The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the first when Mr. Mookie Betts led the game off with a triple to the centerfield wall. Rafael Devers grounded out to second but Betts scored to put the Sox on top. Christian Vazquez grounded out to short before Andrew Benintendi tripled into the right field corner. Michael "The Ice Horse" Chavis blooped a single to right to score Benintendi before Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Way to go Chavis
Porcello got the ball in the bottom of the second inning as Victor Reyes grounded out to third to begin, nearly taking himself out at first. Nicholas Castellanos grounded out to third as well before Miguel Cabrera was frozen for strike three to end the inning.
Brock "The Hitman" Holt smoked a line drive off the glove of Harold Castro for a base hit to start the top of the second inning. Marco Hernandez dumped a base hit into center and Sandy Leon dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Mr. Mookie scored both men with a double to the left field wall to increase the lead but Devers popped up to second. Vazquez drilled a line drive base hit to center to score Betts with another run. Benintendi pounded a single to right but Chavis was rung up for strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
Holt starts the rally
The Tigers almost struck back in the bottom of the second when Christin Stewart beat out an infield single to short to start. Jeimer Candelario whiffed before Castro flied out to left. Niko Goodrum walked but Porcello fooled Gordan Beckham with a slider for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as JBJ lined out to center again to start. Holt blooped a single to center and Hernandez went the opposite way on a base hit. Leon whiffed on a full count and Mr. Mookie hit a bullet right to third to end the inning. Porcello got a quick out when Bobby Wilson grounded the second pitch of the inning to short to begin. Reyes grounded the fourth pitch of the inning to first but JBJ got his spike caught on a base hit by Castellanos which allowed him to reach second on an error. Porcello recovered by getting Cabrera to strike out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth as Devers pulled a single to right to begin. Vazquez doubled off the left field wall as Stewart lost a routine pop up by Benintendi in the lights. The ball dropped in for a "double" that scored Devers to increase the lead. Chavis hit a bullet but right to second for an out and Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire had seen enough. Zimmerman gave up 13 hits and Blaine Hardy took over. JBJ walked to load the bases and Holt scored Vazquez with a sac fly. Hernandez popped up to short to end the inning but the Sox led 7-0.
Benintendi "doubles"
The Tigers began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth as Stewart singled to start and Candelario crushed a 2 run bomb off the right field foul pole to put the Tigers on the board. Castro stroked a triple but Porcello recovered to get Goodrum to pop up to center. Beckham popped up to right and Wilson grounded out to short to end the inning with the Tigers down 7-2.
That ball is gone
The Sox went quietly in the top of the fifth as Leon grounded out to short to begin. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third and Devers grounded out to second to end the inning. Porcello got Reyes to pop up to third to begin the bottom of the fifth before JBJ climbed the wall to rob Castellanos of a home run. Cabrera grounded out to second to end the inning.
Eduardo Jimenez took over for the top of the sixth inning and the Sox did nothing. Vazquez whiffed before Benintendi flied out to right. Chavis walked but JBJ flied out to left to end the inning. The incompetent Porcello was hammered in the bottom of the sixth although Stewart whiffed to start. Candelario smashed his second moon shot of the game to bring the Tigers closer. Castro singled but was erased on the Goodrum force. Beckham singled and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Wilson smashed a rocket base hit to score both runners and that was it for Porcello. For the 90th time this season Porcello got hammered, failing to last 6 innings while allowing 6 runs. Colten Brewer came in to take a beating as Reyes easily stroked a triple to bring in Wilson. Somehow Brewer whiffed Castellanos to end the inning but the Tigers had took a dump on the Red Sox and only trailed 7-6.
Another horrible start
Daniel Stumpf came in for the top of the seventh inning as Eduardo Nunez pinch hit for Holt, only to ground out to second. Hernandez blooped a single to left before Leon hit a double play ball to Goodrum...that he booted and everyone was safe. That was it for Stumpf as Buck Farmer was brought in to pitch to Betts. Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases. More horrendous defense saw Devers hit a double play ball to Farmer who threw wide of the plate to score Hernandez and reload the bases. Vazquez hit another double play ball but this one was turned to end the inning although the Sox tacked on a run to lead 8-6.
Keystone Kops
The Tigers damn near completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning against Josh Taylor. Cabrera effortlessly singled to center before Stewart easily lined a single to right. Somehow Candelario whiffed but naturally Castro singled to load the bases. Goodrum hit a bullet to Taylor who got the out at home and Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough. The exhausted Matt Barnes was brought in and struck out Beckham on a nasty curve to end the inning.
The Sox looked to get some more insurance when Benintendi beat out an infield single to third to open the top of the eighth. Chavis whiffed as did JBJ but Benintendi swiped second on the play. Nunez came up big with an rbi single up the middle to increase the lead. Hernandez whiffed to en the inning but it was 9-6 Red Sox.
Brandon Workman came on for the bottom of the eighth and pinch hitter John Hicks grounded out to second to begin. Reyes grounded out to first and Castellanos whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox got another one in the top of the ninth with Austin Adams on the mound. Leon drew a walk and Mr. Mookie singled before Devers flied out to left. Leon went to third on the play and he scored on the Vazquez sac fly. Benintendi grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox led 10-6.
Steven Wright came on to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth and Cabrera greeted him with a base hit. Brandon Dixon came in to pinch run but was eras on the Stewart force. Stewart was out on the Candelario force before Castro walked. Both runners moved over on defensive indifference but Goodrum popped up to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-6.
Hero of the Night is Andrew Benintendi. He went 4 for 6, nearly hitting for the cycle while driving in a run, stole a base and scoring twice.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 5 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.\
Brock Holt was 2 for 2 with an rbi and a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 2 with an rbi.
Marco Hernandez was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Matt Barnes struck out the only man he faced.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Steven Wright pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 6 but drove in a run and scored.
Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with an error but walked.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Rick Porcello got the win but was knocked out in the 6th inning, allowing 6 runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Colten Brewer allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in 1/3 of an inning.
Josh Taylor left the bases loaded in the 7th inning in just 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
As the miserable first half comes to a close not much can be said at this point. The Sox essentially can't win unless they score 10 runs a game and that's just not possible. The worst part is general manager Dave Dombrowski has no intention of getting bullpen help. He thinks by sticking Nathan Eovaldi in the closer's role that that will cure everything. Wrong, what if he fails as a closer just like everyone else has so far and they keep throwing out stiffs to be the fifth starter? Unless they stick Eovaldi back in the rotation and bring in an actual relief pitcher this team has NO CHANCE to compete for the wild card let alone come back on the New York Yankees. The win improved the Sox to 47-41, 10 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon is the final game of the first half and the Sox throw out David Price (6-2, 3.33 ERA) and the Tigers have no idea who's starting for them. The game begins at 1:10 PM Eastern Time at Comerica Park.
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