Rodriguez, Sox Blank Orioles (8/17/19)

Before the game the 2019 Red Sox received a huge blow when Chris Sale placed on the injured list with an elbow problem. It doesn't look good as its been rumored he's heading to Dr. James Andrews to perform tommy john surgery which would not only put him out for this year but next year too. If the 4 game sweep by the Yankees and 8 game losing streak didn't kill the Sox, this just may do it. Ryan Brasier was brought up from Pawtucket to take Sale's spot. We may never see Chris again and its sad it ended this way.

                                                                   OUT

                                                                          IN

As for the game, the Sox made it four wins in a row and second over the Baltimore Orioles. Eduardo Rodriguez (14-5, 4.10 ERA) pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and the much maligned Boston bullpen slammed the door afterwards. Brock "The Hitman" Holt opened the scoring with a solo home run and the scorching hot Rafael Devers hit the killshot with a home run in the 7th inning. The Sox allowed 5 total hits and shutout the Orioles 4-0 at Fenway Park.

                                                  Powdered Toast Man approves of the win

Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Hanser Alberto flied out to center to start. Trey Mancini whiffed anfld Anthony Santander flied out to center to end the inning. Mr. Mookie Betts doubled off O's starter Asher Wojciechowski to begin the bottom of the first inning, but Rafael Devers struck out swinging. Xander Bogaerts whiffed but a passed ball moved Betts to third. JD Martinez drew a walk before Andrew Benintendi grounded out to first to end the inning.

Rodriguez cruised in the top of the second as Reynato Nunez flied out to right to start. Jonathan Villar singled to left but Pedro Severino banged into a double play to end the inning. Christian Vazquez singled to center to start the bottom of the second inning but was erased on the Mitch Moreland force. Brock "The Hitman" Holt drew a walk before Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to right. Mr. Mookie popped up to first to end the inning.

DJ Stewart grounded out to first to start the top of the third inning. Steve Wilkerson grounded out to short but Richie Martin singled to center. Alberto grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Devers whiffed to start. Bogaerts popped up to first and Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Mancini walked to open the top of the fourth but was erased on the Santander force. Nunez flied out to right but Villar walked. Severino grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox accomplished nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Benintendi grounded out to second to begin. Vazquez grounded out to short before Moreland flied out to center to end the inning.

Rodriguez got Stewart to ground out to third to open the top of the fifth but Wilkerson was plunked. Martin whiffed and Alberto flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fifth when Holt crushed his second home run of the year to give the Sox the lead. JBJ tripled into the right field corner and scored on a wild pitch. Mr. Mookie walked but Devers popped up to second. Bogaerts singled Betts to third to chase Wojciechowski. Miguel Castro came in and got Martinez to bang into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                     The Hitman hits one out

Rodriguez kept the lead in the top of the sixth although Mancini doubled off the Monster to start. Santander grounded to short but Mancini foolishly tried for third and was thrown out. Nunez beat out a double play ball but Villar grounded out to third to end the inning. Benintendi flied out to left to start the bottom of the sixth before Vazquez whiffed. Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning.

Rodriguez froze Severino to begin the top of the seventh before catching Stewart looking as well. Wilkerson grounded out to short to end the inning. Rodriguez had tossed 7 shutout innings and allowed just 3 hits, too bad it was against the pathetic Orioles.

                                                   "Talk to the hand" - E-Rod

The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the seventh although Chris Owings pinch hit for Holt only to look at strike three. JBJ grounded out to second but Mr. Mookie doubled to left off the glove of Alberto. Devers then crushed an opposite field home run into the Monster Seats to put the game out of reach. Bogaerts grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                            Devers is on fire.

Rodriguez came out for the top of the eighth and got Martin to pop up to first on the first pitch of the inning. Alberto singled to left to chase E-Rod after 7 1/3 shutout innings and 4 hits. Matt Barnes came in and was greeted by a Mancini single to short. Barnes then threw a pitch halfway to the plate that bounced over everything to allow both runners to advance. Barnes came back to blow away Santander with a 98 mph fastball before crossing up Vazquez with a fastball to strike out Nunez to end the inning.

                                                    7 strong for E-Rod

Hunter Harvey came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Martinez grounded out to third to begin. Benintendi walked but Vazquez whiffed. Moreland whiffed to end the inning.

Brandon Workman was called in to close it out in the top of the ninth and punched out Villar to begin. Severino grounded out to third and Stewart whiffed to end the game. The Sox had shut out the dirty birds and won the game 4-0.

                                            Another win


Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He tossed 7 1/3 shutout innings to earn his 14th win of the year allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks.

                                                 What a Hero



The Good:

Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Brock Holt hit his second home run of the year and drew a walk.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Matt Barnes got the final two outs of the eighth inning.

Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Chris Owings struck out as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a two run home run.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 but walked.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

Even though it was against the garbage Orioles, that was the best Rodriguez looked all season. He didn't nibble the corners and kept his pitch count down. He probably could have finished the eighth if they had a bigger lead but Sox manager Alex Cora didn't want to risk it with the season on the line every game now it seems. Still, the bullpen locked it down and considering the bad news of losing Sale, they need Rodriguez to keep this up until the end. If Sale is gone for good then this season is a wash. The only thing left to see is if Rodriguez can win 20 games and if Devers can pass Mike Trout for AL MVP. As for this game, good win against a bad team.The win improved the Sox to 66-59, 6.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild card. Tomorrow afternoon Nathan Eovaldi makes his return to the starting rotation to finish off this three game set against Baltimore. Ty Blach gets the start for the Orioles as the game begins at 1:10 PM at Fenway Park.