The outlook didn't look good for the Boston Red Sox when they dropped two out of three to the Houston Astros as the New York Yankees continued to pull away in the AL East race. On top of that, they had to face Astros ace Justin Verlander in the finale of the series today. Instead it was the Sox that struck back, getting to Verlander for 3 runs. Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3, 5.04 ERA) shocked the world by tossing 6 innings of one run ball. The much maligned Red Sox bullpen slammed the door as the Sox salvaged the series with a 4-1 win at Minute Maid Park.
Verlander took the ball in the top of the first inning and Andrew Benintendi whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to right and Rafael Devers flied out to center to end the inning. The Astros wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the first as Aledmys Diaz singled to right to start. Alex Bregman grounded out to third but that moved Diaz to third on the play. Michael Brantley grounded out to short before Carlos Correa singled home Diaz to give the Astros the lead. Correa took second on the throw home then third on a passed ball before Yuli Gurriel took strike three to end the inning with the Astros ahead 1-0.
Diaz keeled over in between innings and was replaced by Tyler White to start the top of the second inning. JD Martinez whiffed, Michael Chavis looked at strike three and Christian Vazquez whiffed to end the inning. The Astros did nothing in the bottom of the second as Josh Reddick grounded out to short to begin. Robinson Chirinos whiffed before Jake Marisnick was plunked. Derek Fisher singled to left before White whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third inning as Steve Pearce singled to third to begin. Pearce took second on a wild pitch and took third on a grounder by Jackie Bradley Jr. Eduardo Nunez beat out an infield single to third to put runners at the corners before Nunez took second on a wild pitch. Benintendi scored Pearce with a sac fly to tie the game before Mr. Mookie popped up to first to end the inning. The Sox had tied the game 1-1.
Bregman doubled to left to start the bottom of the third before moving to third on the Brantley grounder. Rodriguez got a big out when Correa grounded out to third on a great play by Devers before Gurriel flied out to left to end the inning.
Devers put the Sox on top with his 7th home run of the season to begin the top of the fourth inning. Martinez singled to left but Chavis looked at strike three. Vazquez flied out to right and Pearce lined out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Rodriguez cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Reddick flied out to center to start. Chirinos looked at strike three before Marisnick flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox got an insurance run in the top of the fifth although JBJ flied out to center to begin. Nunez struck a rocket to the left field wall for a double before Benintendi hit a routine grounder to second. Gurriel went OLE and the ball went through his legs for an error to score Nunez. Benintendi swiped second and Mr. Mookie hit a ball to the hole in short...THROWN AWAY. That put runners at the corners until Mr. Mookie swiped second, but Devers popped up to short. Martinez popped up to shallow right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Rodriguez cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Fisher grounded out on a chopper to first to begin. White took a 94 mph fastball on the inside corner for strike three before Bregman lined out to a running JBJ to end the inning.
Chavis whiffed to begin the top of the sixth before Vazquez popped up to center. Pearce grounded out to third to end the inning. Rodriguez came back for one last inning and got Brantley to ground out to short to start. Correa walked but the alert Vazquez picked him off of first. Gurriel popped up to second to end the inning and Rodriguez' day. Eduardo outpitched Verlander by tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball, walking just 1 batter while striking out 5.
Verlander returned for the top of the seventh and got JBJ to pop up to short left to start. Nunez grounded out to third and Benintendi lined out to center to end the inning. Brandon Workman took over for Rodriguez in the bottom of the seventh and Reddick popped up to left to begin. Chirinos was rung up for a swinging strike three before Marisnick also took strike three to end the inning.
Josh James came in for Verlander in the top of the eighth as Mr. Mookie flied out to right to begin. Devers singled to right but Martinez whiffed. Devers swiped second before Chavis walked. Vazquez whiffed badly to end the inning. Matt Barnes was summoned for the bottom of the eighth and he blew away Fisher on a curve in the dirt to begin. Tony Kemp pinch hit for White and drew a walk but Bregman popped up to center. Brantley took a questionable curve on the outside corner for strike three to end the inning.
Framber Valdez came in for the top of the ninth and Pearce lined out to right to begin. JBJ walked and took second on a balk by Valdez. JBJ took third on a passed ball and scored on the rbi grounder by Nunez. Benintendi popped up to right to end the inning but it was 4-1 Sox.
Marcus Walden was brought in to close out the game in the top of the ninth and Correa grounded to short on a broken bat to start. Gurriel whiffed and Reddick flied out to the right field wall to end the game. The Sox had won the game 4-1 and salvaged the series.
Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He outpitched Justin Verlander by tossing 6 inning of 1 run ball against one of the best teams in the league. He allowed just 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a home run.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Marcus Walden got his first save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 but stole a base and drove in a run.
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4 but stole a base.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Steve Pearce was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
Wow, a rare win against a good team and it was impressive too. Verlander is one of the best pitchers in the league and Rodriguez outdueled him. Hats off to Eduardo for stepping up his game. The offense did just enough to win although Michael Chavis is quickly showing he can't lay off high fastballs. Maybe Kit Keller can show him how to hit them. Devers has been one of the few bright spots this season and he stepped it up against the Astros big time. All in all it was a good win and hopefully the Sox can build some momentum out of it. The win improved the Sox to 28-25, 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox return home to play the Cleveland Indians in a three game set. "Slick" Rick Porcello (3-4) goes for the Sox against Jefry Rodriguez at a special Memorial Day 4:05 PM start time at Fenway Park.
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