As for the game, you never know what is going to happen in baseball. One day after the Sox bullpen implodes, scrap heap pickup Doug Fister (3-6, 4.78 ERA) throws a complete game 1 hitter against the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians. Fister allowed a leadoff home run then just 2 baserunners after as the Sox routed the Indians 9-1 at Jacobs Field.
The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the first inning. Eduardo Nunez flied out to center but Mookie Betts singled to left. Betts was erased on a force by Andrew Benintendi and Andrew swiped second. That was a big stolen base as Hanley Ramirez singled up the middle to score Benintendi with the game's first run. Rafael Devers struck out to end the inning but Boston was up 1-0
It took the Indians just 3 pitches to tie the game as Fransisco Lindor launched a solo home run off Fister to leadoff the bottom of the first. Shockingly that would be the last hit of the game for the Indians. Jason Kipnis grounded out to short and Jose Ramirez looked at strike three. Edwin Encarnarcion walked as fair-weather Red Sox fans started complaining on social media. Fister recovered to get Jay Bruce to fly out to left but it was 1-1.
The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back in the top of the second inning as Xander Bogaerts doubled to center, then moved to third on a Mitch Moreland ground out. Sandy Leon stepped up with a sac fly to score Bogaerts. Jackie Bradley Jr struck out to end the inning but the Sox were up for good 2-1.
Fister began to dominate the game in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Guyer lined out to JBJ but Bradley Zimmer was plunked. Yan Gomes banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox went quietly against Carrassco in the top of the third inning. Nunez grounded out to short, Betts groundd out to third and Benintendi grounded out to second in short order. The Indians went quietly as well in the bottom of the third as Giovanny Urshela grounded out to short to start. Lindor grounded out to second and Jason Kipnis was apparently abducted by UFO's because Yandy Diaz pinch hit for him only to watch strike three go by to end the inning.
Carrassco stayed tough in the top of the fourth inning as Ramirez whiffed to start. Devers grounded out to short but Bogaerts singled to left. Moreland grounded out to second to end the inning. Fister matched Carlos in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ramirez grounded out to third, Encarnarcion flied out to right and Bruce looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth although Sandy Leon popped up to start. JBJ stepped up to crush a solo home run to center to increase the lead. Nunez popped to short and Betts popped up to right but the Sox had a 3-1 lead.
Guyer walked to begin the bottom of the fifth but Zimmer grounded into a double play. Gomes whiffed to end the inning as the Indians would not have another baserunner.
Carrassco turned up the heat in the top of the sixth inning as Benintendi struck out to start. Ramirez walked but both Devers and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning. Fister kept pace in the bottom of the sixth as Urshela grounded to short, Lindor flied out to left and Diaz grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the seventh inning. Moreland grounded out but Leon was hit with a pitch. JBJ singled and Nunez doubled home both runners, but JBJ was hurt sliding into home. Betts flied out to center but Benintendi doubled home Nunez. That was it for Carrassco as Zach McAllister took over and Ramirez greeted Adam with a single to left. Devers flied to left to end the inning with the Sox up 6-1.
JBJ had to be carried out on a stretcher with a bad thumb as Chris Young replaced him playing left with Benintendi now in center. Fister had enough cushion in the bottom of the seventh as he got Ramirez to fly to center, Encarnarcion to ground to third and Bruce to whiff to end the inning.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the eighth inning. Bogaerts grounded out to short and Moreland lined out to center, but Leon singled through the hole in second. That was it for Zach McAllister as Shawn Armstrong replaced him only for Young to single to left. Nunez then swatted a 3 run home run to center to increase the lead. Betts flied out to right but it was a 9-1 game.
Fister kept up his hot streak in the bottom of the eighth inning. Guyer grounded out to first, Zimmer watched strike three go by and Gomes lined out to right to end the inning.
The Sox offense was done for the night in the top of the ninth as Benintendi lined out to right. Ramirez looked at strike three and Devers grounded out to end the inning. Fister returned to finish his work in the bottom of the ninth. Urshela grounded out to short and Lindor popped up to first. Diaz flied out to right to end the game. What an outstanding performance by Doug Fister and the Sox had won it 9-1.
Hero of The Night is Doug Fister. He threw a complete game 1 hitter, walking 2 guys while striking out 6.
The Good:
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 5 rbis including a 3 run home run.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a walk and an rbi.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 2 with an rbi, hit by pitch and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a solo home run before leaving with injury.
Chris Young singled and scored as a pinch hitter.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5.
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but stole a base, scored a run and drove one in.
Final Thoughts:
The only two negatives to come out of this is Rafael Devers has cooled off and JBJ hurt his thumb. Sox fans hope Devers doesn't turn into Yoan Moncada last year who had a hole in is bat by the middle of September. The bigger loss is JBJ who pretty much has the gold glove locked up and its only August. If he's seriously hurt that's a huge blow to the Sox. As for the positives, Fister provided his monthly gem and the offense smacked Carrasco and the JV Indian relievers good. With Corey Kluber going tomorrow the Sox needed a game like this. Every game becomes more important than the last so every win counts. The win improves the Sox to 72-53 on the year, 4.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East race and 4.5 games behind the Houston Astros for best record in the AL. Tomorrow the Sox run smack into Corey Kluber and will try to counter with Drew Pomeranz (12-4, 3.31 ERA). The game begins at 7:10 PM in Cleveland.
No comments:
Post a Comment