Twins Slam Red Sox (8/30/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox officially completed the trade they made with the Chicago White Sox for Jake Diekman. Today the Player To Be Named they got along with Reese McGuire was 25 year old right handed pitcher Taylor Broadway. Broadway should have graduated in 2020 but was allowed to play 2021 for Ole Miss before being drafted in the sixth round, 19 picks after the Sox chose Daniel McElveny (who's hitting .177 in Salem this year by the way). This year he was 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA for the AA Birmingham Barons before he was traded. He's not one of the highly regarded prospects in Chicago's system but at this point it doesn't matter. Bloom seems to be collecting 2021 draft picks (Alex Binelas came over in the Hunter Renfroe trade while Corey Rosier and Max Ferguson came from San Diego in the Jay Groome trade) so its become comical to see Bloom try to scoop up as many 2021 draftees that he can.

                                                                           IN

As for the game, what did you expect? Its clear that the team has given up, especially on the pitching side. Kutter Crawford (3-6, 5.47 ERA) continued to prove he has no business in the majors as he got beat around and knocked out in the fifth inning by the Minnesota Twins. The sad part was the Sox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth in a rally against Chris Archer but it all crashed in the bottom of the frame. The Twins got the first two men on to chase Crawford and Ryan Brasier  hit Jose Miranda before Nick Gordon hit a grand slam to put the Twins up for good. Minneosta beat around Jeurys Familia and Matt Barnes for three more runs as the fading Sox fell 10-5 to the Twins at Target Field.

                                                 Joe Flaherty's message to Ryan Brasier

Archer got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tommy Pham grounded out to second to start. Alex Verdugo walked but Xander Bogaerts forced him at second. Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning. The Twins wasted no time getting to Crawford in the bottom of the first as Luis Arraez struck out swinging to start. Carlos Correa popped up to second but Max Kepler walked. Jose Miranda walked and Nick Gordon doubled home both runners to put the Twins up. Gio Urshela popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning with the Twins up 2-0.

                                                             Safe at home

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second as JD Martinez grounded out to short to start. Trevor Story lined out to left and Franchy Cordero struck out swinging to end the inning. The Twins struck again in the bottom of the second as Jake Cave hit a home run all the way to the moon to start. Gilberto Celestino grounded out to short, Gary Sanchez popped up to Cordero and Arraez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins up 3-0.

                                                              Cave increases the lead

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third as Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Reese McGuire also grounded out to short and Pham grounded out to third to end the inning. Correa flied out to center to start the bottom of the third and Kepler grounded out to first. Miranda doubled to center but Gordon struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox rallied in the top of the fourth as Verdugo singled to left to start. Bogaerts doubled down the left field line and Devers hit a sac fly to center to score Verdugo. Bogaerts moved to third on the play and Martinez walked to put runners at the corners. As usual Story banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox still down 3-1.

                                                              Devers hits a sac fly

Urshella doubled to right to start the bottom of the fourth but was thrown out at third by Verdugo trying to stretch a triple. Cave walked but Celestino struck out swinging and Sanchez froze for strike three to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth although Cordero struck out swinging to start. Hernandez got a base hit to right before McGuire dropped a base hit to left. Pham got a seeing eye single to right to score Hernandez and chase Archer. Caleb Thielbar came in to pitch and Verdugo forced Pham at second to put runners at the corners. Bogaerts got a base hit to left to score McGuire and move Verdugo to third. Devers walked to chase Thielbar and Michael Fulmer came in to pitch. A wild pitch scored Verdugo to put the Sox on top and Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston up 4-3.

                                                        Sox take the lead

As usual once the Sox scored a run, they gave it right back in the bottom of the fifth. Arraes flied out to left but Verdugo dropped a routine pop up by Correa for an error. Kepler walked on five pitches not even close to chase Crawford. He got lit up again and was charged with 5 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Brasier came in to pour gas on the fire as Miranda was hit with a pitch to load the bases and Gordon annihilated a grand slam to put the Twins up for good. Urshela struck out swinging and Cave lined out to right to end the inning with the Twins up 7-4.

                                                        Crawford's season in a nutshell

The Sox rolled over in the top of the sixth as Story grounded out to third to start. Cordero struck out swinging and Hernandez grounded out to first to end the inning. Jeurys Familia came in to take a beating in the bottom of the sixth as Celestino grounded out to short to start. Sanchez then hit a home run all the way to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota to increase the lead. Arraez grounded out to second but Correa walked. Kepler flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins up 8-4.

                                                             Sanchez hits one out

Trevor Megill came in to pitch the top of the seventh and McGuire struck out swinging to start. Pham walked and Verdugo doubled to center to score him. Bogaerts grounded out to second to move Verdugo to third as Devers struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 8-5.

                                                         Verdugo drives in a run

Zack Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Miranda grounded out to second to start. Gordon grounded out to first and Urshela struck out swinging to end the inning.

Griffin Jax came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Martinez flied out to center to start. Story struck out swinging and Cordero lined out to short to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to get tagged in the bottom of the eighth as Cave flied out to center to start. Celestino walked, Sanchez singled to left and Arraez singled to center to score Celestino. Correa singled to left to score Sanchez but Kepler popped up to short. Miranda struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins up 10-5.

                                                        Twins break it wide open

Emilio Pagan came in to close out the top of the ninth and Hernandez walked to start. McGuire popped up to third and Pham took strike three before Hernandez took second on defensive indifference. Verdugo grounded out to first to end the game. The Twins at won it 10-5.

                                                         Twins win

Jackass of the Night is Ryan Brasier. He allowed the go-ahead grand slam to Gordon to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.

                                                        Jackass Brasier

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Zack Kelly pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bad:

Trevor Story was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Franchy Cordero was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Kutter Crawford took the loss by being charged with 5 runs in just 4 1/3 innings allowing 4 hits and 4 walks.

Jeurys Familia allowed a run in the sixth inning.

Matt Barnes allowed a run in the eighth inning.

The Ugly:

Tommy Pham was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked and drove in a run.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drew a walk.

Reese McGuire was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

This season has been a disaster but thankfully there's only 32 games remaining. Its beyond ridiculous at this point how the offense doesn't drive in runs when they fall behind and every reliever they bring in gets pounded no matter the situation. Brasier, Barnes and Familia allowed 5 runs (and 2 inherited) to put the game out of reach. The Twins are a good team but the relief pitching has been atrocious for the Sox. Its been a terrible season and to a man the team looks like they've given up. Someone has to pay for this whether its Sox GM Chaim Bloom, Cora or both of them. Its a shame how the Sox seemed to have it turned around in June only to fall flat on their face the last two months. The only saving grace is the New York Yankees have fallen flat as well and their gigantic lead is shrinking. As for this game, another loss in a season full of them. The loss dropped the Sox to 62-68, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow night when Michael Wacha (9-1) takes on Joe Ryan of the Twins. The game begins at 7:40 PM at Target Field.

Jays Edge Sox in 10 Innings (8/24/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Josh Winckowski was sent down to Worcester and Brayan Bello was activated from the Injured List. Bello showed no reason to be given another chance this year but at this point the Sox have no choice.

                                                                          OUT

                                                                     IN

As for the game, the Sox are jinxed when it comes to the Toronto Blue Jays. They simply can't beat these guys when it counts this season. Even when they finally get good pitching, they can't score when it matters. Brayan Bello held the Jays to just two runs in five innings and then the Boston bullpen tossed four shutout innings. Unfortunately Jose Berrios held the Sox to two runs in six innings and the Jays bullpen didn't allow a run as well. Ryan Brasier (0-3, 5.75 ERA) allowed a run in the top of the tenth and the Sox failed to score in the bottom of the frame. The Jays had won the game 3-2 in 10 innings at Fenway Park.

                                                   "Can't beat the Blue Jays...."

Bello got the ball in the top of the first inning and George Springer struck out swinging to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr went down hacking and Lourdes Gurriel Jr grounded out to short to end the inning. Berrios got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Rob Refsnyder struck out swinging to begin. Alex Verdugo got a base hit to center but JD Martinez struck out swinging. Rafael Devers popped up to third to end the inning. 

Alejandro Kirk beat out a roller to second to begin the top of the second but Teoscar Hernandez struck out looking. Bo Bichette grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Kike Hernandez walked to start. Somehow Franchy Cordero belted his sixth home run of the season off the Monster Seats to put the Sox on top. Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging on a pitch over his head and Reese McGuire grounded out to second, but Jarren Duran doubled off the Monster. Once again with a man on second Refsnyder flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0. 

                                                            Franchy goes the opposite way

Last night the Jays ended the game in the top of the third and tonight Matt Chapman flied out to right to start. Whit Merrifield grounded out to short and Jackie Bradley Jr also grounded out to short to end the inning. Verdugo flied out to right to start the bottom of the third but Martinez lined a base hit up the middle. Devers banged into a double play to end the inning on a great play by Chapman.

The Jays were inspired by Chapman in the top of the fourth as Springer effortlessly singled to center to start. Guerrero Jr walked on five pitches not even close and Lourdes Gurriel Jr put runners at the corners by beating out a double play ball. Kirk easily singled to left to score Guerrero but somehow Hernandez struck out swinging. Bichette also struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 2-1.

                                                        Kirk drives in a run

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez grounded back to the mound to start. Cordero singled to the side of Berrios but naturally Dalbec hit into a double play to end the inning.

Chapman struck out swinging to start the top of the fifth but Merrifield singled in the hole at second. JBJ struck out swinging but Springer effortlessly singled to right. Guerrero Jr laughed at Bello as he easily singled to right to score Merrifield with the tying run. Gurriel Jr flied out to center to end the inning as Bello left the game after allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. The Sox absolutely cannot make the clutch pitch when it counts against the AL East as the Jays tied it 2-2.

                                                         Bello couldn't get it done

Berrios cruised in the bottom of the fifth as McGuire grounded out to short to start. Duran grounded out to second and Refsnyder struck out swinging to end the inning. Having 5 of your 9 hitters batting under .248 isn't exactly going to be successful. 

Matt Barnes came in to pitch the top of the sixth and once again Kirk got on with an infield single to third. Somehow Hernandez struck out swinging but Bichette effortlessly singled to right. Somehow Chapman popped up to second on the first pitch and Merrifield forced Kirk at third to end the inning. Berrios dominated the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Martinez went down hacking and Devers flied out to right to end the inning. 

Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the seventh and JBJ grounded out to first to start. Springer grounded out to short and Guerrero Jr flied out to right to end the inning. Yimi Garcia came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Hernandez struck out swinging to begin. Cordero grounded out to third and somehow Dalbec drew a walk. McGuire got a lucky single to left and Guerrero Jr booted a grounder by Duran to load the bases for Refsnyder. Just like Sox players have done all season with the bases loaded, Refsnyder failed by popping up weakly to center to end the inning.

The Lock returnred for the top of the eighth as Gurriel Jr easily ripped a base hit to right to begin. Somehow Kirk flied out to right and Hernandez earned the golden sombrero by striking out swinging. A wild pitch moved Gurriel to second but Bichette took strike three to end the inning. Tim Mayza came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and somehow Verdugo lined a base hit up the middle to begin. Martinez hit a 400 foot out to dead center but Devers ripped a base hit to left. Verdugo hustled to third and Devers took second on the throw to chase Mayza. Anthony Bass came in and naturally with the gams on the line, Hernandez struck out swinging. The Jays intentionally walked Cordero to load the bases to get to Dalbec and Cora had nobody to pinch hit due to the injuries. As usual Dalbec took 2 straight fastballs down the middle then swung and missed on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning.

John Schreiber came in for the top of the ninth and Chapman struck out swinging to start. Merrifield grounded out to short and JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning. Adam Cimber came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and somehow McGuire singled to center. The entire world knew what was coming next and sure enough, Duran banged into a double play. Refsnyder grounded out to short to end the inning as thunderous boos rained down on the Sox.

The Jays didn't wait around in the top of the tenth to take the lead as Springer launched a Ryan Brasier fastball down the middle off the top of the Monster to score JBJ. Guerrero Jr grounded out to third but Springer moved to third on the Gurriel Jr grounder to second. Kirk popped up to second to end the inning but the Jays were up for good 3-2.

                                                            This one's over

Jordan Romano came in to close out the bottom of the tenth with Refsnyder at second to start. Naturally Verdugo flied out to center and Martinez grounded out to third. Devers was intentionally walked and Hernandez struck out swinging to end the game. The Jays had won it 3-2 in 10 innings.

                                                                Jays win

 Jackass of the Night is Rob Refsnyder. He was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and left the bases loaded

                                                          Jackass Refsnyder

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5.

Franchy Cordero was 2 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.

Reese McGuire was 2 for 4.

Brayan Bello held the Jays to just 2 runs in 5 innings allowing 6 hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 scoreless innings.

John Schreiber pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Ryan Brasier took the loss by allowing the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.

The Ugly:

JD Martinez was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a walk.

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4.

Final Thoughts:

This season can't end fast enough as the Red Sox are completely incompetent against the AL East and are stuck with this team the rest of the season. Not trading Martinez and Bogaerts at the deadline mirred them in mediocrity and the Vazquez trade is working out great for Houston, not for the Red Sox...at least not yet. They couldn't get a clutch hit the entire night with Refsnyder leaving the bases loaded, Duran hitting into a double play with the winning run on and having first and second in the tenth....and not scoring. The Sox as a unit just look cooked and the body language of the team is awful. Its like once they didn't blow the team up yet failed to add anything at the deadline, they just stopped caring. The Sox still have a month to go on a run but it just seems unlikely at this point. The loss dropped the Sox to 60-64, 8.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the wild card. The Sox look to avoid the series sweep tomorrow night when Kutter Crawford goes for the Sox up against Kevin Gausmann. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Jays Pound Winckowski, Sox (8/23/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some expected roster moves. Eric Hosmer was placed on the Injured List with a bad back and Nathan Eovaldi joined him with "right shoulder inflammation." On top of everyone stinking the joint out on both sides of the ball, it was only inevitable that everyone would start falling apart with injuries. Josh Winckowski was called up from Worcester to take Eovaldi's spot and Franchy Cordero's stay in Worcester lasted one day as he was called up to take Hosmer's spot. God help us.

                                                                OUT

                                                                      IN

As for the game, another unmitigated disaster. On the same night Andrew Benintendi drove in the winning run for the New York Yankees against the New York Mets, the guys he was traded for fell flat on their faces against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox took a 1-0 lead into the third inning and Josh Winckowski (5-7, 5.83 ERA) got the first two outs before falling apart. The Jays scored EIGHT RUNS in the third with two outs to put the game away early. Once again the Sox bats were held in check as the Sox suffered ANOTHER injury as Tommy Pham left with an injury. To add insult to injury, old friend Jackie Bradley Jr went 2 for 3 with an rbi and 2 runs scored for Toronto. He almost had matched Boston's entire production by himself. Boston media turned on the team in every way possible and the Sox managed just 3 runs as the Jays romped to a 9-3 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                           Sox fans have given up

After an hour long rain delay, Winckowski got the ball in the top of the first inning and George Springer grounded out to first to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr effortlessly doubled to left but Lourdes Gurriel Jr grounded back to the mound. Alejandro Kirk grounded out to second to end the inning. Stripling began his dominance in the bottom of the first inning as Tommy Pham grounded out weakly to second to start. Alex Verdugo grounded out weakly to short but Xander Bogaerts drew a lucky walk. Naturally Rafael Devers would have had hit a home run in any other stadium but it was just high off the Monster for a lousy single. Naturally JD Martinez hit a weak pop up to third to end he inning.

Teoscar Hernandez grounded out to short to start the top of the second and Bo Bichette took strike three. Matt Chapman tripled into the gap in center but Cavan Biggio struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Christian Arroyo hit a bullet off the Monster for a double to start. Kike Hernandez roped a base hit to center to score Arroyo, putting Boston ahead. Naturally Franchy Cordero took a straight fastball right down the middle for strike three before Kevin Plawecki hit a weak pop up to center. Pham also hit a weak pop up to center to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                        Hernandez drives in a run

None other than old buddy Jackie Bradley Jr led off the top of the third by obviously hitting a rocket off the Monste for a double to start. Pham crashed into the wall and had to hauled off on a gurney, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Mass General's ICU. Rob Refsnyder took his place and somehow Springer grounded out to short. Shockingly Guerrero Jr grounded out to third on a nice play by Devers but naturally Gurriel Jr effortlessly doubled to right to tie the game. Winckowski got so rattled he walked Kirk on four pitches not even close and Hernandez laughed as he ripped a base hit to center to score Gurriel, putting the Jays up for good. Bichette easily crushed a single to center to load the bases. Chapman walked to score Kirk and the crowd exploded in cheers with more Jays fans than Sox. That was it for Winckowski who proved he had no business being in the majors, essentially quitting after the Gurriel double. Austin Davis came in and Biggio laughed so hard before effortlessly ripping a base hit to center, scoring two runners to ice the game. JBJ walked on five pitches not even close and Springer cleared the bases with a triple into the right field corner as media members pointed out this entire rally started with 2 outs already. Guerrero Jr felt sorry for the Sox and grounded out to second to end the inning. The Jays went from down 1-0 with 2 outs to go up 8-1. 

                                                         Sweet revenge for Jackie 

The Sox once again blew a rally in the bottom of the third as Verdugo took a full count strike three right down the middle to start. Bogaerts hit a weak pop up to second and Devers only got a hit because he hit a chopper in the hole at third that was vacated due to the shift. Somehow Martinez got a lucky seeing eye single to short and in the latest case of Murphy's Law. Arroyo tried to slide into first on a grounder to the mound and screwed up his leg to end the inning. Perfect microcosm of the season with injuries and leaving multiple men on base.

Somehow Gurriel Jr grounded out to first to start the top of the fourth but Kirk drew another walk. Kike Hernandez had to reach into the bullpen to rob Teoscar Hernandez of a home run and Bichette forced Kirk at second to end the inning. The Sox quit in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez lined out weakly to third to start and just as Andrew Benintendi drove in the go-ahead run for the New York Yankees against the New York Mets, the man he was traded for Cordero struck out swinging. Plawecki got a lucky single to center but Refsnyder took strike three right down the middle to end the inning.

Chapman singled to left to start the top of the fifth but Biggio struck out swinging and JBJ forced Matt at second. Springer singled to center to move JBJ to third but Guerrero Jr grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox rolled over in the bottom of the fifth as Verdugo grounded out to third to start. Bogaerts grounded out to short and Devers swung at strike three 3 feet in the dirt to end the inning.

Jeurys Familia came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Gurriel Jr grounded out to third to start. Kirk and Hernandez both struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth and Martinez flied out to left to start. Arroyo grounded out to short  and Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning. 

Bobby Dalbec took over at short with Hiro Sawamura now in to pitch the top of the seventh. Bichette doubled to left to start but Chapman flied out to center. Biggio walked and everyone laughed at the Sox when JBJ himself singled to center to score Bichette to increase the lead. Springer banged into a double play but JBJ was outscoring the Sox by himself as the Jays led 9-1.

                                                          JBJ torturing the Sox

The Sox got a lucky run in the bottom of the seventh with Yusei Kikuchi now on the mound. Cordero and Plawecki drew back to back walks but Redsnyder struck out swinging. Verdugo hit a double play ball to Chapman but Biggio threw the ball away to allow Cordero to score. Dalbec walked and Devers was plunked to load the bases to chase Kikuchi. With a chance to get back in the game against David Phelps....Martinez popped up to center to end the inning with the Sox down 9-2.

                                                        Verdugo gets bailed out

Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Guerrero Jr doubled to right to start. Vlad moved to third on the grounder to second by Guerriel Jr but Kirk struck out swinging. Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning. Arroyo flied out to right to start the bottom of the eighth and Hernandez struck out swinging. Cordero took strike three to end the inning.

Reese McGuire the catcher came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Bichette flied out to center to start. Chapman flied out to right and Biggio grounded out to third to end the inning. Maybe he should have started tonight.

                                                        McGuire mows them down

Kevin Plawecki got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the ninth and Refsnyder singled to right. Naturally Verdugo took strike three and Dalbec swung at strike three over his head. Somehow Devers singled to right to score Plawecki and Trevor Richards was brought in to face McGuire. Unfortunately his bat didn't translate to his pitching as lined out to right to end the game. The Jays had won it 9-3.

                                                         Jays win

Jackass of the Night is Josh Winckowski. He imploded in the third inning by allowing 6 runs in just 2 2/3 innings to put the game out of reach early.

                                                      Jackass Winckowski

The Good:

Rob Refsnyder was 1 for 3.

Rafael Devers was 3 for 4 with an rbi.

Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bad:

Tommy Pham was 0 for 2 before leaving the game.

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Austin Davis allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 2 of his own in 2 1/3 innings.

Hiro Sawamura allowed a run in the seventh inning.

The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 2 but walked before leaving the game.

Bobby Dalbec struck out but also walked.

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4.

Reese McGuire made the final out but pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Franchy Cordero was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

That should do it for the Red Sox this year. Not just the players look like they've given up but so has the fans and the media. Pretty much Sox GM's Chaim Bloom's legacy is trading Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hunter Renfroe, giving 10 million dollars to a washed up Garrett Richards, giving 10 million dollars for James Paxton to get two batters out in the minors and letting Kyle Schwarber walk to the Philadelphia Phillies to hit 34 homers (so far). Can't blame him for Chris Sale, Michael Wacha and Nathan Eovaldi being injured more often than not but his prospects he got in the trades he's made have not panned out. Connor Seabold and Josh Winckowski have sucked as starters, Jeisson Rosario and Hudson Potts (Mitch Moreland trade) didn't pan out, Connor Wong and Jeter Downs (Betts trade) didn't impress at the ML level and both his first round picks Nick Yorke and Marcello Mayer are struggling in Single A. 11th round pick Niko Kavadas actually leapfrogged Mayer and is in Portland right now and he's being paid significantly less. As the entire world mocked Bloom for the Benintendi trade, guess who knocked in the wining run for the Yankees tonight? That's right, Benintendi. If it wasn't for 3 months to start last year and an improbable October, Chaim's tenure as a GM has been an out and out failure. He was handed a 108 win team in 2018 that due to injuries & hangover underperformed in 2019 and completely destroyed it. His 2020 season is pretty much forgotten because of Covid but let's not forget he purposely tanked that year when even just a semblance of a rotation would have had them in playoff contention. Someone is going to pay for this at the end of the year, the only question is who is it going to be? Is owner John Henry going to fire Bloom, Cora or both? The loss dropped the Sox to 60-63, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox next beating comes tomorrow night against the Jays when Brayan Bello (0-3, 8.47 ERA) gets called up from Worcester to get his ass handed to him while Jose Berrios most likely pitches a three hit shutout. The carnage begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Off-Day News (8/22/22)

Today is an off-day and the Boston Red Sox organization made some roster moves. As expected Franchy Cordero was sent back down to Worcester after the Little League Classic. Least he went out with a bang before he left. In another move, with this year's draft class in the Florida Complex League, 23 year old right handed pitcher Barbaro Pinero was released. Pinero somehow allowed 11 runs in 3 games without recording an out for the Salem Red Sox although he did have a 2.38 ERA for the FCL. With all the pitchers the Sox drafted with higher ceilings that are there now, having a guy go 3 games without getting an out isn't what the team needs.

                                                                          OUT

On This Day in Basebawful History:

1998 - Twins walkoff Eckersley,

2010 - Sox beat Jays in the rain

2017 - Fister dominates Indians

2018 - Sox pummel Indians

2019 - Sox win makeup game against Royals

2020 - Orioles walkoff Sox'

The Sox are back in action tomorrow night against the Toronto Blue Jays at home. Josh Winckowski (5-6, 5.19 ERA) takes on Captain TBD of Toronto. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

O's Crush Schreiber, Sox (8/21/22)

Before the game Franchy Cordero was brought up as "27th" man for tonight's Little League Classic with Eric Hosmer hurt with a back injury. God help us.

                                                                          IN

As for the game, Murphy's Law continues for the 2022 Red Sox. In a weird game held in front of 2,000 little leaguers, the Boston Red Sox were embarrassed once again by the Baltimore Orioles. The O's literally slapped four hits to score two runs off Sox starter Nick Pivetta and after an unlikely home run by Franchy Cordero to tie the game, the O's got 3 runs off John Schreiber who had been dominant all year long. It seems like when the Sox absolutely have to have a hit from someone, they don't get it. When they need a shutdown inning to keep their season alive, they don't get it. The O's got the hits when they needed and the outs when they needed to take the game 5-3 at Muncy Bank Ballpark.

O's starter Dean Kremer got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tommy Pham led off with a double into the left field corner to start. Alex Verdugo moved Pham to third with a fly ball to center but naturally Xander Bogaerts hit a bullet to Ramon Urias who just happened to be standing on third to double off Pham to end the inning. The O's wasted no time getting to Pivetta in the bottom of the first as Cedric Mullins effortlessly slapped a base hit to left to start. Adley Rutschman hit a routine pop up to left and Pham fell down trying to make the catch for a "single". Anthony Santander laughed at the Sox dugout as he slapped a base hit to center to put the O's up three batters into the first. Ryan Mountcastle hit a routine fly out to center but Kike Hernandez threw the ball nowhere close to the infield to allow Rutschman to take third. Somehow Kyle Stowers struck out swinging but Urias hit a ball just out of reach of Christian Arroyo for ANOTHER slap single hit to score Rutchsman to ice the game. Austin Hays hit a bullet to Rafael Devers to end the inning but the O's had put the game away 2-0.

                                                O's slap their way to the lead

Rafael Devers got a lucky hit to center to start the top of the second and somehow JD Martinez drew a walk. Naturally Christian Arroyo banged into a double play and Kike Hernandez.....got a base hit to center to score Devers to cut the lead. Was NOT expecting that! Bobby Dalbec as expected struck out swinging on a straight fastball down the middle to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                              Hernandez drives in a run

Somehow Rougned Odor struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second before Jorge Mateo went down hacking. A pissed off Pivetta struck out Mullins swinging as well to end the inning.

Shockingly Kevin Plawecki got a base hit to left to begin the top of the third but naturally Pham hit into a double play. Verdugo flied out to right to end the inning, Rutschman grounded out to short to start the bottom of the third but Santander doubled to left. Santander was thrown out at third on the grounder to short by Mountcastle and Stowers struck out swinging to end the inning.

Bogaerts popped up to first to start the top of the fourth and Devers grounded out to short. Martinez doubled to left but Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning. The O's threatened in the bottom of the fourth as Urias grounded out to second to start. Hays grounded out to third but Odor was plunked and Mateo ripped a base hit to left. Mullins forced Mateo at second to end the inning.

Hernandez grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth and Dalbec took strike three right down the middle. Plawecki also watched strike three go by to end the inning. Rutschman froze for strike three to start the bottom of the fifth and Santander grounded out to short. Mountcastle struck out swinging to end the inning.

Pham walked to start the top of the sixth bit Verdugo flied out to left. That was it for Kremer as Dillon Tate got Bogaerts to fly out to center and Devers to ground out to first to end the inning. Flowers struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Urias took strike three. Hays walked and that was it for Pivetta after 103 pitches. The first inning killed him as he left after allowing 2 runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out 9 batters. Matt Strahm came in to pitch to Odor and naturally walked him. Mateo flied out to center to end the inning.

                                                        "This team SUCKS!" - Pivetta

ESPN showed Baltimore was 44-1 leading after 6 innings and Os proved why as Martinez struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh. Arroyo flied out to right and Hernandez flied out to left to end the inning. Mullins took strike three to start the bottom of the seventh and that was it for Strahm. Matt Barnes came in and struck out Rutschman swinging but Santander got a base hit to right. A wild pitch moved Santander to second but Mountcastle grounded out to second to end the inning.

The unthinkable happened in the top of the seventh as the 27th man Franchy Cordero pinch hit for Dalbec in the top of the eighth AND HOMERED TO TIE THE GAME! Jarren Duran was originally supposed to pinch hit for Plawecki but when O's manager Brandon Hyde pulled Tate for Cionel Perez, Sox manager Alex Cora sent Rob Refsnyder to pinch hit for Duran. Refsnyder took strike three right down the middle, Mountcastle robbed Pham of a base hit and Verdugo flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                      Cordero ties it up

Reese McGuire took over behind the plate for the bottom of the eighth and Stowers struck out swinging to start. Urias walked and that was it for Barnes. John Schreiber came in and immediately plunked Hays before walking Odor on four pitches not even close to load the bases. Ryan McKenna pinch ran for Urias and naturally Matero chopped a bases clearing double down the left field line to effectively end the game. Schreiber is cooked this year folks. Cora waived the white flag by sending in Austin Davis to pitch and he struck out Mullins swinging. Rutschman walked but Santander popped up to short with the game pretty much over 5-2 Baltimore.

                                                      Team of destiny

Tyler Nevin came in for Stowers with Felix Bautista on the mound for the top of the ninth. Somehow Bogaerts smashed his 10th home run of the season to start to cut the lead, but Devers struck out swinging. Martinez grounded out to short and Arroyo grounded out to third to end the game. The O's took 2 out of 3 and pretty much eliminated the Red Sox with a 5-3 win.

                                                         O's win

Jackass of the Night is John Schreiber. All he needed was two outs instead he gave up the backbreaking 3 run double to lose the game.

                                                             Jackass Schreiber

The Good:

Tommy Pham was 1 for 3 with a walk.

JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Franchy Cordero hit a pinch hit home run.

Kevin Plawecki was 1 for 2.

Nick Pivetta allowed just 2 runs in 5 2/3 solid innings, allowing 6 hits and striking out 9.

Matt Strahm tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.

Austin Davis got the final two outs of the eighth inning.

The Bad:

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4.

Christian Arroyo was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.

Rob Refsnyder struck out as a pinch hitter.

Matt Barnes took the loss by getting charged with the go-ahead run.

The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Honorable Mention:

Reese McGuire caught the bottom of the eighth.

Jarren Duran "pinch hit" in the eighth.

Final Thoughts:

That should pretty much do it. The Tampa Bay Rays won to push the Sox 6 games behind them with just 40 to play. It would take an epic collapse by Tampa and a hot streak by the Sox to even get close and that's not happening. The Sox absolutely cannot beat AL East teams and its been proven all season. The Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, The New York Yankees and the O's always make the clutch pitch, the clutch catch and the clutch hit against the Red Sox when they gotta have it. The Sox showed in this series that they don't. They should have been swept by the O's but got lucky. Schreiber is pretty much on fumes mostly due to Chaim Bloom giving Alex Cora garbage to work with besides him. Injuries to Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock during the season didn't help, but Cora had to go to Hansel Robles, a deadarmed Matt Barnes, Darwinzon Hernandez and other guys that just didn't get the job done. Someone's going to pay for this year's failure at the end of the year. Either Cora, Bloom or both has to go for this. As it is, the Sox went from 6 outs and a win away from the World Series to last place in less than a year. The loss dropped the Sox to 60-62, firmly in last place in the AL East. The Sox now return home to take a beating from the surging Toronto Blue Jays. After an off-day tomorrow,  on Tuesday night Josh Winckowski (5-5, 5.19) gets creamed by Captain TBD of the Blue Jays. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Edge O's, Wacha Dominant (8/20/22)

If only the Boston Red Sox had a healthy Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.28 ERA) they might have had a chance this season. Wacha dominated the Baltimore Orioles in today's game, holding the Birds scoreless for nearly six innings. Then Murphy's Law kicked in as Eric Hosmer got hurt, John Schreiber and Garrett Whitlock were tagged for 3 runs combined and the Sox scored just 3 runs against O's starter Kyle Bradish who's ERA was certainly not 3. Also Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts once again came up multiple times with men on base and did absolutely nothing. Oh don't worry, the Sox still hung on. The red hot Christian Arroyo drove in a run in the ninth and the Sox needed it too beat the Orioles 4-3 at Camden Yards.

                                    Fuppet Mazz has a lot to complain about in this win

Bradish got the ball in the top of the first inning and Christian Arroyo lined out to center to start. Alex Verdugo flied out to right and Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Wacha got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Austin Hays struck out swinging to start. Adley Rutschman got a base hit to left but Anthony Santander lined out to right. Ryan Mountcastle took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the second as Rafael Devers grounded out to first to start. JD Martinez doubled to left and Eric Hosmer was plunked, but Kike Hernandez flied out to left. Jarren Duran struck out swinging on a pitch over his head to end the inning. Ramon Urias got a base hit to left off the glove of Bogaerts to begin the bottom of the second but Jorge Mateo forced him at second. Ryan McKenna grounded into a double play to end the inning.

As usual the Sox blew a rally in the top of the third as Kevin Plawecki grounded out to short to start. Arroyo and Verdugo stroked back to back base hits but Bogaerts just shrugged his shoulders as he hit into a double play to end the inning. Tyler Nevin flied out to right to start the bottom of the third before Robinson Chirinos popped up to short. Hays grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Devers got a base hit to center to start the top of the fourth but Martinezx struck out swinging. Hosmer moved Devers to second on a grounder to the mound but Hernandez took strike three to end the inning. Rutschman flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth before Santander lined out to center. Mountcastle singled to right and Urias grounded out to third to end the inning.

Somehow the Sox struck first in the top of the fifth as Duran flied out to center to start. Plawecki and Arroyo both dumped base hits to right before Verdugo joined the parade by hitting one to right as well to score Kevin. Naturally with runners at the corners Bogaerts popped up weakly to left and Devers struck out swinging to end the inning. The days of Martinez, Boagerts and Devers driving in runs are long gone for various reasons as the Sox led just 1-0.

                                                           Verdugo drives in a run

All of  a sudden Hosmer collapsed in a heap trying to run out of the dugout and had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to the local ICU. Bobby Dalbec took over at first for Hosmer in the bottom of the fifth and Mateo took strike three to start. McKenna was also frozen for strike three and Nevin lined out to right to end the inning.

Somehow the Sox actually did something in the top of the sixth as Martinez singled to left to start. Dalbec struck out swinging on a pitch headed to the backstop but Hernandez smacked a home run just over the wall in left to increase the lead. Duran struck out swinging on a pitch that bounced in the dirt and that was it for Bradish. Joey Krehbiel came in to get Plawecki to fly out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                         Home run Hernandez

Chirinos popped up to short to start the bottom of the sixth but Hays got a base hit to right. Rutschman hit one up the elevator shaft but Santander walked. Despite being at just 79 pitches, Sox manager Alex Cora reverted back to last year's ways and yanked Wacha without completing the sixth inning. John Schreiber came in and Mountcastle struck out swinging to end the inning. Wacha had thrown 5 2/3 shutout innings allowing just 4 hits and a walk but apparently that wasn't good enough for a last place team.

                                                      Wacha gets it done

Arroyo struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh but Verdugo lined out to center. Bogaerts grounded out to second to end the inning. The O's clawed back in the bottom of the seventh as Urias got a base hit to right to start. Mateo got a base hit to right and Duran decided to jump on the ball and wrestle it for an error  to move the runners over. Kyle Stowers pinch hit for McKenna and grounded out to second to score Urias, moving Mateo to third. Rougned Odor pinch hit for Nevin and hit one up the elevator shaft but a wild pitch scored Mateo to cut the lead. Chirinos struck out swinging to end the inning but the O's were back in it down 3-2.

                                                            Mateo scores

Ryan Baker came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Devers lined out to center to start. Martinez and Dalbec both struck out swinging to end the inning. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in for the nottom of the eighth and Hays grounded out to third to start. Rutschman singled to right but Santander went down swinging. Mountcastle flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox got a big run in the top of the ninth although Hernandez struck out swinging to start. Duran caught the O's asleep with a bunt single to second and took third on the base hit to right by Plawecki. Arroyo chopped a double over the third base bag to score Duran but Verdugo lined out to short. Once again with two men on Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 4-2.

                                                         Arroyo drives in a run

The O's refused to go quietly in the bottom of the ninth although Urias struck out swinging to start. Mateo tripled into the left field corner and scored on the Mateo grounder to first to cut the lead. Odor lined out to a running Hernandex to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-3.

                                                              Sox win

Hero of the Night is Christian Arroyo. His rbi double in the ninth was the difference in the game.

                                                                 Arroyo The Hero

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Michael Wacha earned the win by tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings 

The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.

John Schreiber got tagged for 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings

The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Eric Hosmer was 0 for 1 with a hit by pitch before leaving the game.

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the hit was a 2 run home run.

Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and an error but scored a run.

Garrett Whitlock earned his fifth save but allowed a run in two innings.

Final Thoughts:

Once again a win felt like a loss as not only did Hosmer get hurt but the trio of Martinez, Devers and Bogaerts don't drive in runs anymore. Last night the Sox had 19 hits and 10 runs mostly without the contributions of them. Today Bogaerts and Devers went 1 for 9 with a strikeout while at least Martinez got a couple of hits. On top of that, Schreiber and Whitlock both got tagged for a combined three runs. If your bullpen and best hitters can't get it done, that's not a recipe for success. Plus for some reason Cora let Kutter Crawford take the beating of his life yesterday yet yanked Wacha while he was pitching s shutout after 79 pitches today. Nothing is going right apart from the sudden resurgence of Verdugo and Arroyo and you can't expect them to carry the offense for the next forty games. Thankfully the season is nearing its end and somebody has to pay for this disaster. Either Cora, Bloom or both have to go because what they're doing isn't working. The saddest part about the team falling apart in July is so did the New York Yankees. They've gone 3-13 the last two weeks and the Toronto Blue Jays are only 7 games behind them. If its any consolation to the Sox playing out the string in September its watching the Yankees collapse. The win improved the Sox to 60-61, 5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the third wild card. Tomorrow night is the Little League Classic in Williamsport and for some reason the Sox and Orioles are tabbed to play in front of a bunch of kids. Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.28 ERA) takes on Dean Kremer of Baltimore. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Muncy Bank Ballpark.