Sale took the mound in the top of the first inning and Marcus Semien beat out an infield single to begin the game. Mark Canha whiffed but Jed Lowrie walked. Khris Davis and Matt Chapman both whiffed to end the inning. The Sox exploded against Trevor Cahill in the bottom of the first inning as Mr. Mookie Betts singled to left and advanced to second when Chad Pinder booted the ball. Andrew Benintendi singled Betts to third and Hanley Ramirez scored Mookie with a ground out to short to give the Sox the lead. JD Martinez stepped up and blasted a 2 run bomb to dead center to increase the lead. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short but Mitch Moreland walked. Eduardo Nunez lined out to first to end the inning but the Sox lead 3-0.
Could Sale pitch with the lead in the top of the second inning? Yes! Matt Olson whiffed and Stephen Piscotty popped up to second before Pinder walked. Jonathan Lucroy whiffed to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Rafael Devers grounded out to second to start. Christian Vazquez grounded back to the mound but Mr. Mookie singled. Betts was foolishly thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning.
Sale was untouchable in the top of the third inning as Semien and Canha flied out to center before Lowrie whiffed to end the inning. Benintendi tried to get a rally started in the bottom of the third inning with a single to center but Ramirez advanced him to second on a ground out. Martinez moved Benintendi to third with a ground out but Bogaerts lined out to left to end the inning.
The A's threatened in the top of the fourth inning when Davis walked and took second on a passed ball, but Chapman whiffed. Olson flied out to left and Piscotty flied out to center to end the inning. Cahill dominated the bottom of the fourth as Moreland whiffed, Nunez grounded out to third and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning.
The A's struck back in the top of the fifth inning as Pinder walked to start. Lucroy whiffed but Semien crushed a 200,890 foot home run to bring the A's within a run. Canha whiffed and Lowrie flied out to right to end the inning but the A's were back in it down 3-2. That was it for Chris Sale who's 9 strikeouts and 4 walks led to him being out after 102 pitches but in line for the win
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fifth as Vazquez grounded back to the mound, Mr. Mookie grounded out to second and Benintendi also grounded out to second to end the inning.
Matt Barnes took over for Sale in the top of the sixth and Davis popped up to first to start. Chapman whiffed but Olson singled to right. Piscotty whiffed to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the sixth inning against Ryan "Don't call me" Dull. Ramirez lashed a single and Martinez walked before Bogaerts crushed a 3 run bomb into the Monster Seats to increase the lead. Moreland whiffed but Nunez singled. Devers flied out to center but Vazquez singled. Mr. Mookie flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox led 6-2.
Heath Hembree came in to pitch the top of the seventh and crapped his pants. Matt Joyce pinch hit for Pinder and launched a 56,000 foot home run to start the inning. Lucroy flied out to right but Semien whiffed. Canha flied out to right to end the inning with the A's down 6-3.
Chris Hatcher came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and whiffed Benintendi to begin. Ramirez flied out to right and Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Joe "Machine Gun" Kelly came in to pitch the top of the eighth and walked Lowrie to start. Davis erased Lowrie at second on a force before Chapman banged into a double play to end the inning. Danny Coulombe came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and blew away the Sox. Bogaerts and Moreland both whiffed before Nunez looked at strike three to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the top of the ninth and served up a big fat meatball to Olson who blasted it 780 feet to bring the A's closer. Kimbrel settled down to blow away Piscotty before getting Joyce to ground out to second. Lucroy flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had won the game 6-4.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. His 3 run homer proved to be the difference in the game.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 total runs scored and a 2 run home run.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3.
Chris Sale went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs to earn the win, striking out 9,
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3.
Heath Hembree gave up a run in the 7th inning.
The Ugly:
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 12th save but gave up a home run in the 9th.
Final Thoughts:
Figures the one time the Sox score for Sale and he only goes 5 innings. Still that was a much better effort than getting no-hit out in Oakland. Benintendi continues his resurgence but Vazquez continues his decline. Its sad to see Vazquez lay down after hitting well this year but anyone can have a down year, look at Betts last year. Speaking of Betts, he's already in the MVP running provided he doesn't get hurt. The bullpen allowed two runs tonight but with Kimbrel, once again you'd rather see him serve up a meatball than throw the ball all around the batters box and have 3 guys reach base. It was a much needed win with the New York Yankees refusing to go away and every win counts. The win improved the Sox to 29-14, tied for first place in the AL East with the Yankees who were rained out in Washington. Tomorrow night the Sox continue their homestand against the Baltimore Orioles. David Price (3-4) takes on Kevin Gausman who had the Sox number last year. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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