Red Sox ace Chris Sale got the ball in the top of the first inning with some help from his defense. Jackie Bradley Jr ran down a line drive struck by Ian Kinsler to start the game. Nick Castellanos struck out but Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez stroked back to back singles. JBJ then made a great diving catch to rob JD Martinez of extra bases to end the inning.
Tigers ace Justin Verlander was tough in the bottom of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center, Dustin Pedroia popped up to second and Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning.
Sale labored through the top of the second getting Justin Upton to strike out. Mike Mahtook grounded out to short and James McCann grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox got their first hit in the bottom of the second inning. Mitch Moreland struck out and Andrew Benintendi hit one up the elevator shaft, but Hanley Ramirez singled. JBJ flied out to center to end the inning.
Sale got in major trouble in the top of the third when Jose Iglesias doubled and Kinsler singled him to third. Sale beared down to strike out Castellanos, Cabrera and V-Mart to end the inning, outstanding work by Sale.
Moved by Sale's effort, the Sox struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Josh "Razor" Rutledge and Sandy Leon stroked back to back singles. Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases and Pedroia drove home Rutledge with a sac fly. Bogaerts whiffed but Moreland singled home Leon with another run. Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning but it was 2-0 Red Sox.
Sale kept the lead intact in the top of the fourth inning. Martinez whiffed, Upton popped up to Pedroia and Mahtook flied out to center to end the inning. Verlander matched Sale in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ramirez flied out to right and JBJ grounded to first, but Rutledge walked. Leon whiffed to end the inning.
The Tigers struck back in the top of the fifth inning. McCann flied out but Iglesias reached on an infield single. Kinsler singled then Castellanos doubled home Iglesias. Cabrera grounded out but Kinsler scored the tying run. V-Mart grounded out to end the inning but the Tigers had tied it 2-2.
The Sox answered in the bottom of the fifth. Mr. Mookie walked but was erased on the Pedroia fielder's choice. Bogaerts doubled into the triangle and Moreland was intentionally walked to load the bases. Benny The Kid hit a sac fly to score Pedroia but Ramirez grounded out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
The Tigers wasted no time tying the game in the top of the sixth inning. Martinez popped up but Upton doubled and Mahtook singled. JBJ then inexplicably threw the ball straight up in the air before catching it in his hat, which led to Mahtook taking second and Upton scoring on the error. McCann and Iglesias grounded out to end the inning but the game was tied 3-3. That was it for Verlander as Daniel Stumpf came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning. JBJ struck out but Rutledge walked. Leon struck out and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus brought in Warwick Saupold to pitch to Mr. Mookie. All Betts did was fly out to end the inning.
Sale returned for one last inning in the top of the seventh. Kinsler flied out to center, Castellanos flied out to right and Cabrera struck out to end the inning. Sale had battled to go 7 and give the Sox a chance to win.
The Sox somehow exploded in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pedroia and Bogaerts stroked back to back singles and Moreland doubled home both guys. Benny The Kid struck out but a wild pitch moved Moreland to third. Ramirez grounded to short but couldn't advance Mitch but JBJ was intentionally walked. Rutledge made the Tigers pay by getting a base hit to score Moreland. That was it for Saupold as Fransisco Rodriguez came in only for Rutledge to steal second. Leon struck out to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-3.
With Sale in line for the win, it was up to Matt Barnes to hold the fort in the top of the eighth. Both Victor and JD Martinez struck out before Upton grounded out to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the eighth with a flurry against Arcenio Leon. Mr. Mookie walked and Pedroia singled him to third. Bogaerts doubled home Mr. Mookie as Moreland was intentionally walked to load the bases. Benny The Kid made them pay with a base hit to score Bogaerts and Pedroia. Ramirez watched strike three go by but JBJ beat out an infield single to re-load the bases. Rutledge worked a walk to score Moreland and Leon hit a sac fly to score Benintendi. Mr. Mookie flied out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-3.
With an 8 run lead, Blaine Boyer got the call to pitch the top of the ninth with Deven Marrero now in at second base. Mahtook popped up to Moreland before both McCann and Iglesias grounded to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-3.
Hero of the Night is a tough one but I'll go with Mitch Moreland. He was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, 3 rbi's and 2 runs scored.
The Good:
Mookie Betts walked 3 times and scored a run.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 3 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Josh Rutledge was 2 for 2 with 3 walks, a stolen base, 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Chris Sale got his 8th win by tossing 7 innings of 3 run ball while striking out 7.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Blaine Boyer pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in 3 runs and scored one of his own.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 5.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with a walk but made the game saving catch.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Honorable Mention:
Deven Marrero played second base in the ninth inning.
Final Thoughts:
Yay...a win. Its a miracle. Not too many of these will be coming this way soon the way David Price, Rick Porcello and Drew Pomeranz have been stinking up the place and Chris Sale's inevitable second half decline. Better enjoy the few wins the Sox will amass while you still can. The win propelled the Sox to a lucky 34-27 on the season, 3 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox send Drew Pomeranz to the mound opposite Daniel Norris. The loss begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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