The Boston Red Sox got some bad news when starter Drew Pomeranz had to be carried out on a stretcher after suffering back spasms in the middle of the fourth inning. They had even worse news when the Sox bullpen completely melted down, turning a 3-0 lead into a 6-3 deficit. Then the offense sprang to life, knocking around their using punching bag Aroldis Chapman to stun the New York Yankees 9-6 at Fenway Park.
Sonny Landham (RIP) approves of the win
Things started out well in the top of the first although Brett Gardner singled up the middle to start the game. Aaron Hicks flied out to right and Gardner moved to second on the ground-out by Aaron Judge. Gary Sanchez whiffed to end the inning. Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery was just as tough in the bottom of the first inning. Eduardo Nunez lined out to left to begin before Mookie Betts grounded out to first Andrw Benintendi struck out to end the inning.
Pomeranz ran into trouble in the top of the second inning when Didi Gregorious struck out, but Chase Headley doubled. Headley moved to third on the ground out by Todd Frazier but Ronald Torreyes grounded out to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second inning although Hanley Ramirez popped up to left to start. Chris Young whiffed but Xander Bogaerts doubled off the Monster and Rafael Devers launched yet another opposite field home run into the Monster Seats to give the Sox a 2-0 lead much to Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley's delight. Christian Vazquez singled into right but Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to end the inning.
Pomeranz ran into more trouble in the top of the third inning. Austin Romine grounded out to short but Gardner singled up the middle again. Hicks whiffed but Judge singled to left. Pomeranz got Sanchez swinging again to end the inning. Montgomery stayed strong in the bottom of the third inning as Nunez grounded out to second to start. Betts walked but Benintendi popped up to second. Ramirez lined out to left to end the inning.
Things went south quickly in the top of the fourth inning although Benintendi lit up the crowd with a great diving catch to rob Gregorious of a sure double. All of a sudden Pomeranz crumpled to the ground after throwing a pitch to the backstop. The entire team ran over to look at him as Sox manager John Farrell and the trainer bolted out of the dugout, sprinting to the mound. Drew couldn't continue and had to be carried out on a stretcher. Just like that the Sox starter in line to win 16 games this year was gone.
Brandon Workman came in ice cold and walked Headley before allowing a single to left off the bat of Frazier. Brandon recovered to get Torreyes to fly out to right and Romine to ground out to second to end the inning. Losing Pomeranz was not good. In the bottom of the fourth inning Young worked a walk but was erased on the Bogaerts force. Devers banged into a double play to end the inning.
Workman returned for the top of the fifth and Gardner hit a bullet....right to Nunez at third. Hicks whiffed but Judge walked. Sanchez grounded out to second to end the inning. Workman's usual velocity was down but he battled for 2 big innings. Moved by Brandon's effort, Vazquez led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the Monster to give the Sox a 3-0 lead. JBJ whiffed and Nunez hit a broken bat liner to short. Betts also hit a bullet....right to Torreyes to end the inning. Still, the Sox had a commanding 3-0 lead if the bullpen could hold it.
Unfortunately the bullpen was not up to the task. Matt Barnes wobbled to the mound and somehow got Gregorious to ground out. The wheels fell off as Headley singled and Frazier homered into the Monster seats to cut the lead. Torreyes struck out but Romine and Gardner stroked back to back singles to chase Barnes. He was brought in to protect a 3 run lead and retired 2 of the 4 men he faced.
Joe Kelly came in and hit Hicks to load the bases....but got Judge to ground out to end the inning. The Yankees had clawed back in it with the Sox leading 3-2. Chad Green replaced Montgomery and got Benintendi to ground out to short. Ramirez popped up to first but Young walked. Bogaerts struck out to end the inning.
The Sox bullpen continued to piss down its leg in the top of the seventh inning. Sanchez led off with a home run completely out of Fenway to tie the game. Gregorious walked but Headley singled to chase Kelly. Kelly was brought in to protect a one run lead but he left tied.
Heath Hembree came in to stop the bleeding only to stick a knife in the wound. Frazier walked to load the bases and Torreyes singled to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. Romine struck out but that was it for Hembree. He was brought in to keep the game tied and he left down 5-3.
Robby Scott came in and added to the misery by walking Gardner. A fan ran out on to the field to say hello to JBJ and distracted Scott so bad he hit Hicks with a pitch to increase the lead. That was it for Scott as he came in trying to keep it 5-3 with 2 men on and left trailing 6-3 with the bases loaded.
Addison Reed came in and FINALLY put the fire out. He got a key out by striking out Judge then got Sanchez to line out to first to end the inning. Just as when it all looked lost, the Sox somehow exploded in the bottom of the 7th inning. Devers popped to short but Vazquez singled to left and JBJ walked. Tommy Kahnle came in and he pooped his pants by allowing a single to Nunez to load the bases. Betts hit a sac fly to score Vazquez then Benintendi singled home JBJ, moving Nunez to third in the process. Ramirez walked to re-load the bases and Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Young. Moreland hit a roller up the middle to sore Nunez and Benintendi to somehow give the Sox the lead. Bogaerts flied out to right but Fenway was rejuvinated again with a 7-6 lead.
Reed came back for the top of the eighth inning and slammed the door. Gregorious flied out to center and Headley struck out. Frazier walked but Torreyes struck out. What an outstanding effort by Reed to put the fire out in the top of the seventh then slam the door in the top of the eighth. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the 8th against their punching bag Aroldis Chapman. Devers singled to right field and Vazquez walked to start the inning. Devers and Vazquez pulled off a double steal and scored on the JBJ single for huge insurance runs. Nunez popped up and Betts grounded out before Benintendi struck out to end the inning. The Sox now led 9-6 and had the Yankees by the balls.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the top of the ninth with Moreland now playing first base. Kimbrel didn't give the Yankees a sniff by blowing away Romine, Gardner and Hicks to end the game in short order. The Sox had stolen a big win 9-6.
Hero of the Night is Addison Reed. He put out the fire in the 7th and kept the lead in the 8th.
The Good:
Chris Young walked twice in 3 plate appearances.
Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Young and hit a 2 run single.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a 2 run home run.
Christian Vazquez was 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, a walk and a solo home run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Drew Pomeranz pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings before leaving with injury.
Brandon Workman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 29th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Matt Barnes gave up 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.
Joe Kelly gave up 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Heath Hembre gave up a run in 1/3 of an inning.
Robby Scott walked and hit a man.
The Ugly:
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Its frightening to lose Pomeranz and to see the bullpen melt down like that, but great to see the Sox rally to win the game. This was the kind of loss that could break the Yankees since they had the Red Sox completely falling apart only to lose the game anyway. Addison Reed finally earned his money and even though it wasn't a walkoff, it sure felt like one. The good news is back spams aren't permanent so Drew could miss a start but not have to go on the disabled list. Hembree, Kelly, Barnes and Scott need to get their heads out of their asses because the Sox have a legitimate chance to win the division and Farrell is sick of their bullcrap. Carson Smith may not be back this season so what you see is what you get with this bullpen. The win improved the Red Sox to 70-51, 5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the news gets worse for the Yankees as CC Sabathia comes off the disabled list to run smack into Chris Sale (14-4, 2.51 ERA). The game begins tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park. The Sox have a 5 game lead and are about to throw Chris Sale at the Yankees, let that sink in.
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