THAT'S the way to come back to a baseball game. For 7 innings the Boston Red Sox looked nearly lifeless against the Chicago White Sox. Eduardo Rodriguez tossed another stinker as he was lit up for 5 runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Red Sox trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh but a home run from Mookie Betts inched the Sox closer. The Sox scored a run to tie it in the bottom of the eighth then Marco Hernandez drove in Andrew Benintendi in the bottom of the ninth to win it for Boston. The Sox kept their momentum going a week before the big showdown with the New York Yankees in London with a 6-5 walkoff win over the White Sox at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first and Leury Garcia took strike three to start. Tim Anderson also took strike three and Jose Abreu grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Lucas Giolito got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts took strike three to start. Andrew Benintendi doubled to right but JD Martinez grounded out to shout. Rafael Devers whiffed to end the inning.
The White Sox struck first in the top of the second although James McCann popped up to second to start. Eloy Jimenez doubled to left before moving to third on the Jon Jay grounder. Old pal Yoan Moncada stuck it to his whole team by hitting a home run all the way into the Bespin clouds. Yonder Alonso grounded out to second to end the inning but the White Sox led 2-0.
The Red Sox fought back in the bottom of the second although Xander Bogaerts popped up to first to start. Jackie Bradley Jr smashed his 8th homer of the season to cut the lead. Christian Vazquez whiffed and Michael Chavis took strike three to end the inning with the Red Sox down 2-1.
Jose Rondon grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Garcia flied out to right. Anderson popped up to second to end the inning. The Red Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Eduardo Nunez grounded out to third to start. Mr. Mookie flied out to right and Benintendi went down hacking to end the inning.
Abreu lined out to right to start the top of the fourth but McCann singled to center. Jimenez whiffed and Jay grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez walked to start. Devers forced JD at second but Bogaerts singled to short. A wild pitch moved both runners over and JBJ hit a fly ball to left. Devers tried for home but was thrown out by a mile to end the inning.
Moncada singled to start the top of the fifth but Alonso banged into a double play. Rondon grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox tied it up in the bottom of the fifth although Vazquez grounded out to third to start. Chavis doubled over the head of Anderson at short and Nunez singled him home. Mr. Mookie struck out swinging and Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The White Sox took 5 seconds to take the lead back in the top of the sixth although Garcia lined out to center to start. Anderson whiffed but Abreu clobbered a home run all the way to Newfound Lake to give Chicago the lead. McCann grounded out to third to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 3-2.
The BoSox answered in the bottom of the sixth although Martinez flied out to right to start. Devers walked, Bogaerts doubled to left and JBJ was intentionally walked to load the bases. Vazquez took strike three but Chavis walked home Devers to tie the game and chase Giolito. Evan Marshall came in and Nunez whiffed to end the inning but the game was tied 3-3.
The White Sox finished off Rodriguez in the top of the seventh as Jimenez walked to start. Jay dropped down a bunt to move Jimenez to second and Moncada was intentionally walked. Alonso singled home Jimenez and moved Moncada to third to give the White Sox the lead. That was it for Rodriguez who would be charged with 5 runs in just 6 1/3 innings. Marcus Walden came in and pinch hitter Yolmer Sanchez (for Rondon) singled home Moncada to increase the lead. Garcia took strike three and Anderson whiffed to end the inning but the White Sox led 5-3.
The Sox started the comeback in the bottom of the seventh as Mr. Mookie belted his 13th home run of the year to cut the lead. Aaron Bummer came in to pitch and Benintendi lined out to left. Martinez grounded out to short but Devers doubled to left. Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning with the BoSox down 5-4.
Colten Brewer took over for the top of the eighth and Abreu took strike three to start. McCann singled to left but Jimenez flied out to right, McCann swiped second and Sox manager Alex Cora brought in Josh Taylor to pitch to Jay. Jay walked but Moncada took a full count strike three to end the inning. The Sox tied it up in the bottom of the eighth as JBJ walked to start. Kelvin Herrera came in and JBJ was caught stealing second before Christian Vazquez singled to right. Marco Hernandez pinch ran for Vazquez and took second on a wild pitch but Chavis grounded out to short. Nunez singled home Hernandez to tie the game. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.
Taylor returned for the top of the ninth and with Sandy Leon now behind the plate. Alonso popped up to first and Sanchez struck out swinging, but Garcia walked to chase Taylor. Brandon Workman (7-1, 1.75 ERA) came in and Garcia swiped second. Anderson was frozen for strike three to end the inning. Jace Fry came in for the bottom of the ninth and Benintendi started the rally with a double to right. Martinez took strike three but Benintendi moved to third on the Devers grounder. Bogaerts was intentionally walked to set up the double play but he swiped second. JBJ was intentionally walked to load the bases and Hernandez made the White Sox pay with an infield single to short to score Benintendi with the winning run. The Red Sox had won it 6-5!
RED SOX WIN!
All hail the Hero, Hernandez
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Hero of the Night is Marco Hernandez. His rbi single won the game in the bottom of the ninth after his run scored tied it in the eighth.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with 3 walks and a home run.
Michael Chavis was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Colten Brewer got the first two outs of the eighth inning.
Josh Taylor tossed a full scoreless inning.
Brandon Workman got the win by striking out the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 6 1/3 innings and was charged with 5 runs.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a home run.
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 but walked.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Marcus Walden allowed an inherited runner to score in the seventh inning.
Honorable Mention:
Sandy Leon caught the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
That's the kind of game the Red Sox needed to win to keep momentum going as they head toward the London showdown with the New York Yankees. The White Sox aren't very good and the Red Sox need to sweep these guys if they have any hope of doing some damage in London. E-Rod sucked again but luckily the offense never gave up and got some much needed production out of JBJ, Nunez and Hernandez to win this one. The Sox still need some pitching help and hopefully Sox GM Dave Dombrowski can pull off a move within the next month to get the Sox where they need to be in order to repeat. Hopefully the Sox can reel off two more wins against Chicago before the two off days prior to the London showdown. The win improved the Sox to 43-37, 8 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to make it two in a row over the White Sox when they send David Price (4-2) up against Carson Fulmer of Chicago. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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