Its too bad the inept Boston Red Sox ruined a great night for Boston sports. The Boston Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of their first round NHL playoff series and the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia Sixers in Game 1 of their first round NBA playoff series. As for the Boston Red Sox, what else did you expect was going to happen? In the latest chapter of ineptitude the Red Sox have dropped their eighth straight game and second straight four game series. The New York Yankees outscored the Sox 31-11 in the four game sweep. Martin Perez (2-3, 4.07 ERA) lasted just 3 innings and allowed 3 runs before a rain delay knocked both starters out of the game. The Yankees bullpen held the Sox to just 2 runs while the Sox bullpen allowed 3 more. When the rain and the game were over the Yankees had swept the Red Sox 6-3 at Yankee Stadium.
Montgomery got the ball in the top of the first and was inconvenienced by an error by Gleybar Torres to allow Kevin Pillar to reach first. Naturally Rafael Devers flied out to center and JD Martinez banged into a double play to end the inning. Somehow Perez kept the Yankees off the board in the bottom of the first as Aaron Hicks grounded out to third to start. Luke Voit grounded out to third but Perez allowed Clint Frazier, Torres and Gary Sanchez to walk the bases loaded. Miguel Andujar flied out to right to end the inning but the Yankees would not miss again.
Montgomery effortlessly cruised in the top of the second as Xander Bogaerts closed his eyes and swung at strike three after it had already crossed the plate to start. Christian Vazquez swung and missed at strike three on a pitch that bounced three times before it reached the plate and Michael Chavis weakly lined out to second to end the inning. The Yankees ended the game early in the bottom of the second as Thairo Estrada flied out to center to begin. Erik Kratz lined out to center but Tyler Wade was plunked and Hicks doubled him home. Voit laughed as he effortlessly hit a home run into the Long Island sound on a 55 mph fastball with no movement right down the middle. Frazier flied out to center to end the inning but the Yankees had ended it 3-0.
Montgomery laughed at the Sox in the top of the third as Alex Verdugo grounded out to first to start. Jose Peraza grounded back to the mound and Jonathan Arauz whiffed to end the inning. Somehow Perez got Torres to line out to right to start the bottom of the third. Sanchez whiffed and Andujar popped up to first to end the inning. This turned out to be it for Perez who allowed 3 runs in 3 innings...booooo!
Pillar whiffed to begin the top of the fourth before Devers popped up to second. Martinez broke up the no-no with a base hit to left and Bogaerts singled to right. Vazquez singled to left to score Martinez and then the rains came to delay the game. When the delay was over, Luis Avilan came in and walked Chavis to load the bases..... but Verdugo whiffed to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 3-1.
Josh Osich came in and crapped his pants in the bottom of the fourth as Estrada effortlessly pounded his first home run of the year into the Long Island Sound to increase the lead. Kratz whiffed, Wade went down swinging and Hicks grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.
Somehow Peraza reached on a throwing error to start the top of the fifth but Arauz flied out to left. Pillar walked but Devers banged into a double play to end the inning. Osich returned for the bottom of the fifth and Voit closed his eyes and still hit a 45,000 foot home run on an 80 mph fastball right down the middle to increase the lead. Frazier grounded out to short and Torres flied out to right, but Sanchez walked. Andujar lined out to second to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-1.
Michael King took over for the top of the sixth and the Sox struck back. Martinez whiffed and Bogaerts grounded out to third. Vazquez singled and Chavis was plunked before Verdugo hit a ground rule double to left to cut the lead and bring the tying run to the plate. Peraza lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.
Josh Taylor made his season debut in the bottom of the sixth as Estrada struck out swinging to start. Kratz flied out to center and Wade lined out to center as well to end the inning.
Mike Tauchman took over in left for the top of the seventh inning and Arauz lined out to second to start. Pillar flied out to left but Devers singled to left. Martinez lined out to right to end the inning. Austin Brice came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh with Kevin Plawecki now behind the plate. Hicks hit a home run all the way to Saturn to start the inning but Voit flied out to center. Frazier also lined out to center but Torres walked. Torres was picked off to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the eighth as Bogaerts grounded out to second to start. Plawecki grounded out to short and Chavis whiffed to end the inning. Heath Hembree cruised in the bottom of the eighth as Sanchez hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Tauchman whiffed and Estrada took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox got to returning closer Aroldis Chapman in the top of the ninth although Verdugo lined out to short to start. Peraza smacked a triple and Arauz doubled him home to cut the lead. Pillar and Devers both whiffed to end the game. The Yankees had swept the Sox and won the game 6-3.
Jackass of the Night is Josh Osich. He turned a 3-1 game into 5-1 real quick and it turned out to be the difference in the game
The Good:
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 1 in his only at bat.
Martin Perez allowed 3 runs in 3 innings of work.
Austin Brice allowed a run in an inning of work.
The Ugly:
Kevin Pillar was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts, but walked.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 2 but walked and was hit with a pitch.
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jose Peraza was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Jonathan Arauz was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
Is 8 straight losses enough to convince Sox brass they have to be SOMEWHAT competitive this season? Its one thing to tank, its another to be blatantly obvious about it. Having only 2 below average starters and a bunch of bums in the bullpen is the reason the Sox record is what it is. Its not going to get any better either. Chaim Bloom and Sam Kennedy are begging the season can go two more weeks so the Luxury Tax resets. Until then, Sox fans have to hope and pray no more unarmed citizens get shot, another outbreak occurs or bolts of lightning hit Fenway. The countdown is on for both the August 31st deadline and the end of the season. The massacre continues tomorrow night when the Sox return home to get slaughtered by the Philadelphia Phillies. Somebody named Zach Eflin shuts down the Sox while Sox manager Ron Roenicke picks a name from a hat to start for Boston. The carnage begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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