As for the game, that was an epic disaster. With temperatures dropping to the mid 20's as time went on, the Red Sox were ice cold against the Toronto Blue Jays in more ways than one. Garrett Crochet (1-1, 1.45 ERA) got roughed up for 4 runs in the top of the sixth inning with no help coming from the incompetent Red Sox defense that committed another two errors. At the plate, the Sox were stymied by Easton Lucas as he allowed just 3 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Zack Kelly put the game out of reach by allowing two runs of his own and the Jays ran away with this one 6-1 at a frozen Fenway Park.
Crochet got the ball in the top of the first inning and Bo Bichette got a base hit to left to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr grounded out to second to move Bichette to second. Anthony Santander struck out swinging but George Springer walked. Ernie Clement singled to left to load the bases and Davis Schneider took strike three to end the inning. Lucas got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging and Alex Bregman flied out to right to end the inning.
Myles Straw grounded out to short to start the top of the second before old friend Tyler Heineman grounded out to short. Alan Roden flied out to right to end the inning. Rob Refsnyder struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second before Trevor Story also went down hacking. Kristian Campbell flied out to center to end the inning.
Bichette walked to start the top of the third and took second on a grounder to second by Guerrero Jr. Santander flied out to right and Springer took strike three to end the inning. Romy Gonzalez lined out to left to start the bottom of the third before Carlos Narvaez grounded out to short. Ceddanne Rafaela got a base hit to left. Duran walked but Devers forced him at second to end the inning.
Clement grounded out to short to begin the top of the fourth before Schneider swung at air for strike three. Straw took strike three to end the inning. Bregman flied out to left to start the bottom of the fourth before Refsnyder grounded out to short. Story singled to left but Campbell struck out swinging to end the inning.
Heineman got a base hit to center to start the top of the fifth but Roden's bunt got him thrown out at second. Bichette flied out to right and Guerrero lined out to a running Refsnyder to end the inning. Gonzalez swung at air to start the bottom of the fifth before Narvaez also went down hacking. Rafaela flied out to right to end the inning.
The Jays struck in the top of the sixth as Santander grounded out to short to start. Naturally Springer hit a home run all the way to Jupiter to put the Jays up for good. Clement lined out to a diving Rafaela and Schneider hit a routine grounder to third. Bregman inexplicably turned and fired the ball into the Monster Seats for an error. Straw walked and naturally Campbell threw a routine grounder by Heineman away for an error to score Schneider to ice the game. Roden walked on 5 pitches not even close to load the bases and chase Crochet. The Jays broke Crochet in the sixth inning as he allowed 4 runs in just 5 2/3 innings on 5 hits and 4 walks. Zack Kelly came in to pitch and naturally Bichette ripped a base hit to center to score two runners, putting the game out of reach. Guerrero Jr lined out to right to end the inning with the Jays up 4-0.
The Sox laid down in the bottom of the sixth as Duran struck out swinging to start. Somehow Devers got a lucky base hit to right and that was it for Lucas. Chad Green came in to pitch to Bregman and naturally Bregman struck out swinging. Refsnyder got a base hit in the hole at short but with two men on, Story popped up to short to end the inning.
Zack Kelly came in to pitch the top of the seventh as Santander struck out swinging to start. Springer got another base hit to center but Clement flied out to left. Andres Gimenez pinch hit for Schneider and forced Springer at second to end the inning. The Sox finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh with Yariel Rodriguez on the mount. Campbell lined out to center but Gonzalez doubled off the Monster. Wilyer Abreu pinch hit for Narvaez and lined out to short, but Rafaela singled off the glove of Gimenez to score Gonzalez. Brendon Little came in to pitch to Duran and a wild pitch moved Rafaela to second. Now with a runner in scoring position, Duran struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.
Just when the Sox inched closer, the Jays iced it in the top of the eighth with Blake Sabol now behind the plate. Straw got a base hit to right and Heineman walked. Roden took strike three but Bichette got a base hit to left to score Straw. That was it for Kelly as Josh Winckowski made his season debut by plunking Guerrero Jr. Santander grounded out to second to score Heineman. Springer grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 6-1.
Mason Fluharty came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Devers reached on a throwing error by Bichette....only for Bregman to take strike three. Refsnyder grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Clement struck out swinging to start the top of the ninth before Gimenez lined out to left. Straw grounded out to second to end the inning. Jacob Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Story got a base hit to center to start. Campbell got a base hit to center but once again with runners in scoring position, Gonzalez grounded into a double play. Sabol took three straight strikes right down the middle to end the game. The Jays had won it 6-1.
Jackass of the Night is Alex Bregman. He went 0 for 4 at the plate with 2 strikeouts and made a crucial error to cost them the game.
The Good:
Trevor Story was 2 for 4.
Josh Winckowski tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Carlos Narvaez was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Blake Sabol was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Zack Kelly allowed 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rob Refsnyder was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Kristian Campbell was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.
Romy Gonzalez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Garrett Crochet took the loss allowing 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings but only one was earned. He allowed 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5.
Final Thoughts:
That was one of the most embarrassing games of the season for so many reasons. Not only could they not hit Easton Lucas, as soon as a runner touched second base the hitters totally froze besides Rafaela. Crochet was battling through five innings while Lucas cruised. Then the errors kicked in. Bregman was supposed to be Devers in the field and he's committed 3 errors already. Campbell's throw was awful but Gonzalez didn't exactly stretch out for it....but he shouldn't be playing first to begin with. Bottom line was this was a badly executed game from the manager on down. I don't care how cold it was, you're supposed to be mentally tough, this wasn't mentally tough. The Blue Jays play in a dome and they showed more poise than the Sox. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night when old nemesis Kevin Gausman goes for the Jays against Tanner Houck (0-1, 6.52 ERA) at 6:45 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment