As for the game, it was yet another game that showcases the fact it is not the Boston's year. Everything that went right last year has gone wrong this year. The Cleveland Indians bolted out to a 5-1 lead, pounding Eduardo Rodriguez for 10 hits. The Red Sox offense desperately fought back to tie the game by the ninth inning only for the Indians to walk it off 5 pitches into the bottom of the ninth. The Indians pushed the Sox further into obscurity with a 6-5 win at Progressive Field.
Zach Plesac effortlessly shut down the Sox in the top of the first inning. Mr. Mookie Betts popped up weakly to right to begin. Rafael Devers lined out weakly to second before Xander Bogaerts hit a weak pop up to right to end the inning. The Indians easily took the lead for good in the bottom of the first inning. Fransisco Lindor and Oscar Mercado grounded out to second to start before Carlos Santana walked. Franmil Reyes effortlessly crushed a 600 foot home run completely out of the park to put the Indians up for good. Somehow Jose Ramirez whiffed to end the inning but it was 2-0 Indians.
The Sox somehow scored a run in the top of the second inning as JD Martinez got a lucky single to start and the Indians felt generous to let Andrew Benintendi to double home JD. The Indians had enough and easily got Christian Vazquez to pop up to first. Mitch Moreland grounded weakly to the mound and Brock Holt grounded weakly to second to end the inning down 2-1.
Somehow Rodriguez didn't allow a run in the bottom of the second as Roberto Perez took strike three while laughing at Eduardo. Jason Kipnis hit one of the hardest hit singles ever and took second on the Greg Allen force. Tyler Naquin walked but Lindor grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to first to start. Betts whiffed but Devers got a lucky single,. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning. The Indians iced it in the bottom of the third although Mercado grounded out to first to start. Santana and Reyes hit back to back singles before Ramirez easily smashed a 400,000 foot bomb to give the Indians a commanding lead. Perez grounded out to third but Kipnis walked. Allen grounded into a force to end the inning but Rodriguez crapped his pants again and the Indians led 5-1.
Somehow the Sox tried to fight back in the top of the fourth as Martinez smashed his 28th home run of the year to cut the lead. Benintendi drew a lucky walk but naturally Vazquez banged into a double play. Moreland got a lucky single and took second on a wild pitch before Holt doubled home Moreland. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox were back in it 5-3.
Rodriguez came back for the bottom of the fourth and allowed back to back singles to Naquin and Lindor. Mercado tried to drag bunt his way on but Devers snuffed out Lindor at second to put runners at the corners. Santana popped up to short before Reyes whiffed to end the inning.
Mr. Mookie lined out to first to begin the top of the fifth but Devers walked. Bogaerts singled Devers to third but was foolishly thrown out trying to stretch a double. Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning. Ramirez grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fifth but Perez singled. Kipnis flied out to right and Allen grounded out to second to end the inning.
Hunter Wood came on to pitch the top of the sixth and Benintendi lined out to left to begin. Vazquez grounded out to third but a scary moment occurred when Moreland struck Wood with a line drive for a single. Wood had to be hauled off on a gurney and Tyler Clippard came in to pitch to Holt. The Hitman struck out swinging to end the inning. Rodriguez trudged back to the mound for the bottom of the sixth and Naquin singled to start. Lindor lined out to short but Mercado whiffed. Santana singled to center but Reyes whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox got one back in the top of the seventh as JBJ clubbed his 13th homer of the year to cut the lead. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third and Devers hit one up the elevator shaft before Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning with the Sox down 5-4.
Darwinzon Hernandez got the call for the bottom of the seventh and Ramirez doubled to right. Perez sacrificed him to third but Hernandez punched out Kipnis. Allen grounded out to third to end the inning.
Nick Wittgren held down the Sox in the top of the eighth as Martinez flied out to right to begin. Benintendi singled to center but Vazquez wiffed. Oliver Perez came in and Sam Travis pinch hit for Moreland, doubling to left. With the go-ahead run at second....Holt lined out to first to end the inning. Hernandez returned for the bottom of the eighth and Naquin whiffed to begin. Lindor walked to chase the rookie as Marcus Walden came in to get Mercado to bang into a double play to end the inning.
Indians closer Brad Hand came in for the top and JBJ grounded out to first to begin. Mr. Mookie walked but Devers whiffed. Bogaerts tied the game with a double to score Mookie and Martinez was intentionally walked to put the go-ahead run at second. Bogaerts swiped third but Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.
Unfortunately the feel good story ended 20 seconds later when Walden served up the game winning walkoff home run to Santana on the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth. The Indians had walked it off 6-5.
Jackass of the Night is Marcus Walden. The Sox fought their asses off to get back in the game and he served up the gopher ball to the first batter in the ninth.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a stolen base.
Darwinzon Hernandez tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 runs scored and a home run.
Andrew Benointendi was 2 for 4 with a walk and an rbi.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Sam Travis doubled as a pinch hitter.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Eduardo Rodriguez allowed 5 runs in 6 innings giving up 10 runs and 3 walks.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but walked.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but the hit was a solo home run.
Final Thoughts:
Can this season be over yet? Its become painful to watch this team blow one game after another. Its one thing if they were the Kansas City Royals or Baltimore Orioles that get blown out in every game, its another thing to have them lose on walkoffs and 20 blown saves. The Sox fought all the way back to tie it only to give it away seconds later. Losing Michael Chavis doesn't help either but nothing has gone right for the Sox all year. Thankfully there's only a month and a half left in this god awful season. The loss dropped the Sox to 62-59, nowhere near the second wild card. The Sox look to salvage the series tomorrow night as Mike Clevinger of the Indians takes on Chris Sale of the Red Sox at 8:10 PM at Progressive Field.
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