It was good news all around for the city of Boston. The Boston Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first round NBA playoff series and the Boston Red Sox crushed the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox made up for their recent home run drought by clocking five of them off Toronto starter Bowden Francis. Jarren Duran led the game off with a home run and two batters later Alex Bregman went deep. In the second inning Kristian Campbell hit one out then in the third both Rafael Devers and Wilyer Abreu sent balls out of the yard. On the other side, Garrett Crochet (3-2, 2.05 ERA) dominated the Jays with 7 strong innings allowing just a Vladimir Guerrero Jr two run home run. The Sox tacked three more runs off the Toronto bullpen while Luis Guerrero and Brennan Bernardino slammed the door to give the Sox a 10-2 victory over the Jays at the Skydome.
The Sox wasted no time getting to Francis in the top of the first as Jarren Duran clobbered his second home run of the year to lead off. Rafael Devers grounded out to short but Alex Bregman belted his sixth home run of the year to increase the lead. Trevor Story popped up to short and Wilyer Abreu popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Crochet got the ball in the bottom of the first and Bo Bichette effortlessly got a base hit to left. Bichette stole second but somehow Vladimir Guerrero Jr popped up to second. Anthony Santander walked on 5 pitches not even close but Bichette was thrown out trying to steal third. George Springer lined out to right to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the second inning as Kristian Campbell smashed his fourth home run of the year to increase the lead. Triston Casas got a base hit to center but Ceddanne Rafaela flied out to right. Carlos Narvaez struck out swinging and Duran flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Alejandro Kirk struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second inning and Daulton Varsho also went down hacking. Ernie Clement lined out to second to end the inning.
The Sox blew it open int he top of the third as Devers smashed his fifth home run of the season to increase the lead. Bregman got a base hit to left and Story got a base hit to left as well. Abreu then mashed his sixth home run of the season to ice the game. Campbell lined out to second, Casas flied out to center and Rafaela grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 7-0.
Andres Gimenez took strike three to start the bottom of the third before Myles Straw went down hacking. Bichette effortlessly doubled to right and Guerrero Jr hit a home run off the roof of the dome to cut the lead. Santander grounded out to short to end the inning with the Jays down 7-2.
Dillon Tate came in to pitch the top of the fourth and Narvaez grounded out to short to start. Duran flied out to center but Devers walked. Bregman struck out swinging to end the inning. Springer struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Kirk grounded out to third. Varsho walked but Clement flied out to right to end the inning.
Story flied out to right to start the top of the fifth but Abreu drew a walk. Campbell walked to chase Tate and Mason Fluharty came in to pitch to Casas. Triston grounded into a double play to end the inning. Gimenez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth before Myles Straw grounded out to third. Abreu had to climb the right field wall to rob Bichette of a home run to end the inning.
Rafaela lined out to center to start the top of the sixth before Narvaez struck out swinging. Duran grounded out to short to end the inning. Guerrero Jr flied out to left to start the bottom of the sixth before Santander grounded out to short. Springer walked but Kirk lined out to center to end the inning.
Devers struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh and that was it for Fluharty. Casey Lawrence came in to pitch and Bregman lined out to left. Story was plunked and Abreu got a base hit to right, but Campbell flied out to center to end the inning. Crochet came back for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh as Varsho grounded out to second to start. Clement got a base hit to center and moved to second on a Gimenez grounder to second. Straw grounded out to third to end the inning. Crochet dominated the Jays for 7 innings giving up just two runs on 4 hits and 3 walks.
The Sox struck again in the top of the eighth as Casas got a base hit to right to start. Rafaela forced Casas at second but Narvaez got a base hit to right to move Ceddanne to third. Duran beat out a double play ball to score Rafaela but Devers grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 8-2.
Duran with another rbi
Luis Guerrero came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Bichette grounded out to short to start. Guerrero Jr flied out to center and Santander grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth as Bregman lined a base hit to left to begin. Story popped up to first but Abreu got a base hit to right. Campbell doubled to left to score Bregman and Casas grounded out to third to score Abreu. Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 10-2.
Casas drives in a run
Brennan Bernardino came in to finish off the bottom of the ninth and Springer flied out to right to start. Kirk struck out swinging and Varsho went down hacking to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-2.
Sox win
The Sox salute our Hero
Hero of The Night is Garrett Crochet. He held the Jays to just two runs in 7 innings. He allowed 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out six.
The Good:
Alex Bregman was 3 for 5 with a home run and 3 total runs scored.
Wilyer Abreu was 3 for 5 with a walk, a three run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Kristian Campbell was 2 for 4 with a walk, a home run and two total runs scored.
Triston Casas was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
Luis Guerrero pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Brennan Bernardino pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 5 but drove in two runs, one of which on a home run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and hit a home run.
Trevor Story was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch and scored a run.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Carlos Narvaez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Final Thoughts:
That was a great team effort against a team many believed could compete with New York for the AL East title this year. The five home runs hit by the Sox were a reminder that they're capable of offensive explosions at almost any time. Bregman continues to be worth every penny spent, Campbell is a front runner for AL Rookie of The Year and if Abreu keeps hitting 3 run bombs he might be in the running for MVP. Duran has also been a man possessed the last week or so. The fact Roman Anthony is breathing down everyone's necks has people playing for jobs. Duran and Abreu look safe but definitely not Rafaela. Speaking of playing for a job, its going to get very interesting to see how the pitching is going to look because guys are coming off the Injured List, including tomorrow night's starter. The Sox have a chance to have a damn good season but they can't be carrying bums like they have the last few years. Crochet pitched like an ace tonight and when you have three guys like Crochet, Walker Buehler and Brayan Bello guaranteed to give you solid outings almost every time, the back end of the rotation with guys like Tanner Houck, Richard Fitts and anyone else has less pressure on them. All in all it was a good win and the Sox look to make it two in a row against Toronto and four wins total tomorrow night when Lucas Giolito makes his long awaited Sox debut against Captain TBD of Toronto. The game begins at 7:05 PM at the Skydome.
No comments:
Post a Comment