As for the game, its about time Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 4.98 ERA). After having lousy starting pitching for two weeks straight, the Sox finally got a great outing from a starter. Eovaldi held down the Baltimore Orioles for 7 innings, surrendering only a single run. Xander Bogaerts hit an early home run and Mitch Moreland hit the killshot in the ninth inning. Ryan Brasier and Phillips Valdez struck out 4 of the 6 men they faced combined to nail down the surprising 7-1 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Naturally the Sox blew a chance to take an early lead against Asher Wojciechowski in the top of the first inning. Alex Verdugo whiffed but Rafael Devers singled to right. JD Martinez whiffed but Xander Bogaerts singled Devers to third. Mitch Moreland flied out to right to end the inning. Eovaldi got the ball in the bottom of the first and naturally the Orioles failed to cash in on their own chance. Hanser Alberto grounded back to the mound but Anthony Santander and Renato Nunez stroked back to back singles. Pedro Severino whiffed but Rio Ruiz walked to load the bases. Pat Valaika grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox tried to rally again in the top of the second as Christian Vazquez singled to left to start. Kevin Pillar drew a full count walk but Jackie Bradley Jr took a full count strike three right down the middle. Jose Peraza lined a base hit to center that scored Vazquez and sent Pillar to third. Verdugo grounded out to second but Pillar scored to increase the lead. Devers grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 2-0.
Dwight Smith went down swinging to start the bottom of the second before Cedric Mullins caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single. Mullins was sacrificed to second by Andrew Velazquez but Alberto flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the third inning as Martinez flied out to right to start. Bogaerts then cracked his 5th homer of the season to increase the lead. Moreland flied out to left and Vazquez whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were up 3-0.
Eovaldi cruised in the bottom of the third as Santander popped up to first to start. Nunez took strike three and Severino grounded out to second to end the inning.
Pillar popped up to second to open the top of the fourth before Jackie Bradley Jr singled to left. Jose Peraza lined out to right but Alex Verdugo singled to right to chase Wojciechowski. Dillon Tate got Devers to line out to left to end the inning. Eovaldi got Ruiz to ground out to third to open the bottom of the fourth but Valaika grounded out to third. Smith whiffed to end the inning.
Martinez flied out to center to start the top of the fifth but Bogaerts went down hacking. Moreland singled to left but Vazquez lined out to left to end the inning. Mullins was called out on strikes to begin the bottom of the fifth before Velazquez grounded back to the mound. Alberto beat out an infield single to third but Santander grounded out to second to end the inning.
Pillar whiffed to start the top of the sixth but JBJ walked. Peraza lined out to left but Verdugo took strike three to end the inning. Eovaldi cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Nunez flied out to left to start. Severino grounded out to second and Ruiz also grounded to second to end the inning.
Old friend Travis Lakins came in for the top of the seventh and Devers lined out to short to begin. Martinez whiffed and Bogaerts lined out to right to end the inning. Eovaldi was finally tagged in the bottom of the seventh when Valaika hit a home run into the Potomac River to cut the lead. Smith lined out to left, Mullins whiffed and Velazquez grounded out to first to end the inning. Eovaldi gave the Sox their best start all year by going 7 innings and allowing just one run.
Moreland walked to open the top of the eighth before Vazquez singled to center. Both runners moved over on the Pillar grounder but and Tanner Scott came in to face Bradley. JBJ grounded out to third and Peraza grounded out to short to end the inning. Ryan Brasier came in for the bottom of the eighth and Alberto lined out to short to start. Brasier blew away Santander and Nunez both to end the inning.
The Sox pulled off a huge rally in the top of the ninth as Verdugo walked to start. Devers singled to chase Scott. Miguel Castro came in and Devers broke up a double play ball by Martinez to put runners at the corners. Bogaerts singled home Verdugo and Moreland blasted a 3 run bomb to ice the game. Vazquez whiffed and Pillar flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
Phillips Valdez came on for the bottom of the ninth inning and Severino took strike three to start. Ruiz flied out to left and Ramon Urias pinch hit for Valaika. Urias took strike three to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-1.
Hero of the Night is Nathan Eovaldi. The Sox needed a great start and Eovaldi was what the doctor ordered. He allowed just 5 hits and a walk while striking out 6.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored, 2 rbis and a home run.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a walk and a 3 run home run.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Phillips Valdez pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored.
JD Martinez was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Kevin Pillar was 0 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Jose Peraza was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
For the first time since Opening Day the Sox looked like a good team. They got clutch hits when they needed it, Eovaldi pitched well and the bullpen was lights out. The sad part was if Eduardo Rodriguez and Chris Sale were healthy, the Sox would actually be contenders even with the useless bullpen and inconsistent offense. The rumor going around is some of the bullpen arms maybe traded with Brandon Workman being the centerpiece. Workman is a 32 year old impending free agent so Chaim Bloom may be asked to get something for him before he walks in free agency. Unlike Mookie Betts, good closers are easy to find. Good, not great, that is. As for this game, this is the kind of win the team could build on if they had the right pieces. Unfortunately its not that kind of season so enjoy it while you can. The Sox return to action tomorrow night against the Orioles when Sox manager Ron Roenicke picks a name out of a hat to pitch against John Means at 7:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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