As for the game, for the first five innings it looked like the Red Sox were headed to another loss to the Clevland Guardians. They trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth after a Jose Ramirez home run against Sox starter Kutter Crawford. Xander Bogaerts crushed a three run home run to put the Sox on top. Jake Diekman (5-1, 4.03 ERA) and Garrett Whitlock held the fort and the Sox had come away with the win 4-2 at Fenway Park.
Crawford got the ball in the top of the first inning and Steven Kwan lined out to center to start. Amed Rosario and Jose Ramirez also lined out to center to end the inning. McKenzie got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran watched strike three go by to begin. Alex Verdugo grounded out to third but Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. JD Martinez flied out to center to end the inning.
Josh Naylor doubled to left to open the top of the second but Andres Gimenez popped up the bunt to Crawford. Franmil Reyes grounded out to second to move Naylor to third but Nolan Jones struck out swinging to end the inning. Christian Vazquez popped up to short to begin the bottom of the second before Franchy Cordero struck out swinging. Bobby Dalbec took strike three to end the inning.
Luke Maile swung at air to start the top of the third and Myles Straw popped up to right. Kwan popped up to short to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third and Jeter Downs flied out to center. Duran grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Guardians struck first in the top of the fourth although Rosario grounded out to third to start. Ramirez then hit a home run all the way to Luxembourg to put Cleveland on top. Naylor lined out to left but Gimenez was hit with a pitch. Gimenez stole second but Reyes popped up to second to end the inning with the Guardians up 1-0.
Home run Ramirez
Verdugo got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the fourth but Bogaerts struck out swinging. Martinez flied out to right and Vazquez lined out to right to end the inning.
Jones lined out to right to start the top of the fifth and Maile flied out to center. Straw lined out to right to end the inning. Cordero took strike three to start the bottom of the fifth before Dalbec flied out to right. JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning. Cordero took strike three to start the bottom of the fifth before Dalbec flied out to right. JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning.
Crawford returned for one final inning in the top of the sixth and Kwan got a base hit to left to start. Rosario lined out to left and Ramirez grounded back to the mound to move Kwan to left. Defying all logic, Sox manager pulled Crawford after just 69 pitches and not letting him at least finish the inning. Jake Diekman came in to get Naylor to ground out to second to end the inning.
Naturally the Sox rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Downs beat out a roller to third to start. Duran dropped down a bunt that got Downs thrown at second but Verdugo singled to center. Bogaerts then launched his 8th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Martinez lined out to third and Vazquez flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Bogaerts puts the Sox on top
Diekman returned for the top of the seventh and Gimenez struck out swinging to start. Reyes struck out swinging and Jones grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the seventh as Cordero doubled to center to start. Dalbec got a base hit to left to score Franchy but JBJ grounded into a double play. Downs struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 4-1.
The Guardians tagged Garrett Whitlock in the top of the eighth as Maile walked to start. Straw singled to right to put runners at the corners and Maile scored on the double play hit by Kwan. Rosario struck out swinging to end the inning with the Guardians down 4-2.
James Karinchak came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Duran lined out to left to start. Verdugo grounded out to second but Bogaerts walked. Bogaerts looked to have stolen second but Guardians manager Terry Francona challeged the call. The umps ruled Bogaerts safe and Martinez walked. Bogaerts stole third and Vazquez took strike three to end the inning.
Whitlock returned for the top of the ninth with Yolmer Sanchez in for Franchy Cordero. Ramirez flied out to center to start but Naylor doubled to center. Gimenez grounded out to first and Reyes grounded back to the mound to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-2.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. His 3 run bomb put the Sox in front for good.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Franchy Cordero was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Jeter Downs was 1 for 3.
Kutter Crawford allowed just a run in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 2.
Jake Diekman got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Garrett Whitlock allowed a run in 2 innings of work but earned his 3rd save of the year.
Honorable Mention:
Yolmer Sanchez played second base in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
That was a much needed win just days before the trade deadline. The rumors of Christian Vazquez and JD Martinez being dealt are swirling but Bogaerts himself says he's safe. Words don't mean anything but I'd rather they keep those guys and get themselves an ace pitcher. If Cora wants to pull Kutter Crawford after 69 pitches, he better not wonder why the bullpen is toast by September. Still, with all the injuries in the rotation it may not matter. If they sell, they better get a pitcher or two for Martinez, Bogaerts, etc. The win improved the Sox to 50-50, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in row when they welcome in the Milwaukee Brewers to Fenway Park tomorrow night. Brayan Bello (0-2) takes on Brandon Woodruff of Milwaukee. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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