Sale Returns, Blinds O's For Series Sweep (8/12/18)

Before the game it was announced that William Cuevas was sent back to Pawtucket with Brandon Workman joining him. Cuevas was just around for the double-header and Workman was considered expendable as the Boston Red Sox announced Chris Sale was coming off the disabled list to make today's start against the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox need Sale to come back strong if they hope to win the AL East for the third straight year.

OUT

                                                                           IN

As for the game, he's BAAAAAAACK. Chris Sale (12-4, 1.97 ERA) absolutely dominated the lowly Baltimore Orioles in the series finale. The Sox swept the O's out of Baltimore with an incredible Sale start where he struck out 12 through just 5 innings before holding on to win the game. The Sox won their 85th game of the season by beating Baltimore 4-1 at Oriole Park in Camden Yards

                                                  Sal approves of the win

The Sox wasted no time scoring against Alex Cobb in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed to begin the game and Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to third. Steve Pearce put the Sox on top with a solo shot to left, his 10th of the season. JD Martinez whiffed to end the inning but it was 1-0 Sox.

                                                      Pearce puts Boston on top

Sale made his comeback in the bottom of the first by getting Joey Rickard to fly out to center to begin. Sale punched out both Jonathan Villar and Adam Jones to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Mitch Moreland grounded back to the mound to begin. Nunez flied out to center before Devers lined out to whiffed to end the inning. Sale got Trey Mancini to ground out to third to open the bottom of the second before he froze Tim Beckham for strike three. Chris Davis whiffed to end the inning.

Cobb was tough in the top of the third as Sandy Leon grounded out to second to begin. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to center and Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning. Renato Nunez singled to open the bottom of the third and Sale was so offended he punched out Austin Wynns, Cedric Mullins and Rickard in short order to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth as Holt singled to right to begin. Pearce hit one up the elevator shaft but Martinez lashed a ball to Jones in right who muffed it, allowing Holt to score and advancing Martinez to second. Moreland grounded back to the mound before Nunez grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

 

                                            Martinez the rbi machine

Sale came out in the bottom of the fourth and whiffed Villar to start. Jones grounded out to short and Mancini whiffed to end the inning with Sale up to 9 strikeouts.

Cobb joined the punch out parade in the top of the fifth by striking out both Devers and Leon. JBJ singled to right but Mr. Mookie grounded into a force to end the inning. Sale ended his day with a flurry in the bottom of the fifth. Beckham, Davis and Nunez all whiffed for 12 punch outs through 5 innings. Sox manager Alex Cora decided that was enough and lifted Sale after 5 innings.

                                       Sale finds the concept of the Orioles offensive

Cobb returned for the top of the sixth and struck out Holt to begin. Pearce walked and Martinez doubled him to third, but Moreland whiffed. Nunez grounded out to short to end the inning. Tyler Thornburg made a mad dash from the bullpen to the mound to begin the bottom of the sixth. Wynns grounded out to third to start before Mullins lined out to center. Tyler fell apart as Rickard singled, Villar walked and Jones walked to load the bases. Thornburg sprinted from the mound into the Sox dugout as Ryan Brasier came in to strike out Mancini to end the inning.

Devers singled to open the top of the seventh and took second on the sacrifice bunt by Leon, but JBJ singled. Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked before Holt grounded out to short to end the inning. Brian Johnson got the call to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Beckham lined out to short to begin. Davis whiffed but Nunez walked. Wynns grounded into a force to end the inning.

Mychel Givens took over for Cobb to begin the top of the eighth and Pearce lined out to left to begin. Martinez lined out to center before Moreland whiffed to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and crapped his pants. Mullins singled before Rickard flied out to center. Villar singled and Jones walked to load the bases. Mancini hit a sac fly to cut the lead to a single run but Beckham whiffed to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 2-1.

                                                      O's inch closer

Needing some insurance, the Sox rallied in the top of the ninth inning. Nunez started with a single before Devers whiffed. Leon popped up to short but Nunez came all the way around to score on a single by JBJ. Mr. Mookie doubled home JBJ to ice it and chase Givens from the game. Tanner Scott came in and got Holt to fly out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.

                                          Betts ices it in the ninth

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel got the call to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning and froze Davis to begin the frame. Nunez walked and Wynns singled but Mullins whiffed. Mark Trumbo pinch hit for Rickard and whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-1 to sweep the Orioles out of Baltimore.

                                            All smiles in this victory


Hero of the Night is Chris Sale. The lefty returned to strike out 12 in 5 innings of work to earn the win.

                                                  Sale is the Hero



The Good:

Steve Pearce was 1 for 3 with a walk including a solo home run.

JD Martinez was 2 for 4.

Tyler Thornburg pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning

Ryan Brasier retired the only man he faced.

Brian Johnson pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 35th save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Matt Barnes allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.

Brock Holt was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.

Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4 but stole a base and scored a run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.





Final Thoughts:

Welcome back Chris Sale. What's good news for the Red Sox is bad news for everyone else. The Sox have the best record in baseball and it doesnt appear like they will give up the AL East crown with a healthy Sale returning. The offense didn't do much against Cobb but timely hitting is better than none. The bullpen once again allowed a run and its becoming an epidemic at this point. Still, the Sox are about a month away from crunch time and any win counts. The win improved the Sox to 85-35, 9.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. It should be noted that the 2000 Red Sox featuring arguably the best season by a pitcher in history during the height of the steroid era finished with 85 wins. The 2018 Red Sox have 85 wins....on August 12th. After an off-day the Sox travel to Philadelphia for a 2 game interleague series with the Phillies. "Slick" Rick Porcello (14-5) takes on Nick Pivetta Tuesday night at 7:05 PM at Citizens Bank Park.