Porcello took the mound in the top of the first and Joe Mauer grounded out to short to start. Eddie Rosario grounded out to first before Jorge Polanco looked at strike three to end the inning. Jake Odorizzi got the start for the Twins in the bottom of the first and the Sox tagged him. Mr. Mookie Betts lined out to center but Andrew Benintendi and JD Martinez stroked back to back singles. Mitch Moreland singled home Benintendi to give the Sox the lead. Xander Bogaerts flied out to center but Rafael Devers loaded the bases with a bunt single. Eduardo Nunez grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox were up 1-0.
The Twins struck back in the top of the second although Brian Dozier grounded out to third to start. Logan Morrison then launched a 40,000 foot home run to tie the game. Miguel Sano grounded out to third and Robbie Grossman looked at strike three to end the inning but it was tied 1-1.
The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the second as Sandy Leon flied out to right to start. Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed on 3 straight fastballs and Mr. Mookie was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning.
The Twins struck again in the top of the third although Mitch Garver grounded out to first to start. Jake Cave and Mauer hit back to back singles but Rosario whiffed. Polanco then tripled into the gap in center to drive in both runners. Dozier singled home Polanco for the extra run but Morrison's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Porcello to end the inning with the Twins up 4-1.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Benintendi grounded out to short, Martinez whiffed and Moreland lined out to third to end the inning.
Porcello recovered in the top of the fourth as Sano looked at strike three to start. Grossman hit a routine grounder to Nunez who dove on top of the ball and dryland swam on it for an error. Garver lined out to right and Cave lined out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Bogaerts flied out to center to start. Devers smacked a ground rule double and Nunez walked, but Leon flied out to center. JBJ made up for allowing a triple with smacking a triple of his own to score both runners. Mr. Mookie tied the game with a clutch 2 out double but Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.
Porcello stayed strong in the top of the fifth as Mauer lined out to left, Rosario lined out to center and Polanco grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth as Martinez led off with his 32nd home run of the year to put Boston on top. Moreland whiffed but Bogaerts singled. Devers and Nunez whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-4.
Dozier walked to open the top of the sixth and a passed ball moved him to second. Morrison flied out to center and Porcello used what he had left in the tank to strike out Sano on a full count. That was it for Porcello after 5 2/3 gutty innings. He allowed the early 4 runs but came back to pitch a good fifth and most of the sixth. Heath Hembree came in and Grossman grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox got some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with Gabriel Moya on the mound. Leon led off with a double and JBJ walked, but Mr. Mookie whiffed. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and Benintendi singled home Leon. That was it for Moya as Matt Magill came in to strike out Martinez. Benintendi swiped second but Moreland whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-4.
Hembree returned for the top of the seventh and Garver whiffed to start. Cave flied out to center but Mauer singled. Rosario grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox failed to score in the bottom of the seventh as Bogaerts whiffed to start. Devers grounded out to short but Nunez legged out a triple. Leon grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Tyler Thornburg sprinted from the bullpen to the mound for the top of the eighth and Polanco grounded out to first to start. Dozier whiffed and Morrison grounded out to second to end the inning. Thornburg ran as fast as he can into the dugout and up the clubhouse runway. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the eighth as JBJ walked and Mr. Mookie doubled him home to start. Taylor Rogers replaced Magill and struck out Benintendi, but intentionally walked Martinez. Mr. Mookie swiped third but Moreland whiffed. For whatever reason Rogers intentionally walked Bogaerts to load the bases only for Devers to walk in Mr. Mookie. Nunez then doubled home both Martinez and Bogaerts to put the game away. The only sad part was Devers fell down at third holding his hamstring. He had to be hauled off on a gurney, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Brigham & Women's ICU. Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch ran for Devers but Leon looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox had taken a commanding lead 10-4.
Holt stayed at second with Nunez going to third with Joe Kelly on the mound for the top of the ninth inning. Sano whiffed and Grossman struck out swinging as well....but Grossman made it to first on a passed ball by Leon. Garver singled but Cave banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-4.
Hero of the Night is Mookie Betts. He drove in the tying run in the fourth inning and another run in the 8th, he also scored a run and stole a base.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 5 with an rbi, stolen base and run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 total runs and a solo home run.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 total rbis and a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Tyler Thornburg pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None.
The Ugly:
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Rick Porcello got the win but allowed 4 runs in just 5 2/3 innings.
Honorable Mention:
Brock Holt pinch ran for Devers and played second in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Now that's the way to cruise at the end of the game. After having to squeak by the Twins in 10 innings yesterday, pulling away in the 8th tonight made things a lot easier. The Sox need to be firing on all cylinders going into the New York Yankees series in less than a week so every win counts to that point. Having Porcello ready for that series is key but he didn't look too intimidating tonight. The bullpen looked outstanding and hopefully Thornburg can turn the corner into the reliever he was supposed to be when they traded for him last year. With Carson Smith gone for the season again, the Sox are going to need Thornburg down the stretch. As for this game, the offense finally woke up for the first time since the All-Star break and it was glorious. The win improved the Sox to 73-33, 5.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. It should be noted the offensively challenged 1992 Red Sox finished with 73 wins. This year's team has 73 wins on July 28th. The Sox are back in action tomorrow afternoon against the Twins. Nathan Eovaldi makes his Red Sox debut up against Jose Berrios at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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