Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Taylor Heineman became the latest player to join the growing Injury List with a hamstring pull. Taking his place is the returning Tyler O'Neill back from his concussion. The Arizona Diamondbacks also claimed Joe Jacques off waivers so he's gone. Lastly, Sox GM Craig Breslow signed independent league pitcher Adam Smith. Smith was drafted in the 14th round back by the San Diego Padres in 2021 twenty-four picks after the Sox took Jacob Webb. No idea what Breslow sees in him other than the Greenville Drive pitching staff isn't doing too well.
OUT
As for the game, the Cleveland Guardians flipped a switch for the fourth consecutive game against the Boston Red Sox. Tanner Houck (3-2, 1.65 ERA) locked into a pitcher's duel with Ben Lively of Cleveland for six innings. Wilyer Abreu took Lively deep in the top of the seventh but the Guardians woke up in the bottom of the frame. The Guardians got two runs off Houck to take the lead and after Connor Wong was foolishly picked off in the top of the eighth, Cam Booser allowed two runs in the bottom of the frame. The Sox did nothing in the top of the ninth and the Guardians had won it 4-1 at Progressive Field.
Lively got the ball in the top of the first and Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging. Jarren Duran lined out to center but the returning Tyler O'Neill singled to left. Wilyer Abreu grounded out to short to end the inning. Houck got the ball in the bottom of the first and Steven Kwan grounded out to third to start. Andres Gimenez struck out swinging and Jose Ramirez grounded out to first to end the inning.
Rob Refsnyder beat out a roller to third to start the top of the second but Enmanuel Valdez grounded into a double play. Connor Wong popped up to short to end the inning. Josh Naylor struck out swinging to open the bottom of the second but Will Brennan singled to left. Tyler Freeman forced Brennan at second and Estevan Florial struck out swinging to end the inning.
Bobby Dalbec flied out to center to start the top of the third before Pablo Reyes took strike three. Rafaela also took strike three to end the inning. Bo Naylor grounded out to first to start the bottom of the third before Brayan Rocchio singled to center. Kwan walked but Gimenez grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Duran struck out swinging to start the top of the fourth before O'Neill also went down hacking. Abreu flied out to left to end the inning. Ramirez grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth but Josh Naylor got a base hit to left. Brennan flied out to left and Freeman grounded into a force to end the inning.
Refsnyder doubled to center to start the top of the fifth but Valdez struck out swinging. Wong popped up to first and Dalbec grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Florial struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth before Bo Naylor grounded out to second. Rocchio grounded out to second to end the inning.
Reyes grounded out to short to begin the top of the sixth before Rafaela earned the hat trick by watching strike three go by. Duran lined out to center to end the inning. Kwan walked to start the bottom of the sixth before moving to second on the Gimenez grounder to second. Ramirez hit a bullet to Dalbec and Josh Naylor flied out to center to end the inning.
O'Neill flied out to center to start the top of the seventh but Abreu crushed his second home run of the season to put Boston on top. Refsnyder singled to right to chase Lively. Scott Barlow came in to pitch and Refsnyder was thrown out at second trying to steal. Valdez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Naturally as soon as the Sox took the lead Brennan effortlessly doubled to center to start the bottom of the seventh. Freeman laughed as he got a base hit to center to score Brennan with the tying run. Freeman easily stole second and Florial walked to chase Houck. It all fell apart for Tanner as he allowed 2 runs off 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out four. Brennan Bernardino came in and David Fry pinch hit for Naylor, drawing a walk to load the bases. Rocchio hit a sac fly to left but Kwan popped up to center to move Florial to third. Gimenez grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Guardians up for good 2-1.
Hunter Gaddis came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Wong greeted him with a base hit to left. Reese McGuire pinch hit for Dalbec and struck out swinging before Wong got himself picked off. Masataka Yoshida pinch hit for Reyes and was hit with a pitch and was replaced by pinch runner David Hamilton. Rafaela flied out to center to end the inning, nice going Wong. The Guardians iced it in the bottom of the eighth against Cam Booser as Ramirez hit a home run all the way to Pasadena to start. Josh Naylor grounded out to first but Ramon Laureano pinch hit for Brennan. Laureano took strike three but Freeman walked and scored on the Florial double to right. Fry was intentionally walked and Rocchio struck out swinging with the Guardians up 4-1.
Emmanuel Chase came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Duran, O'Neill and Abreu all went down hacking to end the game. The Guardians had won it 4-1.
Jackass of the Night is Connor Wong. You can't get yourself picked off in a situation like that, it was inexcusable.
The Good:
Rob Refsnyder was 3 for 3.
Masataka Yoshida was hit with a pitch.
The Bad:
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2.
Reese McGuire struck out as a pinch hitter.
Pablo Reyes was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Cam Booser allowed 2 runs in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Tyler O'Neill was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Wilyer Abreu was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Tanner Houck took the loss but only allowed 2 runs in 6 innings. He allowed 5 hits on 3 walks while striking out four.
Brennan Bernardino allowed the go-ahead run to score but none of his own in an inning of work.
Honorable Mention:
David Hamilton ran for Yoshida and played short in the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
Another frustrating loss in a season full of them. It was announced before the game that essentially Triston Casas is out for the year with a fractured rib. Yes, he fractured a rib simply swinging a bat. Sox manager Alex Cora said moving forward Bobby Dalbec is his starting first baseman and internally he must be puking his guts out that he's out of guys to stick in because his roster is decimated by injury. Niko Kavadas isn't on the 40 man roster so unless Sox GM Craig Breslow wants to release Dalbec outright, we're stuck with Bobby for a while. At least O'Neill is back and its a matter of time before Devers returns. Its too bad Houck took another loss because his offense couldn't score but that's also on Refsnyder and Wong for getting thrown out on the bases at critical moments. Gotta tip your cap to the Guardians who are now 17-6 on the season for seeming to know exactly when to turn up the heat against the Sox late in the game. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow evening against Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland. Who's pitching for Boston? Who the hell knows. The game begins at 6:10 PM at Progressive Field.
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