Shockingly the Sox struck first in the top of the first against Paxton. Kevin Pillar lined out to left to start before Rafael Devers whiffed badly. JD Martinez doubled over the head of Aaron Hicks in center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Xander Bogaerts then pounded a home run just over the wall in right to put the Sox on top. Christian Vazquez grounded back to the mound to end the inning but the Sox were up 2-0.
Naturally Brice almost gave the lead right back in the bottom of the first although he somehow struck out DJ LeMahieu swinging to start. Aaron Judge hit a routine pop up to Jose Peraza who tried to catch the ball in his hat and it dropped for an error. Somehow Brice punched out Gleyber Torres on a 94 mph fastball but Giancarlo Stanton walked. Aaron Hicks walked to load the bases but somehow Brice punched out Luke Voit on a full count to end the inning.
Michael Chavis whiffed on a pitch in the dirt to start the top of the second but Kevin Plawecki lined a base hit up the middle. Plawecki moved to second on the Jackie Bradley Jr grounder and Peraza popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning. The Yankees lit up Matt Hall in the bottom of the second although Gary Sanchez was frozen for strike three to start. Gio Urshela singled to left but Devers made a hell of a play on a ground ball by Miguel Andujar to force Gio at second. LeMahieu walked and ESPN broadcasters had an on-air orgasm when Judge effortlessly hit a 700,000 bomb to put the Yankees up. Torres grounded out to second to end the inning but the Yankees now led 3-2.
The Sox fought back in the top of the third when Pillar caught Hicks asleep in center with a ground rule double to start. Devers lined a base hit to right to score Pillar to tie the game just like that. Martinez whiffed badly but Bogaets hit a base hit to right...under the glove of Andujar. Devers came around to score and Bogaerts made it to third on the error. Vazquez then singled home Bogaerts with a base hit to right to increase the lead. Chavis was rung up on a questionable pitch for strike three and Plawecki flied out to deep right to end the inning but the Sox were back on top 5-3.
Hall came back to piss himself in the bottom of the third as Stanton walked to start. Hicks flied out to the centerfield wall and Voit was caught looking at strike three on the outside corner. Sanchez easily doubled over the head of Pillar to score Stanton to cut the lead. Urshela doubled home Sanchez to tie the game before Andujar flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 5-5. Hall pissed away two 2 run leads and allowed 5 runs, pathetic.
Somebody named Michael King shut down the Sox in the top of the fourth as JBJ took strike three to start. Peraza flied out to center and Pillar grounded out to second to end the inning. Heath Hembree took the mound in the bottom of the fourth and LeMahieu popped up to right in foul territory. Judge beat out an infield single to third after a great throw by Devers....but wait! Sox manager Ron Roenicke challenged the call and shockingly the umpires got the call right, Judge was out. Torres popped up to left to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth although Devers and Martinez whiffed to start. Bogaerts then pounded his second homer of the night to left to give the Sox the lead. Vazquez grounded into the shift to end the inning but it was 6-5 Sox.
Hembree returned for the bottom of the fifth and the Yankees struck again. Stanton grounded out to short to start. Hicks popped up to center but Voit effortlessly pounded a home run completely out of Yankee Stadium to tie the game. Sanchez took strike three to end the inning but it was tied 6-6.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Chavis grounded out to short to start. Plawecki took strike three and JBJ grounded into the shift to end the inning. Marcus Walden came in for the bottom of the sixth as Urshela easily singled to left to start. Andujar banged into a double play but LeMahieu slapped a single to right. A wild pitch moved LeMahieu to second before Judge walked. Torres flied out to right to end the inning.
Mike Tauchman replaced Andujar in the top of the seventh as Boston took the lead back. Peraza flied out to right before Judge made a shoestring catch on a Pillar line drive. Devers then hit a 450 foot bomb to right not even Judge could catch to give the Sox the lead back. Adam Ottavino replaced King and Martinez flied out to the left field wall to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-6.
Alex Verdugo replaced Martinez in the batting order but was playing left with Pillar moving to right to begin the bottom of the seventh. Peraza made a great stab to rob Judge of a base hit before Walden froze Hicks for strike three. Voit flied out to left to end the inning. Somehow the Sox were 6 outs away from winning this one.
Bogaerts tried to start a rally in the top of the eighth with a double to the left field fence but Vazquez did the one thing he couldn't do, ground out to short. Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Chavis and struck out swinging. Plawecki took a full count walk but JBJ extended his slump to 0-17 with another strikeout swinging to end the inning. Matt Barnes came on for the bottom of the eighth and couldn't hold the lead. Sanchez popped up to center to start. Urshela was rung up on a check swing in the dirt for strike three before Tauchman walked. Tauchman swiped second and scored on the LeMahieu base hit past Peraza. Judge ended matters with his second bomb of the game as ESPN openly gushed over it. Torres flied out to left to end the inning but the Yankees led 9-7.
The Sox were deflated by the Judge homer and Zack Britton finished them off in the top of the ninth with Tyler Wade now playing second, moving LeMahieu to first. Peraza grounded out to third, Pillar whiffed and Devers grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox simply cannot beat the Yankees in any stage of the game and the Yanks proved it by winning 9-7 to finish off the sweep.
Jackass of the Night is Matt Barnes. He was brought in with a one run lead and gave up 3 runs to take the loss.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis, 2 runs scored and a solo home run.
Xander Bogaerts was 4 for 4 with 3 rbis, 3 runs scored and 2 home runs.
Kevin Plawecki was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Austin Brice pitched a scoreless first inning.
Marcus Walden tossed two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland struck out as a pinch hitter.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jose Peraza was 0 for 4 with an error.
Matt Hall allowed 5 runs in 2 innings.
The Ugly:
Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Heath Hembree allowed a run in 2 innings of work.
Honorable Mention:
Alex Verdugo played left field in the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
At least the Sox were competitive tonight. Unlike the previous two games, they showed some life at the plate. Now if they had a major league pitching staff, maybe they'd win a few more games. As it is, they're stuck with their horrendous pitching staff. Matt Hall has no business being in the majors and Barnes completely blew it. Hembree was pitching well but Voit got ahold of a fastball, it happens. Barnes has been throwing nothing but curveballs for a week now. That's not going to cut it when guys like Judge are sitting on it. Again, at least the Sox were in the game. Xander Bogaerts said after the game the Sox actually had fun in this one. Hopefully the "fun" can carry over to their next series because the Sox are 3-7 and in trouble. The Baltimore Orioles are a better team than they are right now. The sad part is the Sox are not going to get any better with Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez out for the season. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Tuesday night in Tampa against the Rays. Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 2.45 ERA) goes for the Sox against Charlie Morton at an unusual 6:40 PM start time at Tropicana Field.
No comments:
Post a Comment