As for the game, the streaking Red Sox have now won six games in row including tonight's game against the New York Mets. New York broke out to a 2-0 lead against Eduardo Rodriguez and knocked him out in the fifth inning. Ryan Brasier (1-1, 3.38 ERA) was called up from Worcester to put the fire out and the Sox bats responded. Kike Hernandez and Xander Bogaerts both hit home runs against Marcus Stroman in the bottom of the fifth. A two run knock by Bogaerts iced the game and the bullpen survived a Pete Alonso home run to win the game 6-3 at Fenway Park.
E-Rod got the ball in the top of the first inning and Brandon Nimmo took strike three to start. Francisco Lindor grounded out to second and Javier Baez grounded out to short to end the inning. Stroman got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez grounded out to third to start. Kyle Schwarber grounded out to short but Xander Bogaerts walked. Rafael Devers lined out to right to end the inning.
Pete Alonso struck out swinging to open the top of the second before JD Davis also went down hacking. Michael Conforto grounded out to short to end the inning. JD Martinez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second before Alex Verdugo was retired on a squibber in front of the plate. Bobby Dalbec got a base hit to left but Christian Vazquez grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Old pal Kevin Pillar flied out to left to start the top of the third before Dominic Smith took strike three. Tomas Nido got a base hit to left but Nimmo took strike three to end the inning. Jose Iglesias doubled to left to start the bottom of the third before Hernandez was hit with a pitch. Schwarber walked to load the bases but Bogaerts hit into a 5-2-3 double play. Devers popped up to left to end the inning.
Rodriguez lost his control in the top of the fourth as Lindor walked to start. Baez singled to left and Alonso walked to load the bases. Davis walked to score Lindor and Conforto got a base hit to center. Baez scored easily but Alonso was thrown out at home. Pillar flied out to center and Smith grounded out to first to end the inning with the Mets up 2-0.
The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez struck out swinging to start. Verdugo took strike three but Dalbec doubled to center. Vazquez doubled to left to score Dalbec but Iglesias forced Dalbec at third to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.
Vazquez drives in a run
The Mets finished off Rodriguez in the top of the fifth as Nido grounded out to third to start. Nimmo singled to left and Lindor doubled to center to end E-Rod's day. The Sox can't afford a loss so Sox manager Alex Cora isn't playing around. Rodriguez allowed 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings allowing 5 hits and 3 walks. Ryan Brasier came in to pitch and got Baez to strike out swinging. Alonso grounded out to short to end the inning.
Not a good start for E-Rod
The Sox fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Hernandez belted his 18th home run of the season to tie the game. Schwarber doubled to left and Bogaerts crushed his 23rd home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Devers lined out to second, Martinez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate and Verdugo lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Bogaerts puts the Sox on top
Davis flied out to center to start the top of the sixth and here came Alex Cora for another pitching change. Austin Davis struck out Conforto swinging but Pillar singled to center. Smith forced Pillar at second to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the sixth against Miguel Castro although Dalbec struck out swinging to begin. Vazquez lined out to right but Iglesias got plunked. Hernandez walked and Brad Hand was brought in to pitch to Schwarber. Kyle walked to load the bases and Bogaerts lashed a base hit to center to score Iglesias and Hernandez. Devers popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 6-2.
Bogaerts gets it done
"Not tonight, Davis" - Hernandez
Hansel Robles came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Nido struck out swinging to start. Nimmo grounded out to short and Lindor struck out swinging to end the inning. Old buddy Heath Hembree came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Martinez popped up to second to start. Verdugo struck out swinging and Dalbec flied out to right to end the inning.
Garrett Richards came in to pitch the top of the eighth with Hunter Renfroe now in right. Baez popped up to second but Alonso clobbered a home run all the way into the Baltic Sea to cut the lead in half. Davis flied out to center and Conforto grounded out to second to end the inning with the Mets down 6-3.
Hembree returned for the bottom of the eighth and Vazquez grounded back to the mound to start. Iglesias lined out to center and Hernandez popped up to second to end the inning. Jonathan Villar pinch hit for Pillar in the top of the ninth and Grounded out to first. James McCann came in to pinch hit for Smith and Sox manager Alex Cora countered with Darwinzon Hernandez. McCann got a base hit to left but Nido lined out to left. McCann stole second but Nimmo took strike three to end the game. The Sox had won 6-3.
Sox win
X Gonna Hero Ya
Hero of The Night is Xander Bogaerts. He was 2 for 3 with a home run and drove in 4 of the 6 runs scored by the Sox.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk, hit by pitch, home run and 2 total runs scored.
Kyle Schwarber was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Jose Iglesias was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Ryan Brasier got the win with a full scoreless inning.
Austin Davis tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Hansel Robles pitched a scoreless inning.
Darwinzon Hernandez tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4.
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Garrett Richards allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings of work.
The Ugly:
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Eduardo Rodriguez allowed 2 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. He allowed 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5.
Honorable Mention:
Hunter Renfroe played right field in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
The good news was the Sox found a way to win, the bad news is Eduardo Rodriguez might be tipping his pitches. Eagle eyed analyst Lou Merloni noticed even the weakest of New York's hitters weren't biting on E-Rod's change-up and figured out his hands were too high. Still, to survive a game like that with the season hanging in the balance is a testament to the grit of this team. Cora may have ran the bullpen into the ground but they're going down swinging. They have a half game lead on Toronto for the wild card spot but still have an outside chance to win the division. The bats just have to keep plugging the last two weeks to get the job done, even if Dr. Quick Hook keeps pulling the starters early for whatever reason. The win improved the Sox to 87-65, 6 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East with 10 games to play. The Sox look to make it seven wins in a row tomorrow night against the Mets. Chris Sale (4-0) takes on Taijuan Walker of the Mets at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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