Yankees Crush Rodriguez, Sox (6/29/18)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox activated newly acquired OF/1B Steve Pearce to the active roster. He's got an rbi bat and infield depth and should be a nice platoon with Mitch Moreland. The Sox sent down infielder Tzu-Wei Lin to Pawtucket to clear room for him.

                                                                   OUT

                                                             IN

As for the game, what a disaster. The Sox walked right into a New York buzzsaw and were completely unprepared. CC Sabathia of the Yankees continued to be the big game pitcher he's always been by tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball. The relentless Yankee offense pounded Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 4.11 ERA) into submission and rode four home runs to a 11-1 spanking of the Sox at Yankee Stadium to put the Yankees in first place.

Sabathia began his domination in the top of the first inning as Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center to begin. Andrew Benintendi whiffed before JD Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning. Rodriguez started strong in the bottom of the first by getting Aaron Hicks to fly out to center to start. Aaron Judge lined out to center before Giancarlo Stanton walked. Didi Gregorius flied out to left to end the inning.

Steve Pearce made his Red Sox debut with a double to left then moved to third on the Xander Bogaerts fly out to right. He was stranded as Eduardo Nunez popped up to first and Rafael Devers lined out to center to end the inning. The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the second as Gleyber Torres tripled past Jackie Bradley Jr in center before Miguel Andujar singled him home. Greg Bird looked at strike three and Austin Romine banged into a double play but it was 1-0 New York.

                                                The Yankees strike first

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the third inning as Christian Vazquez grounded out to third to start. JBJ looked at strike three but Mr. Mookie singled. Betts swiped second and Benintendi walked, but Martinez lined out to center to end the inning. Rodriguez cruised in the bottom of the third as Brett Gardner grounded out to third to begin. Hicks grounded out to third and Judge lined out to center to end the inning.

Pearce singled to open the top of the fourth but Bogaerts banged into a double play. Nunez singled but Devers grounded out to short to end the inning. The Yankees iced the game in the bottom of the fourth as Stanton walked to start before Gregorius doubled him to third. Torres scored Stanton with a sac fly and Andujar crushed a 30,000 foot home run to ice the game. Bird then hit a 950 foot blast for another run to rub it in. Romine grounded out to second but Gardner singled. Hicks flied out to left to end the inning but it was 5-0 Yankees and that was that.

                                             Rodriguez couldn't get it done

The Sox did manage to fight back in the top of the fifth although Vazquez lined out to left to begin. JBJ flied out to center but Mr. Mookie doubled and Benintendi doubled him home. Benintendi swiped third but Martinez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox down 5-1.

                                                         Betts scores the only run

Rodriguez returned for the bottom of the fifth and cruised. Judge looked at strike three before Stanton grounded out to second. Gregorius lined out to third to end the inning.

Any hopes of a rally were dashed in the top of the sixth as Pearce whiffed to start. Bogaerts grounded out to second and Nunez flied out to center to end the inning. Rodriguez came back for one more inning in the bottom of the sixth but gave up a single to Torres to start. Andujar popped up to first, Bird popped up to second and Romine flied out to right to end the inning. Rodriguez got lit up for 5 runs but did manage to last 6 innings.

                                             Rodriguez failed to keep the Sox in first

Sabathia came back for the top of the seventh and dominated. Devers and Vazquez both whiffed but JBJ was plunked. Mr. Mookie grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Sabathia has been a big game pitcher his whole career and with first place on the line, he stepped up. Justin Haley was the sacrificial lamb to pitch the rest of the game and he got tagged in the bottom of the seventh. Gardner grounded out to second but Hicks singled. Judge crushed a 300,000 foot home run into the Long Island Sound to increase the lead. Stanton flied out to center and Gregorius grounded out to first to end the inning but it was 7-1 Yankees.

                                                          What a bomb by Judge

Chad Green had the top of the eighth and the Sox went quietly. Benintendi looked at strike three, Martinez lined out to right and Pearce flied out to center to end the inning. Haley came back to finish the bottom of the eighth but the Yankees got him again. Torres flied out to right before Andujar singled, only to get thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Bird then smashed a 14,000 foot home run to wrap up the scoring. Romine flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees up 8-1.

                                                     Bird hits another one out

Chasen Shreve had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Bogaerts grounded out to second to start. Nunez whiffed and Devers struck out swinging to end the game. The Yankees had taken the game and first place with a 8-1 victory.

Jackass of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. With first place on the line he got shelled for 5 runs in 6 innings of work while giving up 2 long bombs. So much for him stepping up as a big game pitcher.

                                                        Rodriguez the Jackass


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.

Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and an rbi.

Steve Pearce was 2 for 4.



The Bad:

JD Martinez was 0 for 4.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Justin Haley gave up 3 runs in 2 innings.



The Ugly:

Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch.




Final Thoughts:

So much for coming into New York and sending a message to the Yankees, unless the message was "WE GIVE UP!" That was embarrassing not only to get their asses handed to them but to not even put up a fight. Sabathia had them out of sorts all night and whatever the Yankees hit seemed to go a long way. For a team that could be destined to win 100 games, the Yankees could be on pace to win 105. This kind of effort is not going to cut it for the Red Sox, especially on the road in New York. Steve Pearce got two hits in his debut but Martinez, Bogaerts, Devers and Vazquez were a combined 0 for 15 with 3 strikeouts. There are two games left in this set but they better improve in a hurry or else they're not walking out of New York in first place. The loss drops the Sox to 55-28, 1 game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox turn to Chris Sale (7-4) to bail them out against Yankees starter Sonny Gray at 7:10 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Sox Sweep Angels, Yankees Next (6/28/18)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox had made a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox sent minor league infielder Santiago Espinal for righthanded hitter Steve Pearce. Pearce has played for every team in the AL East and has a reputation of hitting left handed pitching. This is good news for Mitch Moreland so he can hit against righties and Pearce can hit against lefties...if he plays well.

                                                      Pearce is coming

As for the game, the Sox are headed to New York with a bit of momentum in their showdown with the Yankees for the AL East crown just before the All-Star break after tonight's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The Sox used a patchwork pitching staff to hold the Angels to 2 runs while JBJ matched that production with a 2 run home run. A Rafael Devers home run and another run proved to be the difference in the game as the Sox swept the Angels out of Fenway with a 4-2 win at Fenway Park.

                                                 Carnage approves of the win

Johnson took the ball in the top of the first inning and Ian Kinsler grounded out to short to start. Mike Trout grounded out to third before Justin Upton flied out to center to end the inning. Jaime Barria got the start for the Angels in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to second to start. Andrew Benintendi lined out to right and JD Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning.

Johnson got Albert Pujols to ground out to third to begin the top of the second before Andrelton Simmons flied out to left. David Fletcher singled before Chris Young whiffed to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Mitch Moreland whiffed to start. Xander Bogaerts doubled and moved to third on the Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounder but Rafael Devers grounded out to short to end the inning.

Johnson ran into trouble in the top of the third although Jose Briceno whiffed to start. Michael Hermosillo flied out to center but Kinsler singled. Trout walked but Upton grounded out to short to end the inning. Not much happened in the bottom of the third as Christian Vazquez flied out to right to begin. Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed but Mr. Mookie singled. Benintendi lined out to center to end the inning.

The Angels struck first in the top of the fourth although Pujols lined out to third to begin. Simmons then crushed a 10,000 foot home run to give the Angels the lead. Fletcher flied out to left and Young lined out to left to end the inning but the Angels were up 1-0.

                                                        Simmons strikes first

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez flied out to center to start. Moreland whiffed but Bogaerts walked. Holt looked at strike three to end the inning.

That was it for Johnson as Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez came in to pitch the top of the fifth inning. Briceno grounded out to third but Hermosillo beat out an infield single to third. Hermosillo was erased on the Force by Kinsler but Trout was hit with a pitch. Upton looked at strike three to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Devers smashed his 13th home run of the year to tie the game. Vazquez singled but was foolishly thrown out trying to stretch a double before JBJ popped up to second. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                    Devers ties it up

Velazquez cruised in the top of the sixth by getting Pujols to ground out to short to begin. Simmons whiffed and Fletcher looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth although Benintendi grounded out to second to start. Martinez walked to chase Barria as Jose Alvarez replaced him. Moreland doubled and Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases. Holt drew a bases loaded walk to put the Sox on top but Devers banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.

                                            "Where was that run support for me?" - BJ

Brandon Workman had the top of the seventh and he struck out Young swinging to start. Briceno whiffed and Kole Calhoun pinch hit for Hermosillo only to draw a walk. Kinsler flied out to left to end the inning.

Old pal Noe Ramirez came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Sox tagged him. Vazquez singled and the red hot JBJ crushed a 2 run bomb to ice the game. Mr. Mookie flied out to center and Benintendi grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.

                                                    JBJ goes yard

Benintendi saved the day in the top of the eighth with Joe Kelly now on the mound. Trout walked before Upton singled. Pujols singled home Trout to cut the lead in half. Simmons lined out to right and Benintendi made a great jumping catch up against the wall to rob Fletcher of a game tying double. Luis Valbuena pinch hit for Young and he flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels down 4-2.

                                                   Benintendi saves the day

Fletcher moved to right, Valbuena went to third and Calhoun went to center with Blake Parker now on the mound for the bottom of the eighth inning. Moreland grounded out to first, Bogaerts grounded out to third and Holt grounded out to short to end the inning.

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in for the save in the top of the ninth inning. Martin Maldonado pinch hit for Briceno and Kimbrel blew him away. Calhoun walkd but Kinsler whiffed. Kimbrel blew away Trout to end the game. The Sox had swept the Angels out of Fenway 4-2. Bring on the Yankees.

                                                    Sox sweep the Angels


Hero of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. His two run home run turned out to be the difference in the game.

                                                      Jackie Bradley Hero



The Good:

Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 including a solo home run.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Brian Johnson allowed 1 run in 4 innings of work.

Hector Velazquez pitched 2 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 24th save with a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4.

Joe Kelly allowed a run in the 8th inning.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Brock Holt was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

Bring on the Yankees. The Sox completed the three game sweep to take the Angels out of Fenway and now they have to go on the road to prove they are the best team in the AL East. The Angels are now 41-41 on the season and with the way the Oakland A's, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are playing...they may want to think about being sellers at the trade deadline. Without Shoeni Ohtani there's really nothing else besides a washed up Pujols and Trout. As for the game, big win for the Sox with some shutdown relief pitching apart from Kelly. The offense was timely but just enough to get the job done. The Sox are headed toward their best start to the season ever but it won't mean anything if the Yankees sweep them out of the Bronx this weekend. The addition of Steve Pearce will help against the lefthanders the Yankees may throw at them once he's activated. The win propelled the Sox to 55-27, 1 game ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2) takes on CC Sabathia at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Sox Survive Angels Surge (6/27/18)

For 5 innings in tonight's Boston Red Sox game it looked like the Sox were headed for their third straight blowout victory when the Los Angeles Angels came alive. The Angels had the unmitigated audacity to tie the game in the top of the seventh only for the Sox to re-take the lead in the bottom of the frame. The Angels threatened big time in the 8th but Sox closer Craig Kimbrel slammed the door big time on the Angels rally. The Sox held on to win this one 9-6 at Fenway Park to take over first place in the AL East.

                                               David Byrne approves of the win

"Slick" Rick Porcello took the mound in the top of the first inning and Ian Kinsler whiffed to start. Mike Trout grounded out to third before Justin Upton grounded out to short to end the inning. Angels starter Andrew Heaney was greeted by a Mr. Mookie Betts single to open the bottom of the first. Betts was erased on the force by Andrew Benintendi but JD Martinez walked. Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland both whiffed to end the inning.

Porcello got Albert Pujols to pop up to first to begin the top of the second before Luis Valbuena was rung up for strike three. Andrelton Simmons and Kole Calhoun hit back to back singles but Martin Maldonado flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the second and it started when Eduardo Nunez launched his 5th home run of the season to begin the inning. Rafael Devers singled and Sandy Leon somehow smoked his 3rd home run of the year to increase the lead. Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed but Mr. Mookie walked. Benintendi singled and Martinez hit the third home run of the inning to seemingly ice the game early. Bogaerts flied out to right and Moreland flied out to center to end the inning but after 3 homers it was 6-0 Sox.

                                                           Bing bang boom its 6-0

Porcello almost got tagged in the top of the third inning although Michael Hermosillo whiffed to start. Kinsler grounded out to third but Trout singled and Upton walked. Pujols flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Nunez lined out to center to begin. Devers whiffed before Leon lined out to third to end the inning.

Valbuena doubled to start the top of the fourth but Simmons grounded out to third. Calhoun whiffed but Maldonado walked. Hermosillo popped up to first to end the inning. JBJ singled to open the bottom of the fourth before Mr. Mookie walked. Benintendi flied out to right but Martinez singled to load the bases and chase Heaney. Hansel Robbles came in and JBJ was thrown out at home on the Bogaerts force. Moreland grounded out to end the inning, what a squander.

The Angels got a run back in the top of the fifth when Kinsler crushed a 500,000 foot bomb to put LA on the board. Trout whiffed, Upton grounded out to short and Pujols flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels down 6-1.

                                                               Kinsler hits one out

Cam Bedrosian came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Nunez grounded out to third to begin. Devers singled and swiped second but Leon whiffed. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning.

Porcello fell apart in the top of the sixth although Valbuena flied out to left to begin. Simmons and Calhoun stroked back to back singles before Maldonado crushed a 12,000 foot bomb to put the Angels back in the game. Hermosillo grounded out to short and Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough, lifting Porcello with the Sox still head. Porcello ran aground in the 6th but left with the lead. Heath Hembree came in and got Kinsler to fly out to right to end the inning with the Angels inching closer 6-4.

                                                  Not Porcello's best work

Justin Anderson came in for the bottom of the sixth and Mr. Mookie flied out to center to begin. Benintendi flied out to center and Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning.

Joe Kelly came in for the top of the seventh and crapped his pants. Trout popped up to first but Upton and Pujols stroked back to back singles. Valbuena hit a little squibber to Kelly who threw the ball 500 feet completely out of Fenway for an error to score Upton. Simmons doubled home Pujols to tie the game as the boo birds rained down. Kelly froze Calhoun but Sox manager Alex Cora was done with him. Matt Barnes came in and blew away Maldonado to end the inning but it was tied 6-6.

                                   "Get outta here before I whoop your damn ass!" - Cora

The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back against Jose Alvarez in the bottom of the seventh. Bogaerts flied out to right before Moreland grounded out to second. Nunez walked and Devers doubled. Nunez came all the way around to score and Devers took third when Simmons dropped the ball for an error. Leon singled home Devers for the insurance run before JBJ grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-6.

                                                    Nunez scores!!!

Barnes returned for the top of the eighth but ran into trouble although pinch hitter David Fletcher (fr Hermosillo) whiffed to start. Kinsler hit a routine grounder to Devers who jumped on the ball and swam on top of it for an error. Trout walked but Upton whiffed. Sox manager Alex Cora took no chances and brought in Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel for the four out save. Things looked scary when Pujols walked to load the bases and Chris Yung ran for him, but Kimbrel blew away Valbuena to end the inning.

Things got scary in the bottom of the eighth as Young stayed in at center, Valbuena moved to first and Fletcher took over at third with Jake Jewell now on the mound. Mr. Mookie flied out to left but Benintendi walked. Benintendi was erased on the force by Martinez before Bogaerts doubled. Jewell uncorked a wild pitch and Martinez made a mad dash for home. Jewell tried to make the play but was spiked in the ankle by the sliding (and safe) Martinez. Jewell had to be hauled off on a gurney and carted out on a golf cart, pretty scary. Blake Parker came in and got Moreland to fly out to left to end the inning but it was 9-6 Sox.

                                                      Injuries are never a good thing

The Angels were deflated after the injury and Kimbrel locked it down in the top of the ninth. Simmons popped up to first, Calhoun grounded out to third and Maldonado whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-6.

                                                  Kimbrel locks it down


Hero of the Night is Craig Kimbrel. The Sox were in danger of blowing their 2 run lead when he slammed the door in the 8th and dominated the 9th to save the game for the Sox.

                                               Craig The Hero Kimbrel



The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a walk, 3 total rbi's and 2 runs scored including a 2 run home run.

Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 total runs scored and a solo home run.

Rafael Devers was 3 for 4 with an rbi, stolen base and 2 runs scored.

Sandy Leon was 2 for 4 with 3 total rbis including a 2 run home run.

Heath Hembree retired the only man he faced.

Matt Barnes tossed a full scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Joe Kelly allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but walked and stole a base.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.

Rick Porcello gave up 4 runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work, falling apart in the 6th inning but ending up with a no-decision.




Final Thoughts:

That could have been a lot worse but a win is a win and they all count the same. Give the Sox credit for blowing the lead only to come back and take it again. Good teams respond to adversity well and the Sox did that tonight. Porcello and Kelly werent the best but they didn't get much help defensively either, namely Kelly. Kimbrel saved the day and once again the Sox need all the momentum they can get before heading to the Bronx with first place possibly on the line, not to mention bragging rights, in the Bronx. The win improved the Sox to 54-27, percentage points ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look for the series and season sweep of the Angels as they send Brian Johnson to the mound up against Jaime Barria at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Bats Bash Angels (6/26/18)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox announced Steven Wright's knee acted up again and he was placed on the Disabled List. The Sox called up Justin Haley to take Steven's place on the roster before tonight's game.

                                                                        OUT

                                                                        IN

After Chris Sale mowed down the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, David Price (8-5, 3.65 ERA) said "Hey don't forget about me!" Price took on the Los Angeles Angels and held them to just 1 run through 6 innings. Mookie Betts put the Sox up early with a home run and the red hot Jackie Bradley Jr paced the offense to put 9 runs on the board. The Sox are looking to build momentum for their end of the month showdown with the New York Yankees and they took a step toward that with a 9-1 victory at Fenway Park.

                                            El Mariachi approves of the win

Price took the mound in the top of the first inning and Ian Kinsler popped up to second to start. Mike Trout flied out to center and Justin Upton flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox struck immediately in the bottom of the first when Mr. Mookie Betts swatted the first pitch John Lamb threw to dead center for his 20th home run of the season. Andrew Benintendi lined out to right but JD Martinez doubled. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right before Mitch Moreland whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                     Betts jacks one out

Price cruised in the top of the second inning as Albert Pujols whiffed to start. Andrelton Simmons lined out to right before Martin Maldonado whiffed to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the second inning as Eduardo Nunez singled to center to begin. Rafael Devers hit a double play ball to Kinsler but he botched it and everyone was safe. Both runners moved into scoring position on the Christian Vazquez grounder and JBJ doubled home both men to increase the lead. Mr. Mookie walked and Benintendi doubled JBJ home to ice the game. Martinez looked at strike but Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases. Moreland beat out an infield single to short to bring home Betts and chase Lamb from the game. Deck McGuire came in and got Nunez to hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but it was 5-0

                                                             Devers scores a run

The Angels struck back in the top of the third although David Fletcher grounded out to short to start. Old friend Chris Young swatted a 50,000 foot home run off Price to cut the lead. Michael Hermosillo looked at strike three but Kinsler and Trout stroked back to back singles. A wild pitch moved the runners over and Upton walked to load the bases, but Pujols grounded out to third to end the inning. It was 5-1 Sox but that could have gone a lot worse.

                                              Old buddy Young goes yard

The Sox got that run right back in the botom of the third although Devers flied out to right to begin. Vazquez grounded back to the mound but JBJ smashed his 5th home run of the year to increase the lead. Mr. Mookie walked but Benintendi lined out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.

                                                   JBJ goes yard to increase the lead

Price settled down in the top of the fourth inning as Simmons grounded out to short to start. Maldonado grounded out to third but Fletcher walked. This time Price got Young to look at strike three to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez grounded out to short to start. Bogaerts flied out to center before Moreland grounded out to first to end the inning.

Price froze Hermosillo for strike three to begin the top of the fifth. Kinsler singled but was erased on the force by Trout. Upton looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox got a run in the bottom of the fifth although Nunez looked at strike three to begin. Devers flied out to right but Vazquez crushed his 3rd home run of the year to up the lead. JBJ was finally retired on a grounder to second to end the inning but it was 7-1 Sox.

                                                Vazquez goes yard

Price returned for one more inning in the top of the sixth and froze Pujols to start. Simmons singled but Maldonado popped up to first. Fletcher flied out to left to end the inning and that was it for Price. He tossed a solid game of 6 innings while allowing just 1 run while striking out 7.

                                                      Price gets the job done

The Sox added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth although Mr. Mookie lined out to left to begin. Benintendi grounded out to second but Martinez blasted his 24th home run of the year. Bogaerts doubled to chase McGuire and Akeel Morris replaced him. Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 8-1 Sox.

                                                        Martinez hits one out.

Heath Hembree took over for the top of the seventh inning and whiffed Young to start. Hermosillo popped up to second and Hembree blew away Kinsler to end the inning. Kole Calhoun came in for Upton but went to right, Luis Valbuena replaced Simmons but went to third with Fletcher moving to  short and Hermosillo going to left. Blake Swihart pinch hit for Nunez and singled to start the bottom of the seventh but Devers whiffed. Vazquez doubled and the red hot JBJ singled in Swihart. Mr. Mookie flied out to left before Tzu-Wei Lin pinch hit for Benintendi. Lin whiffed to end the inning but it was 9-1 Sox.

Brandon Workman got the call to pitch the top of the eighth inning as Lin took over at second, Brock Holt took over for Moreland at first and Swihart went to left. Trout whiffed to start before Calhoun lined out to center. Pujols flied out to center to end the inning. Jose Briceno took over at first in the bottom of the eighth as Martinez flied out to center to begin. Bogaerts walked and Holt doubled him to third but a pitch bounced in front of the plate. Bogaerts made a mad dash home but was thrown out as Holt made it to third. Swihart lined out to right to end the inning.

New call-up Justin Haley got the ball in the top of the ninth and Valbuena flied out to right to start. Maldonado was retired on a squibber in front of the plate before Fletcher popped up to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-1.

                                              Good work Haley


Hero of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. He was on fire going 3 for 4 with 4 total rbis, 2 total runs scored including a 2 run home run.

                                                 Jackie Bradley Hero


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.

JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with a solo home run.

Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.

Brock Holt was 1 for 1 at the plate.

Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Blake Swihart was 1 for 2 with a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a solo home run.

David Price earned the win with 6 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 7.

Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 8th inning.

Justin Haley pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Tzu-Wei Lin struck out in his only plate appearance.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

For the second game in a row the bats woke up but also for the second game in a row the Sox got good starting pitching. Bashing the Seattle Mariners and LA Angels has their rewards but so does shutting them down. Price was good in this game and JBJ led the charge on offense with almost everyone pitching in at some point. One guy can't carry the offense so days like today where everyone gets involved are a welcome rarity. If JBJ can raise his average to .240 that would be a huge bonus to his amazing defense. With the big showdown in the Bronx just 3 days away, the Sox may need to sweep the Angels in order to keep close enough to decide first place by July 1st. The win propelled the Sox to 53-27, percentage points behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night "Slick" Rick Porcello goes for the Sox opposite Andrew Heaney at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Off-Day News (6/25/18)

On this day in Boston Red Sox Basebawful History:

2000 - Jays walkoff, sweep Sox in 13 innings

2013 - Sox offense beat around Colorado

2016 - Sox clobbered by Texas Rangers

2017 - Fister loses first game to Angels

Tomorrow night the Sox take on the Los Angeles Angels. David Price (8-5) goes for the Sox up against John Lamb of the Angels. The game begins tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sale, Sox Blank Mariners (6/24/18)

After the Seattle Mariners ran roughshod over the Boston Red Sox pitching staff in the first two games of the series, someone had to step up to shut them down in the finale. Chris Sale (7-4, 2.56 ERA) said "gimmie the ball" and he mowed down the invaders, striking out thirteen men total. The Sox offense woke up just enough to provide decent support as Sale spun a 7 inning, 13 strikeout shutout to help the Sox salvage the finale 5-0 at Fenway Park.

                                                   Ron McGovney approves of the win

Sale got the ball in the top of the first inning and got Dee Gordon to fly out to right to begin. Mitch Haniger whiffed before Nelson Cruz flied out to right to end the inning. Marco Gonzales got the start for the Mariners and Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed to start. Andrew Benintendi flied out to center and JD Martinez whiffed to end the inning.

Sale cruised in the top of the second inning as Ryon Healy grounded out to second to start. Kyle Seager whiffed before Guillermo Heredia grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Mitch Moreland grounded out to second to start. Xander Bogaerts flied to left before Eduardo Nunez popped up to first to end the inning.

Mike Zunino whiffed to open the top of the third before Denard Span single. Andrew Romine whiffed before Span was picked off to end the inning. The Sox failed to score in the bottom of the third as Rafael Devers grounded out to second to begin. Sandy Leon grounded out to short but Jackie Bradley Jr singled. Mr. Mookie whiffed to ens the inning.

Sale turned up the heat in the top of the fourth as he struck out both Gordon and Haniger. The pain in the ass Cruz tripled but Healy whiffed to end the inning. Gonzales matched Sale in the bottom of the fourth as Benintendi looked at strike three to start. Martinez and Moreland whiffed to end the inning.

Sale was unhittable in the top of the fifth as Seager whiffed to start. Heredia and Zunino whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fifth when Bogaerts doubled to start. Nunez singled him to third before Devers doubled home Bogaerts to give the Sox the lead. Leon hit a sac fly to score Nunez before JBJ singled Devers to third. Mr. Mookie hit a sac fly to score Devers before Benintendi flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                                Bogaerts gets it started

Sale pitched well with the lead in the top of the 6th inning, getting Span to ground out to first to start. Romine caught Nunez asleep with a bunt single but was erased on the Gordon force. Haniger flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth when Martinez singled and Moreland belted his 11th home run of the year to ice the game. Bogaerts flied out to center, Nunez popped up to third and Devers popped up to first to end the inning but it was 5-0 Sox.

                                                       Moreland ices it

Sale returned for one more inning in the top of the seventh. The pain in the ass Cruz whiffed but Healy singled. Seager whiffed but Heredia walked. Zunino was the 13th and final strikeout victim by Sale to end the inning. The Sox needed a lift and Sale did the job with 7 shutout innings and 13 K's.

                                                          Sale spins a beauty

Chasen Bradford took over for the bottom of the seventh and Leon whiffed to start. JBJ singled and stole second but Mr. Mookie earned the hat trick with his third strikeout of the night. Benintendi grounded out to third to end the inning.

Joe Kelly came in to pitch the top of the eighth and he got Span to line out to short to start. Romine grounded out to short and Gordon lined out to left to end the inning. Nick Vincent had the bottom of the eighth for Seattle and Martinez grounded out to third to start. Moreland flied out to left and Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning.

Matt Barnes had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Haniger grounded out to short to start. Cruz lined out to right and Healy grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox collectively pitched a shutout to win this one 5-0.

                                                      Another win


Hero of the Night is Chris Sale. The ace spun a beauty, striking out 13 men without allowing a run in 7 great innings.

                                                      Chris Sale: Hero


The Good:

Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 3.

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 3 with a stolen base.

Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th inning.

Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Andrew Benintedni was 0 for 4 with a walk.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of three strikeouts but walked.

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 but the hit was a 2 run home run.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

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




Final Thoughts:

After getting their brains beat in the first two games it was nice for the pitching to step up tonight. Sale was just the tonic they needed to get back on track with his 7 inning gem. It was nice to see JBJ get multiple hits and the multiple hit innings keyed the two rallies. Gonzales stayed tough so offense had to be timely but the Sox got it. Going forward if they can beat good teams then come October they should be able to make some noise in the playoffs for once. The big series with the Yankees is less than a week away and that could decide first place before the All-Star break. The win improved the Sox to 52-27, percentage points behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. After an off-day Monday the Sox welcome the Los Angeles Angels to town for a 3 game set. John Lamb goes for the Angels opposite David Price (8-5) at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.