As for the game, THAT is how you bounce back from a tough loss. After getting wiped out by the Yankees and facing one of the best pitchers in the National League, the Sox showed some balls by beating that pitcher and holding on to win the game. The Sox tagged Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer for 3 early runs and got a big lift from "Slick" Rick Porcello (10-3, 3.57 ERA) on both sides of the plate to keep the Nationals down. Mookie Betts hit a towering home run in the 7th inning that proved to be the difference maker as the Sox held on to win 4-3 at Nationals Park.
Scherzer got the ball in the top of the first inning and Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to first to begin. Andrew Benintendi whiffed before Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning. Porcello began the bottom of the first by getting Adam Eaton to fly out to right. Trea Turner grounded out to first but Juan Soto walked. Anthony Rendon grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Mitch Moreland singled to start. Rafael Devers popped up to second but Brock "The Hitman" Holt was plunked. Sandy Leon whiffed and Jackie Bradley Jr was intentionally walked to get to Porcello. Shockingly Rick came through with a bases clearing double to put the Sox on top. Mr. Mookie walked but Benintendi whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Porcello kept the lead for himself in the bottom of the second as Bryce Harper grounded out to second to start. Daniel Murphy singled and Wilmer Difo singled as well but Mr. Mookie gunned down Murphy trying to go to third. Pedro Severino grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Bogaerts was plunked to begin the top of the third but Moreland and Devers both whiffed. Holt singled Bogaerts to third but Leon flied out to center to end the inning. Porcello got Scherzer to ground back to the mound to begin the bottom of the frame but Eaton singled to center. Eaton was erased on the force by Turner and Soto looked at strike three to end the inning.
Scherzer cruised in the top of the fourth as JBJ flied out to left to begin. Porcello whiffed this time and Mr. Mookie flied out to center to end the inning. The Nationals struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Rendon smashed a 990,000 foot home run into the Atlantic Ocean to cut into the lead. Harper was fooled for strike three and Murphy lined out to first, but Difo singled. Severino looked at strike three to end the inning with the Nationals down 3-1.
Scherzer found his groove in the top of the fifth as Benintendi whiffed to start. Bogaerts lined out to left and Moreland whiffed to end the inning. For the second time Porcello got Scherzer to ground back to the mound, this time to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Eaton walked but Turner lined out to third. Soto singled but Rendon whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the sixth although Devers popped up to second to begin. Holt singled and moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Leon, but JBJ was intentionally walked. Porcello was allowed to hit away but looked at strike three to end the inning. The Nationals inched closer in the bottom of the sixth although Harper flied out to left to start. Murphy smashed a 30,000 foot home run to center but Difo looked at strike three. Severino grounded out to third to end the inning with the Nationals down 3-2. That was it for Porcello who tossed 6 gutty innings and struck the decisive blow at the plate.
The Sox got some big insurance in the top of the seventh against Brandon Kintzler as Mr. Mookie crushed a solo home run to center to increase the lead. Benintendi flied out to left before Bogaerts whiffed. Moreland flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Matt Barnes got the call for the bottom of the seventh and Brian Goodwin pinch hit for Kintzler only to line out to second. Eaton singled but Turner whiffed. Soto walked but Rendon grounded into a force to end the inning.
Tim Collins took over for the top of the eighth and Devers whiffed to start. Holt singled but was picked off in a rundown. Leon looked at strike three to end the inning. Joe Kelly took over for the bottom of the eighth and immediately Harper smashed a 20,000 foot bomb to inch the Nationals closer. Kelly responded by blowing away Murphy and Difo before pinch hitter Mark Reynolds walked. Michael Taylor pinch hit for Collins and the Sox countered with a double switch. Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in for the four out save while Christian Vazquez came in to catch. Taylor flied out to right to end the inning with the Nationals down 4-3.
Shawn Kelley came in to pitch the top of the ninth with Spencer Kieboom now behind the plate. JBJ caught Rendon asleep with a bunt but Vazquez flied out to right. Mr. Mookie flied out to center and Benintendi whiffed to end the inning. Kimbrel came back to finish it off in the bottom of the ninth and he blew away Eaton to start. Turner flied out to right but Soto walked. Rendon lined out to a running Benintendi to end the game. The Sox had won a big bounce back game 4-3.
Hero of the Night is Rick Porcello. He got it done on both sides of the plate, smacking the 3 run double and tossing 6 innings of 2 run ball to get the win.
The Good:
Brock Holt was 3 for 3 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, an HBP and a run scored.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 25th save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 5 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Joe Kelly allowed a run in just 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a walk and outfield assist but the one hit was a solo home run.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but was hit with a pitch.
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
After getting humiliated by New York, the Sox bounced back in a big way to beat the Nationals' best pitcher. Who would have thought the deciding blow would come off the bat of Porcello? That's the kind of season the Sox are having where they just find ways to win. The Sox grinded this one out on a day offense came at a premium as the only other run not driven in by "Slick" Rick was a homer by Mr. Mookie. Benintendi was terrible today by earning a golden sombrero and Joe Kelly has been struggling lately. Both are gonna have to pick up the pace if they hope to make a run for October after the All-Star break. Then again so does everyone else. The win improved the Sox to 57-29, once again 1 game in firont of the New York Yankees as they lost to the Atlanta Braves in extra innings. Tomorrow evening the Sox turn to Brian Johnson to take on the struggling Tanner Roark at 6:00 PM at Nationals Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment