As for the game, for 5 innings it looked like the Sox were headed to another big defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. Garrett Whitlock was roughed up for 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings before being knocked out. Meanwhile old pal Trevor Kelley was the "opener" for the Rays and tossed a few innings of shutout ball. The Sox got a run in the bottom of the fifth then exploded in the bottom of the sixth. The Sox pushed six runs across the plate against old friend Jalen "Twin" Beeks and Cooper Criswell. A three run double by Justin Turner put the Sox on top in that inning. Apart from an rbi off Josh Winckowski, the Sox bullpen held the fort as they took Game 1 8-5 at Fenway Park.
Whitlock got the ball in the top of the first inning and Yandy Diaz flied out to center to start. Wander Franco doubled to left then promptly stole third. Franco was thrown out at home on a grounder to first by Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena grounded out to third to end the inning. Kelley got the ball in the bottom of the first and Alex Verdugo got a base hit to center to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging, Justin Turner flied out to center and Masataka Yoshida grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Rays struck first in the top of the second as Harold Ramirez singled to right to start. Josh Lowe flied out to left and Jose Siri struck out swinging, but Taylor Walls walked. Christian Bethancourt hit a routine grounder to short that was thrown away by Kike Hernandez for an error to score Ramirez. Diaz doubled to left to score both runners, bur Franco grounded out to second to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.
Rob Refsnyder was hit with a pitch to start the bottom of the second but Triston Casas struck out swinging. Kike Hernadez flied out to left and Reese McGuire grounded out to first to end the inning.
Brandon Lowe grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Arozarena flied out to center. Hernandez threw a grounder by Ramirez away for an error and Josh Lowe struck out swinging to end the inning. Pablo Reyes popped up to first to start the bottom of the third and that was it for Kelley. Joe La Sorsa came in to pitch and Verdugo popped up to short. Devers grounded out to third to end the inning.
Siri struck out swinging to start the top of the fourth and Walls did the same. Bethancourt also went down hacking to end the inning. Turner grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fourth before Yoshida struck out swinging. Refsnyder was hit with a pitch again and Casas walked. Hernandez flied out to left to end the inning.
The Rays knocked Whitlock out in the top of the fifth as Diaz grounded out to second to start. Franco singled to right, Brandon Lowe walked and Randy Arozarena singled to left to load the bases. Ramirez hit a sac fly to right to score Franco and that was it for Whitlock. He allowed 4 runs in just 4 2/3 innings, not good. Ryan Sherriff got Josh Lowe to strike out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 4-0.
The Sox got one back in the bottom of the fifth as McGuire doubled to left to start. Reyes popped up to second but Diaz went OLE! on a grounder by Verdugo to score McGuire. Devers forced Verdugo at second but Turner beat out a roller to the mound. Yoshida walked and Jarren Duran pinch hit for Refsnyder after Kevin Kelly came in to pitch. Duran struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.
Corey Kluber came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Siri struck out swinging to start. Walls popped up to third and Bethancourt flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the sixth off old pal Jalen "Twin" Beeks as Casas struck out swinging to start. Hernandez singled in the hole at short and McGuire drew a walk. Reyes got a base hit to right to score Hernandez but Verdugo struck out swinging. Devers walked to load the bases and Turner cleared them with a double to center to put the Sox on top. Yoshida doubled to left to score Turner and chase Beeks. Cooper Criswell was greeted by a base hit by Duran to score Yoshida. Casas grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox scored 6 runs to lead 7-4.
Josh Winckowski came in to crap his pants in the top of the seventh as Diaz grounded out to first to start. Franco doubled to left and Brandon Lowe blooped a base hit to left. Arozarena struck out swinging but Ramirez got a base hit to center to score Franco. Josh Lowe lined out to left to end the inning with the Rays down 7-5.
Ramirez drives in a run
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as Hernandez struck out swinging to start. McGuire flied out to center but Reyes got a base hit to right. Reyes took off for second and Bethancourt threw the ball away for an error to move Pablo to third. Verdugo doubled to right to score Reyes and Devers lined out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 8-5.
Good work Verdugo
Chris Martin came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Siri lined out to center to start. Walls struck out swinging and Bethancourt popped up to second to end the inning. Turner grounded out to second to start the bottom of the eighth but Yoshida singled inside the bag at first. Duran grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen came in to close out the top of the ninth and Diaz doubled to center to start. Jansen was so offended that he struck out Franco, Brandon Lowe and Arozarena all swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-5.
Sox win
Hero Turner
Hero of The Night is Justin Turner. His 3 run double put the Sox up for good in the bottom of the sixth.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.
Mastaka Yoshida was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Rob Refsnyder was hit with a pitch twice.
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Reese McGuire was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Pablo Reyes was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Ryan Sherriff struck out the only man he faced.
Corey Kluber got the win with a scoreless sixth inning.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kenley Jansen earned his 12th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Garrett Whitlock allowed 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings off 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5.
Josh Winckowski allowed a run in the seventh inning.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.
Triston Casas was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and 2 errors but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Think its time to get Whitlock out of the rotation as he just doesn't have the strength to have any gas beyond the fourth inning. The Sox already ended the Corey Kluber experiment in the rotation so putting Whitlock with Jansen would shore up the bullpen. Offensively the Sox had a damn good rally to win this one. Turner has been worth every penny they gave him so far and Yoshida has done well as well. Maybe the six run rally could be a momentum builder to get the season on track. Then again, with Chris Sale out, who knows how this season will turn out. The win improved the Sox to 30-27. The Sox look to take the second game of the doubleheader in an hour against the Rays when Kutter Crawford goes one on one with Tyler Glasnow. The game begins at 6:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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