As for the game, thank goodness Jonathan Arauz made the 200 mile trip. The emergency replacement for Kike Hernandez was slotted to play second and hit ninth at the last second. Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA) tossed 7 solid innings but had allowed 3 runs. The Sox bats were held to just 1 run by Logan Allen through six innings. In the top of the eighth with two on against Jaames Karinchak, Arauz aided the cause with a towering 3 run bomb to put the Sox on top. Garrett Richards and Adam Ottavino slammed the door in the final two innings to preserve the win. The Sox had been reeling since the all-star break but this was one of those wins that could catapault a team back into contention as the Sox beat the Indians 4-3 at Progressive Field.
Allen got the ball in the top of the first inning and Yairo Munoz made his season debut by flying out to left to start. Kyle Schwarber grounded out to short and Xander Bogaerts also grounded out to short to end the inning. Rodriguez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Myles Straw lined out to center to start. Amed Rosario lined out to right and Jose Ramirez got a base hit to right. Verdugo gunned down Ramirez trying to stretch a double to end the inning.
Rafael Devers popped up to third to start the top of the second before Alex Verdugo grounded out to second. Bobby Dalbec ripped a double to left but Christian Vazquez lined out to third to end the inning. Franmil Reyes flied out to center to start the bottom of the second before Wilson Ramos grounded back to the mound. Bradley Zimmer hit a routine grounder to third and Dalbec threw the ball into the left field bleachers to advance Zimmer to second. Owen Miller grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Jarren Duran grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Jonathan Arauz took strike three. Munoz struck out swinging to end the inning. The Indians beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the third as Yu Chang grounded out to short to start. Oscar Mercado also grounded out to short and Straw grounded out to third to end the inning.
Schwarber took strike three to start the top of the fourth before Bogaerts also watched strike three go by. Devers grounded out to third to end the inning. The Indians struck first in the bottom of the fourth as Rosario got a base hit to center and Ramirez hit a home run all the way to Central America to put Cleveland on top.
The Sox rallied in the top of the fifth as Verdugo was plunked to start before a wild pitch moved him to second. Dalbec hit a grounder to short but Rosario missed the tag on Verdugo going to third. Christian Vazquez banged into a double play but Verdugo scored to cut the lead. Duran grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.
Miller popped up to second to start the bottom of the fifth before Chang grounded out to short. Mercado hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Arauz walked to start the top of the sixth but Munoz forced him at second. Schwarber lined out to left and Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning. Straw struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth before Rosario lined out to center. Ramirez got a base hit to center and Reyes walked, but Ramos grounded out to short to end the inning.
Alex Young came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Devers grounded out to second to start. Verdugo popped up to first and Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning. The Indians struck again in the bottom of the seventh as Zimmer got a base hit to right to start. Miller banged into a double play but Chang hit a home run all the way to the outer reaches of Quebec to increase the lead. Mercado flied out to right to end the inning with the Indians up 3-1. That was it for Rodriguez who tossed 7 solid innings but allowed 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk.
James Karinchak took over for the top of the eighth but Vazquez walked to start. Duran got a base hit to left and Arauz shocked everyone by launching his first home run of the season to put Boston on top. That was it for Karinchak as Blake Parker came in to get Munoz to ground out to third. Schwarber grounded out to short and Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-3.
Arauz saves the day
Garrett Richards came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Straw took strike three to start. Rosario struck out swinging and Ramirez popped up to first to end the inning. Good work Richards!
Devers lined out to Parker to start the top of the ninth before Verdugo grounded out to first. Dalbec walked but Vazquez flied out to right to end the inning. Adam Ottavino came in to close out the bottom of the ninth with Travis Shaw taking over for Schwarber at first. Reyes walked to start and Andres Gimenez ran for him. Gimenez stole second but Ramos struck out swinging. Zimmer struck out swinging and Miller grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-3.
Sox win
Hero Arauz
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4.
Hero of the Night is Jonathan Arauz. His 3 run home run was the difference in the game.
The Good:
Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Eduardo Rodriguez earned the win by tossing 7 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 8 hits and struck out 2 batters.
Garrett Richards pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Adam Ottavino earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Yairo Munoz was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch and scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Travis Shaw played first base in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Thank goodness for Arauz because the rest of the offense was virtually non-existent. The top of the order was 0 for 16 with 5 strikeouts in particular. Rodriguez gave up a few bombs but otherwise pitched well and ate up 7 innings. Richards hopefully can find life in the bullpen now that Chris Sale is back and Ottavino stepped up big tonight in the ninth. The season still looks to be a wash but the Sox have won a few games lately, that's good for something right? The Sox are still behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees and its a shame because if they didn't fall off a cliff after the All-Star break they'd be neck and neck with Tampa instead of hopelessly behind with just over a month left in the season. Still, a win is a win and they all count in the end. The win improved the Sox to74-56, 3 games behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card spot. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Indians tomorrow afternoon when Nathan Eovaldi takes on Cal Quantrill of Cleveland. The game begins at 5:05 PM eastern time at Progressive Field.
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