Before the game the Boston Red Sox officially released Eduardo Nunez. With the rise of Michael Chavis and the Sox season teetering, the Sox can't afford for Nunez to find a groove. Nunez came over in July of 2017 and played like Superman for 3 weeks to keep the Sox afloat during a dry spell. In 2018 he was an integral part of the 108 win World Series champions, belting a pinch hit 3 run home run in the World Series. If the Sox fans want to remember Eduardo, remember him for those things. Goodbye and thank you.
As for the game, just when the Sox finally gain some footing, they throw up all over themselves. Last night they scored 17 runs to plaster the Baltimore Orioles....tonight they score absolutely nothing. The 31-67 Orioles have taken 2 of 3 from the incompetent Red Sox thanks to the pitching of Asher Wojciechowski. Asher tossed 7 1/3 innings of 1 hit ball while striking out 10. Andrew Cashner (0-2) was game for 6 innings but he allowed 4 runs early. The O's got a run late off Heath Hembree as they embarrassed the Red Sox by shutting them out 5-0 at Fenway Park. How many hits did the Sox get Bob Uecker?
Asher dominated the top of the second as JD Martinez struck out swinging to start. Andrew Benintendi struck out swinging and Christian Vazquez took strike three to end the inning. The O's struck again in the bottom of the second as Dwight Smith Jr walked to start. Smith moved to second on the Pedro Severino grounder to short and Chris Davis doubled Smith home to increase the lead. Hanser Alberto grounded out to short to move Davis to third and Rio Ruiz whiffed to end the inning, but the O's led 2-0.
Jackie Bradley Jr struck out swinging to start the top of the third but Brock "The Hitman" Holt was plunked. Marco Hernandez flied out to center and Mr. Mookie struck out swinging to end the inning. The O's iced the game in the bottom of the third as Villar beat out an infield single to second and Mancini hit a home run to Mars to put the game out of reach. Santander took strike three but Nunez was plunked. Nunez kept running to second and Vazquez gunned him down for the second out. Smith Jr lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 4-0.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Devers lined out to left to start. Bogaerts and Martinez both struck out swinging to end the inning. Cashner made the O's beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fourth as Severino grounded out to third to start. Davis grounded out to first and Alberto grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Benintendi grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth and Vazquez grounded out to short. JBJ lined out to center to end the inning. Ruiz caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single to start the bottom of the fifth but he was thrown out trying to steal second. Villar walked but Mancini banged into a double play to end the inning.
Holt walked to start the top of the sixth but Hernandez banged into a double play. Mr. Mookie lined out to second to end the inning. Cashner returned for one last inning in the bottom of the sixth as Santander flied out to center to start. Nunez struck out swinging but Smith Jr singled to center. Severino struck out swinging to end the inning. Cashner got literally no run support but he put the Sox in a hole with 4 runs allowed in 6 innings.
The Sox broke up the no-hitter when Devers doubled to right to start the top of the seventh. Bogaerts and Martinez both grounded out to third and Benintendi lined out to center to end the inning. Marcus Walden came on for the bottom of the seventh and Davis grounded out to second to start. Alberto lined out to center and Ruiz went down swinging to end the inning.
Ritchie Martin came in for Alberto for the top of the eighth and Vazquez went down swinging to start. JBJ walked and that was it for Wojciechowski. Paul Fry was brought in to pitch and Sox manager Alex Cora sent ice cold Sam Travis in to pinch hit for Holt and he just watched 4 pitches go by for strike three. Hernandez whiffed to end the inning. Heath Hembree came in for the bottom of the eighth and Villar hit a home run all the way to Nova Scotia to increase the lead. Mancini went down hacking and Santander flied out to center, but Nunez walked. Smith Jr took strike three to end the inning with the O's up 5-0.
Stevie Wilkerson came in for Smith and Mychal Givens came in to pitch the top of the ninth. Mr. Mookie walked and stole second to start, but Devers lined out to right. Bogaerts lined out to center to move Betts to third but Martinez grounded out to first to end the game. The O's had won it 5-0.
Jackass of the Night is Andrew Cashner. Not that the Sox were going to score any runs but the game was 4-0 O's in the blink of an eye thanks to Cashner. He allowed 4 runs in 6 innings of work.
The Good:
Brock Holt walked and was hit with a pitch in 2 plate appearances.
Marcus Walden tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Sam Travis struck out as a pinch hitter.
Marco Hernandez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Heath Hembree allowed a run in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Mookien Betts was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and stole a base.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
The one step forward, two steps back routine by the Sox is getting really old. They've been win one, lose one for so long that they're running out of time. There's less than two weeks until the trade deadline and Sox GM Dave Dombrowski has to get another pitcher because Cashner isn't going to be enough. He's had 2 starts to prove something and he's shown nothing. The Sox clearly don't have enough starting pitching so its either trade somebody or start selling and plan for next year. If they can get prospects for Heath Hembree or Mitch Moreland or the other veterans besides the core, why not? The Sox had a chance to get back in the race and instead lost 2 of 3 to the worst team in the league. The loss drops the Sox to 54-46, 11 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Want even worse news? The Tampa Bay Rays are next on the docket to beat the crap out of the Red Sox. The Sox travel to Tampa to play a 3 game set with the Rays. Eduardo Rodriguez (11-4) goes for the Sox against undefeated old friend Jalen "Twin" Beeks of the Rays. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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