If the Boston Red Sox don't make the playoffs, this was a fitting end to a frustrating season. Eight days ago the Sox had won 7 games in a row and were in control of their own destiny. Instead of locking up the wild card or even hanging around in the AL East race, the Sox lost 5 out of 6 games and are now one or two losses away from elimination. The Sox were playing the 106 loss Baltimore Orioles and dropped two of three to them, including tonight's game. Alex Wells came into the game with an ERA over 7 and he held the Sox to just 1 measly run in six innings. Meanwhile Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.56 ERA) finished his season by getting yanked in the fifth inning after giving up a 3 run jack to Ryan Mountcastle. Garrett Richards, the 10 million dollar man signed by Chaim Bloom allowed 3 runs in relief to put the game out of reach. The season looks to be crashing down with a 6-2 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Wells got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kike Hernandez launched the very first pitch out of the yard for his 19th home run of the season. Kyle Schwarber popped up to first but Xander Bogaerts walked. JD Martinez flied out to center and Hunter Renfroe popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Pivetta got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Cedric Mullins struck out swinging to start. Ryan Mountcastle struck out swinging and Austin Hays went down hacking to end the inning.
Alex Verdugo took strike three to start the top of the second before Kevin Plawecki flied out to right and Jose Iglesias grounded out to short to end the inning. Trey Mancini grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the second before Pedro Severino struck out swinging. Kelvin Gutierrez lined out to right to end the inning.
Hernandez struck out swinging to start the top of the third but Schwarber got a base hit to right. Bogaerts grounded into a double play to end the inning. The O's took command in the bottom of the third as Tyler Nevin walked to start. Nevin took second on a wild pitch and Pat Valaika got a base hit to center to move Nevin to third. Valaika took second on a wild pitch but Jahmai Jones watched strike three go by. Mullins also took strike three and with one out away from escaping.....Mountcastle hit a home run all the way to Bangladesh to put the O's up for good. Hays grounded out to third to end the inning with the O's up 3-1.
Devers grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth before Martinez grounded out to short. Renfroe grounded out to first to end the inning. Mancini flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth and Severino struck out swinging again. Gutierrez got a base hit to left but Nevin flied out to left to end the inning.
Verdugo grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth before Plawecki grounded out to second. Iglesias flied out to center to end the inning. Valaika doubled to right to start the bottom of the fifth but Jones popped up the bunt to Plawecki. Mullins struck out swinging but Pivetta was asked to intentionally walk Mountcastle. All of a sudden here came Alex Cora to yank Pivetta at just 87 pitches and not even through with the fifth inning. Pivetta allowed the 3 run homer to Mountcastle in 4 2/3 innings along with 3 other hits and 2 walks. Ryan Brasier got Hays to force Mountcastle to end the inning.
Hernandez flied out to center to start the top of the sixth before Schwarber walked. Schwarber moved to second on the grounder to first by Bogaerts and Devers flied out to left to end the inning. Garrett Richards poured gas on the fire in the bottom of the sixth as Mancini singled to center to start. Severino hit one up the elevator shaft but Gutierrez got a base hit to left. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch and Nevin got a base hit to left. Verdugo turned and threw the ball behind him into the stands for an error to score both runners. Ryan McKenna pinch hit for Nevin and took third on a wild pitch. Valaika hit a sac fly to center to score McKenna and Jones struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.
Joey Krehbiel came in to pitch the top of the seventh with Richie Martin in for Jones. Martinez doubled to center and Renfroe drew a walk to start. Both runners moved over on a grounder to first by Verdugo and Travis Shaw pinch hit for Plawecki and a wild pitch scored Martinez. Needing a big hit to extend the inning...Shaw struck out swinging. Iglesias lined out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2. Fitting the two September additions did nothing with the season in the balance.
Adam Ottavino came in to pitch with Christian Vazquez coming in to catch the bottom of the seventh and Mullins grounded out to second to start. Mountcastle struck out swinging but Hays singled to left. Hays was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning.
Hernandez flied out to center to start the top of the eighth with Dillon Tate on the mound but Schwarber walked. Bogaerts grounded into a double play to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Mancini flied out to center to start. Severino got a base hit to left but Gutierrez was frozen for strike three. McKenna popped up to second to end the inning.
Cole Sulser came in to close out the top of the ninth and Devers flied out to right to start. Martinez flied out to center but Renfroe beat out a single to short. Verdugo grounded out to second to end the game. The Orioles had won 6-2.
O's win
Jackass of The Night is Garrett Richards. He came in to a 3-1 game and left after allowing 3 runs to ice the game.
The Good:
Kyle Schwarber was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Hunter Renfroe was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Ryan Brasier got the final out of the fifth inning.
Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 2.
Travis Shaw struck out as a pinch hitter.
Jose Iglesias was 0 for 3.
Nick Pivetta allowed 3 runs in 4 2/3 innings of 4 hits and 2 walks.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Honorable Mention:
Christian Vazquez caught the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
What more needs to be said? The writing was on the wall was back in June when The A-Team had to come in every night for 3-4 innings and that pace couldn't last. Even getting Hansel Robles and Austin Davis was like putting a band-aid on an amputated limb. Cora kept yanking the starters and then the bullpen collapsed. The offense was always hit or miss but it really went south in September which is why the Sox are one or two losses from elimination with 3 games to play. Maybe the only good thing about not making the playoffs is Alex Cora may get the axe. Yanking guys early all year burned out the bullpen leading to allowing more runs after the starter leaves. Pivetta left tonight when it was 3-1 and if Pivetta was allowed to continue, the game might have turned out differently. Losing to the 107 loss Orioles was the icing on the cake. Still, there's three games left and you never know what might happen. They may right the ship after all, unlikely, but possible. The loss drops the Sox to 89-70, 2 games behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card and tied with the Seattle Mariners for the second one. The Sox now travel to Washington DC for the final series of the season against the Nationals. Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8) takes on Josh Rogers of Washington tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Nationals Park.
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