The Boston Red Sox picked up where they left off before the All-Star break with a straight demolition of their World Series rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Eduardo Rodriguez (10-4, 4.43 ERA) tossed a seven inning gem by striking out ten men and allowed just one run to set the tone. Rafael Devers, Christian Vazquez and Xander Bogaerts all went yard against Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda and reliever JT Chargois. The Sox bullpen didn't allow a hit in the final two innings and the Sox romped over the Dodgers 8-1 at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first and Corey Seager flied out to left to start. Justin Turner popped up to second but David Freese walked. Cody Bellinger walked but Max Muncy struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first although Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to first to start. Rafael Devers belted his 17th home run of the season to give the Sox the lead but Xander Bogaerts whiffed. JD Martinez flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Then Dodgers struck back in the top of the second although AJ Pollock struck out swinging to start. Alex Verdugo blasted a home run all the way to Jupiter to tie the game. Kike Hernandez whiffed and Austin Barnes grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Red Sox responded in the bottom of the second although Andrew Benintendi flied out to left to start. Christian Vazquez clobbered his 15th home run of the season to increase to give Boston the lead back. Jackie Bradley Jr and Michael Chavis both struck out swinging to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 2-1.
Seager struck out swinging to start the top of the third and Turner flied out to right. Freese flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to short to start. Mr. Mookie popped up to second and Devers went down hacking to end the inning.
Rodriguez got Bellinger to swing at air to begin the top of the fourth and Muncy also went down hacking. Maeda turned up the heat in the bottom of the fourth as Bogaerts, Martinez and Benintendi all went down swinging in short order.
Verdugo singled to left to begin the top of the fifth but Hernandez popped up to first. Barnes struck out swinging and Seager grounded out to second to end the inning. Vazquez grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fifth but JBJ drew a walk. Chavis flied out to right and Holt grounded out to second to end the inning.
Turner grounded out to third to start the top of the sixth and Freese swung at air. Bellinger singled to right but Muncy flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth as Mr. Mookie doubled to center to begin and Devers doubled him home to extend the lead. Bogaerts popped up to second and Martinez lined out to center before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in Pedro Baez to pitch to Benintendi. Andrew grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 3-1 Sox.
Rodriguez returned for one final inning in the top of the seventh as Pollock singled to left to start. Verdugo went down hacking but Hernandez singled to left. Barnes whiffed and Seager grounded out to second to end the inning. Good effort by Rodriguez to hold the NL Champs to just one run in 7 innings of work.
The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the seventh although Vazquez lined out to center to start. JBJ singled to second and Chavis reached on a swinging bunt. Holt doubled home JBJ and then the rains came. After a delay, JT Chargois was brought in and Mr. Mookie scored Chavis with a sac fly to increase the lead. Devers was intentionally walked and Bogaerts made the Dodgers pay with a 3 run bomb to put the game out of reach. Martinez took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-1.
Josh Taylor came on for the top of the eighth and Turner whiffed to start. Freese flied out to center and Bellinger flied out to left to end the inning. Zac Rosscup came on for the bottom of the eighth and Benintendi grounded out to first to begin. Vazquez doubled to left and JBJ walked but Chavis banged into a double play to end the inning.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez took the mound for the top of the ninth and Muncy grounded out to first to start. Pollock whiffed and Verdugo popped up to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-1.
Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball in the rain to earn his 10th win of the season
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored
Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 total rbis and 2 runs scored
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Brock Holt was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Josh Taylor tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 3 run home run.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run/
Final Thoughts:
The Sox have a long road to climb if they want to get back in AL East contention and this could be the start. Sweeping the Detroit Tigers before the All-Star break helped and this win kept the momentum going. That was a good team the Sox beat and Rodriguez looked good again. The Sox are gonna need him and David Price down the stretch if nobody else is going to help. The offense came alive late, better late than never. All in all it was a good win and the Sox are gonna need each and every win they can get. The win improved the Sox to 50-41, 9 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to ride the wave tomorrow night when Chris Sale (3-8) takes the hill against Ross Stripling of the Dodgers. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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