Once again the Red Sox are inventing new ways to lose. In a role reversal from last year, the New York Yankees are about to drop the hammer on the Red Sox and it started tonight. Gleyber Torres hit a first inning grand slam off Eduardo Rodriguez (13-5, 4.19 ERA) and the Sox never recovered. James Paxton cemented his reputation as a Sox killer by allowing 2 first inning runs on a JD Martinez home run, but that was it. In fact after that home run, the Sox had just TWO hits the rest of the game. Rodriguez and the Sox bullpen also didn't allow any runs after the first inning but was just enough as the Yankees put the Sox further out of their misery with a 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium.
The Sox struck first against Paxton in the top of the first inning as Mr. Mookie Betts struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers also went down hacking but Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. Martinez put the Sox on top with his 24th home run of the season but Benintendi flied out to center with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Yankees wasted no time getting to Rodriguez in the bottom of the first as DJ LeMahieu singled to left to start. Aaron Judge and Edwin Encarnacion walked but Aaron Hicks popped up to first. Gleyber Torres put the Yankees up for good with a grand slam to clear the bases. Gio Urshela singled to left but Cameron Maybin banged into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 4-2.
Paxton never looked back in the top of the second as Sam Travis struck out swinging to start. Michael Chavis and Christian Vazquez both went down hacking to end the inning. Rodriguez walked Austin Romine to start the bottom of the second but Brett Gardner took strike three and LeMahieu banged into a double play to end the inning.
Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to second to start the top of the third before Mr. Mookie popped up to first. Devers flied out to left to end the inning. Rodriguez got in trouble in the bottom of the third as Judge singled to third to start. Encarnacion walked but Hicks struck out swinging. Torres moved Judge to third with a fly ball to center but Urshela took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth inning as Bogaerts grounded out to short to start. Martinez walked and Benintendi singled to right but Travis flied out to left and Chavis grounded out to second to end the inning. Maybin walked to begin the bottom of the fourth but was thrown out trying to steal on the Romine strike out. Gardner popped up to third to end the inning.
Vazquez popped up to short to start the top of the fifth inning but JBJ walked. Mr. Mookie flied out to center and Devers flied out to right to end the inning. Rodriguez turned up the head in the bottom of the fifth as LeMahieu took strike three to start. Judge and Encarnacion both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Paxton cruised in the top of the sixth as Bogaerts took strike three to start. Martinez lined out to right and Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning. Rodriguez came back for one final inning in the bottom of the sixth and Hicks struck out swinging to start. Torres walked and moved to second on the Urshela grounder to third, but Maybin grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Tommy Kahnle replaced Paxton for the top of the seventh and Travis struck out swinging to start. Chavis flied out to right but Vazquez singled to center. JBJ grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Rodriguez returned briefly for the bottom of the seventh and Romine grounded back to the mound to start. Gardner grounded back to first but LeMahieu double to send Eduardo to the showers. Rodriguez made one mistake to Torres and it was the difference in the game as he tossed 6 2/3 innings. Marcus Walden came in and struck out Judge swinging to end the inning
Zack Britton came in for the top of the eighth and the Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short, Devers grounded back to the mound and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Nathan Eovaldi came in for the bottom of the eighth and Encarnacion grounded out to third. Hicks struck out looking and Torres lined out to center to end the inning. For what its worth, Rodriguez, Walden and Eovaldi held the Yankees to almost nothing after the Torres slam.
Aroldis Chapman came in to close out the top of the ninth and Martinez grounded out to short to start. Benintendi took strike three and Travis lined out to second to end the game. The Yankees had won it 4-2.
Jackass of the Night is Mookie Betts. In a 2 run game he went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Good:
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3.
Marcus Walden struck out the only man he faced.
Nathan Eovaldi pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Sam Travis was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored run.
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 but walked.
Eduardo Rodriguez took the loss but allowed just 4 runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
That's 5 losses in a row for the Red Sox who are quickly fading out of contention. Who can blame them if they want to quit on the season after Sox GM Dave Dombrowski kicked his feet back with his hands behind his head and abandoned them at the trade deadline. They needed ONE more piece to topple the Yankees and they didn't get it, now the Rays and Yankees are feasting on them. Rodriguez made one mistake to Torres and it turned out to be the difference. Paxton has always had good success against the Red Sox which is why the Yankees went and got him. The Yankees were mad that they won 100 games and watched the Sox win the WS right in their face so they did something about it. The Sox don't have the hunger this year and can't reach back for that extra motivation because its not there. Injuries and incompetence derailed this season but the worst part is there's still two months to go. It would be nice if the Sox could come back after the 7th inning for once as well. The loss dropped the Sox to 59-52, 11.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Red Sox play a doubleheader with the Yankees. They look to snap their losing streak in Game 1 when they send Chris Sale (5-10) to the mound against Domingo German of the Yankees. Game 1 begins at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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