Mike Fiers started the game for the Astros and Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to third to start the top of the first inning. Dustin Pedroia singled but Xander Bogaerts whiffed badly. Pedroia swiped second but Mitch Moreland grounded out to end the inning. The much maligned Pomeranz got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and struck out George Springer. Jose Altuve reached on an infield single but Carlos Correa banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox missed a chance to take the lead in the top of the second as Andrew Benintendi flied out to center. Chris Young popped up to short but Jackie Bradley Jr motored around the bases with a triple. Josh Rutledge grounded out to end the inning. Pomeranz hung tough in the bottom of the second inning as Evan Gattis popped up to first, Brian McCann grounded out to short and Yuli Gurriel lined out to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third inning. Christian Vazquez watched strike three go by but Mr. Mookie walked. Pedroia singled Betts to third but Bogaerts whiffed. Moreland singled home Mr. Mookie to put the Sox on top. A wild pitch moved the runners over and a walk to Benny The Kid loaded the bases. Once again the Sox failed to get a clutch hit when Young grounded out, but it was now 1-0 Boston.
Shockingly Pomeranz didn't give the game away in the bottom of the third inning. Alex Bregman flied out to left, Derek Fisher looked at strike three and Jake Marisnick lined out to third to end the inning.
The Sox reverted to their old ways in the top of the fourth inning. JBJ whiffed but Rutledge singled, only for Vazquez to ground into a double play to end the inning. Pomeranz remained tough in the bottom of the fourth inning as Springer walked but was erased on the Altuve double play. Correa singled but Gattis whiffed to end the inning.
The incompetent Red Sox failed to score in the top of the fifth as well. Mr. Mookie flied out, Pedroia grounded out to third and Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Luckily the Astros were just as useless at bat. Benintendi made a great catch to rob McCann, Gurriel grounded out to third and Bregman popped up to end the inning.
More bawfulness occured in the top of the sixth as Moreland and Benny The Kid grounded to second and Young grounded out to short. Pomeranz began to tire in the bottom of the sixth as Fisher tried to bunt his way on but was snuffed out by the alert Rutledge. Marisnick flied out but Drew walked both Springer and Altuve. Correa then singled to right but Mr. Mookie gunned down Springer at the plate to end the inning. Pomeranz had dodged a bullet to toss 6 solid innings.
Unfortunately the Sox couldn't ride the momentum into scoring more runs. JBJ grounded out to first, Rutledge grounded to second and Vazquez grounded to third to end the inning, 7 of the last 9 outs were on the ground, way to beat the ball in the dirt fellas. For some inexplicable reason, Sox manager John Farrell sent Pomeranz right back out for the bottom of the seventh despite all signs pointing that he was done. Sure enough, after he struck out Gattis, McCann blasted a 400 foot bomb to tie the game. Finally Farrell went to get Drew but it was too late, he lost the chance for the win. Still, 6 1/3 innings of 1 run ball is still pretty good.
Joe "Machine Gun" Kelly got the call to finish the seventh but was greeted by a Gurriel double. Bregman grounded out to move Gurriel to third and Fisher was intentionally walked. Norichika Aoki pinh hit for Marisnick and Fisher swiped second....but Rutledge snared the line drive by Aoki to end the inning.
The game remained tied for about 25 seconds with Will Harris on the mound. Mr. Mookie immediately greeted him with a solo blast just over the wall to give the Sox the lead back. Pedroia flied out and Bogaerts popped up before Moreland whiffed to end the inning. The Sox had re-taken the lead 2-1.
Betts did his job, now it was up to Matt Barnes to close the door in the bottom of the eighth inning. Springer whiffed but Altuve doubled. Correa walked and Altuve stole third, but the Sox defense stepped up with a huge double play turn off the bat of Gattis to end the inning.
Michael Feliz came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Benny The Kid grounded out. Young singled and stole second then moved to third when the throw sailed away. Young was then thrown out at home on the ground ball hit by JBJ. The Sox lead the league in making errors, hitting into double plays and being thrown out on the bases....not great stats to have. Rutledge struck out to end the inning.
It was up to Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel to close out the game. He froze McCann on strike three before Gurriel grounded out. The ageless Carlos Beltran pinch hit for Bregman but popped up to end the game. The Sox had stolen the game 2-1.
Hero of the Night is easy. Mookie Betts struck the go-ahead home run in the 8th inning and cut down the tying run at the plate earlier.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
Drew Pomeranz pitched great, going 6 1/3 innings while giving up 1 run on 3 walks, 4 hits and 4 strikeouts.
Joe Kelly got the win by getting the final 2 outs of the seventh inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Craig Kimbrel got his 19th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked.
Chris Young was just 1 for 4 but stole a base.
Josh Rutledge was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
Its always nice to come into the best team in baseball's home stadium and win, but to have virtually no offense is frightening. Its one thing if they beat Dallas Kuechel but Mike Fiers? Seriously? The lack of offense is disturbing against so many mediocre pitchers. Last year the Sox could handle a starter but couldn't beat bullpens, this year its the other way around. Once they get to the bullpen they can win, but ANYBODY can shut them down until then. You would think the team with the third best record in the American League was better than this, I guess not. Still, a win's a win and they all count in the era of the second wild card. The New York Yankees woes continued so the win puts the Sox at 38-29, just 1 game behind the slumping Yankees who have now lost 4 in a row. Tomorrow night the much maligned Rick Porcello (3-8) takes on the winless David Paulino at 7:15 in Houston.
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