Sox Pound Astros, Stay Alive (10/8/17)

Well if you thought this season was going to come to a bitter end you could be right....but not today. In a complete script reversal the Boston Red Sox took a nice big dump on the 100 win Houston Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS. The Sox pounded out 15 hits, 2 home runs and ran away at the end with a victory to stay alive in the post-season for one more day. David Price earned his money big time, shutting down the Astros and saving the season big time. The 10-3 win by the Sox at Fenway Park was the first post-season win since the Sox clinched the 2013 World Series.

                                                 The late Tom Petty approves of the win

The torture began immediately in the top of the first when George Springer singled and a wild pitch moved him to second. Josh Reddick singled home Springer to put the Astros up for good two batters into the game. Jose Altuve grounded out but Carlos Correa smashed a 739 foot bomb to Rhode Island and the Sox were THUNDEROUSLY booed. Marwin Gonzalez grounded out to short and Alex Bregman struck out to end the inning but it was 3-0 Astros. Fans were absolutely livid and booed the daylights out of the Sox.

                                                 Here we go again

Meanwhile the useless Red Sox offense proved how useless they were in the bottom of the first against Brad Peacock. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to second but somehow Dustin Pedroia singled. Andrew Benintendi flied out to right and Mookie Betts whiffed to end the inning.

The wheels fell off for Fister in the top of the second as Carlos Beltran walked and Yuli Guriel singled to center, but somehow Doug got Brian McCann to line out to center. After yelling and screaming and making unessecary exaggerated motions all year, Sox manager John Farrell had no energy left and calmly pulled Fister after recording just 4 outs and giving up 3 runs. Bye bye Fister and it looked like bye bye Red Sox.

                                                          Fister gets fisted one last time

Joe Kelly came in and immediately threw a wild pitch that moved runners over, but somehow they didn't score on the Springer ground out. Betts made an amazing catch to rob Reddick of a triple to end the inning. The Sox looked to rally when Mitch Moreland and Hanley Ramirez stroked back to back singles before Rafael Devers walked to load the bases with nobody out. In a complete miracle, Sandy Leon singled to score Moreland to put the Sox on the board. That was it as Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed, Ramirez was forced at home on a pathetic grounder by Bogaerts and Pedroia lined out to left to end the inning. The Sox had the bases loaded and nobody out needing 1 hit to tie the game...and didn't get it. It was 3-1 but that was a huge squander

                                                      Ramirez is fired up for this one

The Astros were totally offended the Sox had the unmitigated audacity to score a run so Altuve singled to start the top of the third inning. Somehow Correa banged into a double play but Gonzalez singled. Bregman flied out to right to end the inning. In a totally miraculous moment, the Sox rallied in the bottom of the third inning. Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts whiffed and Astros fans began laughing at Sox fans that they'd never score again. All of a sudden Moreland doubled and Gonzalez misplayed a Ramirez single, allowing Mitch to score. Just like that Peacock was out of the game as Astros manager AJ Hinch made the monumental mistake of bringing in Fransisco Liriano to pitch to Devers. Rafael put the Sox on top with a 2 run home run into the bullpen for his first post-season home run. Leon singled but JBJ lined out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-3.

                                                        Devers' blast makes it 4-3

Sox manager John Farrell took no chances and brought in David Price to hold the fort in the top of the fourth inning. Beltran grounded out to second but Guriel singled. McCann lined out to right and Springer struck out to end the inning. Lance McCullers Jr came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth inning and Bogaerts hit a comebacker to the mound to start. Pedroia grounded out to third but Benintendi hit one in the hole at short and Correa threw the ball away, allowing Andrew to reach second. Betts walked but Moreland whiffed to end the inning.

Price ran into trouble in the top of the fifth inning when Reddick and Altuve hit back to back singles, but Reddick was forced at third on a grounder by Correa. Price got a huge strikeout by whiffing Gonzalez and Bregman grounded out to end the inning. Good work Price. Ramirez singled to open the bottom of the fifth but Devers banged into a double play to kill that rally. Leon looked at strike three to end the inning.

Price continued to dazzle in the top of the sixth inning by striking out Beltran to start. Guriel singled but McCann and Springer flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox mustered nothing in the bottom of the sixth as JBJ and Bogaerts struck out before Pedroia grounded out to second to end the inning.

Price had one more inning left in him and he got Reddick to pop up to begin the top of the seventh inning. Altuve walked but Correa lined out to right. Gonzalez struck out to end the inning and the once hated David Price got a standing ovation for tossing 4 shut-out innings.

The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the seventh inning against Chris Devenski as Moreland singled and Ramirez doubled him home. Devers singled home Ramirez and that was it for Devenski. Joe Musgrove came in and Leon flied out to right, but JBJ belted a 3 run bomb to put the game out of reach. Bogaerts lined out to left and Pedroia flied out to left to end the inning but it was 10-3 Sox. Game over.

                                                      JBJ ices it in the seventh

For some reason Sox manager John Farrell brought in Addison Reed to pitch the top of the eighth inning even though the Sox had a 7 run lead although he did get Bregman and Beltran to fly out to right. Guriel singled but McCann grounded out to first to end the inning. Juan Ceteno took over behind the plate as Luke Gregerson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. Benintendi flied out to center, Betts looked at strike three and Moreland grounded out to third to end the inning.

Carson Smith came in to close out the game in the top of the ninth inning. Springer singled but Reddick grounded into a double play. Correa looked at strike three to end the game. The Sox had turned the tables on the Astros and ran away with a 10-3 victory to keep the season alive for one more day.

Hero of the Night is David Price. He was summoned to protect a one run lead and he gave the Sox 4 shut-out innings against arguably the most potent offense in baseball.

                                                   Price the unlikely Hero


The Good:

Mitch Moreland was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored.

Hanley Ramirez was 4 for 4 with 3 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 3 rbis and a 2 run home run.

Sandy Leon was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Joe Kelly put out the fire with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Addison Reed pitched a scoreless 8th inning.

Carson Smith pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Doug Fister lasted just 1 1/3 innings while giving up 3 runs, pathetic.



The Ugly:

Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 5.

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a 3 run homer.



Final Thoughts:

Guess the torturous season continues for one more game at least. The Sox FINALLY showed some signs of life as fans once again had tuned them out and given up on them until they rallied in the third inning. Bogaerts and Pedroia have been all but useless this year but good to see Moreland, Ramirez and Devers string some hits together. The problem is they can't do it consistently. Still, if this was the last win of the season, they made it a memorable one. The Astros' lone weakness compared to the Sox is their bullpen so once the Sox knocked Peacock out, it was only a matter of time before they struck. The Sox most likely have no chance to win Game 4 at home with Rick Porcello on the mound against Charlie Morton, but if they can run up Morton's pitch count they may be able to get him out early. Of course Porcello may serve up a post-season record for home runs to render that point moot. Still, there will be a Game 4 and it is tomorrow at 1 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Win Division, Defeats Houston (9/30/17)

After one of the most frustrating seasons in history that began with a flu epidemic and had fans ready to riot in July, the Boston Red Sox are AL East Division champions in consecutive years for the first time in team history. Drew Pomeranz (17-6, 3.26 ERA) delivered in one of the biggest starts of his life, shutting down the Houston Astros as the offense finally came alive to defeat their playoff opponents 6-3 at Fenway Park. Congratulations to the Red Sox.

                                                     Craig Kimbrel starts the celebration

Pomeranz took the mound in the top of the first inning and got George Springer to ground out to third to begin. Alec Bregman whiffed and Jose Altuve lined out to center to end the inning. Lance McCullers Jr blinded the Sox in the bottom of the first inning. Xander Bogaerts whiffed, Andrew Benintendi lined out to left and Mookie Betts popped up to left to end the inning.

Carlos Correa singled to left to open the top of the second inning but Evan Gattis banged into a double play. Yuli Guriel grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox mustered nothing in the bottom of the second inning as Mitch Moreland grounded out to short, Hanley Ramirez popped up to second and Rafael Devers whiffed to end the inning.

The Astros nearly struck first in the top of the third inning although Brian McCann looked at strike three to start. Cameron Maybin grounded out to second but Pomeranz misplayed a grounder hit by Derek Fisher for a single. Springer walked but Bregman popped up to short to end the inning.

                                                      Close call

McCullers was hit hard by everyone in the AL but not the Sox as Christian Vazquez struck out to open the bottom of the third. Brock Holt singled to right but was erased on the force by Jackie Bradley Jr. Bogaerts watched strike three go by to end the inning.

Pomeranz stayed tough in the top of the fourth inning as he froze Altuve to start. Correa grounded out to second and Gattis popped up to short to end the inning. The Sox somehow exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning although Benintendi struck out to begin the inning. Betts and Moreland worked back to back walks before Ramirez hit a seeing eye single up the middle to load the bases. Devers smashed a double off the Monster to score Betts and Moreland to break the tie. Vazquez grounded out to short and Holt looked at strike three to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.

                                                   Sox go up 2-0 early

Guriel walked to open the top of the fifth inning but McCann popped up to second and Yuri was erased on the force by Maybin. Cameron took off for second but was gunned down by Vazquez to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the fifth although JBJ hit a comebacker to start. Bogaerts doubled and scored on the Benintendi single. Betts singled to chase McCullers and Tony Sipp entered the game. Immediately Betts and Benintendi pulled off a double steal before both scored on the double by Moreland to ice the game. Ramirez was intentionally walked but Devers whiffed. That was it for Sipp as James Hoyt came in to get Vazquez to ground out to end the inning but it was now 5-0 Sox.

                                                   "Yippy Skippy!" - Betts

Could Pomeranz pitch with the lead in the top of the sixth? You bet your bippy big guy! Fisher grounded out to first, Springer grounded out to second and Bregman also grounded out to second to end the inning. 6 shutout innings by Pomeranz with the season on the line, maybe he is ready for October? Holt grounded out to begin the bottom of the sixth but JBJ singled. Bogaerts walked but Benintendi banged into a double play to end the inning.

Pomeranz returned for the top of the seventh inning but Altuve singled to left. Sox manager John Farrell bolted out of the dugout and tackled Pomeranz to the ground before signalling for Carson Smith to come in. Farrell dragged Pomeranz away kicking and screaming but Drew tossed six shut-solid innings before being replaced.

                                               Big Smooth earns his win

Then the wheels fell off in the seventh as Correa hit a swinging bunt down the 3rd base side for a single. Gattis singled home Altuve to put the Astros on the board. Guriel then singled off the Monster to score Correa and chase the incompetent Smith from the game. Suddenly David Price was summoned to stop the bleeding after the incompetent Farrell all but guaranteed he was unavailable going into the game. McCann was robbed of an infield single by Holt but both runners moved into scoring position. Maybin looked at strike three before Tyler White pinch hit for Fisher, walking to load the bases. John Farrell walked to the mound to ask David Price if he saw IT in theaters but Addison Reed started chugging in from the bullpen, assuming he was being brought in. The entire dugout and everyone on the field screamed at Reed to beat it and he beat a hasty retreat.

                                          "Get the hell out of here! I'm busy" - Farrell

When play resumed, Price froze Springer on a nasty slider to end the inning. The Astros began their comeback and was now down 5-2.

                                                Price gets the job done

Luke Gregerson took the mound in the bottom of the seventh with Tony Kemp in left and Betts greeted him with a solo blast off the top of the Monster to increase the lead. Gregerson whiffed Moreland, Ramirez and Devers to end the inning but it was 6-2 Sox.

                                                  Betts hits the kill shot in the seventh

Addison Reed finally made his appearance in the top of the eighth with Deven Marrero now at third and got Bregman to ground out to short to begin. Marrero earned his money by making a great running stab of a liner by Altuve. Correa walked but Gattis popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox 3 outs away from winning back to back Division titles for the first time ever. Michael Feliz came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Vazquez whiffed to start. Holt managed to line a base hit off the glove of Bregman but JBJ popped up to Altuve. Bogaerts struck out to end the inning.

3 outs away from the Division, Sox manager John Farrell took no chances and brought in Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel to close out the top of the ninth. Craig blew away Guriel on a 98 mph fastball up in his eyes but McCann blasted a solo home run to get one last laugh at his old teammate. Maybin doubled off the centerfield wall. Kimbrel blew away Kemp and Springer to end the game. It took 161 games but for the first time in franchise history, the Sox had won back to back AL East Division titles.

Hero of the Night is Drew Pomeranz. The season seemed to be slipping away and the anemic offense only shows up when it wants to, but he stepped up big time to toss 6 innings of 1 run ball to help win the division.

                                               Pomeranz is the big Hero tonight


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, a walk, a stolen base and a solo home run.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.

Hanley Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Brock Holt was 2 for 4.

David Price got out of the jam in the 7th inning.

Addison Reed pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Carson Smith gave up 3 hits and a run without retiring anyone.

Craig Kimbrel gave up a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning.



The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored.

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run, stole a base and scored.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.



Honorable Mention:

Deven Marrero played third in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

The Sox held off the New York Yankees after all even though it took 161 games to do it. The Red Sox will meet these same Astros in the ALDS in Houston beginning on Thursday. Who pitches and what time is still to be determined. It was a long, frustrating season and thankfully it is coming to an end. Throughout their history the Red Sox have been a bashing bunch of boppers with little pitching but this year was the complete opposite. They had one of the best team ERA's in the league but were in the bottom in all hitting categories. How they can beat the 100 win Astros with a pathetic offense is anyone's guess, but they're going to have to figure it out. The Yankees will now play the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday which will be an easy win for New York since the Twins roll over and die in Yankee Stadium. This means the Yankees will run smack into the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS who are playing more inspired baseball than the Astros really. There is an outside shot it could be Sox/Yankees to decide the pennant but that would require two monumental upsets. As for now the win propelled the Sox to 93-68 and AL East Division champions. Tomorrow afternoon's season finale is now meaningless so Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez gets the start against Collin McHugh at 3:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Porcello Shuts Down Rays (9/16/17)

After last night's marathon the Boston Red Sox needed Rick Porcello (10-17, 4.46 ERA) to go deep into a game no matter home runs or hits he allowed. Instead Porcello turned the clock back a year to throw one of his best games of the season. He pitched a shutout through 7 innings and the Sox got some timely hitting to edge the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 at Tropicana Field.

                                           The Dude approves of the win

Cobb took the mound in the top of the first and Xander Bogaerts hit a pathetic bloop to second to start. The Rays defense picked up where it left off last night as Steven Souza Jr made a great diving catch to rob Christian Vazquez of a hit. Andrew Benintendi hit a pathetic ground ball to short to end the inning.

                                                   Here we go again with the catches

Fans groaned as Kevin Kiermaier singled to open the bottom of the first. Somehow Porcello struck out Steven Souza Jr and got Evan Longoria to bang into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the second inning when Mookie Betts smashed his 22nd homer of the year to left to give the Sox the lead. Mitch Moreland hit a total rocket that Souza Jr leaped and....DROPPED IT! Souza was no Kiermaier and Moreland took second with a double. Chris Young flied out to right and Moreland broke for third....but stopped. The throw by Souza airmailed everyone and Moreland broke for third again...but stopped again. He should have been thrown out at second but the throw was wide and Moreland made it back to second. After all of that, it was just a simple fly out. Rafael Devers whiffed and Brock Holt watched strike three go by to end the inning but it was 1-0 Boston.

                                                  Betts' blast makes it 1-0

Porcello cruised in the bottom of the second inning as Lucas Duda struck out to begin. Wilson Ramos and Corey Dickerson grounded out to short to end the inning.

Cobb cruised in the top of the third inning as Jackie Bradley Jr hit a weak ground ball to short to start. Bogaerts whiffed but Vazquez poked a single to right. Benintendi popped up to left but Cobb had already thrown 60 pitches. NESN was too busy listening to their sideline guy babble on about a Red Sox museum in Florida that they missed Adeiny Hechavarria hit a chopper over the head of Devers for a single. Brad Miller flied out to the left field wall and Mallex Smith lined out to center before the alert Vazquez gunned down Hechavarria trying to steal to end the inning.

The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the fourth as Betts grounded out to short on a full count, Moreland looked at strike three and Young grounded out to end the inning. Porcello whiffed Kiermaier to start the bottom of the fourth as Sox analyst Jarrod Saltalamacchia told a story of how he saw ghosts in the St Pete's Marriott years ago. Souza Jr lined out to right but Longoria doubled just inside the right field line. Longoria swiped third with nobody standing at third. Duda popped up to third to end the inning.

                                       Saltalamacchia last night at the St Pete's Marriot

The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the fifth as Devers flied out to the centerfield wall to open the top of the fifth, but Holt poked a single to left. JBJ whiffed badly and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Porcello matched Cobb as he got Ramos to ground out to third to start the bottom of the fifth. Dickerson singled to right but Hechavarria lined out to center. Miller grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the sixth when Vazquez with a single but was erased on the Benintendi force. Much to Saltalamacchia's delight, a balk was called on Cobb to advance Andrew to second. Benintendi swiped third when Cobb took forever to throw a pitch. Cobb got squeezed on a strike three pitch called a ball and Betts made him pay with a single to score Benny. Logan Morrison bolted out of the dugout and dove to tackle home plate umpire Jeff Nelson. He missed and was ejected from the game. That was it for Cobb as well as Rays manager Kevin Cash dragged Morrison away kicking and screaming while bringing in Dan Jennings to replace Cobb. Moreland walked but Young struck out against a lefty again. Devers then doubled down the left field line to increase the lead. Holt grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 3-0 Sox with Cobb out of the game.

                                           Benintendi is safe and its 3-0

Porcello continued his redemption in the bottom of the sixth although Smith hit a line drive to Devers, who threw his glove at it instead of catch it. Smith took first on the error but Kiermaier and Souza Jr both flied out to center. Longoria flied out to right to end the inning. Devers started punching the wall in the dugout but Sox manager John Farrell calmed him down, at least he cares unlike some other fat guy who used to play third base for the Sox.

Jacob Faria, one of the only guys not used last night came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning. He cruised as JBJ struck out, Bogaerts lined out to center and Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning. Porcello returned for the bottom of the seventh inning and got Duda to pop up to first. Ramos grounded out to third and Holt made a great diving catch to rob Dickerson of a hit to end the inning.

Faria returned for the top of the eighth and Benintendi popped up to third to start. Betts popped up as well and Moreland flied out to left to end the inning. Things fell apart for Porcello as Hechavarria doubled to deep right to begin the bottom of the eighth, but Miller popped up to third. A ball four pitch to Smith got away and Hechavarria moved to third. All of a sudden John Farrell bolted out of the dugout and threw a full pouch of chewing tobacco at Porcello, bellowing to get off the mound. Farrell threw his hat down and demanded Addison Reed come into the game. Porcello had done his job to go 7 1/3 innings to save the bullpen. Reed came in and the Sox pissed themselves as Kiemaier grounded out to first when Moreland stepped on the bag, but pegged Smith with the throw to second. Hechavarria scored and Smith went all the way to third. Reed struck out Souza Jr to end the inning but it was 3-1.

                                             Great start by Porcello

The Sox offense was done for the night in the top of the ninth as Young popped up to first, Devers grounded out to second and Holt lined to short to end the inning. Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and blew away Longoria to start. Kimbrel struck out Duda

                                                     Win, Dance, Repeat



Hero of the Night is Rick Porcello. He threw 7 1/3 innings and allowed just an unearned run to give the team a lift after last night's marathon.

                                              From Zero to Hero in one start



The Good:

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4.

Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis, 2 runs scored and his 22nd homer.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Addison Reed got the final two outs of the eighth inning.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 33rd save with a scoreless ninth inning



The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Chris Young was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 but scored a run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with an error but drove in a run.

Brock Holt was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

First the bad news. It looks like Hanley Ramirez and Eduardo Nunez both have season threatening injuries. Nunez has a sprained knee and Ramirez a bad arm. We don't know how long Ramirez should be out but Nunez will be back in a few weeks hopefully. Ramirez is addition by subtraction as he's been killing them at the plate but losing Nunez sucks because he's been their spark plug since they traded for him. Also, can someone explain to me what Chris Young and Brock Holt are doing on the team over Bryce Brentz at this point? Young has been terrible against lefties this year and Holt never recovered from his concussions/vertigo. Tzu-Wei Lin has had SIX at bats since July and do the Sox really need Fernando Abad or Heath Hembree in the bullpen with so many others available? Any four of these guys can be released to make room for Brentz because the Sox NEED the power and the bat off the bench. Now for the good news, THAT is the Porcello the Sox needed all season and he came through today. He had the Rays off-balance all game and it took an error by Moreland to screw up a shut-out. The offense is what it is at this point so the pitching is going to have to carry them the rest of the way with 14 games left. The win propelled the Sox to 85-63, 3 games in front of the scorching hot New York Yankees who are feasting on the same Baltimore Orioles team the Red Sox face starting Monday. The Orioles have allowed a franchise record 155 runs against the Yankees this year and they still have one more to play tomorrow. Meanwhile you know manager Buck Showalter hates the Red Sox and will do everything he can to motivate the troops on Monday. The Sox still have one game left in Tampa Bay tomorrow at 1:30 with Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.19 ERA) matched up with Jake Odorizzi with a sweep in sight. The Sox need the sweep because the Orioles are going to be very pissed off after getting swept out of wild card contention by the Yankees.

Pomeranz, Benintendi Guides Sox Past A's (9/14/17)

Before the game the Red Sox made the shocking news that David Price is coming off the disabled list. After disappearing at the end of July conveniently when Red Sox fans were ready to boo him off the field, he's coming back to pitch out of the bullpen these last two weeks. The 217 million dollar arm is going to be out of the bullpen with the season on the line, think about that for a second. This is not 2008 either where the Tampa Bay Devil Rays could afford for him to be in the bullpen in crunch time. Still, if he has anything left this season, the time is now to deliver.

                                                                         IN

As for the game, what a remarkable season Drew Pomeranz (16-5, 3.28 ERA) is having. One year after fans questioned why the Boston Red Sox didn't give him back to San Diego when it was discovered they had the chance to, he's become the most dependable starter on the team. With Chris Sale's second half struggles well documented, Pomeranz has been solid all season and today was no different. Getting some unusual late inning run support, Drew tossed 6 innings of 1 run ball to earn the win over the Oakland A's. The Sox finished the homestand with a 6-2 victory over the A's at Fenway Park.

                                                        Happy fan

Pomeranz got the ball in the top of the first inning and got Marcus Semien to ground out to second. Chad Pinder was rung up for strike three but Jed Lowrie walked. Ryon Healy flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox went quietly against Ryan Gossett in the bottom of the first. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right, Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third and Andrew Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning.

Pomeranz cruised in the top of the second inning as Matt Olson flied out to left, Matt Chapman whiffed and Renato Nunez popped up to first to end the inning. The Sox mustered nothing in the bottom of the second as Mookie Betts whiffed, Mitch Moreland lined out to right and Christian Vazquez grounded out to short to end the inning.

Mark Canha opened the top of the third inning with a fly out to right before Josh Phegley flied out to left. Semien hit a fly ball to left and Benintendi mysteriously threw his glove straight up in the air to knock the ball down, Semien advancing to second on the bizarre error. Pinder singled in the hole at short and Semien broke for home...but when Benintendi's throw got there, Semien went back to third. Not realizing this, Pinder made a mad dash to second and Vazquez gunned the ball there. Pinder put on the brakes and tried to scamper back to first hoping Semien would try for home. He didn't, and Holt threw the ball to first where Moreland tagged out Pinder to end the inning. Very bad baserunning by Oakland.

                                                 YERRRRRR OUT!

The Sox failed to capitalize in the bottom of the third inning as Rafael Devers struck out to begin. Brock Holt walked and Jackie Bradley Jr singled, but Bogaerts grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Pomeranz cruised in the top of the fourth as Lowrie watched strike three go by, Healy lined out to right and Olson popped up to short to end the inning. Pedroia whiffed to open the bottom of the fourth but Benintendi doubled. Betts popped up to first and Moreland flied out to center to end the inning.

The A's struck first in the top of the fifth inning as Chapman walked. Nunez struck out but Canha doubled. Phegley hit a fly ball to Benintendi who said to hell with Chapman and gunned the ball to third, catching Canha in a rundown. Mark was tagged out to end the inning but it was 1-0 A's.

                                             Oakland's only run

Boston took exactly two pitches to tie the game when Vazquez croaked a home run to left. Devers lined out to center, Holt grounded out to third and JBJ grounded out to first to end the inning, but it was tied 1-1.

                                                 Vazquez ties it up

Pomeranz returned for the top of the sixth and Semien singled but was erased on the Pinder double play. Lowrie walked and Healy singled but Drew stepped up to strike out Olson to end the inning. After 111 pitches, Pomeranz was done but had held the A's to just 1 run at this point.

                                                 Pomeranz gets it done

The Sox took command in the bottom of the sixth although Bogaerts flied out to center to start. Pedroia and Benintendi mashed back to back doubles to give the Sox the lead and chase Gossett from the game. Ryan Dull came in and Betts flied out to left, but Moreland doubled home Benintendi with an insurance run. Vazquez struck out to end the inning but it was now 3-1 Boston.

                                               RBI double for Benny

Oakland manager Bob Melvin and Sox manager John Farrell engaged in a proverbial chess match in the top of the seventh inning. Brandon Workman started the inning and walked Chapman, which prompted Melvin to send up Matt Joyce as a pinch hitter. Farrell countered by bringing in Robby Scott, so Melvin tackled Joyce and dragged him away. Franklin Barreto pinch hit for Joyce only to strike out. Addison Reed came in and gave up a double to Canha, so Melvin pinch hit Bruce Maxwell for Phegley. Reed blew away Maxwell but Semien walked to load the bases. Reed froze Pinder for strike 3 to end the inning. Guess Farrell won that one. Boog Powell came in to play center with Sam Moll on the mound. The Sox iced it as Devers doubled and Chapman threw a ground ball hit by Holt away, allowing Holt to reach second with Devers on third. JBJ struck out and Melvin, managing this game like it was the world series, brought in Santiago Cassila who plunked Bogaerts to load the bases. Pedroia hit a sac fly to score Devers and Bogaerts stole second. Benintendi iced it with a single to score both men. Betts flied out to center to end the inning with the score 6-1.

                                               "Talk to the hand" - Benny

Joe Kelly began the top of the eighth inning by striking out Lowrie, but Healy blasted a solo home run just to piss him off. Olson walked but was erased on the force by Chapman. Powell grounded out to end the inning but it was now 6-2.

                                                             Nice going Kelly

The Sox offense was done for the night in the bottom of the eighth with old friend Chris Smith on the mound. Chris was drafted in the fourth round of the 2002 draft by the Sox. Guess who was their 2nd round pick? Jon Lester...wish they still had him. Moreland grounded out to Smith, Vazquez grounded out to short and Devers flied out to center to end the inning.

                                            Lester and Smith still active 15 years later

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Canha greeted him with a single. Maxwell walked to scare the fans but Semien flied out to right. Kimbrel blew away Pinder and froze Lowrie to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-2

                                            "WE DID IT! WE DID IT! YES! YES!"



Hero of the Night is Andrew Benintendi. He was 3 for 4 with a run scored and drove in 3 runs by himself.

                                                 Benny The Hero


The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3.

Drew Pomeranz earned his 16th win by tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball, giving up 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 5.

Robby Scott struck out the only man he faced.

Addison Reed got the final 2 outs of the 7th inning.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Brandon Workman walked the only man he faced

Joe Kelly gave up a home run in the top of the eighth inning.




The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch, stole a base and scored a run.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a solo home run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Brock Holt was 0 for 2 but walked and scored.




Final Thoughts:

I hate to say it after a win but that was a disappointing home-stand. They played 3 bottom dwelling teams and managed to go just 6-3. Meanwhile the Cleveland Indians are in the midst of a 21 game winning streak where the games aren't even close. It doesn't matter if the Red Sox collapse in the final 16 games or win the division because nobody is giving them a chance against Cleveland or the Houston Astros in the playoffs. Why should they? The most mediocre of pitchers shut down their offense and the starters seem to crap themselves at the worst of times. Chris Sale is mortal, Eduardo Rodriguez, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello are inconsistent and the last time Pomeranz pitched in October, he gave up what turned out to be the decisive run in Game 3's season ending loss. You would think the Sox lost today and it sure felt like they did to lose three games on the homestand. The win put the Sox at 83-63, 3 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox are on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Chris Sale (16-7, 2.76 ERA) goes up against Matt Andriese at 7:10 PM.