A's starter Alex Wood got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran was plunked to start. Tyler O'Neill struck out swinging but Rafael Devers forced Duran at second. Trevor Story bashed a double to center to score Devers and put the Sox up right away. Pablo Reyes struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Bello got the ball in the bottom of the first and Ryan Noda took strike three to start. Zack Gelof struck out swinging and JJ Bleday grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the second as Triston Casas got a base hit to center to start. Ceddanne Rafaela popped up to first and Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging, but Connor Wong got a base hit to left. Duran ripped a base hit to center to score Casas but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The A's struck back in the bottom of the second as JD Davis doubled to right to start. Seth Brown moved Davis to third with a grounder to first but Brent Rooker struck out swinging. All of a sudden Shea Langeliers hit a home run all the way to Dubuque, Iowa to tie the game. Lawrence Butler grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Sox answered in the top of the third as O'Neill walked to start. Devers singled to center but Story took strike three. Reyes lashed a base hit to center and O'Neill broke for home. The throw was up the line, the run scored, and both runners moved into scoring position. Casas was called out on strike three nowhere close and Rafaela lined out to right to end the inning but it was 3-2 Sox.
The A's struck in the bottom of the third as Nick Allen grounded out to first to start. Noda grounded a base hit up the middle but Gelof flied out to right. Bleday then mashed a home run all the way to Orlando, Florida to put the As on top. Davis grounded out to third to end the inning with the A's ahead 4-3.
Dalbec took strike three to start the top of the fourth before Wong flied out to center. Duran was plunked again but O'Neill flied out to right to end the inning. Brown flied out to left to start the bottom of the fourth but Rooker doubled to right. Langeliers lined out to a running Duran and Butler popped up to Devers to end the inning.
Devers grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth and Story struck out swinging. Reyes flied out to right to end the inning. Bello returned for one last inning in the bottom of the fifth and Allen swung and missed for strike three....only for the ball to get away from Wong, allowing Nick to reach first. Noda took strike three and Gelof went down hacking, but Bleday walked. Davis grounded out to first to end the inning. Bello wasn't the sharpest as he allowed 4 runs in just 5 innings off two home runs but he did strike out six.
Casas walked to start the top of the sixth to chase Wood. Austin Adams came in and got Rafaela to pop up to short. Wilyer Abreu pinch hit for Dalbec and struck out swinging while Wong also went down hacking to end the inning. Greg Weissert came in for the bottom of the sixth and Brown took strike three to start. Rooker singled to left but Langeliers banged into a double play to end the inning.
TJ McFarland came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Duran got a base hit to center to begin. Duran stole second and O'Neill beat out a roller to third. Devers banged into a double play and Lucas Erceg came in to pitch to Story. Trevor stepped up with a base hit to right to score Duran to tie the game. Masataka Yoshida pinch hit for Reyes and doubled to right and Casas was intentionally walked to load the bases. Rafaela lined out to short to end the inning with the game tied 4-4
Story gets it done
Isaiah Campbell came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and would now hit fifth with the DH lost. Butler doubled to center to start but Allen foolishly bunted foul for strike three. Noda grounded out to first to move Butler to third and Gelof lined out to center to end the inning.
Dany Jimenez came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Abreu grounded out to third to start. Wong took strike three and Duran went down hacking to end the inning. Enmanuel Valdez took the 5th spot in the batting order taking over for Campbell with Rafaela moving to second base and Chris Martin in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Bleday and Davis both grounded out to second and Brown struck out swinging to end the inning.
Mason Miller came in to pitch the top of the ninth and O'Neill struck out swinging to start. Devers struck out swinging but Story doubled to right. Valdez flied out to left to end the inning. Kenley Jansen came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Rooker popped up to second to start. Langerliers struck out swinging but Butler walked. Abraham Toro pinch hit for Allen and Butler moved to second on a wild pitch. Toro walked but Noda struck out swinging to end the inning.
Darell Hernaiz took over at short for the top of the tenth and Casas flied out to left to start. Rafaela walked but Abreu struck out swinging. Wong struck out swinging to end the inning. Reese McGuire took Jansen's spot in the batting order while playing catcher and Josh Winckowski came in to pitch now in the 9 hole. Noda started the inning at second and Gelof dropped down a bunt to move him over to third. Bleday walked and Cora pulled Valdez in from center for a five man infield. The gamble worked as Davis hit a comebacker to Winckowski who threw out Noda at the plate. Brown struck out swinging to end the inning.
Mitch Spence came in to pitch the top of the eleventh with Abreu starting at second. McGuire got a base hit to left to move Abreu to third and Oakland pulled the infield in. O'Neill banged into a double play but Abreu took off for home.....SAFE! The Sox had taken the lead! Devers grounded out to short to end the inning with Boston ahead 5-4.
Winckowski returned to finish off the bottom of the eleventh with Brown on second base. Rooker took strike three and Rafaela made a great running catch to rob Langeliers of a game tying triple. Butler struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-4 in 11 innings.
Hero of The Night is Josh Wincowski. He slammed the door in the 10th and the 11th with a runner on second to start each inning.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 3 with two hit by pitches, rbi, stolen base and a run scored.
Trevor Story was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.
Pablo Reyes was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Masataka Yoshida got a hit in his only at-bat.
Reese McGuire got a base hit in his only plate appearance.
Triston Casas was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
Isaiah Campbell pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Brayan Bello got lit up for 4 runs in just 5 innings. He allowed 2 home runs, 5 total hits and a walk while striking out six.
The Ugly:
Tyler O'Neill was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Connor Wong was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 3 but scored the go-ahead run.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 4 but drew a walk.
Final Thoughts:
A lot of talking heads are laughing at the Sox for just barely beating the worst team in baseball but a win is a win. Not only that, it was HOW they won. The last two years they weren't getting the Story two out rbi hit or defensively making the plays Rafaela and others were making. The only blemishes in this game were Duran's riverboat gambler attitude on the bases and Bello serving up the two run jacks. Cora having to empty the bench just to keep the game going wasn't easy and the five infielder play in the 10th was risky, but it all worked out. The Sox are going to live or die with what they got and it may not be sustainable the entire year, but it sure is fun to watch. Another big factor in the win was the lights out pitching from Bello and the bullpen after the third inning. Bello for whatever reason has trouble with the longball in Oakland, but now he doesn't have to worry about it moving forward. It all added up to a win that a year ago might not have been possible. A lot of talk this past off-season were fans complaining that they wanted the team to suck so John Henry sells the team but ironically fans are more mad the team isn't 5-1 because Jansen took the night off in Seattle on Friday. The Sox look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon when Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) takes on Ross Stripling of Oakand. The game begins at 3:30 PM at Oakland Coliseum.
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