In another win that felt like a loss, the Boston Red Sox blanked the Minnesota Twins thanks due to their starter leaving in the middle of the second inning. Sonny Gray allowed a two run home run to Alex Verdugo in the bottom of the second and left the game two batters later. The Minnesota bullpen held the Sox bats to just a Xander Bogaerts home run in 6 1/3 innings. The good news was Tanner Houck (1-0. 3.00 ERA) tossed a shutout into the sixth inning. After Sox manager Alex Cora once again pulled a starter before completing six innings, the duo of Matt Strahm and Garrett Whitlock slammed the door the rest of the way. The Sox bats weren't particularly strong but they did just enough as the Sox blanked the Twins 4-0 at Fenway Park.
Houck got the ball in the top of the first and Luis Arraez grounded out to third to start. Jorge Polanco walked but was thrown out trying to steal as Carlos Correa struck out swinging to end the inning. Gray got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Rafael Devers lined out to center and Xander Bogaerts took strike three to end the inning.
Max Kepler grounded out to first to begin the top of the second before Trevor Larnach took strike three. Gio Urshela lined out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as JD Martinez walked to start. Alex Verdugo then hit a bomb over the Red Sox bullpen to put the Sox on top. Trevor Story popped up to first and Bobby Dalbec popped up to second when Sonny Gray literally just walked off the field for no rhyme or reason. Josh Winder came in to pitch and Jackie Bradley Jr struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
The Twins threatened in the top of the third as Nick Gordon walked to start. Miguel Sano singled to left but Ryan Jeffers banged into a double play. Arraez grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third as Christian Vazquez grounded out to short. Hernandez doubled to left and moved to third on the Devers grounder to second. Bogaerts then clubbed his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Houck cruised in the top of the fourth as Polanco struck out swinging to start. Correa flied out to center and Kepler lined out to left to end the inning. Verdugo grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fourth but Story singled to right. Dalbec grounded out to second and JBJ flied out to center to end the inning.
Larnach singled to left to start the top of the fifth but Urshela grounded into a double play. Gordon grounded out to second to end the inning. Vazquez grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fifth but Hernandez walked. Devers grounded out to second and Bogaerts popped up to second to end the inning.
Sano flied out to right to start the top of the sixth and Jeffers struck out swinging. Arraez walked and Sox manager Alex Cora decided to make everyone mad by pulling Houck after 89 pitches. Once again because of Cora a starter failed to go 6 innings. Houck tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings while allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks. Matt Strahm came in and got Polanco to fly out to right to end the inning.
Good work Houck
Strahm returned for the top of the seventh and Correa struck out looking to start. Kepler grounded out to first but Larnach doubled to left to chase Strahm. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to strike out Urshela swinging to end the inning. Dalbec flied out to left to start the bottom of the seventh before JBJ flied out to right. Vazauez singled up the middle but Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Lock returned for the top of the eighth inning and Gordon took strike three to begin. Sano walked but Jeffers struck out swinging. Arraez singled to center but Polanco struck out swinging to end the inning. Jhon Romero came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Devers singled to right. Bogaerts seemed to have beat out a double play but Twins manager Rocco Baldelli challenged the call. Sure enough, Bogaerts was out for the double play. Martinez took strike three to end the inning. The Sox had scored just 2 runs against the Twins bullpen after Gray left the game, pathetic.
The Lock returned for the top of the ninth and Correa struck out swinging to start. Kepler flied out to right but Larnach singled to left. Urshela lined out to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-0.
Hero of the Night is Alex Verdugo. His two run homer set the tone for the game and guided the team to victory.
Verdugo Hero
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Trevor Story was 1 for 3.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3.
Tanner Houck earned the win by shutting out the twins for 5 2/3 innings while striking out 4.
Matt Strahm pitched a full scoreless inning.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a 2 run homer.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
On one hand its great Tanner Houck delivered a great start and Alex Verdugo went yard again to keep up his hot streak. The other hand is the Red Sox offense was once again held to just 6 hits and Sox manager Alex Cora AGAIN pulled a starter without completing 6 innings. Matt Strahm and Garrett Whitlock did a hell of a job to nail the coffin shut but the game could have gotten a lot smoother. Houck was at 89 pitches, one more batter wouldn't have hurt. The Sox bats are in a funk but they should come around. This is the same group that fell two wins short of the World Series with the only exception being Trevor Story replacing Kyle Schwarber. Still, a win is a win and it doesn't matter if its 4-0 or 14-13. The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays aren't lighting the world on fire either so the Sox are still right in the thick of things. The Sox look to take game three of this series tomorrow afternoon against the Twins when they send Michael Wacha (0-0, 2.08 ERA) to the mound against Bailey Ober of the Twins. The game begins at 1:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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