The Sox struck immediately in the top of the first inning against David Hess although Andrew Benintendi grounded out to short to begin. Mr. Mookie Betts drew a walk before JD Martinez smashed his 5th home run of the season and 200th of his career to put Boston on top. Mitch Moreland flied out to left and Xander Bogaerts hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 2-0.
Velazquez wasted no time giving up the lead in the bottom of the first although Jonathan Villar was retired on a squibber in front of the plate. Trey Mancini grounded out to short but Dwight Smith Jr singled to left. Rio Ruiz effortlessly crushed a 30,000 foot home run halfway to the White House to te the game. Chris Davis lined out to right to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.
Rafael Devers drew a walk to begin the top of the second inning but Michael Chavis whiffed. Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed before Christian Vazquez lined out to right to end the inning. Velazquez got in more trouble in the bottom of the second as Stevie Wilkerson flied out to center to begin. Hanser Alberto lined out to second but Joey Rickard doubled. Austin Wynns drew a walk but Villar flied out to left to end the inning.
Benintendi whiffed to start the top of the third but Mr. Mookie grounded out to second. Martinez drew a walk but Moreland looked at strike three to end the inning. Velazquez cruised in the bottom of the third as Mancini grounded out to short to start. Smith Jr and Ruiz both grounded back to the mound to end the inning. That was it for Velazquez as Dr. Quick Hook Cora decided 3 innings was all he needed from Velazquez.
The Sox took the lead in the top of the fourth when Bogaerts led off with his seventh home run of the year. Devers singled and Chavis walked before both moved over on the sacrifice bunt by JBJ. The rally ended as Vazquez grounded out to first and Benintendi whiffed to end the inning but it was 3-2 Sox.
The lead lasted approximately 30 seconds as the O's tied it up in the bottom of the fourth against Marcus Walden (5-0, 1.77 ERA) whiffed Davis to start before Wilkerson lined out to center. All of a sudden Alberto smashed a 500,000 foot home run into the Atlantic Ocean to tie the game. Rickard singled and Wynns lined out to right to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Branden Kline came in to pitch the top of the fifth and the Sox rallied to take the lead again. Mr. Mookie singled and Martinez walked before Moreland mashed his 10th home run of the season to put the Sox up again. Bogaerts lined out to center, Devers looked at strike three and Chavis whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.
Walden returned for the bottom of the fifth and cruised. Villar looked at strike three, Mancini grounded out to short and Smith Jr whiffed to end the inning.
Gabriel Ynoa came in for the top of the sixth and JBJ whiffed to start. Vazquez singled but Benintendi banged into a double play to end the inning. Walden returned for another inning in the bottom of the sixth as Ruiz lined out to center to begin. Davis grounded out to first and Wilkerson lined out to right to end the inning. Walden made one mistake to Alberto but pitched a solid 3 innings.
Mr. Mookie walked to open the top of the seventh but was thrown out trying to steal as Martinez struck out. Moreland grounded out to first to end the inning. Brandon Workman had the bottom of the seventh and Alberto flied out to right to start. Rickard grounded out to third before Wynns looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the eighth as Bogaerts whiffed to start. Devers flied out to center before Chavis popped up to third to end the inning. Ryan Brasier came in for the bottom of the eighth and crapped his pants. Villar flied out to center but Mancini singled. Smith Jr doubled home Mancini to cut the lead. Smith moved to third on the Ruiz grounder and Davis singled him home to cut the lead to one. That was it for Brasier as Matt Barnes was summoned for the four out save. Barnes punched out Wilkerson to end the inning but it was 6-5 Sox.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the ninth against Evan Phillips as JBJ walked to start. Vazquez singled and Benintendi was plunked to load the bases. Mr. Mookie drew a bases loaded walk to increase the lead and chase Phillips. Miguel Castro came in and Martinez scored Vazquez with a sac fly. Moreland whiffed and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-5.
Barnes returned to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth and Alberto grounded out to third to start. Rickard walked but Renato Nunez pinch hit for Wynns. Nunez banged into a double play to end the game and the Sox had won it 8-5.
Hero of the Night is Mitch Moreland. His 3 run home run proved to be the difference in the game.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 1 for 2 with 3 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, 3 total rbis, 2 total runs scored and his 200th career home run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 3 with a walk.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Marcus Walden got the win by allowing just 1 run in 3 innings.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes earned his 3rd save of the year with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Ryan Brasier allowed 2 runs in just 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but was hit with a pitch.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a solo home run.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 but walked and scored a run.
Hector Velazquez allowed 2 runs in 3 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
This was a game the Sox HAD to win. They had done well to get back to respectability but falling on their face yesterday was a huge step backward. They needed to steal a game like this with their 5th starter going and they did it. The offense woke up when it had to, especially with the lead dwindling which was a trademark of last year's team. If they are turning the corner they need to strike now against Baltimore because the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees aren't going away. The win improved the Sox to 18-19, 6 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to reach .500 on the season when they send Chris Sale (1-5, 5.25 ERA) to the mound to take on Andrew Cashner of the Orioles at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.
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