As for the game, what a day. It started when Dustin Pedroia made a press conference stating he's stepping away from the game for a while. While not officially announcing his retirement, he admits his knee is not healing and he may as well be finished. If that wasn't enough, while the conference was going on the news broke that former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner passed away at the age of 69. Also the Boston Bruins defeated the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. When we finally got to the game, the Sox thrashed old friend Terry Francona's Cleveland Indians. The Sox trailed 3-0 before they fought back to tie the game then erupted for 6 runs in the bottom of the fifth. The offense ended up with 13 hits and 12 runs as the Sox won it 12-5 at Fenway Park.
The late Bill Buckner approves of the win
The Indians were one of the worst offensive teams in the league but they took a big dump on Porcello in the top of the first. Fransico Lindor led the game off by slicing a single to left and took third when Xander Bogaerts muffed a picture perfect double play ball hit by Oscar Mercado to put runners at the corners. Mercado swiped second but somehow Porcello whiffed Carlos Santana. Right on cue Jason Kipnis singled home Lindor and put runners back on the corners. Jake Bauers was plunked to load the bases an Roberto Perez beat out a double play ball to score Mercado. Mike Freeman flied out to left to end the inning but the Indians led 2-0.
Jefry Rodriguez began his domination in the bottom of the first inning as Andrew Benintendi whiffed badly on 3 pitches to start. Mr. Mookie Betts tried to pull a ball on the outside corner and grounded out to short before Rafael Devers whiffed on a pitch that bounced in the dirt to end the inning.
Greg Allen led off the second inning with a routine pop up that Bogaerts nearly fell down trying to catch. Leonys Martin hit a routine pop up to third and Devers did fall down but caught it anyway. Lindor hit a rocket but Bogaerts snared it to end the inning. The Sox quit in the bottom of the second as JD Martinez weakly grounded out to short to start. Bogaerts whiffed on a pitch that bounced 5 feet in the dirt but somehow Michael Chavis got a lucky single to center. Chavis took second on a wild pitch before Holt grounded out to first to end the inning.
The supposedly punchless Indians kept up the attack in the top of the third inning as Mercado effortlessly singled to left to begin. Mercado easily swiped second before Santana walked. Kipnis dropped down a bunt to move the runners over and naturally Bauers drove home Mercado with a ground out. Perez was frozen for strike three but it was 3-0 Indians.
The Sox got a lucky break in the bottom of the third although Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out weakly to short to start. Sandy Leon took a straight fastball right down the middle but somehow Benintendi walked. Somehow Benintendi swiped second when Mercado dropped a routine pop up from Betts that allowed Benintendi to score and advance Betts all the way to third. Betts scored on a lucky wild pitch by Perez before Devers weakly grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox got lucky to cut it 3-2.
The Indians poured it on in the top of the fourth as Freeman singled to center to start. Freeman moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Allen and to third on the grounder by Martin. Lindor was intentionally walked and easily swiped second before Mercado walked to load the bases. Santana hit a rocket to the Sox bullpen but Betts snared it to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez looked at strike three to start. Bogaerts stroked a single before hustling to third on a base hit by Chavis. Chavis took second on the throw and Holt stroked a single to left that scored Bogaerts and sent Chavis to third. JBJ walked to load the bases but Leon popped up to left. Benintendi swung up at his eyes on a pitch headed for the dirt to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 3-3.
Mr. Mookie made a great diving catch to rob Kipnis of extra bases to begin the top of the fifth but Bauers doubled off the Monster. Perez popped up to second before Holt made a great stop to rob Freeman of an rbi to end the inning. The Sox took the lead as Mr. Mookie followed up his catch with a single off the Monster to start the bottom of the fifth. Devers smoked a double off the centerfield wall to score Betts to give the Sox the lead but Martin made a great diving catch to rob Martinez of a double. Bogaerts scolded a double down the left field line to score Devers with another run before Chavis was intentionally walked to chase Rodriguez. Oliver Perez got Holt to ground into a force to put runners at the corners but JBJ doubled home Bogaerts. Leon iced the game with a 3 run bomb as Benintendi grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-3.
Leon hammers one out
Porcello cruised in the top of the sixth as Allen flied out to center to begin. Martin grounded out to second before Lindor grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth against Dan Otero although Mr. Mookie whiffed to start. Devers flied out to center but Martinez plastered his 10th home run of the year to increase the lead. Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox lead 10-3.
Martinez with his 10th homer
Porcello ran out of gas in the top of the seventh inning as Mercado singled to start. Santana looked at strike three but Kipnis doubled. Bauers looked at strike three but Perez singled home Mercado to chase Porcello. Rick hung around at the end to go 6 2/3 innings and be charged with 3 earned runs, The Bogaerts error proved costly in the end. Heath Hembree came in and allowed a double to Freeman to score Kipnis but got Allen to fly out to center to end the inning with the Indians down 10-5.
Porcello exits with the lead
Josh D Smith came in for the bottom of the seventh and the Sox tagged him too. Chavis was plunked but was erased on the Holt force. JBJ doubled home Holt but Leon looked at strike three. Benintendi walked but Mr. Mookie took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-5.
Ryan Brasier was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth and Martin flied out to right to begin. Lindor popped up to first and Mercado flied out to left to end the inning. Adam Cimber got tagged in the bottom of the eighth although Devers grounded out to first to begin. Martinez belted his second home run of the game to wrap up the scoring. Bogaerts grounded out to short and Chavis whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 12-5.
Martinez goes yard again
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Santana grounded out to short to begin. Kipnis grounded back to the mound but Bauers walked. Perez took strike three to end the game. The Sox pounded out 13 hits and 12 runs to win this one for Bill Buckner 12-5.
Hero of the Night is JD Martinez. He cracked not one but two home runs to pace the offensive attack.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a walk.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Rick Porcello got the win with 6 2/3 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. He struck out 4 batters.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a walk.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Rick Porcello got the win with 6 2/3 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. He struck out 4 batters.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None.
None.
The Ugly:
Heath Hembree allowed 2 inherited runners to score but none of his own in 1/3 of an inning.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored twice.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 3 run home run.
Heath Hembree allowed 2 inherited runners to score but none of his own in 1/3 of an inning.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored twice.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 3 run home run.
Final Thoughts:
What a day. Bill Buckner was a very important member of the mid 80's Red Sox and he finished a few hundreds hits shy of 3,000. Pedroia may be done for good and if so, he had a Dave Cowens like career that was reckless, short and sweet. As for this game, the Sox needed a big win to prove they can beat good teams and this is what the doctor ordered. This was a decisive beat down that was shades of last year. Hopefully the Sox can ride this momentum going forward if they hope to cut into the New York Yankees stranglehold of the AL East. The win improved the Sox to 29-25, 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox are back in action against the Indians as Zach Plesac takes on David Price if the weather permits at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
What a day. Bill Buckner was a very important member of the mid 80's Red Sox and he finished a few hundreds hits shy of 3,000. Pedroia may be done for good and if so, he had a Dave Cowens like career that was reckless, short and sweet. As for this game, the Sox needed a big win to prove they can beat good teams and this is what the doctor ordered. This was a decisive beat down that was shades of last year. Hopefully the Sox can ride this momentum going forward if they hope to cut into the New York Yankees stranglehold of the AL East. The win improved the Sox to 29-25, 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox are back in action against the Indians as Zach Plesac takes on David Price if the weather permits at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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