Before the game the Boston Red Sox got some news. Steven Wright's 80 game suspension is over and he's back with the team. Josh A Smith was also sent back to Pawtucket. If Wright can rediscover the form he had in 2016, the Sox will be on their way back to the top of the AL East.
Here come the Boston Red Sox. After being a dull doormat for the first two and a half months of the season, the Red Sox have now won 10 of 13 games including tonight's game over the Chicago White Sox. David Price (5-2, 3.36 ERA) tossed 6 solid innings to keep the Sox in the game. The bullpen slammed the door on Chicago with three shutout innings while the offense broke a 3-3 tie with a two run Xander Bogaerts home run in the bottom of the fifth. The BoSox tacked on another run for good measure in the bottom of the sixth and once it was over the BoSox had beaten the ChiSox 6-3 at Fenway Park.
After a 25 minute rain delay, Price took the mound in the top of the first inning. Leury Garcia flied out to right before Tim Anderson took strike three. Jose Abreu whiffed to end the inning. The BoSox wasted no time getting to White Sox starter Carson Fulmer in the bottom of the first. Mr. Mookie Betts hit a routine grounder to Anderson who threw the ball away for an error that allowed Betts to take second. Rafael Devers doubled him home to give Boston the lead two batters into the game. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third but JD Martinez walked. Jackie Bradley Jr took strike three and Christian Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning with Boston ahead 1-0.
The White Sox answered in the top of the second as James McCann hit a routine grounder to Bogaerts to start. Bogaerts picked up the ball and threw it into the left field stands for an error that advanced McCann to second. McCann moved to third on a wild pitch but Eloy Jimenez took strike three. Jon Jay singled home McCann to tie the game and Yoan Concada singled to left. Jose Rondon lined out to center and Zack Collins whiffed to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Michael Chavis struck out swinging to start. Marco Hernandez lined out to short and Eduardo Nunez went down hacking to end the inning.
The White Sox took the lead in the top of the third although Garcia grounded out to first to start. Anderson doubled to left although Abreu grounded out to third. McCann doubled home Anderson to give the White Sox the lead and Jimenez singled in McCann to increase it. Jay lined out to left to end the inning but Chicago now led 3-1.
The White Sox went to their bullpen in the bottom of the third and Juan Minaya came in to get Mr. Mookie to pop up to short to start. Devers singled to left, Bogaerts was plunked and Martinez singled to left to load the bases. JBJ flied out to center but Vazquez singled home Devers and Bogaerts to tie the game. Chavis struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Price turned up the heat to strike out the side in the top of the fourth. Moncada, Rondon and Collins all went down swinging to begin and end the inning. The BoSox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez went down hacking to start. Nunez flied out to left and Mr. Mookie whiffed to end the inning.
The White Sox tried to rally in the top of the fifth as Garcia singled to start. Anderson singled to center and tried for second but was thrown out by JBJ. Abreu struck out swinging and McCann struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Red Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth as Devers doubled to right and Bogaerts clobbered his 15th home run of the season to give the BoSox the lead. Martinez grounded out to short but Anderson landed awkwardly after throwing the ball and fell to the ground clutching his ankle. Anderson had to be carried out and Ryan Cordell took his place. JBJ grounded out to third and Vazquez took strike three to end the inning with the Red Sox leading 5-3.
Price came back for the top of the sixth and Jimenez lined out to right to start. Jay singled to left but was forced at second by Moncada. Rondon lined out to right to end the inning. That was it for Price who allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings to put himself in position to win.
The Sox tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth as Chavis singled to start. Hernandez singled Chavis to third and Nunez scored Michael with a sac fly. Mr. Mookie banged into a double play to end the inning with Boston ahead 6-3.
Matt Barnes came in for the top of the seventh and walked Collins to start. Garcia and Cordell both whiffed and Abreu flied out to center to end the inning. Josh Osich came in for the bottom of the seventh and Devers doubled again to center. Bogaerts grounded out to third, Martinez flied out to right and JBJ flied out to left to end the inning.
Ryan Brasier came in for the top of the eighth and McCann struck out swinging to start. Jimenez grounded out to short but Jay doubled to right. Moncada struck out swinging to end the inning. The Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the eighth as Vazquez grounded out to third to start. Chavis grounded out to short and Hernandez grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came on for the save in the top of the ninth and Rondon struck out swinging to start. Collins grounded out to second but Garcia doubled to center. Charlie Tilson pinch hit for Cordell and struck out swinging to end the game. The Red Sox had won it 6-3.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts who's 2 run home run put the Sox ahead for good.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 4 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk.
David Price earned the win by pitching six solid innings while allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits while striking out 9.
Matt Barnes tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
Ryan Brasier tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Brandon Workman earned his 3rd save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Marco Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 2 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox needed to get hot to get back in the AL East race but unfortunately the New York Yankees did too. Boston has won 10 of 13 yet are still 8 games behind New York. If the Sox can win tomorrow they can at least keep pace heading into their showdown in London on Saturday. Price didn't look spectacular but he didn't have to. The trio of Barnes, Brasier and Workman slammed the door and the Sox are gonna need them to be the A-Team going forward. If only Darwinzon Hernandez can control his 97 mph fastball he could be devastating. The offense is chugging along and they need to keep it up in order to get back in the race. Tampa Bay and New York aren't going away so the Sox need to reach back for the same tenacity they had last year. Getting Steven Wright back from suspension could help with that provided he can give them what he did 3 years ago. The win improved the Sox to 44-37, 8 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon when they send Chris Sale (3-7, 3.50 ERA) to the mound opposite Reynaldo Lopez of the White Sox. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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