As for the game, not much you can do against Corey Kluber but hope he makes a mistake. That's exactly what happened as Kluber allowed a solo home run to Mitch Moreland and then tried to go old school by drilling Eduardo Nunez. The plunk backfired as the Sox pounced on Kluber and the bullpen to turn a 1-0 game into a 6-1 rout. Drew Pomeranz (13-4, 3.18 ERA) pitched shut-out ball into the sixth inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 at Jacobs Field.
Kluber took the mound to start the top of the first inning and Nunez whiffed on a check swing to open the game. Mookie Betts did his usual pull-pop up to second and Andrew Benintendi popped up to left to end the inning. Pomeranz had the unenviable task to match Kluber but he did strike out Fransisco Lindor on 3 pitches to start the bottom of the first. Austin Jackson grounded to short but Jose Ramirez walked. Edwin Encarnarcion popped up to short to end the inning.
Kluber made short work of the Red Sox in the top of the second inning as Hanley Ramirez froze on strike three to start. Rafael Devers also looked at strike three and Xander Bogaerts whiffed badly to end the inning. Drew matched Kluber in the bottom of the second inning although Jay Bruce beat out an infield single to start. Sox analyst Dave O'Brien broke the news the Red Sox traded a minor leaguer for Oakland A's outfielder/speedster Rajai Davis and Pomeranz was so excited that he struck out Brandon Guyer. Yany Diaz also whiffed as did Yan Gomes to end the inning.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the third as Mitch Moreland popped up to center, Christian Vazquez popped to right and Brock Holt looked at strike three to end the inning.
Pomeranz tried to match Kluber in the bottom of the third as Giovanny Urshela grounded out to second to start. Lindor drew a walk and Jackson nearly tripled him home but the ball JUST hooked foul. Pomeranz eventually froze Jackson for strike three before Ramirez grounded to short to end the inning.
There would be no perfect game for Kluber as Nunez beat out an infield single to open the top of the fourth inning. He was stranded as both Betts and Benintendi struck out in short order. Ramirez watched strike three go by to end the inning. The Indians threatened in the bottom of the fourth as Encarnarcion was rung up for strike three but Bruce was plunked. Guyer poked a single to left but Pomeranz struck out Diaz and Gomes to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the fifth as Devers grounded out to first, Bogaerts grounded out to short as Sox analyst Jonny Gomes said Moreland could "buggywhip" one out of the ballpark. Sure enough, Moreland blasted a solo home run to right to give the Sox the lead. Good call Jonny. Vazquez struck out to end the inning but the Sox had the lead 1-0.
Could Pomeranz maintain the lead in the bottom of the fifth? YES! Betts ran down a soft liner by Urshela to start. Lindor struck out swinging but Jackson walked. Ramirez popped up to end the inning but Pomeranz was near 100 pitches in just 5 innings.
Holt gave one a ride to start the top of the sixth inning but it died at the centerfield wall. Nunez lined out to a running Ramirez at second and Betts popped up to right to end the inning. The Indians roared back in the bottom of the sixth as Encarnarcion walked to start. Bruce lined out to left and that was it for Pomeranz. Sox manager John Farrell sprinted out of the dug-out when he realized Pomeranz was over 100 pitches and removed him. Joe Kelly came in and got Guyer to pop up to left then got Diaz to ground into a force to end the inning. Pomeranz did damn good to last 5 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run, especially matched against Corey Kluber.
The Sox looked to get something going in the top of the seventh when Benintendi beat out an infield single to start. Ramirez whiffed badly for the hat trick although Benintendi moved to second on a sharp ground ball by Devers that Encarnarcion barely corralled for the out. Bogaerts struck out to end the inning. Kelly returned for the bottom of the seventh and got Gomes to ground out to start. Benintendi made a great running catch on a sinking liner by Urshella but suddenly John Farrell sprinted out of the dugout to take the ball from Kelly. In more micro-managing, Farrell brought in Addison Reed to pitch to Lindor. Bogaerts made a GREAT diving stab to rob Lindor of a hit to end the inning. The Sox were 6 outs away from defeating Kluber.
Kluber returned for the top of the eighth inning and got Moreland to fly out to left to start. Vazquez looked at strike three but Holt worked a walk against a tiring Kluber. Nunez swung for the downs and Kluber didn't like it, so he plunked him. Nunez gave him a death glare on his way to first and Mookie Betts made Kluber pay with an rbi single off the glove of Urshella. That was it for Kluber as Tyler Olson was brought in to face Benintendi, but walked him. Joe Smith was brought in to pitch to Hanley with the bases loaded.....and Ramirez watched strike three go by to earn the golden sombrero to end the inning. Still, it was 2-0 Sox with 6 outs to go.
The Indians struck back in the bottom of the eighth although Jackson grounded out to second to start. Ramirez flied out to left but Encarnarcion crushed a 450 foot bomb to left field. Reed recovered to strike out Bruce to end the inning but the Indians were back within a run 2-1.
The Sox exploded on the Indians in the top of the ninth. Devers was happy to see Kluber gone as he beat out an infield single to start as Bogaerts blooped a single to right to move Devers to third. Gomes missed on an airmailed pitch by Smith and Devers scampered home with the insurance run, Bogaerts moving to second. Moreland moved Bogaerts to third with a ground out but was stranded when Vazquez struck out to earn the hat trick. Holt iced the game with an rbi double down the left field line to clear the rest of the paltry crowd out. That was it for Smith as Indians manager Terry Francona replaced Smith with Bryan Shaw. Yet another passed ball moved Holt to third and Nunez smacked a 2 run home run just over the left field fence to put the game out of reach. Betts grounded out to third but it was now 6-1 Red Sox....game over.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth with a 5 run lead to piss off Red Sox fans. Kimbrel froze Guyer for strike three but Diaz walked. Kimbrel blew away Gomes then pinch hitter Bradley Zimmer to end the game. The Sox had beaten Kluber with Drew Pomeranz and won it 6-1.
Hero of the Night is Drew Pomeranz. He was matched with Corey Kluber and managed to pitch 5 1/3 innings of shut-out ball to give the Sox a chance to outlast him.
The Good:
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with an HBP and a 2 run home run in the 9th.
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Brock Holt was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Joe Kelly pitched a full scoreless inning.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 but made the hit count as he knocked in a huge insurance run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count with a solo home run.
Addison Reed allowed a solo home run in 1 1/3 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox had a tall task to defeat Corey Kluber and not only did they do it with Pomeranz, they exploded on the bullpen to smack them around. The momentum of the series completely changed after the Moreland home run as now the Sox have taken 2 of 3 with Chris Sale looming tomorrow. The Sox showed some serious balls to win this one not only to outlast Kluber but to kick around the Indians bullpen. It was especially sweet to see Betts make Kluber pay for drilling Nunez for just trying to do his job. Then to see Nunez homer in the 9th anyway, priceless. In other news, the acquisition of Rajai Davis is huge not only since JBJ is going to be out, but it gives the Sox a pinch running and baserunning threat much like Dave Roberts in 2004 and Quintin Berry in 2013. Anytime you get someone with speed on the bases, it effects the opposing pitchers psyche. The win propelled the Sox to 73-53 on the season, 4.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. This was a big, big win to outlast Kluber because tomorrow Chris Sale (14-5, 2.62 ERA) hopes to gives the Sox the series victory on the road. Standing in his way will be the eccentric Trevor Bauer at 7:10 PM at Jacobs Field.
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