Eovaldi got the ball in the top of the first and Fransisco Lindor popped up to third to start. Michael Brantley grounded back to the mound before Jose Ramirez also grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Bieber had no issues with the Sox in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts looked at strike three to begin. Andrew Benintendi grounded out to second and JD Martinez watched strike three go by to end the inning.
The Indians almost struck in the top of the second inning. Yandy Diaz singled but Yonder Alonso whiffed. Melky Cabrera doubled Diaz to third but Yandy was thrown out at home on a Jason Kipnis grounder to first. Yan Gomes flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts popped up to first to begin. Mitch Moreland whiffed before Ian Kinsler grounded out to short to end the inning.
Eovaldi kept pact in the top of the third inning as Greg Allen hit a squibber in front of the plate to start. Lindor grounded out to short but Brantley walked. Ramirez grounded out to first to end the inning. Bieber mowed down the Sox in the bottom of the third as Eduardo Nunez grounded out to short, Sandy Leon took strike three and Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Indians struck first in the top of the fourth inning. Diaz lined out to right and Alonso grounded out to first to begin. All Eovaldi needed was one more out but he couldn't get it. Cabrera and Kipnis stroked back to back singles before Gomes singled in Cabrera. Allen doubled in Kipnis to increase the lead before Lindor flied out to left to end the inning with the Indians up 2-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to start but Benintendi singled. Martinez banged into a double play to end the inning.
Things looked bleak when Brantley doubled to start the top of the fifth but Ramirez whiffed. Brantley moved to third on the grounder by Diaz but Alonso grounded out to first to end the inning. Bieber was unstoppable in the bottom of the fifth as Bogaerts and Moreland both flied out to center to start. Kinsler watched strike three go by to end the inning.
The Indians iced the game in the top of the sixth when Cabrera launched a 500,000 foot home run to begin the inning. Kipnis flied out to left but Gomes and Allen stroked back to back singles to chase Eovaldi. He was eventually charged with 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings, not good.
Joe Kelly came in and whiffed Lindor but Brantley singled home Gomes but was thrown out at second trying to stretch to end the inning. Still the Indians were up for good 4-0.
Nunez tried to get a rally going in the bottom of the sixth with a double but Leon flied out ti right. JBJ lined out to right and Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came in to continue the trend of relievers giving up runs in the top of the seventh. Ramirez walked and stole second before going to third on the Diaz ground out. Alonso hit a sac fly to increase the lead with Cabrera looking at strike three to end the inning with the Indians up 5-0.
Brandon Guyer took over in right but somehow the Sox rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Benintendi doubled and Martinez singled him to third. Bogaerts doubled home Benintendi and Moreland scored Martinez with a sac fly, advancing Bogaerts to third. That was it for Bieber as Adam Cimber came in and got Kinsler to ground out, although Bogaerts scored to bring the tying run to the plate. That was it for the rally as Nunez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Indians ahead 5-3. How big were the last two runs now?
Once again the useless bullpen failed to keep the score intact in the top of the eighth inning. Tyler Thornburg made a mad dash in from the bullpen and blew away Kipnis but Gomes smashed a 3,750 foot bomb to increase the lead again. Allen was plunked but Lindor popped up to third. Brantley lined out to second to end the inning with the score now 6-3.
Old pal Andrew Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Steve Pearce pinch hit for Leon. Naturally Pearce whiffed as did JBJ. Mr. Mookie grounded out to second to end the inning.
Blake Swihart came in to catch the top of the ninth with Drew Pomeranz taking the hill. Ramirez walked but Diaz banged into a double play. Alonso singled but Guyer lined out to third to end the inning. With Cody Allen unavailable, old friend Indians manager Terry Francona brought in Brad Hand to close out the bottom of the ninth. Benintendi whiffed before Martinez lined out to short. Kipnis booted a ball by Bogaerts and allowed him to reach. Bogaerts ran to second on defensive indifference but Moreland whiffed to end the game. The Indians had won 6-3.
Jackass of the Night is a tough one but I'll go with Nathan Eovaldi. After pitching great earlier this month he turned back into a pumpkin. He lasted just 5 1/3 innings but gave up 4 crucial runs.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 3.
Drew Pomeranz pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 2.
Steve Pearce was 0 for 1.
Brandon Workman allowed a run in the top of the 7th.
Tyler Thornburg allowed a run in the top of the eighth.
The Ugly:
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.
Ian Kinsler was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.
Joe Kelly allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in 2/3 of an inning.
Honorable Mention:
Blake Swihart caught the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Don't look now but the Sox are stumbling a bit. This was the first time they've lost three in a row all year and it comes at a bad time with the New York Yankees playing nothing but garbage until the end of the month. Also getting knocked around by the Indians doesn't inspire confidence at all when the calendar turns to October. Still, getting Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez back would be nice. The loss drops the Sox to 88-39, 8 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look bounce back tomorrow night with Brian Johnson taking on Carlos Carrasco at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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