As for the game, talk about a roller coaster. The Boston Red Sox cruised to a 4-1 lead over the Chicago Cubs due to Tanner Houck and the Boston bats. Connor Wong drove in two runs and Jarren Duran drove in two with a triple. Houck left the game in the seventh after allowing a run but the Cubs spoiled the party in the top of the eighth. Mike Tauchman hit a three run homer off Chris Martin to tie the game but the Sox wouldn't go quietly. With Rafael Devers at first and Jarren Duran at third, Tyler O'Neill hit a pop up to Dansby Swanson that he dropped, scoring Duran to win the game. The Sox had walked off the Cubs 5-4 at Fenway Park.
Houck got the ball in the top of the first and Nico Hoerner grounded out to third to start. Mike Tauchman flied out to left and Ian Happ grounded out to first to end the inning. Hayden Wesneski got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran grounded back to the mound to start. Rafael Devers hit a routine grounder to Hoerner but he booted it for an error. Tyler O'Neill drew a walk but Wilyer Abreu flied out to center. Connor Wong grounded a base hit up the middle to score Devers and move O'Neill to third to put the Sox on top. Masataka Yoshida grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Christopher Morel went down hacking to start the top of the second before Michael Busch took strike three. Dansby Swanson struck out swinging to end the inning. Enmanuel Valdez flied out to right to start the bottom of the second but Bobby Dalbec got a infield single by the pitcher's mound. Ceddanne Rafaela popped up to first but Dalbec swiped second base. Duran struck out swinging to end the inning.
Matt Mervis grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Miguel Amaya struck out swinging. Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out to short to end the inning. Devers got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the third before moving to second on an O'Neill grounder to the mound. Abreu grounded out to first but Wong lined a base hit off the third base bag to score Devers with another run. Yoshida got a base hit to center to move Wong to third but Valdez popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Cubs threatened in the top of the fourth although Hoerner grounded to second to start. Tauchman got a base hit to left and Happ got a base hit to right. Morel struck out swinging and Busch lined out to left to end the inning. Dalbec took strike three to start the bottom of the fourth and Rafaela went down hacking. Duran flied out to left to end the inning.
Abreu made a great catch to rob Swanson of extra bases to start the top of the fifth before Mervis struck out swinging. Amaya went down hacking to end the inning. Richard Lovelady came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Devers walked to start. O'Neill took strike three, Abreu flied out to right and Wong flied out to center to end the inning.
Armstrong grounded out to first to start the top of the sixth before Valdez made a great play to rob Hoernerof a hit. Tauchman struck out swinging to end the inning. Yency Almonte came in to pitch and Rob Refsnyder pinch hit for Yoshida. Rob walked but Valdez hit one up the elevator shaft. Dalbec struck out swinging but Rafaela doubled to right. Duran cleared the bases with a triple into the centerfield triangle. Devers was intentionally walked but O'Neill took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
The Cubs struck back against Houck in the top of the seventh as Happ took strike three to start. Morel lined out to right but Busch was a plunked. Swanson singled to short and Mervis got a base hit to right to score Busch. That was it for Houck as he allowed just 1 run in 6 2/3 innings off 4 hits while striking out 9. Chris Martin came in and got Amaya on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning with the Cubs down 4-1.
Daniel Palencia came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh as Abreu struck out swinging to start. Wong and Refsnyder grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Cubs roared in the top of the eighth as Armstrong got a base hit to left to start. Hoerner singled to right but Tauchman hit a home run all the way to Nebraska to tie the game. Happ struck out swinging, Morel went down hacking and Busch flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.
Valdez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the eighth before Dalbec took strike three. Rafaela lined out to center to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Swanson grounded out to short to start. Nick Madrigal pinch hit for Mervis and popped up to first and Amaya struck out swinging to end the inning. Mark Leiter Jr hadn't allowed an earned run all year when he came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Duran walked to start. Devers lined a base hit to left that moved Duran to third but O'Neill hit a pop up to Swanson.....DROPPED! Duran scored and the Sox had won the game 5-4.
Hero of The Night is Tyler O'Neill. He drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Tyler O'Hero
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Connor Wong was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Masataka Yoshida was 1 for 2.
Rob Refsnyder walked and scored a run in two plate appearances.
Tanner Houck allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings allowing 4 hits while striking out 9.
Kenley Jansen got the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Chris Martin allowed 3 runs in 1 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, drove in 2 runs and scored a run.
Bobby Dalbec was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but stole a base.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That game was a roller coaster as the Sox dominated this game for seven innings then immediately fell apart in the eighth. Connor Wong is on fire lately and it comes at a good time with Triston Casas gone and Jarren Duran slumping....although it was Duran who got the two run triple and scored the winning run. Houck once again looked damn good but Chris Martin stole a victory from him. Still, O'Neill is fast becoming a legend in Boston and his big hit tonight is another notch on his gun. The best news wasn't on the field but off of it. Brayan Bello looked good and felt pain free while Vaughn Grissom went 4 for 4 in Worcester tonight, plus Garrett Cooper is on his way. If those three are back healthy soon, then we won't have to worry about Valdez, Dalbec and Chase Anderson....if nobody else gets hurt. Still, even though the team is only 3 games over .500, the fact they're surviving with all the injuries they've had is hope for the future when they get their guns back....or at least the ones that aren't out for the season. The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays have been struggling so the Sox aren't even last place for now. One has to wonder how good the team would be with no injuries the way Abreu, Wong and Rafaela seem to be turning the corner with Devers and O'Neill delivering. Gotta roll out the team you have and the team they have is still in the thick of things. The Sox have an off-day tomorrow then welcome in the San Francisco Giants for a three game set starting Tuesday night. Cooper Criswell (1-1, 2.38 ERA) gets the start for Boston against Logan Webb of the Giants. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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