Sale Tosses Gem vs Angels (8/8/19)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox was announced David Price had been placed on the 10 Day Injured List with a cyst on his wrist. Price had been pitching like hot garbage lately, maybe he really is hurt. Maybe he'll be back in ten days, maybe not...who cares. Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez has been called up to replace David on the active roster.

                                                                    OUT

                                                                     IN

As for the game, say what you will about the horrid season Chris Sale (6-11, 4.41 ERA) has had, tonight he was the ace the Sox envisioned him to be before the 2017 season. He was dominant, allowing just 2 hits in 8 nearly perfect innings while striking out 13. The Sox offense only had 5 hits themselves but home runs from the unlikely duo of Sam Travis and Sandy Leon were all the Sox needed. The Sox had won a hard fought 3-0 game at Fenway Park.

                                                  Falcon approves of the win

Sale cruised in the top of the first inning as David Fletcher lined out to center to start. Sale froze Mike Trout for strike three but Shohei Ohtani beat out a double down the third base line. Sale froze Justin Upton for strike three to end the inning. Dillon Peters got the start for the Angels and got Mr. Mookie Betts to ground out to second to begin the bottom of the first. Rafael Devers whiffed and Xander Bogaerts looked at strike three to end the inning.

Sale dominated the top of the second as Albert Pujols grounded out to second to begin. Kole Calhoun whiffed and Luis Rengifo grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as JD Martinez singled to start before Sam Travis crushed his fourth home run of the year to put Boston on top. Andrew Benintendi whiffed before Michael Chavis grounded out to short. Sandy Leon whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                     Travis goes yard

Sale cruised in the top of the third as Wilfredo Tovar took strike three to start. Max Strassi popped up to third before Fletcher grounded out to short to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr walked to start the bottom of the third but Mr. Mookie banged into a double play. Devers whiffed to end the inning.

Sale kept up the pace in the top of the fourth inning as Trout whiffed to start. Ohtani flied out to center before Upton whiffed as well to end the inning. Bogaerts lined out to right to start the bottom of the fourth but Martinez singled. Travis whiffed but Benintendi doubled. Chavis popped up to second to end the inning.

Sale cruised in the top of the fifth as Pujols flied out to center to begin. Calhoun lined out to left and Rengifo looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Leon blasted his fifth home run of the year to start. JBJ grounded out to second, Mr. Mookie flied out to right and Devers grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                           Leon hits one out

Sale cruised in the top of the sixth inning as Tovar lined out to center to begin. Stassi looked at strike three before Fletcher grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the sixth as Bogaerts whiffed to start. Martinez whiffed and Travis popped up to first to end the inning.

Sale came back for the top of the seventh and Trout tried to start a rally with a base hit. Sale responded by freezing Ohtani and whiffing Upton. Pujols whiffed too as the Fenway faithful gave Sale a standing ovation.

                                                               Sale gets the job done

Taylor Cole came in for the bottom of the seventh and Benintendi grounded out to second to start. Chavis and Leon both whiffed to end the inning.

Sale came back for one last inning in the top of the eighth and blew away Calhoun to begin. Rengifo lined out to right and Tovar whiffed to end the inning. Sale had allowed 2 hits in 8 shutout innings while striking out 13, he was unhittable.

                                                Good work Sale

JC Ramirez came on for the bottom of the eighth and JBJ grounded out to short to begin. Mr. Mookie also grounded out to short before Devers grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Brandon Workman was summoned to close out the top of the ninth and Brian Goodwin pinch hit for Stassi to start. Goodwin whiffed before Fletcher grounded out to third. Trout whiffed to end the game. Sox pitching struck out 15 Angels and shut them out 3-0.

                                                     Fantastic win


Hero of the Night is Chris Sale. He was sensational, tossing 8 shutout innings while allowing 2 hits while striking out 13

                                                           Sale The Hero


The Good:

JD Martinez was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Sam Travis was 1 for 3 with a 2 run home run.

Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3.

Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with a home run.

Brandon Workman earned his 7th save with a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 4.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 but walked.




Final Thoughts:

This season sucks but that was definitely one of the high points. Its a shame Sale couldn't have been this dominant all season otherwise the Sox wouldn't be in this position. The Yankees may be the ones to win 108 games this season and its a damn shame because if general manager Dave Dombrowski didn't fall asleep at the trade deadline, maybe the Sox would still have a chance. As it is, they're just playing out the string now. The win improved the Sox to 62-56, nowhere close to anyone in playoff contention. Tomorrow evening the Sox continue the series against the Angels with Brian Johnson on the mound up against Jaime Barria at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.