Royals Crush Sox (7/28/17)

Before the game Boston Red Sox management took away the irate fans chance to vent some much-needed anger when Dave Dombrowski announced David Price was placed on the 10-day disabled list. This injury is very suspicious considering the Red Sox fans were ready to riot tonight. Most likely this is damage control by Red Sox brass to save David from a lot of criticism he was about to receive. Who knows when we will ever see him again. In other news, the Red Sox activated Eduardo Nunez and called up Robby Scott for tonight's game. Deven Marrero was sent back to Pawtucket as well. Any offense Nunez brings to the table is a bonus because this team desperately needs to win report back from the fans.

                                                                            OUT

                                                                         IN


As for the game, the red hot Kansas City Royals came into Fenway Park facing a team in turmoil with fans ready to riot and a starting pitcher who backed out at the last second. The Royals had won 8 in a row coming in and made it 9 after their 4-2 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Emergency starter Rick Porcello (4-14, 4.55 ERA) was game but once again got almost no run support. This team is truly hated and it doesn't look like things will get any better.

Porcello was bumped up to take the start and he began by getting Whit Merrifield to line out to left Jorge Bonifacio walked then Lorenzo Cain grounded into a double play to end the inning. Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the first against Jason Vargas with a ground out to short. Eduardo Nunez walked in his first at-bat with the Sox but Dustin Pedroia flied out to center. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Royals struck first in the top of the second inning although Eric Hosmer grounded out to second to begin. Salvador Perez crushed a solo home run to put the Royals on top. Porcello recovered to strike out Mike Moustakas and old pal Brandon Moss to end the inning, but it was 1-0 Royals.

                                                 Perez does it again, 1-0 KC

Jackie Bradley Jr tried to get the offense going in the bottom of the second with an infield single to first, but Xander Bogaerts banged into a double play. Chris Young lined out to short to end the inning.

Porcello cruised in the top of the third inning, striking out Alcides Escobar to start. Alex Gordon grounded out to second and Merrifield popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the third although Rafael Devers struck out to begin. Sandy Leon walked but Betts popped up to first. Nunez got his first base hit with the Sox to put the tying run at second but Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Royals iced the game in the top of the fourth inning as Bonifacio singled to open the inning. Jorge was erased on the force by Cain but Hosmer singled Lorenzo to third. Porcello struck out Perez and was one out away from getting out of this mess. It didn't happen as Hosmer stole second and Moustakas blasted a 3 run home run to put the game out of reach. Moss doubled but Escobar flied out to right to end the inning with the Royals up for good 4-0.

                                               Well this game's over

The Sox laid down and died in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ramirez lined out to center, JBJ flied out to left and Bogaerts lined out to short to end the inning.

Porcello recovered to throw a clean inning in the top of the fifth as Gordon flied out to left to start. Merrifield grounded out to first and Bonifacio popped up to first to end the inning. The Sox finally struck back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Young popped up to third but Devers doubled. Leon lined out to left but Betts singled home Devers. Nunez singled but Pedroia grounded out to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.

                                               The kid is doing alright

Cain singled to start the top of the sixth inning but Hosmer grounded into a double play. Perez grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox offense went back to sleep in the bottom of the sixth as Ramirez whiffed, JBJ lined out to Vargas and Bogaerts flied out to center to end the inning.

Porcello returned for the top of the seventh inning and cruised. Moustakas flied out to left, Moss flied out to right and Escobar struck out to end the inning. Apart from the Moustakas home run, Porcello did everything the Sox could have asked for in an emergency start, going 7 innings to keep the Sox in the game.

                                                Porcello deserved a better fate

The Sox had a golden chance to get back in the game when Young tripled to start the bottom of the seventh inning. The inning went quickly south when Devers struck out and Leon grounded out, although Young scored on the ground-out. That was it for Vargas as Peter Moylan came in to get Betts to ground out to first to end the inning although it was now 4-2.

                                               Young scores and its 4-2

Brandon Workman was first out of the bullpen in the top of the eighth inning. Gordon grounded out to second but Merrifield singled. Bonifacio grounded into a double play to end the inning. Joakim Soria was brought in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and the Sox laid down. Nunez grounded out to short, Pedroia grounded out to first and Ramirez watched strike three go by to end the inning.

Workman returned for the top of the ninth inning and struck out Cain to start. Hosmer singled but Perez popped up. That was it for Workman as Robby Scott came in to get Moustakas popped up to short to end the inning. Royals closer Kelvin Herrera came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and JBJ popped up to short to start. Bogaerts watched strike three go by and Andrew Benintendi pinch hit for Young. Benintendi singled to bring the tying run to the plate, but Devers grounded out to end the game. The lifeless Sox dropped another one to continue their slide 4-2.

Jackass of the Night is Dustin Pedroia. He was 0 for 4 and left 5 men on base by himself. One hit and the game could have been tied or closer.

                                                                 Thanks a lot Jackass



The Good:

Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Chris Young was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Andrew Benintendi singled as a pinch hitter.

Brandon Workman tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Robby Scott got the final out of the 9th inning.



The Bad:

Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.

Sandy Leon was 0 for 2 but walked and drove in a run.

Rick Porcello took the loss and gave up 4 runs, but this was an emergency start and he still went 7 innings to save the bullpen.




Final Thoughts:

Is this year over yet? The end can't come fast enough because this offense is offensive. At this point you have to wonder just what happened to these guys? Yes, losing David Ortiz hurt but the remaining guys are the same ones that was one of the top scoring offenses last year. What's happened to Betts Bogaerts, Bradley, Benintendi, Ramirez and Leon? Pedroia is still the .300 hitting on base machine but he can't do it alone. How has the entire offense regressed like this? What is Chili Davis doing wrong that perennial all-stars are playing like scrubs? Something has to be done because they can't go on like this. The loss drops the Sox to 57-48, virtually tied for first place with the New York Yankees. Tomorrow night Eduardo Rodriguez takes a beating while the offense gets shut down by Trevor Cahill. The misery begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.