Porcello got the ball in the top of the first inning and DJ LeMahieu struck out swinging to start. Aaron Judge grounded out to third and Aaron Hicks popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox blasted Tanaka in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts started the rally with a base hit to left. Rafael Devers walked and Xander Bogaerts set the tone with his 22nd homer of the year to give the Sox a big lead. JD Martinez flied out to center but Andrew Benintendi singled to left. Brock "The Hitman" Holt singled to center and Mitch Moreland singled to left to load the bases. Christian Vazquez popped up to short but Jackie Bradley Jr doubled home Benintendi and Holt to ice the game early. Mr. Mookie cleared the bases with a double but Devers lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-0.
The Yankees fought back in the top of the second although Edwin Encarncion took strike three to start. Didi Gregorius doubled to right and Luke Voit got a base hit to left to move Didi to third. Gleyber Torres singled to left to score Gregorius and Mike Tauchman singled to left to load the bases. Kyle Higashioka struck out swinging but LeMahieu walked home Voit. Porcello said enough was enough and Judge flied out to center to end the inning with the Yankees down 7-2.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Bogaerts struck out swinging to start. Martinez also went down hacking and Benintendi lined out to right to end the inning.
Porcello recovered in the top of the third as Hicks popped up to second to start. Encarnacion lined out to left and Gregorius hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Holt was rung up for strike three to start the bottom of the third and he suddenly pulled out a pair of nunchucks and attacked home plate umpire DJ Reyburn. Holt was ejected and escorted out of the building by armed security. Moreland walked but Vazquez lined out to center. JBJ doubled to left but Mr. Mookie flied out to center to end the inning.
Michael Chavis took over for the ejected Holt in the top of the fourth and Voit took strike three to start. Torres grounded out to short and Tauchman took strike three to end the inning. The hits kept coming for the Sox in the bottom of the fifth as Devers cracked his 21st home run of the year to begin the inning. Bogaerts singled and Martinez struck out swinging and also had words with Reyburn. Benintendi walked but Chavis doubled home Bogaerts to increase the lead. Moreland pounded a ground rule double to right to score both runners and FINALLY chase Tanaka. Stephen Tarpley came in to pitch and Vazquez doubled home Moreland to add to the lead. JBJ walked and a wild pitch moved both runners over. Mr. Mookie struck out swinging and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox led 12-2.
The Yankees got another run back in the top of the fifth when Higashioka hit a home run to Uranus to cut the lead. LeMahieu grounded out to short, Judge flied out to center and Hicks grounded out to first to end the inning with the Yankees down 12-3.
The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the fifth as Bogaerts reached on a squibber in front of the plate to start. Martinez doubled to left and Benintendi scored Xander with a base hit to right to increase the lead. Chavis doubled to center to score Martinez but Moreland flied out to right. Vazquez scored Benintendi with a grounder to first and JBJ lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 15-3.
Porcello came back for one more inning in the top of the sixth and Encarnacion lined out to right to start. Gregorius popped up to second but Voit doubled to center. Torres flied out to left to end the inning. Porcello was serviceable, tossing 6 solid innings of 3 run ball to keep the game well in hand.
The Sox got another run in the bottom of the sixth as Mr. Mookie walked to start. Luis Cessa came in to pitch and Devers hit a double to right. Betts scored but Devers was thrown out at third for the out. Bogaerts flied out to left and Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 15-3.
Sam Travis gave Moreland the rest of the night off with Darwinzon Hernandez now on the mound for the top of the seventh. Tauchman grounded out to first, Higashioka struck out swinging and LeMahieu went down hacking to end the inning. Good work Hernandez! Benintendi singled to left to begin the bottom of the seventh but Chavis struck out swinging. Travis popped up to second and Vazquez grounded into a force to end the inning.
Colten Brewer came into pitch with Sandy Leon catching although taking Betts' spot in the lineup for the top of the eighth. Judge grounded out to short, Hicks struck out swinging and Encarnacion popped up to second to end the inning. Gio Urshela came in for Hicks and catcher Austin Romine came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth, shades of Game 3 of the ALDS last year. JBJ singled to right and Leon pounded his fourth home run of the year to add to the lead. Devers flied out to left and Bogaerts crushed his second home run of the game to wrap up the scoring. Martinez doubled to left but Benintendi lined out to left. Chavis flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 19-3.
Nathan Eovaldi came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Gregorius grounded out to first to start. Voit singled to left but Torres flied out to left. Tauchman took strike three to end the game. The Sox had obliterated the Yankees 19-3.
Hero of the Night could be anyone but I'll go with Xander Bogaerts. He was 4 for 6 with 2 home runs and 4 total rbis.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Sandy Leon hit a 2 run home run in his only at-bat.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a walk, home run, 2 total rbis and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 6 with a run scored.
Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 5 with a walk, rbi and 3 runs scored.
Brock Holt was 1 for 2 with a run scored.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 3 for 4 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Rick Porcello earned the win with 6 solid innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 5.
Darwinzon Hernandez pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Colten Brewer pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Nathan Eovaldi pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Sam Travis was 0 for 1 in his only at bat.
The Ugly:
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 5 but drove in 2 runs.
Final Thoughts:
The problem with scoring 19 runs in one game is the Sox usually don't do anything the next day after. That's a big issue considering how bad the Sox need to sweep this series. Anything less is a failure, especially coming off the heels of taking 2 of 3 in Tampa and gaining no ground. The Sox needed to send a message and handing the Yankees the most lopsided loss at Fenway was a good start. They obliterated Tanaka and they need to keep the momentum going the rest of the month. Taking 3 of the first 4 games against their top two competitors means they're on the right path but they have to keep it going. Everything hinges on the trade deadline next week, either the Sox sell off some of their stars to build for the future or add another pitcher. Anything less is a failure the same way if the Sox don't sweep the Yankees, they failed to get back in the race. The win improved the Sox to 57-47, 10 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox get a chance of revenge when Andrew Cashner (0-2) looks for his first Sox win against Sox killer James Paxton of New York. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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