As for the game, the Sox have been sputtering lately but one guy you can count on is Garrett Crochet (5-4, 1.98 ERA). The big lefty was the stopper again, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 12 Atlanta Braves. The bad news was the Sox got all their runs in the first inning but they made them count. Trevor Story hit a bases loaded, bases clearing double off Bryce Elder in the top of the first. The only blemish was a Marcell Ozuna home run in the bottom of the first. Both teams held each other scoreless the rest of the way with Greg Weissert and Aroldis Chapman slamming the door in the ninth. The Sox got back on the winning track with a 3-1 victory over the Braves at Truist Park.
The Sox got to Bryce Elder immediately in the top of the first as Jarren Duran grounded out to second to start. Rafael Devers doubled to right but Wilyer Abreu struck out swinging. Abraham "El" Toro got a base hit to left and Marcelo Mayer walked to load the bases. Trevor Story hit a bases clearing double to left to put the Sox on top. Kristian Campbell grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
The Braves answered in the bottom of the first against Garrett Crochet although Ronald Acuna Jr struck out swinging to start. Austin Riley struck out swinging but Marcell Ozuna hit a home run into the Atlantic Ocean to cut the lead. Matt Olson grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Braves down 3-1.
Connor Wong took strike three to start the top of the second and Ceddanne Rafaela took strike three. Duran popped up to short to end the inning. Ozzie Albies struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second and Sean Murphy did the same. Eli White grounded out to short to end the inning.
Devers walked to start the top of the third but Abreu flied out to right. El Toro lined out to second and Mayer struck out swinging to end the inning. Michael Harris flied out to center to start the bottom of the third but Nick Allen walked. Acuna forced Allen at second but Riley got a base hit to right to move Acuna to third. Ozuna struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Story walked to start. Campbell flied out to right and Wong forced Story at second. Rafaela got a base hit to left but Duran grounded out to first to end the inning. Olson doubled to left to start the bottom of the fourth and Albies got a base hit to right to move Olson to third. Murphy struck out swinging but Albies swiped second. White popped up to second and Harris struck out swinging to end the threat and the inning.
Devers popped up to third to start the top of the fifth and Abreu took strike three. El Toro grounded out to second to end the inning. Allen walked to start the bottom of the fifth and Acuna Jr forced him at second. Riley flied out to right but Ozuna got a base hit off the glove of Abreu. Olson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Mayer grounded out to first to start the top of the sixth but Story got a base hit to center. Campbell got abase hit to right to chase Elder. Enyel De Los Santos came in and Wong popped up to second to start. Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning. Albies struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Murphy did the same. White flied out to right to end the inning.
Aaron Bummer came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Duran lined out to center to start. Devers struck out swinging and Abreu went down hacking to end the inning. Crochet came back for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh as Harris struck out swinging to start. Allen took strike three and Acuna went down hacking to end the inning. Crochet was outstanding, allowing just 1 run in 7 innings off 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 12.
El Toro got a base hit to right to start the top of the eighth but Mayer struck out swinging. Story took strike three and Campbell watched strike three go by to end the inning. David Hamilton took over for Campbell with Greg Weissert in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Riley flied out to center and Ozuna watched strike three go by. Olson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Raisel Iglesias came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Wong hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Rafaela took strike three and Duran struck out swinging to end the inning. Aroldis Chapman came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Albies grounded out to short to start. Murphy walked and Luke Williams pinch ran for him. White flied out to right and Harris struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 3-1.
Sox win
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Say what you will about the inconsistent Sox, Crochet has been very consistent to start the season. He was as dominant as ever in this one and the Braves never stood a chance. Once again the Boston bats did absolutely nothing apart from one big Trevor Story hit and this isn't sustainable. With Alex Bregman out the Sox have to rely on others to do the job and so far its not working. Crochet can't bail them out every single day. The rumors of the front office being unhappy with Devers is also annoying because they told him not to play defense this year, and rather than go get a first baseman they want him to do it? Just a sign of a bad team. Good win today though. The win improved the Sox to 29-32, 8.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now come home to play the Los Angeles Angels for a three game set. "Big" Dick Fitts (0-2) takes on Ty Anderson of the Angels. The game begins tomorrow evening at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
Hero of The Night is Garrett Crochet. He held the Braves to just one run in 7 innings while striking out 12 batters.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Abraham Toro was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Trevor Story was 2 for 3 with a walk and 3 rbis.
Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Aroldis Chapman earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Connor Wong was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Marcelo Mayer was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Kristian Campbell was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention:
David Hamilton played second base in the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
Say what you will about the inconsistent Sox, Crochet has been very consistent to start the season. He was as dominant as ever in this one and the Braves never stood a chance. Once again the Boston bats did absolutely nothing apart from one big Trevor Story hit and this isn't sustainable. With Alex Bregman out the Sox have to rely on others to do the job and so far its not working. Crochet can't bail them out every single day. The rumors of the front office being unhappy with Devers is also annoying because they told him not to play defense this year, and rather than go get a first baseman they want him to do it? Just a sign of a bad team. Good win today though. The win improved the Sox to 29-32, 8.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now come home to play the Los Angeles Angels for a three game set. "Big" Dick Fitts (0-2) takes on Ty Anderson of the Angels. The game begins tomorrow evening at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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