As for the game, Farrell's hunch proved to be a premonition after tonight's starter Brian Johnson had to leave the game with a, surprise surprise, shoulder injury in the third inning. Velazquez (1-1, 6.48 ERA) came up big in relief, backed by the red hot Mookie Betts to power past the Phillies 7-3 at Citizen's Bank Park.
The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the first inning off Philly starter Jeremy Hellickson. Mr. Mookie Betts began his red hot night by sending a base hit to left. Dustin Pedroia poked one to right and Xander Bogaerts doubled home Mookie. Andrew Benintendi scored Pedroia with a sac fly to left but Hanley Ramirez whiffed. Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
At first Brian Johnson did well by getting Odubel Herrera to ground out to begin the bottom of the first. Howie Kendick lined one but it was ran down by Benny The Kid. Aaron Altherr flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the top of the second inning as well. Sandoval singled and Leon walked. Naturally Johnson popped up the bunt to first but Mr. Mookie doubled home Sandoval but Pedroia popped up. Bogaerts then singled home both runners to increase the lead but Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning with the Sox up 5-0.
Johnson once again pitched well with the lead although he did allow a leadoff walk to Tommy Joseph to begin the bottom of the second inning. Maikel Franco lined out and Joseph was erased on the Daniel Nava force. Cameron Rupp whiffed to end the inning.
Hellickson settled down in the top of the third inning as Ramirez popped up to begin. JBJ singled and Sandoval walked but Leon popped up. Johnson grounded out to end the inning. Suddenly Philly roared back in the bottom of the third inning. Freddy Galvis doubled but Johnson got Hellickson to ground out. Herrera popped up but Kendrick singled home Galvis. Altherr then blasted a 2 run shot to left to cut the lead to 2 runs. Joseph doubled and Johnson started grabbing his shoulder. Sox manager John Farrell and the trainer made a mad dash out of the dugout to check on Johnson. Unfortunately he had to leave the game with a bad shoulder, he just can't catch a break.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez came into the game and got Franco to ground out to end the inning with the Phillies down 5-3.
The Sox got one of the runs right back in the top of the fourth inning when Mr. Mookie smashed a solo home run to center. Pedroia flied out, Bogaerts popped up and Benny The Kid grounded out to end the inning with the Sox up 6-3.
Velazquez returned for the bottom of the fourth inning and struck out Nava to start. Rupp grounded out but Galvis doubled again. Hellickson then grounded out to end the inning.
Ramirez walked to start the top of the fifth inning but JBJ banged into a double play after they reviewed the play. Sandoval lined out to end the inning. Velazquez whiffed Herrera to begin the bottom of the fifth as Mr. Mookie made a great diving catch to rob Kendrick of a hit. Altherr grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox blundered a scoring chance in the top of the sixth. Leon doubled to chase Hellickson. Luis Garcia came in and Velazquez bunted right back to him, failing to advance Leon. Mr. Mookie whiffed and Pedroia grounded out to end the inning. Velazquez came back for the bottom of the sixth inning to get both Joseph an Franco to ground out to third. Nava walked but Rupp grounded out to end the inning. Velazquez had tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings to keep the Sox in it.
The Sox committed what's now becoming a routine boneheaded play in the top of the seventh inning. Bogaerts popped up but Benny The Kid singled. For whatever reason Benny decided to run all the way home on a routine pop up to right and he was easily doubled off first to end the inning. What a disaster. Hanley Ramirez put his arm around Benny to cheer him up by saying he's done this thousands of times. Joe "Machine Gun" Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and walked Galvis. Ty Kelly pinch hit for Garcia and flied out. Herrera whiffed and Kendrick grounded out to end the inning.
Adam Morgan took the mound in the top of the eighth inning and the Sox committed yet another blunder on the basepaths. JBJ doubled and Josh Rutledge pinch hit for Sandoval only to strike out. Leon then popped up harmlessly to short and for some reason JBJ stopped to look at a cloud that looked like Lyndon Johnson, easily getting doubled off second to end the inning. This is an epidemic of stupidty at this point. Luckily Matt Barnes was here to save the day in the bottom of the eighth inning. Altherr struck out but Joseph walked. Franco erased Joseph at second as Nava singled. Rupp struck out to end the inning.
The Sox got the last laugh in the top of the ninth inning. Chris Young pinch hit for Barnes and popped up but Mr. Mookie swatted his second home run of the night to increase the lead. Pedroia singled to chase Morgan. Jeanmar Gomez came in and got the obligatory double play by Bogaerts to end the inning with the Sox up 7-3.
Robby Scott got the call to pitch the bottom of the ninth with the game well in hand. Galvis popped up as Blanco pinch hit for Gomez only to ground out to Scott. Herrera lined out to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-3.
Hero of the Night is Hector Velazquez. Pressed into emergency duty, Hector didn't allow a run in 3 1/3 innings to earn the win.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 4 for 5 with 4 runs scored, 3 rbi's and 2 home runs.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with 3 rbi's.
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4.
Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Robby Scott pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Josh Rutledge struck out as a pinch hitter.
Chris Young was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Brian Johnson allowed 3 runs in just 2 2/3 innings but was injured and couldn't remain in the game.
Final Thoughts:
Finally an easy win but can there ever be a game where there's only good news? With Eduardo Rodriguez down and both Rick Porcello and Drew Pomeranz struggling, the Sox needed a lift from Brian Johnson. Now it looks like he's out for a while which makes Dave Dombrowski's "throwing program" a death curse for pitchers. Tyler Thornburg, Carson Smith, Drew Pomeranz, Brian Johnson, Robbie Ross Jr....how many more guys are gonna go down? At least Rodriguez suffered a knee injury to break up the double play, but come on. The worst part is the New York Yankees are scuffling so this is their chance to pull even with them, but they can't do it with everybody getting hurt. The win propelled the Sox to 37-28, now just 2 games back of the Yankees who lost to the LA Angels tonight. Tomorrow night the Sox look for the four game sweep as they send ace Chris Sale (8-2) to the pound to take on Nick Pavetta in the season finale at 7:15 PM in Philadelphia.
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