Pomeranz, Pedroia Guide Sox Past Jays (7/19/17)

The Boston Red Sox made some major headlines when they officially released Pablo Sandoval. It was a long time coming as he has been a complete disappointment since the day he joined the team, even worse than Carl Crawford. Sandoval was supposed to be the big postseason hero on the same level as David Ortiz and a pretty good regular season player but things went bad right from the start. He underperformed in 2015 to the points the fans were asking why the Red Sox gave him all that money when they could have kept Will Middlebrooks for a lot cheaper to put up the same numbers? Then everything fell apart in 2016 when he showed up to Spring Training 40 pounds overweight and embarrassed himself by breaking his belt buckle in an early season regular season game during an at-bat. After flailing at 3 fastballs right down the middle, Sox brass suggested Pablo have season ending shoulder surgery to get him out of there before he further humiliated himself and the team. With Sandoval out for the year, Travis Shaw had a heck of a season, looking like he could replace Sandoval full time in 2017. Instead the opposite happened, Sox manager Dave Dombrowski put all his faith in Sandoval by trading Travis Shaw to Milwaukee for relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg. The problem was Sandoval returned in relatively decent playing shape but his skills completely evaporated. Compounding that was that Thornburg got hurt in spring training and was lost for the year without ever throwing a pitch. On top of that, Shaw has become a bonafide star in an eerily similar trade 40 years ago when Cecil Cooper was traded to the Brewers for overweight George Scott. At least Scott hit 33 home runs for the 77 Sox, Thornburg didn't even pitch in 17. The final straw came on June 15th when Sandoval came to the plate in a 1-0 game in the top of the ninth against the Philadelphia Phillies. All they needed was a base hit to put the winning run on but Sandoval swung and missed at 3 pitches not even close half-heartedly looking like he was TRYING to strike out to end the game. Sox brass had enough and sent him to the Disabled List with an "ear infection." After the disabled list stint ended, he was sent to Pawtucket for "rehab". After putting up terrible numbers in Pawtucket, the Sox finally ate his 45 million dollar contract and sent him home today. No matter where he goes, the Sox still have to pay his contract. Boston gave up a bonafide star in Shaw to keep him, got nothing for that star in return AND wasn't able to get anything for him. Keep in mind after the 2014 season two third basemen were available, Sandoval and Oakland's Josh Donaldson. Sox brass went with the 3-ringed Sandoval and Toronto ended up with Donaldson....who ended up becoming American League MVP in 2015 while Sandoval hit .240 for a team that went nowhere. At least Carl Crawford was included in the salary dump trade so at least his giveaway had a purpose. There was nothing gained by Sandoval besides his weight as a member of the Red Sox so this makes Pablo Sandoval the worst free agent signing in team history. Nice going Larry Lucchino.

                                               Good riddance

In less frustrating news, the Sox called up Ben Taylor and Kyle Martin, demoting Brian Johnson and Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez. Taylor showed some promise in April, making the club out of spring training and Martin will be making his major league debut provided he gets into a game. Johnson will be back if they need another double-header or spot starter and Velazquez will make an appearance or two again as well.

                                                                      OUT

                                                                         IN

As for the game, after looking like inept dog turd for the past week, the Red So offense finally showed flashes of life in tonight's game. Riding the hot bat of Dustin Pedroia and hot pitching of Drew Pomeranz (10-4, 3.51 ERA), the Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 to restore some order at Fenway Park.

                                                 JG Wentworth approves of the win

Pomeranz began his effort with a clean top of the first inning. Jose Bautista lined out to left, Steve Pearce lined out to second and Josh Donaldson lined out to right to end the inning. Jays starter Aaron Sanchez allowed a leadoff single to Mr. Mookie Betts to start the bottom of the first inning. Andrew Benintendi killed the rally by hitting into a double play although Dustin Pedroia walked. Mitch Moreland watched strike three go by to end the inning.

Justin Smoak walked to begin the top of the second inning but Kendrys Morales grounded into a double play. Troy Tulowitzky walked but Kevin Pillar flied out to end the inning. The Sox iced the game early in the bottom of the second inning. Chris Young doubled to start the inning and Jackie Bradley Jr singled him to third. JBJ swiped second to put runners at the corners but the Sox displayed some horrendous baserunning. Christian Vazquez hit a bullet to Smoak who fired home to Miguel Montero, tagging out Young before getting Vazquez at first for the double play. Brock Holt walked and swiped second, this time Deven Marrero singled home both runners to give the Sox the lead. Mr. Mookie hit a ground ball to Josh Donaldson at third who dropkicked it around, allowing Betts to reach. Benny The Kid walked to load the bases and Pedroia singled home both Marrero and Betts. Moreland lined out to center but it was 4-0 Sox early.

                                                   Betts scores to ice it early

Pomeranz had a 4 run lead and nearly gave it back in the top of the third inning when Montero and Darwin Barney stroked back to back singles. Drew recovered to strike out Bautista then get Pearce to ground into a double play to end the inning. Sanchez settled down in the bottom of the third inning as Young grounded out to third to begin. JBJ grounded out to first but Vazquez walked. Holt grounded into a force to end the inning.

Pomeranz continued to dominate in the top of the fourth inning. Donaldson looked at strike three but Smoak walked. Morales grounded back to Pomeranz and Tulowitzky popped up to short to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. Marrero grounded out to third but Mr.Mookie walked. Benny The Kid walked but Mr. Mookie swiped second on the play. Pedroia beat out an infield single off the glove of Tulowitzky to score Betts. Moreland lined out to center to end the inning but it was now 5-0 Sox.

                                              Pedroia carrying the offense in this one.

The Sox crapped themselves in the top of the fifth inning to lose the shutout. Pillar grounded out to short but Montero walked. Barney hit a routine double play ball to Pedroia but instead of fielding it, he did a Harley Race style knee-drop on the ball, allowing Montero to reach third on the error. Bautista scored Montero with a sac fly but Pearce struck out to end the inning with the score now 5-1. Cesar Valdez took over for Sanchez who was carried out on a stretcher when it was realized he had a blister issue. Young looked to get things going with a base hit to open the bottom of the fifth but JBJ popped up and Vazquez hit into another double play to end the inning.

Pomeranz got more help from his defense in the top of the sixth inning. Donaldson grounded out to second but Smoak singled. Morales banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox were retired in short order in the bottom of the sixth inning as Holt grounded out to second, Marrero looked at strike three and Mr. Mookie lined out to third to end the inning.

Pomeranz returned for the top of the seventh and got Tulowitzky to ground out to third. Pillar flied out to center but Montero walked. All of a sudden Sox manager John Farrell bolted out of the dugout and screamed like a banshee at Pomeranz, chasing him off the mound and into the dugout much to the surprise of everyone. Heath Hembree wandered out of the bullpen to continue the game and struck out Barney to end the inning. Pomeranz was great, allowing no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work.

                                        Pomeranz gets it done tonight

Valdez cruised in the bottom of the seventh inning as Benny The Kid flied out to left to open the frame. Pedroia lined out to center and Moreland whiffed to end the inning.

Hembree returned for the top of the eighth inning and got Bautista to line out to center to begin. Pearce lined out to right but Donaldson singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Smoak whiffed to end the inning. Valdez returned for the bottom of the eighth and turned up the heat. Young and JBJ both whiffed and Vazquez watched strike three go by to end the inning. It should be noted that Valdez tossed 4 innings, allowed just 1 hit and struck out 5. Game should have been 10-1.

Rookie Ben Taylor took the mound in the top of the ninth inning to close it out. Morales flied out to left and Tulowitzky grounded out to second, but Pillar singled. Montero whiffed to end the game, the Sox had won it 5-1.

                                                    Win, Dance, Repeat


Hero of the Night is Drew Pomeranz. He allowed an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings to earn his 10th win of the year.

                                            "Bow down to your Hero!" - DP


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and 2 runs scored.

Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 3 with a walk and drove in 3 runs.

Chris Young was 2 for 4.

Deven Marrero was 1 for 3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored.

Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Ben Taylor pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but scored a run and stole a base.

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 but walked.

Brock Holt was 0 for 2 but walked, stole a base and scored.




Final Thoughts:

Now that's more like it. After looking like crap offensively for a week, the Sox finally pounced on a starter to ice it early. Pomeranz pitched a hell of a game and good riddance Pablo Sandoval, he's someone else's problem now. Hanley Ramirez and David Price are still issues to deal with but at least Sandoval is gone. The win improved the Red Sox to 54-42 on the season, 5.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon Doug Fister (0-3, 6.75 ERA) looks to win the series for the Sox as he goes up against Fransisco Liriano at 1:30 PM at Fenway Park.