After the Boston Red Sox blew last night's game, today's game on Patriots Day became very important against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox had won 3 of their 5 wins against the Red Sox but Walker Buehler (3-1, 4.23 ERA) was not about to let another win happen. Buehler pitched his best game of the season tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball against the hapless White Sox. On the other side of the ball, Rob Refsnyder struck his first home run of the year against Jonathan Cannon to tie the game. Trevor Story and Kristian Cambpell drove in 3 runs combined with singles to give the Sox a 4-1 lead. Aroldis Chapman did give up a home run to Andrew Benintendi in the eighth inning but Justin Slaten slammed the door in the ninth inning to give the Sox a 4-2 victory on Patriots Day Monday at Fenway Park.
Buehler got the ball in the top of the first inning and Wilyer Abreu failed to catch a pop up by Nick Maton for a "single" to start. Andrew Benintendi lofted a base hit to center to move Maton to third but Luis Robert Jr took strike three on the outside corner. Edgar Quero grounded out to second to score Maton but Sosa flied out to center to end the inning with Chicago ahead 1-0.
Cannon got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran grounded out to first to start. Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman worked back to back walks but Lenyn Sosa made a great diving stab to rob Trevor Story. Wilyer Abreu struck out swinging to end the inning.
Miguel Vargas struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Brooks Baldwin pounded a ground rule double into right. Michael Taylor struck out swinging and Jacob Amaya went down hacking as well to end the inning. The BoSox struck back in the bottom of the second as Kristian Campbell got a base hit to start. Triston Casas grounded into a double play but Rob Refsnyder smashed his first home run of the season to tie the game. Carlos Narvaez flied out to right to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Maton walked to start the top of the third before Benintendi walked as well. Robert Jr and Quero both struck out swinging before Sosa popped up to short to end the inning. Duran doubled to start the bottom of the third before Devers flied out to left. Bregman walked and Story got a base hit to center to score Duran to put Boston ahead. Abreu walked to load the bases and Campbell drilled a base hit to right to score Bregman and Story. Casas flied out to right and Refsnyder took strike three to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 4-1.
Vargas took strike three to start the top of the fourth before Baldwin grounded out to second. Taylor took strike three to end the inning. Narvaez flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth before Duran popped up to short. Devers flied out to center to end the inning.
Amaya grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth before Maton walked. Benintendi grounded into a double play to end the inning. Bregman flied out to left to start the bottom of the fifth before Story got a base hit to center. Abreu struck out swinging and a wild pitch moved Story to second, but Campbell struck out to swinging to end the inning.
Robert Jr lined out to left to start the top of the sixth before Quero grounded back to the mound. Sosa got a base hit to right but Vargas grounded out to third. Casas flied out to center to start the bottom of the sixth before Refsnyder grounded out to short. Narvaez flied out to left to end the inning.
Baldwin took strike three to start the top of the seventh before Bregman snuffed out a bunt attempt by Taylor. Joshua Palacios pinch hit for Amaya and grounded back to the mound to end the inning. That was it for Buehler who was outstanding, allowing just 1 run in 7 innings off 4 hits and 3 walks.
Tyler Gilbert came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Duran struck out swinging to start. Devers struck out swinging but Bregman singled to center. Story got a base hit to center but Abreu struck out swinging to end the inning.
Just like yesterday, Sox manager Alex Cora went to the bullpen in the eighth inning and paid for it. Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch and old pal Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for Maton. Dalbec struck out swinging but Benintendi hit a home run all the way to Cuba to cut the lead. Robert Jr popped up to center but Duran dropped it for an error. Quero lined out to right and Sosa lined out to center to end the inning with the White Sox down 4-2.
Penn Murfee came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Campbell walked to start. Casas grounded out to second to move Campbell to second but Refsnyder took strike three. Narvaez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Justin Slaten came in to close out the top of the ninth with Ceddanne Rafaela now in right and Vargas flied out to right to start. Baldwin struck out swinging but Matt Thaiss pinch hit for Taylor. Thaiss flied out to center to end the game. The Red Sox had won it 4-2.
Hero of The Night is Walker Buehler. He earned the win tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 9.
The Good:
Alex Bregman was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Trevor Story was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Kristian Campbell was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 rbis.
Justin Slaten earned his 3rd save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Triston Casas was 0 for 4.
Carlos Narvaez was 0 for 4.
Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but scored a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Rob Refsnyder was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Honorable Mention:
Ceddanne Rafaela played right field in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
The Red Sox are a mess but at least Walker Buehler and Trevor Story seem to be coming out of their early season struggles. Buehler looked like the Buehler of 5 years ago and that's who the Sox need moving forward. If Buehler and Garrett Crochet can stay healthy the Sox have their first tag team 1-2 punch since Chris Sale and David Price in 2019. Offensively the Sox once again did almost nothing although kudos to Refsnyder for getting his first home run of the year and clutch hitting by Kristian Campbell and Trevor Story. If Story can stay healthy this year, that's a huge relief considering the woes everywhere else on the team. Chapman giving up a bomb happens when you throw nothing but gas but otherwise, he and Slaten slammed the door on the White Sox. Having a 7-8-9 of Garrett Whitlock, Chapman and Slaten are going to shorten many games....if Sox manager Alex Cora does the right thing and let the starters go 6 or 7 if they're dealing. Pulling Houck yesterday cost them the game but that didn't happen this time. Duran dropped an easy pop up to highlight just how bad the defense is, which is on the manager. Still, the Sox won on Patriots Day and they're going to get some of their injured guys back soon. The Sox now welcome in the Seattle Mariners for a three game set beginning tomorrow night. Brayan Bello is expected to come off the Injuries List against Captain TBD of Seattle. The game begins at 6:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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