Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. To bolster their bullpen depth, the Sox signed former Phillies relief pitcher Jeurys Familia. He was 1-1 with a 6.09 ERA with the Phillies so lord knows what Sox GM Chaim Bloom is expecting out of him. Also Tanner Houck has been placed on the Injured List with a bad back. The Sox called up Kaleb Ort to replace him for the time being.
As for the game, the Sox slide continues as once again they get their teeth kicked in by an actual good team. The Sox fought with the Atlanta Braves to take a 5-4 lead going into the sixth inning. Michael Harris hit an rbi double off Matt Barnes to tie the game and Dansby Swanson's rbi double in the eighth but the Braves on top. JD Martinez got an rbi single in the bottom of the eighth to tie it. Both teams scored in the 10th inning but Austin Riley's rbi single off Kaleb Ort (0-1, 9.00 ERA) was the difference maker. The Braves had beaten the Sox 9-7 in 11 innings at Fenway Park.
The Braves wasted no time getting to Sox starter Rich Hill in the top of the first as Ronald Acuna Jr singled in the hole at second to start. Dansby Swanson popped up to first in foul territory but Acuna moved to second on a balk. Austin Riley tripled into the right field corner to put the Braves on top but Matt Olson popped up to third in foul territory. William Contreras grounded out to short to end the inning with the Braves up 1-0.
Charlie Morton got the ball in the bottom of the first and Tommy Pham struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers popped up to third and Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning.
Robbie Grossman lined out to third to begin the top of the second and Marcell Ozuna popped up to short. Orlando Arcia grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second as Alex Verdugo doubled to center to start. JD Martinez struck out swinging and Eric Hosmer grounded out to second to move Verdugo to third. Christian Arroyo belted his fifth home run of the season to put Boston on top but Kevin Plawecki grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
The Braves fought back in the top of the third as Harris Jr singled in the hole at first to start. Acuna hit into a double play but Swanson doubled to right. Riley then hit a home run all the way to Toronto to give Atlanta the lead back. Olson singled to left and Contreras tripled into the centerfield triangle to score Matt. Grossman walked and Ozuna flied out to left to end the inning with the Braves up 4-2.
Riley does it again
The Sox answered in the bottom of the third as Jarren Duran grounded out to second to start. Pham then belted a solo home run to cut the lead, but Devers popped up to third in foul territory. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.
The Braves beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fourth as Arcia grounded out to short to start. Harris struck out swinging and Acuna grounded out to short to end the inning. Suddenly Rich Hill collapsed in the dugout and had to be hauled off on a gurney, headed to Mass General's ICU after four runs allowed in four innings.
The Sox tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Verdugo doubled to left to start. Martinez struck out swinging but a wild pitch moved Verdugo to third. Hosmer struck out swinging but Arroyo doubled to right to score Verdugo. Plawecki grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.
Not only was Hill sent to the hospital but Eric Hosmer joined him on the way to the ICU as Ryan Brasier came in to pitch and Bobby Dalbec came in to play first in the top of the fifth. Swanson grounded out to second to start before Riley flied out to right. Olson walked but Contreras flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth as Duran clobbered his third home run of the season to put Boston on top. Pham walked but Devers grounded into a double play. Bogaerts grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 5-4.
Naturally the Braves answered in the top of the sixth with Matt Barnes now on the mound. Grossman grounded out to short to start and Ozuna did the same, but Arcia walked. Harris doubled to left to score Arcia and Acuna Jr walked to chase Barnes. Hiro Sawamura came in to catch Swanson looking to end the inning but the game was tied 5-5.
Verdugo grounded out to first to start the bottom of the sixth but Martinez went down hacking. Dalbec took strike three to end the inning.
Riley struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh but Olson grounded back to the mound. Contreras walked and Eddie Rosario pinch hit for Grossman. A wild pitch moved Contreras to second but Rosario walked anyway. John Schreiber came in to pitch to Ozuna and struck him out swinging to end the inning. Collin McHugh came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Arroyo struck out swinging to start. Plawecki smacked a double to left and Duran was hit with a pitch, but Pham flied out to center. AJ Minter came in to pitch to Devers and Rafael struck out swinging to end the inning.
Garrett Whitlock came in to get tagged in the top of the eighth as Arcia grounded out to short to start. Harris grounded out to short but Acuna got a base hit to left. Swanson doubled to center to score Acuna and Riley popped up to first to end the inning with the Braves up 6-5.
Raisel Iglesias took over for Minter for the bottom of the eighth and Bogaerts doubled to left to start. Verdugo struck out swinging but Martinez singled to center to score Bogaerts with the tying run. Dalbec and Arroyo both struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 6-6.
Olson grounded out to first to start the top of the ninth and Contreras struck out swinging. Rosario grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox had a chance to win the game against Braves closer Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the ninth but Plawecki lined out to him to start. Duran struck out swinging but Pham doubled to left. Devers was intentionally walked but Bogaerts flied out to center to end the inning.
Kaleb Ort came in to pitch the top of the tenth with Rosario starting the inning at second base. Ozuna lined out to left but Arcia doubled to left to score Rosario, only to be thrown out at third trying to stretch a triple. Harris grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Braves up 7-6.
Braves take the lead
The Sox answered in the bottom of the tenth with Ehire Adrianza in for Arcia, Dylan Lee on the mound and Bogaerts starting at second base. Verdugo hit a roller down to third for a single to put runners at the corners and Martinez hit a sac fly to center to score Xander. Dalbec struck out swinging and Arroyo forced Verdugo at second to end the inning with the game tied 7-7.
Bogaerts scores
The Braves iced it in the top of the eleventh inning with Harris starting at second base. Acuna got a base hit to left to move Michael to third then promptly stole second. Swanson grounded out to third but Riley got a base hit to left to score both runners. Olson walked but was forced at second by Contreras. That was it for Ort as Austin Davis came in to get Rosario to lined out to left to end the inning with the Braves up 9-7.
Tyler Matzek came in to close out the game with Arroyo starting at second base. Plawecki grounded out to short to start and Jaylin Davis pinch hit for Duran. Davis and Pham both struck out swinging to end the game. The Braves had won it 9-7.
Jackass of The Night is Kaleb Ort. He allowed not one but three extra inning runs to lose the game.
The Good:
Tommy Pham was 2 for 5 with a walk and a home run.
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a home run.
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Christian Arroyo was 2 for 5 with a two run homer and 3 total rbis.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning.
Hiro Sawamura tossed a full scoreless inning.
John Schreiber struck out the only man he faced.
Austin Davis retired the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Eric Hosmer was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Jaylin Davis struck out as a pinch hitter.
Rich Hill allowed 4 runs in 4 innings off 7 hits and a walk.
Matt Barnes allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 is a strikeout but walked.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored 2 runs.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Kevin Plawecki was just 1 for 5.
Garrett Whitlock allowed a run in 2 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
Just not Boston's year. Even when they get clutch hits, they give up more. The bullpen blew this one just as much as Rich Hill's terrible start. The defending champs know how to win in the crunch time and unfortunately the Sox are missing a few key pieces that got them within two wins of joining the Braves in the World Series. Guys like Whitlock and Ort just haven't gotten it done and the whole vibe is just a team waiting for the season to be over. Worst part is you can't really blame Alex Cora for burning the bullpen like he did last year because everyone got hurt. Can't lose 4/5 of your starting rotation and survive without overusing the bullpen. The season slogs on and most everyone can't wait until its over. The loss dropped the Sox to 54-57, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night against the Braves when Nick Pivetta (8-8) takes on Kyle Wright of Atlanta. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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