The Boston Red Sox have been hoping to find top flight starting pitching from within and they might have it with the resurgence of Josh Winckowki (2-1, 2.72 ERA). Josh stared down the San Diego Padres and shut them out in 5 strong innings. Offensively the Sox got to San Diego starter Matt Waldron with a two run Rafael Devers home run in the bottom of the first. The Sox got another run in the third and Jarren Duran went yard in the bottom of the fifth. The bullpen came in and the only blemish was a Ha-Seong Kim rbi double off Justin Slaten in the top of the seventh. The tag team of Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen slammed the door and the Sox staved off a series sweep with a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park.
Winckowski got the ball in the top of the first inning and Luis Arraez lined out to left to start. Jurickson Profar grounded out to short and Jake Cronenworth struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox got to Wauldron got the ball in the bottom of the first as Jarren Duran grounded back to the mound to start. David Hamilton flied out to left but Wilyer Abreu walked. Rafael Devers crushed his 18th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Enmanuel Valdez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Manny Machado got a base hit to right to start the top of the second but Donovan Solano lined out to third. Jackson Merrill got a base hit to right and Ha-Seong Kim moved both runners over with a grounder to third. Kyle Higashioka grounded out to first to end the inning. Masataka Yoshida took strike three to start the bottom of the second but Dominic Smith doubled to center. Reese McGuire took strike three and Ceddanne Rafaela hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Bryce Johnson got a base hit to center to open the top of the third but Arraez grounded into a double play. Profar grounded out to second to end the inning. Merrill made a great running catch to rob Duran of a hit to start the bottom of the third and Hamilton lined out to first. Abreu got a base hit to right and Devers did the same to move Wilyer to third. A passed ball scored Abreu but Valdez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Cronenworth got hit with a pitch to start the top of the fourth but Machado grounded into a double play. Solano grounded out to second to end the inning. Yoshida got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the fourth and a passed ball moved him to second. Smith grounded out to first to move Yoshida to third but McGuire flied out to center. Rafaela grounded out to third to end the inning.
Merrill got a base hit to left to start the top of the fifth and Kim dropped down a bunt to move him a second. Higashioka grounded out to third and Johnson flied out to center to end the inning. That was it for Winckowski who allowed just 4 hits in 5 shutout innings.
The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fifth as Duran blasted his ninth home run of the season to increase the lead. Hamilton flied out to left and that was it for Waldron. Wandy Peralta came in to pitch and Abreu got a base hit to center. A wild pitch moved Abreu to second and a grounder to second by Devers moved Wilyer to third. Valdez grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Duran leaves the yard
Brennan Bernardino came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Arraez got a base hit to right to start. Profar flied out to center but Arraez moved to second on a grounder to short by Cronenworth. That was it for Bernardino as Justin Slaten came in to face Machado. Manny grounded out to third to end the inning. Stephen Kolek came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Yoshida got a base hit to right to start. Smith grounded into a double play and McGuire grounded out to first to end the inning.
Solano struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh but Merrill doubled to center. Kim doubled to left to score Merrill to cut the lead. Higashioka grounded out to short to move Kim to tbhird and David Peralta pinch hit for Johnson. Peralta grounded out to second to end the inning with the Padres down 4-1.
Kim drives in a run
Adrian Morejon came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Rafaela struck out swinging to start. Duran walked and Rob Refsnyder pinch hit for Hamilton. A wild pitch moved Duran over to second and Refsnyder walked. Romy Gonzalez pinch hit for Abreu and struck out swinging before Devers flied out to center to end the inning.
Chris Martin came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Arraez grounded back to the mound to start. Profar got a base hit to center but Cronenworth struck out swinging. Machado flied out to right to end the inning. Jeremiah Estrada came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Valdez flied out to center to start. Yoshida flied out to center as well and Smith completed the trifecta with a fly out to center to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen came in to close out the top of the ninth and Solano flied out to right to start. Merrill struck out swinging and Kim lined out to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-1.
Sox win
Hero Winckowski
Rob Refsnyder walked as a pinch hitter.
Wilyer Abreu was 2 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Hero of The Night is Josh Winckowski. He blanked the Padres for five innings to give the Sox a much needed win.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with a walk and a home run.
Rob Refsnyder walked as a pinch hitter.
Wilyer Abreu was 2 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run.
Masataka Yoshida was 2 for 4.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kenley Jansen earned his 16th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
David Hamilton was 0 for 3.
Romy Gonzalez struck out as a pinch hitter.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Reese McGuire was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Dominic Smith was just 1 for 4.
Brennan Bernardino allowed a run in 2 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox have been banking on the home grown starters such as Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello this season while being patient with Nick Pivetta. Hopefully Winckowski has figured things out to give them a lift moving forward. The Sox could really use an ace but we all know Sox GM Craig Breslow is "on a budget" so that's not possible. We still have a month before the trade deadline to see what Breslow can do to add to the team. Still, a win is a win and Duran and Devers were a big part of today's win. The three headed monster of Justin Slaten, Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen are also tough to beat. If the Sox can keep their starters going 6 or 7 innings, they'll be in good shape moving forward. But who are we kidding? The win improved the Sox to 44-40, 9 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Tuesday night on the road in Miami for a three game set with the Marlins. Kutter Crawford (3-7) goes for the Sox against Valente Bellozo of Miami. The game begins Tuesday night at 6:40 PM at Loan Depot Park.
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