tulowitzky to ground out to end the inning.
Ryan Tepera was next out of the pen for Toronto in the top of the eighth and Marrero whiffed on a 2-2 pitch that wasn't even close. Mr. Mookie doubled down the left field line and Benny The Kid drew the 16th walk of the game. As per norm, Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning. Matt Barnes returned for the bottom of the eighth since Joe Kelly doesn't pitch two days in a row apparently. Matt did blow away Goins and got some help from a sprinting JBJ to run down a liner by Pillar. Maile popped up to Barnes to end the inning.
Jays closer Roberto Osuna got the ball in the top of the ninth inning and he blew away Moreland for Mitch's hat trick. Ramirez did manage to double over the head of Pillar but naturally with a runner on second, JBJ popped up. Vazquez flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox left 12 men on base throughout the game. Sox manager threw in the towel by having Blaine Boyer come in to pitch the bottom of the ninth, not Craig Kimbrel. Blaine did get Bautista to ground out but Carrera blooped a broken bat single. Boyer did get Donaldson to fly out then Benny The Kid ran down a fly ball from Smoak to end the inning. Boyer had to face two former MVP's and got out of it, brass balls for Blaine. On to extras we go.
Aaron "Fruit" Loup came on to pitch the top of the 10th as Chris Young pinch hit for Lin. Dave O'Brien whispered that the bullpens were quiet....very very quiet as Young worked a walk. Marrero did have a .379 average against lefties although he could only advance Young to second with a ground out. Once again the Sox had runners on first and second with less than two outs when Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked. A wild pitch by Loup moved the runners over but the Sox blew it as Benny The Kid whiffed on a 2-2 pitch right down the middle. Pedroia was intentionally walked for the struggling Moreland. Sox manager John Farrell refused to pinch hit for him with Sam Travis or Xander Bogaerts and it bit him as Moreland grounded out on a bang bang play to end the inning. 15 men left on base and horrible managing by Farrell there. Boyer showed some more balls in the bottom of the 10th inning with Bogaerts taking over at short for Lin. Morales flied out to center and Tulowitzky flied out to right. Boyer blew away Goins to end the inning.
Loup returned for the top of the eleventh an Ramirez greeted him with a leadoff double. JBJ did his job with a base hit to right to advance Ramirez to third. With the go-ahead run on third.....Vazquez flied out to the one guy you can't run on, Bautista. Bogaerts said enough of this garbage and struck a single to right to score Ramirez with the go-ahead run. That was it for Loup as Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the mound to bring in Glenn Sparkman for his Major League debut. With the rookie on the mound, JBJ and Bogaerts pulled off a double steal. The move worked as Marrero slammed a single to right to score JBJ easily and Bogaerts slid in safely, Marrero moving to second on the throw home. Goins then dropped a pop up by Mr. Mookie which allowed Marrero to move to third. Betts took second on defensive indifference and Dennis Eckersley said "Yes!" when Benny The Kid walked to load the bases. Once again with the bases loaded, Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning. Even though they led 7-4 they still had left 17 men on base.
"That's right we bad...that's right we bad" - XB
Finally Craig Kimbrel got to enter the game to close it out in the bottom of the 11th. He blew away Pillar and Maile flied out to right. Bautista then popped to right to end the game, they grinded and came away with the win.
Tonight we have Co-Heroes of the Night. The first hero is Blaine Boyer. He threw 2 scoreless innings against the top of the Jays order when one run meant game over. Outstanding effort by the journeyman.
Co-Hero 1: Boyer
The other hero is Deven Marrero. He drove in the tying run in the top of the sixth then added the insurance runs in the top of the 11th. He's been scuffling at the plate so to see him come up big twice was a great sign.
Co-Hero 2: Deven Marrero
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with 2 walks with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th then scored himself after stealing a base.
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 4, walked 3 times and drove in a run.
Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 4 with 3 walks and 2 rbi's.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 6 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 5 with a walk, stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Chris Young walked as a pinch hitter.
Matt Barnes pitched 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland had a dreadful night going 0 for 6 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Heath Hembree gave up the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
The Ugly:
Doug Fister only lasted 5 innings and gave up a 3 run first inning bomb, but pitched pretty well the other four. He left with the lead that Hembree promptly coughed up.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 5 but walked and scored a run.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
This was not a game for the weak of heart or the easily bored. It was a near 5 hour marathon but at least the Sox had won it. They left way too many men on base and Heath Hembree cost Doug Fister his first win in a Sox uniform. Still, the Sox showed some brass balls for once by rallying from a 3-0 deficit to win in extras, where they are a surprising 6-1 once regulation is over. The relief corps apart from Hembree stepped up big, especially Boyer with the game on the line. The 11th inning rally was a long time coming after the Sox had stranded 15 men on base previously. Its getting ridiculous how incompetent the Sox are with men on base and less than 2 outs. Still a win is a win and finally the Sox climb 10 games over .500 as the win put them at 45-35, 1 game ahead of the victorious New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Jays celebrate Canada Day although Chris Sale (10-3, 2.77 ERA) looks to ruin it. Defending the pride of Canada will be Fransisco Liriano who blinded the Red Sox the last time he faced them. The game is scheduled for 1:05 so it'll start at 1:20 for sure.
The incompetence began in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to right but Andrew Benintendi drew a walk....only to be thrown out at second trying to steal. Dustin Pedroia worked a walk but Mitch Moreland grounded out to end the inning. The Jays immediately pounced on Sox starter Doug Fister in the bottom of the first inning. Jose Bautista led off with a single to left but Ezequiel Carrera struck out. Josh Donaldson was plunked and the suddenly All-Star Justin Smoak smashed a 3 run bomb to put the Sox down early. Kendrys Morales struck out and Troy Tulowitzky popped up to end the inning but it was 3-0 Jays.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the second as Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley Jr both struck out before Christian Vazquez popped up to end the inning. Fister rebounded in the bottom of the second as Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar both whiffed. Luke Maile claimed he was hit by a pitch and ran into the dugout hopping up and down screaming to have the play reviewed. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the umpire and said to review it and the replays showed he wasn't hit. The Jays lost their challenge on a play that wasn't even important. Fister got his revenge for the waste of time by getting Maile to ground out to end the inning.
Suddenly Estrada couldn't find the plate in the top of the third inning. Tzu-Wei Lin, Deven Marrero and Mr. Mookie all walked to load the bases. Naturally the Sox let him off the hook as Benny The Kid flailed at a pitch at his hands and hit one up the elevator shaft. Pedroia hit a measly pop up and Moreland swung and missed at strike three up in his eyes to end the inning. Are we really that surprised? Fister almost had a 1-2-3 inning but then crapped his pants. Bautista hit a rocket to center but JBJ snared it. Carrera smoked one deep to left but Benintendi caught it at the wall. Finally Donaldson smacked one down to left for a double. Smoak was intentionally walked and Morales hit a ball in the one spot into the shift that could allow him to reach. Now the Jays had the bases loaded and guess what Tulowitzky did? He grounded right back to Fister to end the inning. That's why the Jays mostly suck as well.
Ironically even though he had walked a career high at this point, Estrada kept a no-hitter through four innings. Ramirez hit a bullet but right to short and JBJ worked the 6th walk allowed by Estrada. Naturally after walking JBJ, Vazquez hacked at the first pitch and popped up to first. Lin popped up to end the inning. Fister did what he could in the bottom of the fourth by getting Goins to pop up on the first pitch. Pillar grounded out and Maile whiffed to end the inning.
The weirdness continued in the top of the fifth as Marrero walked to prompt analyst Dennis Eckersley to say "This is horrible." FINALLY the Sox got their first hit on a little roller to third by Mr. Mookie. Benny The Kid popped up on the first pitch but Pedroia made Estrada pay for his wildness by doubling home both runners to chase him. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the mound to get Estrada out of there and brought in Matt's evil twin Danny Barnes. Moreland flied out on a 3-2 count but did manage to advance Pedroia to third. Ramirez grounded out to end the inning but the Sox were back in it 3-2.
Naturally after the Sox scored 2 runs, Fister almost gave it right back as he walked Bautista to begin the bottom of the fifth. Carrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Vazquez nearly got Fister called by calling time with Fister in midmotion, causing him to stumble awkwardly. Donaldson walked and Fister buzzed Smoak up and in. That worked just enough to get Smoak to fly out to right. Morales popped up to Benintendi to end the inning. Fister had gone 5 innings and kept the Sox in the game, just making that one mistake to Smoak.
The Sox caught a break when JBJ lofted a routine fly to Carrera but somehow he lost it in the moonlight, allowing JBJ to reach second with a credited double. Vazquez worked a walk on a borderline 3-1 pitch to once again have 2 guys on to start the inning. This time Lin managed to get both guys over with a groundout to the pitcher. Somehow the Sox tied it up as Marrero blooped a single to right to score JBJ with the tying run, advancing Vazquez to third. Mr. Mookie popped up as Gibbons waddled to the mound to get Barnes out of there. Jeff Beliveau hadn't allowed a hit in his last 4 appearances and buzzed Benny The Kid up and in. Benny responded by doubling down the left field line to score Vaz with the go-ahead run. Pedroia was intentionally walked to load the bases. Moreland looked at strike three to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 4-3.
After another showing of the horrific Southwest commercial, it was up to the Boston bullpen to nail down the final 12 outs with Fister out of there. The lead lasted approximately 25 seconds as Heath Hembree's first pitch to Tulowitzky in the bottom of the sixth was blasted out of the yard for a home run. Hembree then walked Goins but got Pillar to fly out. JBJ sprinted to run down a fly ball by Maile and Hembree did manage to whiff Bautista, but the Jays had tied it 4-4.
Dominic Leone got the ball in the top of the 7th inning and cruised. Ramirez grounded out but JBJ singled past the diving Tulowitzky. Vazquez popped up and Lin whiffed to end the inning. The much maligned Matt Barnes got the call to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and once again crapped his pants. Carrera grounded out as Sox analyst said 41,000 people were at the Skydome tonight. Donaldson ran to the mound to swat at a gnat, sending Barnes diving for cover. Then Barnes walked both Donaldson and Smoak. Somehow Barnes punched out Morales and got Tulowitzky to ground out to end the inning.
Ryan Tepera was next out of the pen for Toronto in the top of the eighth and Marrero whiffed on a 2-2 pitch that wasn't even close. Mr. Mookie doubled down the left field line and Benny The Kid drew the 16th walk of the game. As per norm, Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning. Matt Barnes returned for the bottom of the eighth since Joe Kelly doesn't pitch two days in a row apparently. Matt did blow away Goins and got some help from a sprinting JBJ to run down a liner by Pillar. Maile popped up to Barnes to end the inning.
Jays closer Roberto Osuna got the ball in the top of the ninth inning and he blew away Moreland for Mitch's hat trick. Ramirez did manage to double over the head of Pillar but naturally with a runner on second, JBJ popped up. Vazquez flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox left 12 men on base throughout the game. Sox manager threw in the towel by having Blaine Boyer come in to pitch the bottom of the ninth, not Craig Kimbrel. Blaine did get Bautista to ground out but Carrera blooped a broken bat single. Boyer did get Donaldson to fly out then Benny The Kid ran down a fly ball from Smoak to end the inning. Boyer had to face two former MVP's and got out of it, brass balls for Blaine. On to extras we go.
Aaron "Fruit" Loup came on to pitch the top of the 10th as Chris Young pinch hit for Lin. Dave O'Brien whispered that the bullpens were quiet....very very quiet as Young worked a walk. Marrero did have a .379 average against lefties although he could only advance Young to second with a ground out. Once again the Sox had runners on first and second with less than two outs when Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked. A wild pitch by Loup moved the runners over but the Sox blew it as Benny The Kid whiffed on a 2-2 pitch right down the middle. Pedroia was intentionally walked for the struggling Moreland. Sox manager John Farrell refused to pinch hit for him with Sam Travis or Xander Bogaerts and it bit him as Moreland grounded out on a bang bang play to end the inning. 15 men left on base and horrible managing by Farrell there. Boyer showed some more balls in the bottom of the 10th inning with Bogaerts taking over at short for Lin. Morales flied out to center and Tulowitzky flied out to right. Boyer blew away Goins to end the inning.
Loup returned for the top of the eleventh an Ramirez greeted him with a leadoff double. JBJ did his job with a base hit to right to advance Ramirez to third. With the go-ahead run on third.....Vazquez flied out to the one guy you can't run on, Bautista. Bogaerts said enough of this garbage and struck a single to right to score Ramirez with the go-ahead run. That was it for Loup as Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the mound to bring in Glenn Sparkman for his Major League debut. With the rookie on the mound, JBJ and Bogaerts pulled off a double steal. The move worked as Marrero slammed a single to right to score JBJ easily and Bogaerts slid in safely, Marrero moving to second on the throw home. Goins then dropped a pop up by Mr. Mookie which allowed Marrero to move to third. Betts took second on defensive indifference and Dennis Eckersley said "Yes!" when Benny The Kid walked to load the bases. Once again with the bases loaded, Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning. Even though they led 7-4 they still had left 17 men on base.
Finally Craig Kimbrel got to enter the game to close it out in the bottom of the 11th. He blew away Pillar and Maile flied out to right. Bautista then popped to right to end the game, they grinded and came away with the win.
Tonight we have Co-Heroes of the Night. The first hero is Blaine Boyer. He threw 2 scoreless innings against the top of the Jays order when one run meant game over. Outstanding effort by the journeyman.
The other hero is Deven Marrero. He drove in the tying run in the top of the sixth then added the insurance runs in the top of the 11th. He's been scuffling at the plate so to see him come up big twice was a great sign.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with 2 walks with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th then scored himself after stealing a base.
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 4, walked 3 times and drove in a run.
Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 4 with 3 walks and 2 rbi's.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 6 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 5 with a walk, stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Chris Young walked as a pinch hitter.
Matt Barnes pitched 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland had a dreadful night going 0 for 6 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Heath Hembree gave up the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
The Ugly:
Doug Fister only lasted 5 innings and gave up a 3 run first inning bomb, but pitched pretty well the other four. He left with the lead that Hembree promptly coughed up.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 5 but walked and scored a run.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
This was not a game for the weak of heart or the easily bored. It was a near 5 hour marathon but at least the Sox had won it. They left way too many men on base and Heath Hembree cost Doug Fister his first win in a Sox uniform. Still, the Sox showed some brass balls for once by rallying from a 3-0 deficit to win in extras, where they are a surprising 6-1 once regulation is over. The relief corps apart from Hembree stepped up big, especially Boyer with the game on the line. The 11th inning rally was a long time coming after the Sox had stranded 15 men on base previously. Its getting ridiculous how incompetent the Sox are with men on base and less than 2 outs. Still a win is a win and finally the Sox climb 10 games over .500 as the win put them at 45-35, 1 game ahead of the victorious New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Jays celebrate Canada Day although Chris Sale (10-3, 2.77 ERA) looks to ruin it. Defending the pride of Canada will be Fransisco Liriano who blinded the Red Sox the last time he faced them. The game is scheduled for 1:05 so it'll start at 1:20 for sure.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Betts, Price Back Sox over Twins (6/29/17)
After the top of the fourth inning it looked like the Minnesota Twins would split the four game set with the Red Sox and hand David Price (3-2, 4.61 ERA) the loss. Then Mookie Betts said "Not so fast!" and Price turned up the heat to guide the Sox past the Twins 6-3 to take 3 out of 4 at Fenway Park.
Doug Funnie approves of the win
Price took the hill in the top of the first inning and was immediately tagged. Brian Dozier led off with a double to center. Dozier moved to third on the fly out by Robbie Grossman and scored on the Joe Mauer ground out. Miguel Sano flied out to right but it was 1-0 Twins early.
1-0 Twins, nice going Price
It would stay 1-0 as Kyle Gibson continued his hot pitching against the Red Sox in the bottom of the first. Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a ground out to second but Andrew Benintendi singled. Xander Bogaerts then banged into a double play to end the inning.
Price recovered to have a better top of the second inning. Eduardo Escobar flied out to right and Jorge Polanco struck out. Max Kepler struck out to end the inning. Gibson remained hot in the bottom of the second inning as Mitch Moreland grounded out and Hanley Ramirez popped up. Jackie Bradley Jr hit a bullet....right to first for out number three to end the inning.
Price cruised in the top of the third inning as Chris Giminez grounded out to third to begin the inning. Byron Buxton grounded out to short and Dozier flied out to center to end the inning. It was more of the same in the bottom of the third when Christian Vazquez grounded out but Tzu-Wei Lin singled up the middle. Unfortunately Deven Marrero grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Twins tagged Price again in the top of the fourth inning. Grossman hit a ground rule double down the left field line and Mauer reached on an infield single to first, although there was no advancement. Sano whiffed again but Grossman moved to third on the fly out by Escobar. Polanco then doubled home both runners to increase the Twins lead. Kepler lined out to Bogaerts to end the inning but things looked bleak at 3-0.
That's right look away you stiff-inski
Somehow the Sox showed some life in the bottom of the fourth inning when Mr. Mookie led off with his 13th home run of the year into the Monster Seats to cut the lead. Benny The Kid popped up to second, Bogaerts struck out and Moreland grounded out to end the inning, but the Sox were on the board 3-1.
"Show of hands, who loves Orange Soda?" -MB
Price recovered to have a strong top of the fifth inning. Giminez grounded out to third and Buxton flied out to center, but Dozier hit a swinging bunt to Price. Price picked the ball up and spiked it like a football, doing the Tweeter end-zone dance as Dozier reached second. Grossman grounded out to end the inning so the bizarre error meant nothing. The Sox exploded to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ramirez walked and JBJ doubled him home. Vazquez hit a routine ground ball but Polanco threw it away, allowing Vaz to reach first. Lin moved the runners into scoring position with a ground out and Marrero scored JBJ to tie the game. Mr. Mookie slammed a single to center to score Vazquez with the go-ahead run. Benny The Kid struck out but the Sox had taken the lead against a starter who had their number.
"Here come the weekend!" - Ramirez
Could Price pitch with the lead? At first it looked like a hell no when Mauer singled. David recovered to strike out Sano, get Escobar to pup up and strike out Polanco to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning although Bogaerts grounded out to start. Moreland lined out but Ramirez blasted his 11th home run of the year to center. That was it for Kyle Gibson as Buddy Boshers replaced him and JBJ greeted him with a single. Vazquez flied out to end the inning but it was now 5-3 after the home run.
"SULLIVAN MY SONNNNNNNNNNN!" - HR
Price came back for one more inning and he struck out Kepler to open the top of the seventh. Gimenez flied out to center an Buxton struck out to end the inning. Price recovered from his shaky beginning to toss 7 innings of 3 run ball, putting them in position to win.
Slow start, good finish
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh when Lin electrified the crowd with a triple to open the inning. Marrero doubled down the left field line to score Lin but was stranded when Mr. Mookie flied out. Benny The Kid drew a walk to chase Boshers and old nemesis Phil Hughes was brought in. Bogaerts struck out and Moreland flied out to end the inning but it was a 6-3 game.
Way to go Lin
The first one out of the bullpen in the top of the 8th was Joe Kelly. Dozier, Grossman and Mauer all grounded out in short order. Nice work Kelly. Meanwhile Hughes kept the Sox in check in the bottom of the eighth. Ramirez grounded out but JBJ got another base hit. Vazquez flied out and Lin struck out to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel took the mound in the top of the ninth to close it out. Kimbrel blew away Sano but Escobar singled. Polanco flied out to right as Escobar took second on defensive indifference. Craig blew away Kepler to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-3 and taken 3 of 4 from the Twins.
"WE WON! WE WON CRAIG WE WON!" - CV
Hero of The Night is Mookie Betts. He got the offense started in the fourth and he drove in the go-ahead run in the 5th.
Hero of the Night: Mookie Betts
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk, a solo home run and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Deven Marrero as 1 for 3 with rbi's.
David Price got the win by going 7 strong innings giving up 3 runs while striking out 7.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 22nd save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Nice to see David Price step up for once. Also nice to see the offense score more than 4 runs for once. The win moved the Sox to 44-35, 1 1/2 game ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox travel to Toronto for a 3 game set with the Blue Jays. Doug Fister gets the start for the Sox opposite Marco Estrada. Game 1 will be at 7:05 PM.
Price took the hill in the top of the first inning and was immediately tagged. Brian Dozier led off with a double to center. Dozier moved to third on the fly out by Robbie Grossman and scored on the Joe Mauer ground out. Miguel Sano flied out to right but it was 1-0 Twins early.
It would stay 1-0 as Kyle Gibson continued his hot pitching against the Red Sox in the bottom of the first. Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a ground out to second but Andrew Benintendi singled. Xander Bogaerts then banged into a double play to end the inning.
Price recovered to have a better top of the second inning. Eduardo Escobar flied out to right and Jorge Polanco struck out. Max Kepler struck out to end the inning. Gibson remained hot in the bottom of the second inning as Mitch Moreland grounded out and Hanley Ramirez popped up. Jackie Bradley Jr hit a bullet....right to first for out number three to end the inning.
Price cruised in the top of the third inning as Chris Giminez grounded out to third to begin the inning. Byron Buxton grounded out to short and Dozier flied out to center to end the inning. It was more of the same in the bottom of the third when Christian Vazquez grounded out but Tzu-Wei Lin singled up the middle. Unfortunately Deven Marrero grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Twins tagged Price again in the top of the fourth inning. Grossman hit a ground rule double down the left field line and Mauer reached on an infield single to first, although there was no advancement. Sano whiffed again but Grossman moved to third on the fly out by Escobar. Polanco then doubled home both runners to increase the Twins lead. Kepler lined out to Bogaerts to end the inning but things looked bleak at 3-0.
Somehow the Sox showed some life in the bottom of the fourth inning when Mr. Mookie led off with his 13th home run of the year into the Monster Seats to cut the lead. Benny The Kid popped up to second, Bogaerts struck out and Moreland grounded out to end the inning, but the Sox were on the board 3-1.
Price recovered to have a strong top of the fifth inning. Giminez grounded out to third and Buxton flied out to center, but Dozier hit a swinging bunt to Price. Price picked the ball up and spiked it like a football, doing the Tweeter end-zone dance as Dozier reached second. Grossman grounded out to end the inning so the bizarre error meant nothing. The Sox exploded to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ramirez walked and JBJ doubled him home. Vazquez hit a routine ground ball but Polanco threw it away, allowing Vaz to reach first. Lin moved the runners into scoring position with a ground out and Marrero scored JBJ to tie the game. Mr. Mookie slammed a single to center to score Vazquez with the go-ahead run. Benny The Kid struck out but the Sox had taken the lead against a starter who had their number.
Could Price pitch with the lead? At first it looked like a hell no when Mauer singled. David recovered to strike out Sano, get Escobar to pup up and strike out Polanco to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning although Bogaerts grounded out to start. Moreland lined out but Ramirez blasted his 11th home run of the year to center. That was it for Kyle Gibson as Buddy Boshers replaced him and JBJ greeted him with a single. Vazquez flied out to end the inning but it was now 5-3 after the home run.
Price came back for one more inning and he struck out Kepler to open the top of the seventh. Gimenez flied out to center an Buxton struck out to end the inning. Price recovered from his shaky beginning to toss 7 innings of 3 run ball, putting them in position to win.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh when Lin electrified the crowd with a triple to open the inning. Marrero doubled down the left field line to score Lin but was stranded when Mr. Mookie flied out. Benny The Kid drew a walk to chase Boshers and old nemesis Phil Hughes was brought in. Bogaerts struck out and Moreland flied out to end the inning but it was a 6-3 game.
The first one out of the bullpen in the top of the 8th was Joe Kelly. Dozier, Grossman and Mauer all grounded out in short order. Nice work Kelly. Meanwhile Hughes kept the Sox in check in the bottom of the eighth. Ramirez grounded out but JBJ got another base hit. Vazquez flied out and Lin struck out to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel took the mound in the top of the ninth to close it out. Kimbrel blew away Sano but Escobar singled. Polanco flied out to right as Escobar took second on defensive indifference. Craig blew away Kepler to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-3 and taken 3 of 4 from the Twins.
Hero of The Night is Mookie Betts. He got the offense started in the fourth and he drove in the go-ahead run in the 5th.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk, a solo home run and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Deven Marrero as 1 for 3 with rbi's.
David Price got the win by going 7 strong innings giving up 3 runs while striking out 7.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 22nd save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Nice to see David Price step up for once. Also nice to see the offense score more than 4 runs for once. The win moved the Sox to 44-35, 1 1/2 game ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox travel to Toronto for a 3 game set with the Blue Jays. Doug Fister gets the start for the Sox opposite Marco Estrada. Game 1 will be at 7:05 PM.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Porcello Routed, Offense Falters vs Twins (6/28/17)
Stop me if you've heard this....Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.06 ERA) stunk and the offense didn't score for him. This has been the theme all year for a typical Porcello start. Its bad enough he's completely fell apart but it doesn't make a difference anyway because the Sox got shut down AGAIN by a mediocre starting pitcher. The immortal Adalberto Meija, who came into the game with an ERA near 5 and walked the ballpark his last 2 starts, blinded the Sox with a 6 inning shut-out. It all led to a 4-1 Minnesota Twins victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"That darn Porcello is awful!" - Rocko
Things went south right from the start in the top of the first inning. Brian Dozier flied out to left and Robbie Grossman looked at strike three, but the wheels fell off when Joe Mauer doubled. Miguel Sano doubled home Mauer and Max Kepler singled in Sano. Kennys Vargas struck out but it was 2-0 Twins.
"I suck again" - Porcello
The indomitable Adalberto Meija took the mound in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts flied out. Dustin Pedroia flied out but somehow Xander Bogaerts singled. Mitch Moreland lined out to end the inning.
Porcello recovered in the top of the second inning as Eddie Rosario struck out and Jorge Polanco grounded out, but Jason Castro walked. Dozier struck out to end the inning. Chris Young led off the bottom of the second with a ground out but shockingly Jackie Bradley Jr doubled. Naturally Sam Travis flied out to right and Sandy Leon popped up to end the inning.
Rick pitched a clean inning in the top of the third. Grossman watched strike three go by, Mauer grounded out and Sano also grounded out to end the inning. Porcello was favoring his thumb in the bottom in the dug-out of the third inning as Marrero led off with a single to the Monster. Mr. Mookie singled up the middle to put the tying runs on....but naturally Pedroia popped up and Bogaerts whiffed. How many times this year did the Sox have a runner on second with one out and the batter struck out swinging? Also naturally Moreland whiffed to end the inning. Yet another mediocre starter was blinding them.
Hit the ball with the bat, not yourself!
Porcello returned for the top of the fourth and battled. Kepler did manage to ground out to Pedroia on the first pitch but Vargas singled to center. Rosario grounded sharply to Moreland for the force but Vargas moved to second. Polanco took a borderline pitch for strike three to end the inning. The pathetic offense remained asleep in the bottom of the fourth as Young popped up and JBJ squibbed a dribbler in front of the catcher for an easy out. Travis somehow was hit with a pitch but Leon flied out to left to end the inning.
Porcello came back for the top of the fifth and nearly crapped his pants again. Castro singled to left to beat the shift but Dozier popped up. Grossman flied out to left and Mauer grounded out to end the inning. It didn't matter if it was Porcello or Cy Young on the mound because nobody was getting a run against Meija in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marrero struck out and Mr. Mookie grounded out but FINALLY Meija walked somebody, Pedroia. It didn't matter as Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning. 5 shut-out innings for Meija.
The Twins iced the game in the top of the sixth inning. Sano drew a four pitch walk then Kepler blasted a 2 run line drive home run into the Sox bullpen for a commanding lead. Porcello did manage to get Vargas to ground out, Rosario to pop up and Polanco to line out, but the game was over. Porcello had once again given up over 10 hits and 4 runs in just 6 innings, some Cy Young hero.
Kepler "Cy Young my foot!"
Then again, it didnt matter because this awful offense wasn't scoring off Meija in the bottom of the sixth. Moreland found a way to scratch out a single but Young said "oh no you don't" and popped up. JBJ grounded out and that was it for Meija. The Sox should be ashamed of themselves for getting shut out by HIM. Tyler Duffy came in and struck out Travis to end the inning.
Heath Hembree took over on the mound in the top of the seventh inning. Castro struck out, Dozier grounded out and Grossman looked at strike three to end the inning. Byron Buxton took over in center for Grossman in the bottom of the seventh with Kapler now in right. Somehow the Sox got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Leon got a lucky single to right. Tzu-Wei Lin pinch hit for Marrero and flied out but Mr. Mookie walked. Pedroia walked to load the bases....only for Bogaerts to ground out. Leon scored and the runners moved into scoring position but there were now 2 out. Taylor Rodgers replaced Tyler Duffy and Moreland swung at air to end the rally. It was now 4-1 Twins and the game was all abut over.
Hembree ran into trouble literally in the top of the eighth inning. Mauer hit a roller toward Hembree and Mauer cleaned him out on his way to first for a single. Mauer stole second but Sano struck out. That was it for Hembree before he got himself killed.
"Why don't you look where I'm going Joe?" - HH
Robby Scott came in and got Kepler to ground out. Eduardo Escobar pinch hit for Vargas and Scott intentionally walked him. Rosario walked to load the bases but Scott struck out Polanco to end the inning. The Sox had one last chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the eighth although Young flied out to start. JBJ was hit with a pitch but Travis looked at strike three. Leon nearly hit one out of the yard but it died at the left field wall to end the inning.
Close but no cigar
Matt Barnes had the top of the ninth inning and he struck out Castro to start. Dozier and Buxton grounded out to end the inning. Brandon Kintzler came in to close out the bottom of the 9th, getting Lin to ground out to start. Mr. Mookie doubled but Pedroia grounded out. Bogaerts whiffed to end the game. The Sox had lost 4-1. Another pathetic showing by the offense.
Jackass of the Night is Rick Porcello. He allowed 4 runs including a 2 run homer to a normally punchless Twins offense to take his 10th loss of the year.
Porcello....Jackass again.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3.
Deven Marrero was 1 for 2.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Robby Scott pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Chris Young was 0 for 4.
Sam Travis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 2 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked twice.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but drove in the only run.
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Yet another game where the offense couldn't hit a ball out of their hands when Porcello is on the mound. Being 4-10 means you're not getting the job done but its hard to get many wins when the offense scores literally no runs. Its an epidemic at this point of how bad the offense is and a lot of that has to do with the carefree attitudes of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. They're in the middle of a pennant race they have a shot to win, don't they have any pride? Its one thing if they run smack into Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, but ADALBERTO MEIJA is shutting them down these days. The Sox need to do something about third base or else things are going to get worse. The loss dropped the Sox to 43-35, 1/2 game in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow's finale features David Price (2-2, 4.76 ERA) taking on Kyle Gibson, the same guy who blinded the Sox in Fenway last June. Hopefully there won't be a repeat.
Things went south right from the start in the top of the first inning. Brian Dozier flied out to left and Robbie Grossman looked at strike three, but the wheels fell off when Joe Mauer doubled. Miguel Sano doubled home Mauer and Max Kepler singled in Sano. Kennys Vargas struck out but it was 2-0 Twins.
The indomitable Adalberto Meija took the mound in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts flied out. Dustin Pedroia flied out but somehow Xander Bogaerts singled. Mitch Moreland lined out to end the inning.
Porcello recovered in the top of the second inning as Eddie Rosario struck out and Jorge Polanco grounded out, but Jason Castro walked. Dozier struck out to end the inning. Chris Young led off the bottom of the second with a ground out but shockingly Jackie Bradley Jr doubled. Naturally Sam Travis flied out to right and Sandy Leon popped up to end the inning.
Rick pitched a clean inning in the top of the third. Grossman watched strike three go by, Mauer grounded out and Sano also grounded out to end the inning. Porcello was favoring his thumb in the bottom in the dug-out of the third inning as Marrero led off with a single to the Monster. Mr. Mookie singled up the middle to put the tying runs on....but naturally Pedroia popped up and Bogaerts whiffed. How many times this year did the Sox have a runner on second with one out and the batter struck out swinging? Also naturally Moreland whiffed to end the inning. Yet another mediocre starter was blinding them.
Porcello returned for the top of the fourth and battled. Kepler did manage to ground out to Pedroia on the first pitch but Vargas singled to center. Rosario grounded sharply to Moreland for the force but Vargas moved to second. Polanco took a borderline pitch for strike three to end the inning. The pathetic offense remained asleep in the bottom of the fourth as Young popped up and JBJ squibbed a dribbler in front of the catcher for an easy out. Travis somehow was hit with a pitch but Leon flied out to left to end the inning.
Porcello came back for the top of the fifth and nearly crapped his pants again. Castro singled to left to beat the shift but Dozier popped up. Grossman flied out to left and Mauer grounded out to end the inning. It didn't matter if it was Porcello or Cy Young on the mound because nobody was getting a run against Meija in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marrero struck out and Mr. Mookie grounded out but FINALLY Meija walked somebody, Pedroia. It didn't matter as Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning. 5 shut-out innings for Meija.
The Twins iced the game in the top of the sixth inning. Sano drew a four pitch walk then Kepler blasted a 2 run line drive home run into the Sox bullpen for a commanding lead. Porcello did manage to get Vargas to ground out, Rosario to pop up and Polanco to line out, but the game was over. Porcello had once again given up over 10 hits and 4 runs in just 6 innings, some Cy Young hero.
Then again, it didnt matter because this awful offense wasn't scoring off Meija in the bottom of the sixth. Moreland found a way to scratch out a single but Young said "oh no you don't" and popped up. JBJ grounded out and that was it for Meija. The Sox should be ashamed of themselves for getting shut out by HIM. Tyler Duffy came in and struck out Travis to end the inning.
Heath Hembree took over on the mound in the top of the seventh inning. Castro struck out, Dozier grounded out and Grossman looked at strike three to end the inning. Byron Buxton took over in center for Grossman in the bottom of the seventh with Kapler now in right. Somehow the Sox got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Leon got a lucky single to right. Tzu-Wei Lin pinch hit for Marrero and flied out but Mr. Mookie walked. Pedroia walked to load the bases....only for Bogaerts to ground out. Leon scored and the runners moved into scoring position but there were now 2 out. Taylor Rodgers replaced Tyler Duffy and Moreland swung at air to end the rally. It was now 4-1 Twins and the game was all abut over.
Hembree ran into trouble literally in the top of the eighth inning. Mauer hit a roller toward Hembree and Mauer cleaned him out on his way to first for a single. Mauer stole second but Sano struck out. That was it for Hembree before he got himself killed.
Robby Scott came in and got Kepler to ground out. Eduardo Escobar pinch hit for Vargas and Scott intentionally walked him. Rosario walked to load the bases but Scott struck out Polanco to end the inning. The Sox had one last chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the eighth although Young flied out to start. JBJ was hit with a pitch but Travis looked at strike three. Leon nearly hit one out of the yard but it died at the left field wall to end the inning.
Matt Barnes had the top of the ninth inning and he struck out Castro to start. Dozier and Buxton grounded out to end the inning. Brandon Kintzler came in to close out the bottom of the 9th, getting Lin to ground out to start. Mr. Mookie doubled but Pedroia grounded out. Bogaerts whiffed to end the game. The Sox had lost 4-1. Another pathetic showing by the offense.
Jackass of the Night is Rick Porcello. He allowed 4 runs including a 2 run homer to a normally punchless Twins offense to take his 10th loss of the year.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3.
Deven Marrero was 1 for 2.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Robby Scott pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Chris Young was 0 for 4.
Sam Travis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 2 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked twice.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but drove in the only run.
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Yet another game where the offense couldn't hit a ball out of their hands when Porcello is on the mound. Being 4-10 means you're not getting the job done but its hard to get many wins when the offense scores literally no runs. Its an epidemic at this point of how bad the offense is and a lot of that has to do with the carefree attitudes of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. They're in the middle of a pennant race they have a shot to win, don't they have any pride? Its one thing if they run smack into Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, but ADALBERTO MEIJA is shutting them down these days. The Sox need to do something about third base or else things are going to get worse. The loss dropped the Sox to 43-35, 1/2 game in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow's finale features David Price (2-2, 4.76 ERA) taking on Kyle Gibson, the same guy who blinded the Sox in Fenway last June. Hopefully there won't be a repeat.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Lightning Strikes as Sox Pound Twins (6/27/17)
On a night where rain and incredible lightning made it seem like Gozer the Gozarian was attacking Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox put on a thunderous display of their own. They pounded out 10 hits and 9 runs to back Drew Pomeranz (7-4, 3.81 ERA) and put themselves back in first place with a 9-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Hope the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man doesn't attack
Pomeranz got the ball in the top of the first inning and Brian Dozier grounded out to third to start the ballgame. Eduardo Escobar grounded out to first and Joe Mauer whiffed to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom half of the first against Hector Santiago but as usual couldn't capitalize. Mr. Mookie Betts watched strike three go by but Dustin Pedroia walked. Xander Bogaerts was hit with a pitch but Chris Young and Jackie Bradley Jr both popped up to end the inning.
Pomeranz cruised in the top of the second inning, striking out Miguel Sano to start. Max Kepler struck out and Jorge Polanco grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Sam Travis worked a walk but Andrew Benintendi watched strike 3 go by. Christian Vazquez stepped up and swatted a two run home run to give the Sox the lead early. Deven Marrero popped up and so did Mr Mookie to end the inning, but it was 2-0 Boston.
Vazquez blast makes it 2-0
Vazquez then helped with his arm after his at bat when Eddie Rosario stroked a lead-off double in the top of the third. Rosario tried for third and Christian gunned him down. Pomeranz punched out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro to end the inning.
"I don't got it" - AB
After a huge rain delay chased away most of the crowd, The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third inning against Alan Busenitz. Pedroia and Bogaerts stroked back to back singles but Chris Young popped up. JBJ lined one into center and Buxton's throw home got away, Pedroia scoring while the others moved into scoring position. As usual lady luck was not on the Sox side as Travis hit an absolute bullet but snared by the shortstop, tagging out Bogaerts for the double play to end the inning. Still, it was 3-0 Red Sox.
The Twins tried to fight back in the top of the fourth when Dozier singled to start. Marrero snared a liner by Escobar and Mauer flied out. Sano flied out to end the inning. Old pal Craig Breslow came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth and struck out Benny The Kid to start. Marrero then lined one just out of reach of Buxton. Vazquez had to stop to see if the ball was caught so he only advanced to third base. Deven ended up on second with a double and Mr. Mookie scored Vazquez with a sac fly. Pedroia slashed a single to score Marrero but was thrown out at second trying to stretch. Bad baserunning aside, it was now 5-0 Sox.
"Its 5 to nothing you sons of pansies!" - DP
The Twins struck back in the top of the fifth although Kepler grounded out to start the frame. Polanco then hit a routine grounder to Marrero who bizarrely screamed, threw his glove high in the air and pounced on the ball like it was a live grenade. Polanco reached on the error and took second on a wild pitch by Pomeranz. Rosario then hit a ball down the first base line snared by Travis but couldn't make the play, putting runners at the corners. Buxton atoned for his error with a run scoring single to cut the lead. Pomeranz recovered to strike out both Castro and Dozier to end the inning but it was now 5-1.
Pomeranz tosses 5 gutty innings through the storm
The Sox got that run right back in the bottom of the fifth. Bogaerts singled and Young worked a walk before JBJ stepped in. He lashed one to second and Dozier tried to blow the ball out of bounds to make it a foul ball.....from second base. Obviously that failed and Bogaerts scored on the play. That was it for Craig Breslow as Matt Belisle replaced him to strike out Sam Travis. Young and JBJ pulled off a double steal so Benny The Kid was intentionally waked. The gamble worked as Vazquez banged into a double play to end the inning but it was now 6-1.
Dozier sez "Dis sucks!"
After more rain, drought, snow and tornadoes ripped through Boston, Blaine Boyer replaced Pomeranz for the top of the sixth inning. Escobar grounded out to second but Mauer singled. Boyer recovered to get Sano and Kepler to fly out to end the inning.
The scoreboard tells the story
The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the sixth inning. Marrero and Mr. Mookie grounded out but Pedroia singled. The Twins made another boo-boo when Escobar booted Bogaerts' grounder at third. Young iced the game with a 3 run blast to left to light up the crowd as much as the lightning did. JBJ grounded out to end the inning but it was now 9-1 Sox.
Young ices this one
With the game out of reach, Pedroia was given the rest of the night off as Tzu-Wei Lin came in to play second in the top of the seventh inning. Polanco greeted Boyer with a base hit and Rosario followed with one of his own. Boyer got Buxton to bang into a double play but Castro walked. Dozier grounded into a force to end the inning. Good work Boyer. Trevor Hildenberger was brought in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. Travis and Benny The Kid grounded out but Vazquez walked. A wild pitch moved Vaz to second but Marrero struck out to end the inning.
Fernando Abad came on to pitch the top of the eighth and was rudely greeted with a lead-off home run by Escobar to center. Abad recovered to get Mauer to ground out, Sano to pop up and Kepler to fly out to end the inning. Kennys Vargas came in to play first for Mauer in the bottom of the eighth as Mr. Mookie led off with a single. Lin beat out a double play ball but Bogaerts struck out. Young walked but JBJ grounded out to end the inning.
Abad returned to close it out in the top of the ninth. Polanco and Rosario grounded out and Buxton flied out to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-2.
Red Sox win
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. His 2 run homer set the tone for the offensive explosion that was about to commence.
Vazquez the hero of the Gozer The Gozarian game
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 3 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Chris Young was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a 3 run home run.
Drew Pomeranz earned his 7th win with 5 gutty innings during and after a huge rainstorm.
Blaine Boyer tossed two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 1 after replacing Pedroia.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 5.
Sam Travis was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked.
Deven Marrero was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Fernando Abad gave up a run in 2 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
Now see what happens when you score runs for once? You actually win the game! What a concept! Its too bad they scored 9 runs in just one game, they'll be lucky to score 2 tomorrow. Still, a win is a win and every single one of them counts. Big props to Pomeranz to pitch through the rain and kudos to Blaine Boyer for getting out of his own jam. Good to see guys like Vazquez and Young come up with homers to make things easier. If the rest of the team could hit, that would be nice. The win improved the Sox to 43-34, 1/2 game in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Rick Porcello (4-9, 5.00 ERA) looks for his second win in a row as he goes up against Adalberto Meija. First pitch is at 7:10 PM so don't miss it, or else.
Pomeranz got the ball in the top of the first inning and Brian Dozier grounded out to third to start the ballgame. Eduardo Escobar grounded out to first and Joe Mauer whiffed to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom half of the first against Hector Santiago but as usual couldn't capitalize. Mr. Mookie Betts watched strike three go by but Dustin Pedroia walked. Xander Bogaerts was hit with a pitch but Chris Young and Jackie Bradley Jr both popped up to end the inning.
Pomeranz cruised in the top of the second inning, striking out Miguel Sano to start. Max Kepler struck out and Jorge Polanco grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Sam Travis worked a walk but Andrew Benintendi watched strike 3 go by. Christian Vazquez stepped up and swatted a two run home run to give the Sox the lead early. Deven Marrero popped up and so did Mr Mookie to end the inning, but it was 2-0 Boston.
Vazquez then helped with his arm after his at bat when Eddie Rosario stroked a lead-off double in the top of the third. Rosario tried for third and Christian gunned him down. Pomeranz punched out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro to end the inning.
After a huge rain delay chased away most of the crowd, The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third inning against Alan Busenitz. Pedroia and Bogaerts stroked back to back singles but Chris Young popped up. JBJ lined one into center and Buxton's throw home got away, Pedroia scoring while the others moved into scoring position. As usual lady luck was not on the Sox side as Travis hit an absolute bullet but snared by the shortstop, tagging out Bogaerts for the double play to end the inning. Still, it was 3-0 Red Sox.
The Twins tried to fight back in the top of the fourth when Dozier singled to start. Marrero snared a liner by Escobar and Mauer flied out. Sano flied out to end the inning. Old pal Craig Breslow came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth and struck out Benny The Kid to start. Marrero then lined one just out of reach of Buxton. Vazquez had to stop to see if the ball was caught so he only advanced to third base. Deven ended up on second with a double and Mr. Mookie scored Vazquez with a sac fly. Pedroia slashed a single to score Marrero but was thrown out at second trying to stretch. Bad baserunning aside, it was now 5-0 Sox.
The Twins struck back in the top of the fifth although Kepler grounded out to start the frame. Polanco then hit a routine grounder to Marrero who bizarrely screamed, threw his glove high in the air and pounced on the ball like it was a live grenade. Polanco reached on the error and took second on a wild pitch by Pomeranz. Rosario then hit a ball down the first base line snared by Travis but couldn't make the play, putting runners at the corners. Buxton atoned for his error with a run scoring single to cut the lead. Pomeranz recovered to strike out both Castro and Dozier to end the inning but it was now 5-1.
The Sox got that run right back in the bottom of the fifth. Bogaerts singled and Young worked a walk before JBJ stepped in. He lashed one to second and Dozier tried to blow the ball out of bounds to make it a foul ball.....from second base. Obviously that failed and Bogaerts scored on the play. That was it for Craig Breslow as Matt Belisle replaced him to strike out Sam Travis. Young and JBJ pulled off a double steal so Benny The Kid was intentionally waked. The gamble worked as Vazquez banged into a double play to end the inning but it was now 6-1.
After more rain, drought, snow and tornadoes ripped through Boston, Blaine Boyer replaced Pomeranz for the top of the sixth inning. Escobar grounded out to second but Mauer singled. Boyer recovered to get Sano and Kepler to fly out to end the inning.
The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the sixth inning. Marrero and Mr. Mookie grounded out but Pedroia singled. The Twins made another boo-boo when Escobar booted Bogaerts' grounder at third. Young iced the game with a 3 run blast to left to light up the crowd as much as the lightning did. JBJ grounded out to end the inning but it was now 9-1 Sox.
With the game out of reach, Pedroia was given the rest of the night off as Tzu-Wei Lin came in to play second in the top of the seventh inning. Polanco greeted Boyer with a base hit and Rosario followed with one of his own. Boyer got Buxton to bang into a double play but Castro walked. Dozier grounded into a force to end the inning. Good work Boyer. Trevor Hildenberger was brought in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. Travis and Benny The Kid grounded out but Vazquez walked. A wild pitch moved Vaz to second but Marrero struck out to end the inning.
Fernando Abad came on to pitch the top of the eighth and was rudely greeted with a lead-off home run by Escobar to center. Abad recovered to get Mauer to ground out, Sano to pop up and Kepler to fly out to end the inning. Kennys Vargas came in to play first for Mauer in the bottom of the eighth as Mr. Mookie led off with a single. Lin beat out a double play ball but Bogaerts struck out. Young walked but JBJ grounded out to end the inning.
Abad returned to close it out in the top of the ninth. Polanco and Rosario grounded out and Buxton flied out to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-2.
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. His 2 run homer set the tone for the offensive explosion that was about to commence.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 3 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Chris Young was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a 3 run home run.
Drew Pomeranz earned his 7th win with 5 gutty innings during and after a huge rainstorm.
Blaine Boyer tossed two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 1 after replacing Pedroia.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 5.
Sam Travis was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked.
Deven Marrero was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Fernando Abad gave up a run in 2 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
Now see what happens when you score runs for once? You actually win the game! What a concept! Its too bad they scored 9 runs in just one game, they'll be lucky to score 2 tomorrow. Still, a win is a win and every single one of them counts. Big props to Pomeranz to pitch through the rain and kudos to Blaine Boyer for getting out of his own jam. Good to see guys like Vazquez and Young come up with homers to make things easier. If the rest of the team could hit, that would be nice. The win improved the Sox to 43-34, 1/2 game in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Rick Porcello (4-9, 5.00 ERA) looks for his second win in a row as he goes up against Adalberto Meija. First pitch is at 7:10 PM so don't miss it, or else.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Sale Dominates, Sox Beat Twins (6/26/17)
As expected the punchless Boston Red Sox offense failed to put up more than 4 runs but luckily Chris Sale (10-3) was on the mound to save the day. Sale dazzled, pitching into the 7th, striking out 9 as the Sox held on to a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park over the Minnesota Twins.
Grover Cleveland approves of the win
Sale started out red hot in the top of the first inning. Brian Dozier grounded out to third, Eduardo Escobar lined out to center and Miguel Sano whiffed to end the inning. Jose Berrios got tagged in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Bettts singled to center to start. Dustin Pedroia singled Mookie to third but Xander Bogaerts grounded into a double play. Betts did score to give the Sox a quick lead. The run lost was huge as Mitch Moreland blasted a solo shot to center to light up the crowd. Andrew Benintendi joined the hit parade with a single as they had Berrios on the ropes. Benny swiped second and Chris Young walked....but Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to end the inning. Still, a 2-0 lead was better than a tie game.
"Yes fellas I know. I'm the man, I'm the man." - Moreland
The Twins threw up on themselves in the top of the second inning. Robbie Grossman popped up to second and Kennys Vargas flied out to right, but Jorge Polanco singled. The alert Sandy Leon gunned down Polano trying to steal to end the inning. The Sox didn't score in the bottom of the second but had a special moment. After Leon struck out, Tzu-Wei Lin singled to center for his first big league hit. Mr. Mookie lined out and Pedroia struck out but congratulations Lin.
Congrats to Lin
The Twin struck back in the top of the third inning when Chris Gimenez blasted a solo home run to cut the lead in half off Sale. Eddie Rosario struck out and Byron Buxton lined out to right. Dozier whiffed to end the inning but it was now 2-1 Sox. As expected, after they let Berrios off the hook he began to dominate in the bottom of the third inning. Bogaerts and Moreland both struck out before Benny The Kid lined out to end the inning.
Sale nearly cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Escobar flied out to start. Sano grounded out but Grossman worked a walk. Sale recovered to strike out Vargas to end the inning. The hapless offense went quietly in the bottom of the fourth as Young grounded out, JBJ struck out and Leon grounded out to end the inning.
Sale turned up the heat in the top of the fifth by striking out Polanco to begin. Gimenez lined out to center and Sale whiffed Rosario to end the inning. There would be no back to back hits for Lin as he struck out to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Mr. Mookie grounded out and Pedroia lined out to end the inning.
Sale protected the one run lead in the top of the sixth by striking out Buxton to start. Dozier managed to single but Escobar flied out to right. Sano whiffed to end the inning. The pathetic offense reared its head in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bogaerts grounded out but Moreland singled. A wild pitch moved Moreland to second as Benny The Kid walked. With 2 men on, Young struck out and JBJ flied out to end the inning.
Sale returned for the top of the seventh inning but trouble brewed. Grossman singled and Vargas walked, prompting Max Kepler to pinch run for Vargas. Sale recovered to strike out Polanco and that was it for him. Sale had gone 6 1/3 innings giving up the only run while striking out 9.
Sale pitches into the seventh and does well
Heath Hembree replaced Sale and got Gimenez to bang into a double play to end the inning just like that. Joe Mauer came into the game, batting for Grossman while playing first base in the bottom of the seventh. Leon got the rally started with a single and he moved to second on the Lin ground out. Mr. Mookie singled Sandy to third and that was it for Berrios. After getting smacked around early, he pitched well to this point. Matt Belisle got the call and Pedroia knocked in an insurance run with a single. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position and for some reason Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases. Buddy Boshers came in to pitch to Moreland and Mitch responded with a sac fly to score Betts to increase the lead. Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning but it was now 4-1.
Pedroia gets it done in the 7th.
6 outs from victory, Sox manager John Farrell brought in Matt Barnes for the top of the eighth. Barnes responded by blowing away Rosario, Buxton and Dozier bing bang boom just like that. Great work Barnes. Alan Busenitz pitched the bottom of the eighth and Young flied out to start. JBJ struck out and Leon lined out to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the top of the ninth inning. Escobar flied out to left, Sano struck out and Mauer flied out to end the game. The Sox had beaten the Twins 4-1 and Sale earned his 10th win of the year.
Good work Lin
Hero of the Night is Chris Sale. He earned his 10th win by pitching 6 1/3 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 9
Sale the Hero again
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with 2 rbis and a home run
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Tzu-Wei Lin got his first hit and went 1 for 3.
Heath Hembree got the double play in the top of the 7th.
Matt Barnes struck out the side in the 8th inning.
Craig Kimbrel got his 21st save with a scoreless 9th.
The Bad:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Chris Young was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The offense looks like complete crap again but this time were bailed out by Chris Sale. He is something else this year and he's keeping the Sox close to first place virtually by himself. It would be nice for the offense to wake up but I guess that's asking for too much. Still a win is a win and it improves their record to 42-34, 1/2 game back of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Drew Pomeranz (6-4, 4.07 ERA) goes up against Hector Santiago in Game 2 of this series at 7:05 PM.
Sale started out red hot in the top of the first inning. Brian Dozier grounded out to third, Eduardo Escobar lined out to center and Miguel Sano whiffed to end the inning. Jose Berrios got tagged in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Bettts singled to center to start. Dustin Pedroia singled Mookie to third but Xander Bogaerts grounded into a double play. Betts did score to give the Sox a quick lead. The run lost was huge as Mitch Moreland blasted a solo shot to center to light up the crowd. Andrew Benintendi joined the hit parade with a single as they had Berrios on the ropes. Benny swiped second and Chris Young walked....but Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to end the inning. Still, a 2-0 lead was better than a tie game.
The Twins threw up on themselves in the top of the second inning. Robbie Grossman popped up to second and Kennys Vargas flied out to right, but Jorge Polanco singled. The alert Sandy Leon gunned down Polano trying to steal to end the inning. The Sox didn't score in the bottom of the second but had a special moment. After Leon struck out, Tzu-Wei Lin singled to center for his first big league hit. Mr. Mookie lined out and Pedroia struck out but congratulations Lin.
The Twin struck back in the top of the third inning when Chris Gimenez blasted a solo home run to cut the lead in half off Sale. Eddie Rosario struck out and Byron Buxton lined out to right. Dozier whiffed to end the inning but it was now 2-1 Sox. As expected, after they let Berrios off the hook he began to dominate in the bottom of the third inning. Bogaerts and Moreland both struck out before Benny The Kid lined out to end the inning.
Sale nearly cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Escobar flied out to start. Sano grounded out but Grossman worked a walk. Sale recovered to strike out Vargas to end the inning. The hapless offense went quietly in the bottom of the fourth as Young grounded out, JBJ struck out and Leon grounded out to end the inning.
Sale turned up the heat in the top of the fifth by striking out Polanco to begin. Gimenez lined out to center and Sale whiffed Rosario to end the inning. There would be no back to back hits for Lin as he struck out to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Mr. Mookie grounded out and Pedroia lined out to end the inning.
Sale protected the one run lead in the top of the sixth by striking out Buxton to start. Dozier managed to single but Escobar flied out to right. Sano whiffed to end the inning. The pathetic offense reared its head in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bogaerts grounded out but Moreland singled. A wild pitch moved Moreland to second as Benny The Kid walked. With 2 men on, Young struck out and JBJ flied out to end the inning.
Sale returned for the top of the seventh inning but trouble brewed. Grossman singled and Vargas walked, prompting Max Kepler to pinch run for Vargas. Sale recovered to strike out Polanco and that was it for him. Sale had gone 6 1/3 innings giving up the only run while striking out 9.
Heath Hembree replaced Sale and got Gimenez to bang into a double play to end the inning just like that. Joe Mauer came into the game, batting for Grossman while playing first base in the bottom of the seventh. Leon got the rally started with a single and he moved to second on the Lin ground out. Mr. Mookie singled Sandy to third and that was it for Berrios. After getting smacked around early, he pitched well to this point. Matt Belisle got the call and Pedroia knocked in an insurance run with a single. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position and for some reason Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases. Buddy Boshers came in to pitch to Moreland and Mitch responded with a sac fly to score Betts to increase the lead. Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning but it was now 4-1.
6 outs from victory, Sox manager John Farrell brought in Matt Barnes for the top of the eighth. Barnes responded by blowing away Rosario, Buxton and Dozier bing bang boom just like that. Great work Barnes. Alan Busenitz pitched the bottom of the eighth and Young flied out to start. JBJ struck out and Leon lined out to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the top of the ninth inning. Escobar flied out to left, Sano struck out and Mauer flied out to end the game. The Sox had beaten the Twins 4-1 and Sale earned his 10th win of the year.
Hero of the Night is Chris Sale. He earned his 10th win by pitching 6 1/3 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 9
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with 2 rbis and a home run
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Tzu-Wei Lin got his first hit and went 1 for 3.
Heath Hembree got the double play in the top of the 7th.
Matt Barnes struck out the side in the 8th inning.
Craig Kimbrel got his 21st save with a scoreless 9th.
The Bad:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Chris Young was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The offense looks like complete crap again but this time were bailed out by Chris Sale. He is something else this year and he's keeping the Sox close to first place virtually by himself. It would be nice for the offense to wake up but I guess that's asking for too much. Still a win is a win and it improves their record to 42-34, 1/2 game back of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Drew Pomeranz (6-4, 4.07 ERA) goes up against Hector Santiago in Game 2 of this series at 7:05 PM.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Awful Offense Fails Fister's Debut in Loss to Angels (6/25/17)
Its become an epidemic at this point as ANYONE who starts against the Boston Red Sox can shut them down. It doesn't matter if its a single A scrub, Dennis Eckersley in the booth or today's starter Parker Bridwell of the Los Angeles Angels. He tossed 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball to spoil the Red Sox debut of Doug Fister (0-1). The Angels took the series and the game 4-2 at Fenway Park.
Randy Quaid is angry again
At first Fister pitched well in the top of the first inning. Cameron Maybin led off by watching strike three go by. Kole Calhoun flied out to center and Albert Pujols flied out to right. The Sox made Bridwell look like a future Hall of Famer in the bottom of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to second, Dustin Pedroia lined out to right and Xander Bogaerts struck out to end the inning.
The wheels fell off in the top of the second inning after a judgement call broke the team's psyche. Luis Valbuena struck out but Andrelton Simmons and Ben Revere stroked back to back singles, Simmons advancing to third on the play. Danny Espinosa smacked one to Moreland who fired to second for the out and back to first...DOUBLE PLAY! The Sox jogged off the field congratulating themselves but the devious Angels manager Mike Scisosia had other ideas. He had the call challenged at first and the umpires ruled Espinosa SAFE! Simmons scored to give the Angels a 1-0 lead, the Sox returned to the field, and all hell broke lose. Naturally with a second chance, Kaleb Cowart doubled home Espinosa and Juan Graterol singled him in only to be gunned down at second trying to stretch to end the inning. Rather than being in the dugout tied, it was now 3-0 and the game was all but over already.
Get used to this sight
The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the second inning when Mitch Moreland led off with a solo blast to center, his 11th of the year, to cut the lead. Andrew Benintendi flied out but Hanley Ramirez was hit with a pitch. Jackie Bradley Jr struck out but Christian Vazquez singled. With the tying runs on, Deven Marrero whiffed to end the inning. Still, the Sox showed some life to trail 3-1.
Moreland trying to keep the team in the game
Fister settled down in the top of the third inning. Maybin flied out to right but Calhoun walked. Pujols banged into a double play to end the inning. Unfortunately Bridwell settled down too in the bottom of the third inning. Mr. Mookie grounded out, Pedroia flied out and Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
Fister put up a goose egg in the top of the fourth inning. Valbuena struck out, Simmons grounded out and Revere lined out to end the inning. The Sox made a boo-boo in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moreland grounded out but Benny The Kid singled....only to be thrown out at second trying to stretch. Ramirez popped up to end the inning.
You're out you dummy, Simon didn't say go to second
Fister battled in the top of the 5th as Espinosa grounded out but Cowart walked. Cowart was gunned down trying to steal and Graterol struck out to end the inning. JBJ electrified the crowd by blasting his 10th home run of the year to center to cut the lead to 1 leading off the bottom of the fifth. Then the Sox shot themselves in the foot AGAIN as Vazquez singled to put the tying run on base...only to get thrown out trying to steal. Marrero whiffed and Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning with the Sox down 3-2.
JBJ inches the Sox closer
Fister did his part in the top of the sixth inning as Maybin was rung up on strike three. Calhoun singled but Pujols walked strike three go by. Valbuena singled but Simmons grounded out to end the inning. The Sox failed to hit Bridwell in the bottom of the sixth inning as Pedroia flied out and Bogaerts grounded out. Moreland singled to put the tying run on but Benny The Kid lined out to end the inning.
Sox manager John Farrell tried to squeeze one more inning out of Fister but it failed as Revere singled and Espinosa walked to lead-off the top of the seventh inning. Still, it was a solid debut for Fister, too bad his offense is incompetent.
6 innings of 3 run ball for Fister
Robby Scott came in and got Cowart to line out before Graterol flied out. Heath Hembree was brought in to face Maybin and he got him to ground out to end the inning. Good work by the bullpen to keep it a one run game.
Ramirez did his part by lashing a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh but JBJ lined out and Vazquez flied out. Farrell sent out Sam Travis to pinch hit for Marrero and Scisosia countered by lifting Parker Bridwell for Blake Parker. Travis whiffed to end the inning. The immortal Parker Bridwell had pitched 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball, shameful.
Tzu-Wei Lin replaced Travis at third with Joe Kelly now in the game in the top of the eighth. Calhoun grounded out and Pujols grounded out. Valbuena singled but Simmons grounded out to end the inning. Yusmeriro Petit came in to blank the Sox in the bottom of the eighth. Mr. Mookie popped up, Pedroia grounded out and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel was brought in to pitch the top of the ninth and curiously crapped his pants. Revere singled and Espinosa damn near hit one out, only it was foul by inches. Revere stole second but Espinosa struck out. Cowart singled home Revere to give the Angels a huge insurance run. Graterol and Maybin grounded out to end the inning but it was now 4-2 Angels. Petit returned for the bottom of the ninth and got Moreland to pop up. Benny The Kid singled to bring the tying run to the plate but Ramirez popped up. JBJ grounded out to end the game. The Angels had won 4-2, more pathetic offense.
Kimbrel gives up the insurance run
Jackass of the Night is real tough because not one person stood out as the cause of the downfall. I'll have to go with Craig Kimbrel. Fister battled after the first inning and the whole team sucked with men on base. Kimbrel's insurance run allowed was huge.
Thanks a lot Jackass
The Good:
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4.
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3.
Robby Scott retired the two men he faced.
Heath Hembree got the only guy he faced.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts
Deven Marrero was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Sam Travis struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but the hit was a solo home run.
Doug Fister took the loss but recovered from a bad first inning to toss 6 innings of 3 run ball in his debut while striking out 6.
Honorable Mention:
Tzu-Wei Lin played third base in the top of the ninth
Final Thoughts:
Thank god this series is over. It exposed the Red Sox offense as completely pathetic and they need help big time. Doug Fister did the best he could but it doesn't help when you don't score. Betts, Bogaerts and Pedroia going 0 for 12 is the primary culprit. The loss dropped the Sox to 41-34, percentage points behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox start a 4 game series with the Minnesota Twins. Chris Sale will be the hard luck loser as Jose Berrios most likely shuts down the Sox at 7:05 PM.
At first Fister pitched well in the top of the first inning. Cameron Maybin led off by watching strike three go by. Kole Calhoun flied out to center and Albert Pujols flied out to right. The Sox made Bridwell look like a future Hall of Famer in the bottom of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to second, Dustin Pedroia lined out to right and Xander Bogaerts struck out to end the inning.
The wheels fell off in the top of the second inning after a judgement call broke the team's psyche. Luis Valbuena struck out but Andrelton Simmons and Ben Revere stroked back to back singles, Simmons advancing to third on the play. Danny Espinosa smacked one to Moreland who fired to second for the out and back to first...DOUBLE PLAY! The Sox jogged off the field congratulating themselves but the devious Angels manager Mike Scisosia had other ideas. He had the call challenged at first and the umpires ruled Espinosa SAFE! Simmons scored to give the Angels a 1-0 lead, the Sox returned to the field, and all hell broke lose. Naturally with a second chance, Kaleb Cowart doubled home Espinosa and Juan Graterol singled him in only to be gunned down at second trying to stretch to end the inning. Rather than being in the dugout tied, it was now 3-0 and the game was all but over already.
The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the second inning when Mitch Moreland led off with a solo blast to center, his 11th of the year, to cut the lead. Andrew Benintendi flied out but Hanley Ramirez was hit with a pitch. Jackie Bradley Jr struck out but Christian Vazquez singled. With the tying runs on, Deven Marrero whiffed to end the inning. Still, the Sox showed some life to trail 3-1.
Fister settled down in the top of the third inning. Maybin flied out to right but Calhoun walked. Pujols banged into a double play to end the inning. Unfortunately Bridwell settled down too in the bottom of the third inning. Mr. Mookie grounded out, Pedroia flied out and Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
Fister put up a goose egg in the top of the fourth inning. Valbuena struck out, Simmons grounded out and Revere lined out to end the inning. The Sox made a boo-boo in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moreland grounded out but Benny The Kid singled....only to be thrown out at second trying to stretch. Ramirez popped up to end the inning.
Fister battled in the top of the 5th as Espinosa grounded out but Cowart walked. Cowart was gunned down trying to steal and Graterol struck out to end the inning. JBJ electrified the crowd by blasting his 10th home run of the year to center to cut the lead to 1 leading off the bottom of the fifth. Then the Sox shot themselves in the foot AGAIN as Vazquez singled to put the tying run on base...only to get thrown out trying to steal. Marrero whiffed and Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning with the Sox down 3-2.
Fister did his part in the top of the sixth inning as Maybin was rung up on strike three. Calhoun singled but Pujols walked strike three go by. Valbuena singled but Simmons grounded out to end the inning. The Sox failed to hit Bridwell in the bottom of the sixth inning as Pedroia flied out and Bogaerts grounded out. Moreland singled to put the tying run on but Benny The Kid lined out to end the inning.
Sox manager John Farrell tried to squeeze one more inning out of Fister but it failed as Revere singled and Espinosa walked to lead-off the top of the seventh inning. Still, it was a solid debut for Fister, too bad his offense is incompetent.
Robby Scott came in and got Cowart to line out before Graterol flied out. Heath Hembree was brought in to face Maybin and he got him to ground out to end the inning. Good work by the bullpen to keep it a one run game.
Ramirez did his part by lashing a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh but JBJ lined out and Vazquez flied out. Farrell sent out Sam Travis to pinch hit for Marrero and Scisosia countered by lifting Parker Bridwell for Blake Parker. Travis whiffed to end the inning. The immortal Parker Bridwell had pitched 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball, shameful.
Tzu-Wei Lin replaced Travis at third with Joe Kelly now in the game in the top of the eighth. Calhoun grounded out and Pujols grounded out. Valbuena singled but Simmons grounded out to end the inning. Yusmeriro Petit came in to blank the Sox in the bottom of the eighth. Mr. Mookie popped up, Pedroia grounded out and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel was brought in to pitch the top of the ninth and curiously crapped his pants. Revere singled and Espinosa damn near hit one out, only it was foul by inches. Revere stole second but Espinosa struck out. Cowart singled home Revere to give the Angels a huge insurance run. Graterol and Maybin grounded out to end the inning but it was now 4-2 Angels. Petit returned for the bottom of the ninth and got Moreland to pop up. Benny The Kid singled to bring the tying run to the plate but Ramirez popped up. JBJ grounded out to end the game. The Angels had won 4-2, more pathetic offense.
Jackass of the Night is real tough because not one person stood out as the cause of the downfall. I'll have to go with Craig Kimbrel. Fister battled after the first inning and the whole team sucked with men on base. Kimbrel's insurance run allowed was huge.
The Good:
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4.
Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3.
Robby Scott retired the two men he faced.
Heath Hembree got the only guy he faced.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts
Deven Marrero was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Sam Travis struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but the hit was a solo home run.
Doug Fister took the loss but recovered from a bad first inning to toss 6 innings of 3 run ball in his debut while striking out 6.
Honorable Mention:
Tzu-Wei Lin played third base in the top of the ninth
Final Thoughts:
Thank god this series is over. It exposed the Red Sox offense as completely pathetic and they need help big time. Doug Fister did the best he could but it doesn't help when you don't score. Betts, Bogaerts and Pedroia going 0 for 12 is the primary culprit. The loss dropped the Sox to 41-34, percentage points behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox start a 4 game series with the Minnesota Twins. Chris Sale will be the hard luck loser as Jose Berrios most likely shuts down the Sox at 7:05 PM.
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