The Indians wasted zero time scoring against Brian Johnson in the top of the first inning as Fransisco Lindor hit a ground rule double to begin the game. Michael Brantley lined out to left and Jose Ramirez popped up to second but Edwin Encarnacion smashed a 27,000 foot home run to give the Indians the lead. Yandy Diaz singled but Brandon Guyer struck out to end the inning with the Indians ahead 2-0.
The Sox struck back in the bottom of the first against Carlos Carrasco although Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed badly to begin. Erik Gonzalez threw a ground ball by Andrew Benintendi away allowing him to reach and he moved to second on the force by Mitch Moreland. A wild pitch moved Benintendi to third and JD Martinez singled him home to put the Sox on the board. Xander Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were down 2-1.
Johnson settled down in the top of the second inning as Yan Gomes flied out to left to begin. Greg Allen grounded out shortstop and Gonzalez grounded out to short as well to end the inning. Ian Kinsler singled to open the bottom of the second but was thrown out at second trying to steal on the strikeout by Brock "The Hitman" Holt. Blake Swihart whiffed to end the inning.
Johnson got Lindor to line out to right to open the top of the third inning before Brandley grounded out to second. Ramirez doubled but Encarnacion grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to short to start. Mr. Mookie singled but Benintendi flied out to right. Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning.
Johnson had a strong top of the fourth inning as Diaz lined out to short to begin. Guyer was plunked and Gomes singled, but Allen whiffed. Gonzalez was frozen for strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Martinez whiffed to start. Bogaerts tied the game with a solo shot to center then Kinsler singled. Holt singled and Swihart singled home Kinsler to give the Sox the lead. JBJ whiffed but Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases. Benintendi cleared the bases with a double to chase Carrasco from the game. Oliver Perez was brought in and Moreland greeted him with a single. One and done for Perez as Neil Ramirez came in and walked Martinez. Bogaert sgrounded into a force to end the inning but it was 6-2 Sox. Outstanding!
Unfortunately Johnson couldn't hold the lead in the top of the fifth. Lindor walked but Brantley lined out to left, chasing Johnson after just 4 1/3 innings. Not great and he should have been allowed to finish the inning.
Heath Hembree came in to wreck the day although Ramirez flied out to center to start. Encarnacion blasted a 2 run bomb to cut into the load. Diaz looked at strike three to end the inning but more shoddy relief meant just a 6-4 lead.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Kinsler whiffed to start. Holt grounded out to first before Swihart whiffed to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came in to pitch the top of the sixth inning and Guyer whiffed to start. Gomes singled but was thrown out at second trying to stretch by JBJ. Allen flied out to center to end the inning. JBJ doubled to begin the bottom of the sixth but Mr. Mookie flied out to center. Dan Otero replaced Ramirez and got Benintendi to ground out to second. Moreland smashed a a 2 run bomb to increase the lead. Martinez whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-4.
Matt Barnes came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Gonzalez grounded out to first to begin. Lindor grounded back to the mound before Brantley flied out to right to end the inning. The red hot Bogaerts smashed yet another home run to add to the lead to begin the bottom of the seventh. Kinsler grounded out to third, Holt grounded out short and Swihart grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-4.
Joe Kelly came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Ramirez greeted him with a single. Encarnacion grounded out to third before Diaz lined out to first. Melky Cabrera pinch hit for Guyer and walked. Kelly punched out Gomes to end the inning. The Sox weren't done scoring yet and this time Cody Allen was the victim. JBJ singled before Mr. Mookie flied out to right. Benintendi whiffed but Moreland walked. Martinez singled home JBJ to wrap up the scoring. Bogaerts lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-4.
Ryan Brasier had mop up duty in the top of the ninth. Allen lined out to left, Gonzalez grounded out to first and Lindor lined out to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-4.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He clocked not one, but two home runs and set the tone for the offensive explosion.
The Good:
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a walk and a 2 run home run.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbi's.
Ian Kinsler was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Matt Barnes got the win with a scoreless 7th inning.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Heath Hembree allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but drove in 3 runs and scored.
Brock Holt was 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Blake Swihart was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Brian Johnson lasted 4 1/3 innings while giving up 3 runs.
Final Thoughts:
Now that's more like it. The Sox broke their three game losing streak in style by pounding a potential playoff opponent. It was nice to see the offense get back on track and the Sox are gonna need more nights like this to survive the rest of the month with the New York Yankees playing nothing but garbage from here on. Speaking of which, the Yankees just lost to the 77 loss Miami Marlins tonight. The win proved the Sox to 89-39, 9.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. It should be noted the 2010 Red Sox that suffered season ending injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis won 89 games. This year's team has 89 wins...on August 22nd. Tomorrow afternoon is the finale with David Price taking on Adam Plutko at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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