The news got even better as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia Sixers in Game 3 of their first round NBA playoff series. As for the Red Sox game, don't look now but the Boston Red Sox have won three games in a row! Colten Brewer became the first "opener" to toss four shutout innings to keep the Sox out of danger early against the Baltimore Orioles. Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez and Mitch Moreland all homered to supply the offense that scored eight runs. The O's made it interesting by scoring 5 late runs against the JV bullpen but closer by default Matt Barnes slammed the door in the ninth inning. The Sox made it 3 wins in a row as they downed the Orioles 9-5 at Camden Yards.
Means got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kevin Pillar popped up to short to start. Rafael Devers whiffed and JD Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning. Sox manager Ron Roenicke pulled Colten Brewer's name out of a hat so he started the bottom of the first inning. Hanser Alberto lined out to center to start before Anthony Santander grounded out to short. Renato Nunez and Pedro Severino hit back to back singles but Rio Ruiz grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second inning as Xander Bogaerts blasted his 6th home run of the season to put Boston on top. Christian Vazquez grounded out to third but Alex Verdugo singled to left. Michael Chavis lined out to third and Jackie Bradley Jr struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Ryan Mountcastle walked to start the bottom of the second but Chance Sisco banged into a double play. Pat Valaika flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the third although Jose Peraza grounded out to third to start. Pillar singled to right but Devers flied out to left. Martinez then smoked a 431 foot bomb to dead center to increase the lead. Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 3-0.
Brewer returned for the bottom of the third inning and Cedric Mullins grounded out to second to start. Alberto grounded back to the mound but Santander singled to right. Nunez took strike three to end the inning.
Jorge Lopez came in to pitch the top of the fourth and Vazquez whiffed to start. Verdugo grounded out to first and Chavis grounded out to second to end the inning. Brewer returned for the bottom of the fourth and Severino flied out to right to start. Ruiz walked but Mountcastle went down swinging. Sisco grounded out to second to end the inning. Good on Brewer for tossing 4 scoreless innings when the Sox needed an "opener" to do so.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the fifth although JBJ whiffed to start. Peraza singled and Pillar walked to set up Devers pulverizing a three run home run to put the Sox up big. Martinez grounded back to the mound and Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 6-0 Boston.
Darwinzon Hernandez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) made his season debut in the bottom of the fifth and Valaika lined out to second to start. Mullins singled to third but Alberto whiffed. Santander popped up to second to end the inning.
The Sox poured it on in the top of the sixth as Vazquez singled to right to start. Verdugo doubled to right and Chavis singled home both men to wrap up the scoring. Chavis moved to second on a wild pitch but JBJ lined out to left. Peraza flied out to right and Pillar flied out to center to end the inning but the Sox were up 8-0.
Hernandez returned for the bottom of the sixth and blew away Nunez to start. Severino walked but Ruiz went down hacking too. Mountcastle lined out to right to end the inning. Welcome back Darwinzon.
Devers walked to start the top of the seventh but was forced at second by Martinez. Bogaerts took strike three and Vazquez popped up to first to end the inning. With Workman and Hembree gone, the Sox had to turn to Josh Osich in the bottom of the seventh and it didn't end well. Sisco whiffed but Valaika and Mullins cracked back to back 500,000 foot home runs to cut the lead. Alberto lined out to third and Santander took strike three to end the inning but it was 8-2 Sox.
Thomas Eshelman took over for the top of the eighth and Verdugo lined out to center to start. Chavis lined out to right and JBJ grounded out to short to end the inning. Osich took another beating in the bottom of the eighth although Nunez whiffed to start. Severino walked but Ruiz flied out to center. Mountcastle walked and Sisco belted a home run all the way to Holland to cut the lead. Sox manager Ron Roenicke had finally seen enough and pulled the incompetent Osich. Austin Brice came in and whiffed Valaika to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-5.
Peraza was plunked to start the top of the ninth and Shawn Armstrong was brought in to pitch to Pillar. Naturally Pillar banged into a double play and Devers grounded out to short to end the inning. Now that the game was a save situation, Matt Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Mullins caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single but Alberto lined out to second. A wild pitch moved Mullins to second but Santander lined out to right. Nunez grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won 3 in a row and this game 8-5.
Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. His 3 run home run ended up being the difference in the game.
The Good:
Jose Peraza was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Colten Brewer tossed 4 scoreless innings.
Darwinzon Hernandez got the win with 2 scoreless innings.
Austin Brice struck out the only man he faced.
Matt Barnes earned his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 stikeouts.
Josh Osich was hammered for 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored 2 runs.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 2 run home run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Final Thoughts:
If the season going down the drain isn't bad enough, now there's talk Sox general manager Chaim Bloom is going to blow it up all up. Workman and Hembree going was most likely the start. Fans will be ready to riot if Bogaerts, Devers or E-Rod are the next to go. At least the trade made sense. The Sox needed arms to get them through the last month of the season next year and Workman was one of the few of any value. Back in 1994 the Sox traded closer Jeff Russell for reclamation project Chris Nabholz and a washed up Steve Farr. This trade was eerily similar with the Phillies treating Pivetta as a lost cause. Seabold may turn out good, he may not. The bottom line is now the Sox have THREE starters instead of two...yay! The eulogy for Workman and Hembree will be written on Monday but as for the game, good win. The win improved the Sox to an unimpressive 9-18. The Sox actually have a chance to make it 4 in a row tomorrow night when they send Martin Perez to the mound against Alex Cobb of the Orioles at 7:35 PM at Camden Yards.
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