OUT
IN
As for the game, Brian Johnson didn't have it but neither did the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Jackie Bradley Jr took the anniversary of Ted Williams' red chair home run to launch a bomb of his own to help the Sox defeat the Tigers 5-3 at Fenway Park.
The Tigers wasted no times scoring in the top of the first inning off Brian Johnson, Ian Kinsler flied out to right but Nick Castellanos launched a 424 foot bomb to right. Miguel Cabrera struck out but old pal Victor Martinez singled. JD Martinez and Justin Upton stroked back to back base hits to score Victor. Mike Mahtook flied out to right but it was 2-0 Detroit just like that.
The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the first inning against Jordan Zimmerman. Mr. Mookie Betts walked but Dustin Pedroia popped up in his return to action. Xander Bogaerts beat out an infield single but was erased on the Mitch Moreland force out. Andrew Benintendi struck out to end the inning.
Johnson settled down in the top of the second inning. James McCann grounded out to third,old buddy Jose Iglesias flied out to right and Kinsler flied to center to end the inning. The Sox caught a break when Castellanos threw wide of first, allowing Hanley Ramirez to reach first. Jackie Bradley Jr struck out, Sandy Leon flied out and Pablo Sandoval grounded out in short order to end the inning.
Johnson threw too many pitches in the top of the third inning. Castellanos lined out and Cabrera took strike three, but V-Mart walked. The other Martinez reached on an infield single but Upton grounded out to end the inning. Once again Zimmerman slammed the door in the bottom of the third inning. Mr. Mookie and Pedroia grounded to short before Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Tigers added to their lead when Mahtook led off the top of the fourth inning with a home run. McCann popped up but Iglesias singled. Kinsler flied out and Castellanos grounded out to end the inning with the Tigers up 3-0. The Sox finally struck back in the bottom of the fourth when Moreland led off with a solo shot to put the Sox on the board. Benny The Kid singled and Ramirez walked then JBJ singled home Benintendi....unfortunately the overzealous Ramirez was thrown out at third. Leon walked and Sandoval banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox cut the lead 3-2.
Johnson returned briefly for the top of the fifth inning. Cabrera grounded out but V-Mart reached on an infield single to chase Johnson after 105 pitches. He didn't last through the 5th and gave up 3 runs, not his best stuff.
Heath Hembree came in and he allowed a double to the other Martinez. Upton flied out and Mahtook grounded out to end the inning. The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mr. Mookie singled but Pedroia banged into a double play. Bogaerts flied out to end the inning.
Hembree returned for the top of the 6th inning. McCann struck out but Iglesias reached on an infield single. Kinsler flied out and Castellanos struck out to end the inning. Zimmerman stayed tough in the bottom of the 6th inning. Moreland doubled and moved to third on the Benny The Kid grounder. Ramirez grounded out and JBJ struck out to end the inning.
Joe Kelly was brought in to pitch the top of the seventh inning. Cabrera struck out but V-Mart walked. The other Martinez struck out and Upton grounded out to end the inning. Shane Greene came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and got Leon to fly out. Sandoval struck out but Mr. Mookie doubled. Pedroia grounded out to end the inning.
Matt Barnes got the call in the top of the eighth inning. Alex Presley pinch hit for Mahtook and struck out. McCann struck out but Iglesias beat out yet another infield single. Iglesias was gunned down at second trying to steal to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the eighth inning against old friend Alex Wilson. Bogaerts singled and took second on a Wilson error. Moreland singled to tie the game, scoring Bogaerts. Benny The Kid and Ramirez flied out but JBJ paid tribute to Teddy Ballgame by crushing a 457 foot home run to right to give the Sox a 5-3 lead. Leon singled to chase Wilson as Daniel Stumpf came in to strike out Sandoval to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel was called upon to get the final 3 outs with Deven Marrero now at third base. Kinsler struck out, Castellanos popped up and Cabrera earned the golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-3.
Hero of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. His 2 run home run was the difference in the game and gave the Sox the win.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 2 total rbi's and a home run.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barns pitched a scoreless 8th inning to earn the win.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 18th save with a scoreless 9th
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4.
Pablo Sandoval was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Brian Johnson was knocked out in the 5th inning after allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk without getting past the 5th inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 but walked,
Honorable Mention:
Deven Marrero played third in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Once again the Sox struggled against a starter but came alive late to get to the bullpen. Detroit's bullpen is terrible so if the Sox can keep close the next two games, they have a chance to win. The win propelled the Sox to 33-27, 3 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. We get a monster match tomorrow night as Chris Sale goes up against Justin Verlander at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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