It was a great night for Boston sports as the Boston Bruins eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of their first round NHL playoff series and the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia Sixers in Game 2 of their first round NBA playoff series. As for baseball, the Boston Red Sox finally won, ITS A MIRACLEEEEE!!! After a 9 game losing streak that sent the Sox straight to the bottom of the American League, the Sox finally eeked a win out against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rafael Devers broke out of his slump to drive in 3 big runs. The much maligned Boston bullpen allowed just 2 walks, 1 hit and 1 run in 5 1/3 innings. Sox starter Kyle Hart was pulled after 3 2/3 innings but Austin Brice (1-0, 6.75 ERA) and a host of relievers nailed down the win as the Sox took the game 6-3 at Fenway Park.
The Phillies wasted no time getting to Hart in the top of the first inning. Andrew McCutchen doubled to center, Rhys Hoskins walked and Bryce Harper drew a walk to load the bases with no one out. JT Realmuto flied out to right but Phil Gosselin singled to right to score McCutchen. Didi Gregorius hit a sac fly to score Hoskins but Alec Bohm whiffed to end the inning with the Phillies up 2-0.
The Sox did themselves no favors in the bottom of the first against Philly starter Jake Arrieta as Alex Verdugo took strike three to start. Kevin Pillar walked but was picked off and Rafael Devers grounded out to short to end the inning.
Hart recovered in the top of the second as Scott Kingery was rung up for strike three to start. Kyle Garlick whiffed and McCutchen flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox bungled another rally in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts walked to start. Mitch Moreland singled to short but Christian Vazquez banged into a double play. Jackie Bradley Jr walked to put runners at the corners but Tzu-Wei Lin whiffed to end the inning.
Hart got in trouble in the top of the third as Hoskins walked to start. Harper whiffed but Realmuto walked as well. Gosselin flied out to left and Gregorius grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third although Jose Peraza grounded out to third to start. Verdugo took strike three but Pillar doubled to left. Somehow Devers pounded his third home run of the year to tie the game. Bogaerts lined out to right to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.
Sox manager Ron Roenicke once again refused to let his starter go five innings as Tzu-Wei Lin threw a Bohm grounder away to start the top of the fourth. Kingery flied out to left and Garlick whiffed, but that was it for Hart. Kyle was lifted after just 73 pitches, 3 2/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. The fact the Sox go to the bullpen early every single game is the reason they're dead last in the American League. Austin Brice came in and got McCutchen to pop up to second to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Moreland walked to start. Vazquez singled Moreland to third and Mitch scored on the sac fly by JBJ. Lin banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 3-2.
Brice cruised in the top of the fifth as Hoskins whiffed to start. Harper flied out to left and Realmuto whiffed to end the inning. The Sox got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth although Peraza popped up to short to start. Verdugo doubled to left and scored when Hoskins booted a routine grounder by Pillar. That was it for Arrieta as Adam Morgan came in to pitch, Devers greeting him with a base hit to center. Bogaerts and Moreland both whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Ryan Weber came in for the top of the sixth and Gosselin took strike three to start. Gregorius flied out to left but Bohm walked. Kingery grounded out to first to end the inning. Vazquez took strike three to start the bottom of the sixth before JBJ grounded out to second. Lin took strike three to end the inning.
The Phillies struck back in the top of the seventh as Neil Walker pinch hit for Garlick. Walker doubled to center and moved to third on the McCutchen grounder. Lin threw a routine grounder by Hoskins away which allowed Walker to score. Matt Barnes came in and blew away both Harper and Realmuto to end the inning but the Sox still led 4-3.
The Sox got the run back in the bottom of the seventh against Ramon Rosso. Peraza lined out to center but Verdugo walked. Verdugo swiped second but Pillar whiffed. Devers stepped up with a double to score Verdugo and increase the lead. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 5-3.
Barnes came back for the top of the eighth and Gosselin took strike three to start. Gregorius walked but Bohm hit into a double play to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Moreland hit a ground rule double to right to start. A wild pitch moved Moreland to third and Vazquez walked to put runners at the corners. JBJ doubled to center to score Moreland and send Vazquez to third. Connor Brogdon relieved Rosso and Lin whiffed. Peraza flied out to center and Verdugo was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pillar flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.
Brandon Workman came on for the save in the top of the ninth with Roman Quinn pinch hitting for Kingery. Quinn grounded out to first, Walker whiffed and McCutchen flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had ended their losing streak with a 6-3 win.
Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. He knocked in 3 big runs including hitting a 2 run home run to tie the game.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs batted in.
Austin Brice got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Matt Barnes tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Brandon Workman earned his 4th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts and 2 errors.
Jose Peraza was 0 for 4.
Kyle Hart lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs.
Ryan Weber allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Hey look the Sox won for a change! The Sox set records for futility during their 9 game losing streak and it felt like they would never win again. With the draft rules changed because of Covid, the Sox simply can't tank for the number 1 pick because they may not actually get it even if they finish worst than the Pittsburgh Pirates. Apart from Devers and Verdugo, there was nothing really exciting about this game. Kyle Hart was unimpressive again and its a good thing this was a short season already because Sox manager Ron Roenicke would have been fired for sure at this point. He keeps saying starters need to go deep but then pulls them out in the third or fourth inning. The win improved the Sox to a pathetic 7-18, dead last in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox will go back to their losing ways when they travel to Baltimore to face the surprising Orioles. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.93 ERA) goes for the Sox up against Asher Wojciechowski at 7:35 PM at Camden Yards.
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