Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. The Sox designated Colten Brewer for assignment and activated none other than former closer Brandon Workman. Workman was signed to a minor league deal after he was released by the Chicago Cubs and has done well with Worcester. If he's got anything left in the tank, it can only help the other arms in the bullpen. The thing was both Brandon Workman and Cesar Puello had opt-out clauses in their contracts and both had informed the team they intended to use them. Workman was promoted while Puello was released, bye bye Cesar.
It was a great night for Boston sports. The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Islanders in overtime in Game 3 of their second round NHL playoff series and the Boston Bruins defeated the Houston Astros to avert a sweep. Martin Perez (4-2, 3.09 ERA) was outstanding, shutting out the Astros for 7 2/3 innings. Christian Arroyo hit a 3 run bomb off of Houston starter Jake Odorizzi and Xander Bogaerts broke an 0-24 slump with a 2 run double to ice the game. The returning Brandon Workman got the final 3 outs and the Sox had averted a sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Odorizzi got the ball in the top of the first and Danny Santana grounded out to short to start the game. Alex Verdugo singled to left but JD Martinez struck out swinging. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to first to end the inning. Perez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jose Altuve flied out to center to begin. Aledmys Diaz doubled to center but Alex Bregman grounded out to third. Diaz was thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Rafael Devers doubled to center to start. Hunter Renfroe walked and Christian Arroyo smashed his first home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Kevin Plawecki grounded out to second and Bobby Dalbec took strike three, but Santana walked. Verdugo grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Yordan Alvarez grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second before Yuli Gurriel grounded out to third. Taylor Jones lined out to second to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Martinez flied out to center to start. Bogaerts lined out to second but Devers walked. Renfroe singled Devers to third but Rafael was foolishly thrown out at home trying to steal to end the inning. Perez dominated the bottom of the third as Chas McCormick popped up to first to begin. Myles Straw lined out to center and Perez snuffed out a bunt by Garrett Stubbs to end the inning.
Enoli Parades came in to pitch the top of the fourth and Arroyo popped up to first to start. Plawecki walked but Dalbec took strike three. Santana flied out to center to end the inning. Altuve lined out to center to begin the bottom of the fourth but Diaz singled to center. Bregman popped up to second and Alvarez grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth against Cristian Javier as Verdugo walked to start. Martinez doubled to left but the slumping Bogaerts took strike three. Devers was intentionally walked to load the bases and Renfroe took strike three. Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning, what a waste. The Astros blew their own rally in the bottom of the fifth as Gurriel singled to right to start. Jones struck out swinging but McCormick singled to left. Straw popped up to second and Stubbs grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Plawecki took strike three to start. Sox manager Alex Cora sprinted out of the dugout with a conquistador sword and attacked home plate umpire Lance Barrett. Cora was ejected and escorted out of the building by armed security. Dalbec earned the hat trick by striking out swinging and Santana grounded out to short to end the inning.
Perez cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Altuve took strike three to start. Diaz flied out to center and Bregman also flied out to center to end the inning. Perez had thrown just 57 pitches so far in the game.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the seventh as Verdugo walked to start. Martinez doubled to left and Bogaerts broke his slump with a bases clearing double to left. Devers and Renfroe both flied out to left before Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston ahead 5-0.
Perez froze Alvarez for strike three to start the bottom of the seventh but Gurriel singled to left on the first pitch. Jones lined out to left on the first pitch and McCormick grounded into a force to end the inning with Perez at 67 pitches and 7 shutout innings.
Joe Smith came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Plawecki grounded out to short to start. Dalbec earned the golden sombrero with a swinging strikeout and Santana flied out to right to end the inning. Shaw took strike three to start the bottom of the eighth but Stubbs singled to left. Altuve flied out to left but Diaz walked on a full count to chase Perez. Martin was outstanding, tossing 7 2/3 shutout innings in the best start of the season by any pitcher. Adam Ottavino came in and Bregman flied out to center to end the inning.
Blake Taylor came in for the top of the ninth and Verdugo grounded out to short to begin. Martinez struck out swinging but Bogaerts singled in the hole at short. Devers whiffed to end the inning. Brandon Workman made his first appearance in a Sox uniform since August 19th of last year by striking out Alvarez swinging to start. Gurriel then hit a home run all the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico to end the party. Jones lined out to center and McCormick struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of the Night is Martin Perez. He tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings while allowing just 6 hits and a walk.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis.
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Hunter Renfroe was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Adam Ottavino retired the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
Brandon Workman allowed a run in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
Danny Santana was 0 for 4 but walked.
Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a 3 run home run.
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Bring on the New York Yankees. After the Houston Astros beat up the Red Sox, the only way to go is up. The Sox and Yankees are both reeling after Houston and the Tampa Bay Rays beat them down. The good news is Perez has now won his 4th straight decision and is arguably their best pitcher right now. Bad news is Bobby Dalbec can't hit the ball out of his hand and Bogaerts was in a bad slump until today. Hopefully Bogaerts can wake up when the Sox hit the Bronx because they're going to need him. Its good to see Workman back, if he's got anything left in the tank he can help big time in the back end of the bullpen. Rookies Garrett Whitlock and Hiro Sawamura are too inconsistent but a veteran like Workman could bridge the gap to Barnes more frequently. Its amazing how Workman has come back from the dead twice in his career. First he went 1-10 in 2014 and due to injuries, didn't see ML action again until 2017. Then he washes out in Philly after he got traded there, got cut by the Cubs and now he's back again. What a fleece job on the Phillies Sox GM Chaim Bloom pulled off. He trades Workman and Heath Hembree for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold only to get Workman back anyway. The Sox now move on to New York and this will be an early chance to bury the Yankees. Their offense has been horrible all season and if the Sox can keep their bats off the board, they should be able to take two of three at least. The win improved the Sox to 33-23, 2 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night begins a three game showdown with the Yankees. Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 4.01 ERA) goes for the Sox against Michael King of the Yankees. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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