Pomeranz Pounded, Astros Take 2-0 Lead (10/6/17)

Talk about an absolute embarrassment the Boston Red Sox have become in the past two weeks. After collapsing down the stretch and nearly gagging away the Division title, the Sox once again laid down and died to the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the ALDS. This time Drew Pomeranz crapped his pants and Dallas Keuchel shut down the anemic Red Sox offense. To add injury to insult, Mookie Betts had to be carried out on a stretcher after re-injuring his wrist. The Sox are beat up, they're exhausted, they can't pitch, they can't hit and they lost 8-2 to the Astros at Minute Maid Park to put them one loss away from elimination.

Keuchel began his dominance in the top of the first inning as Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Dustin Pedroia somehow drew a walk but was erased on the Andrew Benintendi force. Mookie Betts miraculously doubled but Hanley Ramirez grounded out to third to end the inning. The Astros wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the first although George Springer grounded out to second to start. Alex Bregman flied out to right but Jose Altuve singled. Carlos Correa then blasted a 7,399 foot home run halfway to Oklahoma to give the Astros the lead. Evan Gattis flied out to center to end the inning but the Astros led 2-0.

                                               Correa's blast puts the Astros on top

The Sox tried to fight back when Chris Young doubled and stole third to start the top of the second inning before Christian Vazquez walked. Deven Marrero whiffed but Jackie Bradley Jr singled to score Young to put the Sox on the board. With Keuchel on the run,  Bogaerts and Pedroia both whiffed to end the inning. The Sox were down 2-1 but squandered a huge chance to take the lead.

                                              JBJ's single puts the Sox back in it

Surprisingly Pomeranz didn't poop himself just yet in the bottom of the second inning as Josh Reddick flied out to left to begin. Yuli Gurriel walked but Marwin Gonzalez whiffed. Brian McCann popped up to short to end the inning.

The Sox offense gave up in the top of the third as Beintendi flied out to center, Betts grounded out to second and Ramirez looked at strike three to end the inning. The rout continued as Springer blasted a 937 foot bomb out of Minute Maid Park to increase the lead and Bregman doubled high off the wall. Altuve singled home Bregman and that was it for Pomeranz. The Sox most improved pitcher of 2017 reverted to 2016 and gave up 4 runs in just 2 plus innings. What good is a season of improvement if he melts in the playoffs?

                  Pomeranz attacks the Gatorade with more ferocity than he did the Astros

Sox manager John Farrell tied his luck with Carson Smith but he walked Correa and Gattis to load the bases. Smith managed to get Reddick to line out to a diving Marrero, but Farrell stormed out of the dugout with a broadsword and chased away Smith as David Price chugged in from the bullpen. Guriel popped up to short and Gonzalez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with the Astros up 4-1.

The Sox gave up in the top of the fourth inning as Young lined out to short, Vazquez whiffed and Marrero struck out to end the inning. Price returned for the bottom of the fourth and got McCann to ground out to second but Springer doubled. Price recovered to get Bregman to ground out to second before Altuve was finally intentionally walked. Correa popped up to second to end the inning.

Keuchel dominated the top of the fifth as JBJ hit a comebacker to the mound, Bogaerts flied out to center and Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning. Price finished with a flurry in the bottom of the fifth as Gattis was rung up for strike three to start. Reddick whiffed and Guriel grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Benintendi grounded out to first to start before Betts whiffed  Ramirez drew a walk to chase Keuchel after he had retired 14 in a row. Chris Devenski came in and Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Young....just to pop up to short to end the inning. The wheels fell off in the bottom of the sixth as Farrell decided to go with Eduardo Rodriguez of all people. Gonzalez greeted him with a single and McCann was plunked. Farrell sprinted out of the dugout ripping his shirt open and throwing his hat at Rodriguez, screaming at him to get out of there. Addison Reed came in to stop the bleeding but ended up pouring salt in the wound as Springer beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Bregman hit a short pop up to Betts who caught it...then spiked the ball and did the boogie woogie not realizing there were only 2 outs, scoring Gonzalez on the error. Altuve was intentionally walked again and this time Correa made the Sox pay with a 2 run double. Gattis singled in Correa but Reddick grounded out to end the inning with the Astros once again humiliating the Sox 8-1.

                                                    More runs.....again

Somehow Vazquez singled for the Sox first hit in 4 innings to open the top of the seventh. Rafael Devers pinch hit for Marrero...just to look at strike three. JBJ lined out to center and Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Once again the horrendous Red Sox offense failed to show up in an important game. Austin Maddox came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Guriel greeted him with a single. Gonzalez flied out to right and McCann singled. Springer walked to load the bases but Maddox got Bregman to pop up for the second out. With no choice but to pitch to Altuve, Maddox somehow struck him out to end the inning. That and Price were about the only highlights of this dreary game.

Luke Gregerson came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning and Pedroia met him with an infield single. Brock Holt pinch ran for the gimpy Pedroia but Benintendi whiffed. Betts flied out to left and fell to the ground in agony clutching his wrist. He had to be carried out on a stretcher to add injury to insult. Ramirez whiffed to end the inning. Losing Nunez and Betts to injury pretty much means the season is about to come to a crashing halt.

Rajai Davis took over in right as Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth just to keep fresh. Correa lined out to left and the ageless Carlos Beltran pinch hit for Gattis....and singled. Cameron Maybin pinch hit for Reddick and Derek Fisher pinch ran for Beltran. Maybin lined out to center and Guriel whiffed to end the inning.

Thankfully the disaster ended in the top of the ninth with closer Ken Giles in the game to get some work in as well. Somehow the Sox rallied as Moreland lined out to left but Vazquez singled. Devers popped up to third but a wild pitch moved Vazquez to second. JBJ stroked a lucky single to score Vaz just to piss off the fans. Bogaerts whiffed to end the game and the Astros had won 2 in a row by a score of 8-2 to put the Sox on the brink.

Jackass of the Night should be John Farrell for his idiotic pitching changes but it has to be Drew Pomeranz. He lasted just 2 plus innings and gave up 4 runs after having a tremendous bounce back season. If he and Chris Sale can't get the Astros out, how can anyone else?

                                            Walk away you Jackass


The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Chris Young was 1 for 2 with a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.

David Price tossed 2 2/3 clutch scoreless innings to keep the Sox in the game.

Austin Maddox pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 2 as a pinch hitter.

Deven Marrero was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Eduardo Rodriguez gave up a hit and hit a man.

Addison Reed allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 2 of his own.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 before being carried out on a stretcher.

Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 but walked.

Carson Smith put 2 of the 3 men he faced on base.



Honorable Mention:

Brock Holt pinch ran for Dustin Pedroia and played second.

Rajai Davis came in for Mookie Betts.




Final Thoughts:

Holy mother of ass this is BAD. Last year sucked against Cleveland but at least Game's 1 and 3 were competitive. This has been two straight blowouts that weren't even close. The Astros have 16 runs off 24 hits and 6 home runs. The Red Sox have 4 runs on 15 hits and zero home runs. Seriously, Jose Altuve could go 0 for 4 in Game 3 and still finish with more home runs than the ENTIRE RED SOX TEAM. Add in the injuries to Eduardo Nunez and you have a tired, exhausted, beaten team that seems to be ready to simply go home. Dustin Pedroia made some post-game comments about getting their asses kicked two games in a row with no end in sight. Mookie Betts also made comments that made it sound like they have no chance in hell. Not exactly Kevin Millar saying "Don't let us win tonight." Also Game 3 could be the last for John Farrell. Not that he was the sole reason the Sox lost, he wasn't, but somebody has to pay for back to back collapses at the end and a 3 game sweep both years. It sounds like I'm admitting defeat before Game 3 even begins, but I'm not the only one. Most Boston radio personalities, beat writers, sport writers and hundreds of fans all share the same sentiment. This was by far the most frustrating season in 25 years to have a pitching staff THIS talented and an offense THIS bad. The only team that comes close is the 1992 Red Sox who talent wise was far worse on offense. Even in the 1960's when the Red Sox were routinely terrible, they had a lot of offensive talent but not enough pitching. Even in the 1970's when they had Hall of Fame and All-Star offense, once again there was not enough pitching. Now its the complete opposite. Dave Dombrowski and John Henry have a lot of work to do in the off-season but for now there's still Game 3 to play. This Sunday the Sox rest their season on the right arm of....Doug Fister. Who saw that coming in July? He is opposed by Brad Peacock and the game starts at 2:30 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Outlast Rays in Fifteen (9/15/17)

During tonight's game, the Boston Red Sox Single-A affiliate Greenville Drive won the 2017 South Atlantic League Championship. They have been more exciting to watch than the actual Red Sox this season. Look for Brett Netzer, Hunter Smith, Bobby Dalbec, 18 year old Bryan Mata and Jay Groome in a few years.

                                                                Congrats to the champs

As for the game, the Boston Red Sox are in big, BIG trouble. Their supposed ace Chris Sale is out of gas, just like everybody outside of Boston predicted before the year started. He has an ERA of over 4 since August began and combined with the pathetic offense, this team that many were a pre-season favorite to win it all is about to fall flat on their face. This was one of the most frustrating games of all time as the Sox looked completely lifeless for 8 innings only to rally in the 9th to tie the game. The Sox then squandered chance after chance from the 10th to the 13th inning. They broke through in the 14th only for the Rays to tie it then FINALLY putting the game away in the 15th for a mind boggling 13-6 victory at Tropicana Field.

                                                                     Happy Sox fan

The Sox struck first in the top of the first inning as Tampa starter Matt Andriese drilled Xander Bogaerts to start. Dustin Pedroia hit a comebacker but Bogaerts made it to second. Andrew Benintendi singled to right to score Bogaerts to give the Sox a quick lead. Benintendi was foolishly thrown out at second trying to steal before Mookie Betts lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                     Yerrrrrrr Out!

Sale took the mound in the bottom of the first inning and immediately crapped his pants. Kevin Kiermaier singled to left and moved to second on the ground out by Steven Souza Jr. Evan Longoria slammed a single to left to score Kiermaier to tie the game. Trevor Plouffe walked on 5 pitches that weren't even close and Adeiny Hechavarria walked on 4 straight pitches. Somehow Sale got Wilson Ramos to bang into a double play to end the inning but it was tied 1-1.

                                                   Sale "This is gonna be a longggg night"

The Sox rolled over and died in the top of the second inning as Mitch Moreland grounded out to first, Rafael Devers flied out to center and Brock Holt whiffed badly to end the inning. Suddenly Sale was on fire in the bottom of the second inning. Peter Bourjos popped up to second before Sale blew away Cesar Puello. Danny Espinosa was rung up for strike three to end the inning.

Still nothing doing in the top of the third inning as Sandy Leon grounded out to first to start. Jackie Bradley Jr got a base hit up the middle but Bogaerts lined out to center. Pedroia flied out to right to end the inning. Sale found the concept of the Tampa Bay Rays offensive in the bottom of the third and he blew away Kiermaier to start. Souza Jr and Longoria watched strike three go by to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the fourth inning although Benintendi popped up to third to begin. Betts whiffed but Moreland blasted an opposite field bomb to take the lead. Devers struck out to end the inning but it was 2-1.

                                                 Moreland puts them on top

The lead lasted 23 seconds as Sale got rocked in the bottom of the fourth. Plouffe walked but Hechavarria flied out to right. Ramos smashed a two run no doubt home run to left to give the Rays the lead. Bourjos hit a ground ball to Devers who picked it up and spiked it like a football before doing the Lambada. Peter reached on the error but Sale struck out Puello and Espinosa to end the inning, but it was 3-2 Rays.

                                                   "That's 1" - Ramos

The Sox managed to knock Andriese out in the top of the fifth inning although Holt grounded out to second to start. Leon and JBJ stroked back to back singles to chase Andriese. This was a huge miscalculation by Rays manager Kevin Cash which will be explained later. Sergio Romo replaced Andries and got Bogaerts to pop up to first. Pedroia flied out to center to end the inning but the starter was gone. Sale returned for the bottom of the fifth and got Kiermaier to fly out to left. Souza Jr grounded out to short but Longoria singled. The alert Leon gunned down Longoria trying to steal to end the inning.

Benintendi flied out to center to start the top of the sixth but Betts singled. Cash promptly pulled Romo for Dan Jennings. A wild pitch moved Betts to second but Moreland struck out. Devers walked and Sox manager John Farrell sent in Sam Travis to pinch hit for Holt. Cash countered by bringing in Chaz Roe. Farrell then made the idiotic decision to re-pinch hit Tzu-Wei Lin for Travis. Lin had FIVE big league at-bats since July and naturally he struck out badly to end the inning. Another squander on the shoulders of Farrell. Right on cue the Rays attacked in the bottom of the sixth inning. Plouffe struck out but Hechavarria crushed an absolute moonshot to left to increase the lead. Ramos struck out but Bourjos crushed a triple to dead center. Farrell had seen enough and came out to get Sale. Chris was furious and started screaming at Farrell to get back in the dugout. Farrell completely ignored him and took the ball. Sale shouted invectives and heaved his glove as he left. Sale had run out of gas this year as he allowed 4 runs in just 5 2/3 innings. Austin Maddox came in and Corey Dickerson pinch hit for Puello only to fly out to end the inning. Still, Sale was gone and it was 4-2.

                                                   Sale is not happy.

Steve Cishek had the ball for the top of the seventh and got Leon to ground out to start. JBJ and Bogaerts both grounded out to second to end the inning. Maddox returned for the bottom of the seventh although Espinosa greeted him with a single. Kiermaier struck out but Souza Jr walked. Longoria popped up to first and Maddox struck out first to end the inning.

Tommy Hunter got the ball in the top of the eighth inning and got Pedroia to fly out to right to start. Benintendi struck out and Betts flied out to right to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to pour gas on the fire in the bottom of the eighth inning. He blew away Hechavarria but Ramos smacked yet another home run to incease the lead. Bourjos struck out but Farrell found out that Barnes shook off Leon to strike out the batter, so he sprinted out of the dugout. Farrell screamed and threw sunflower seeds at Barnes before kicking dirt at the pitcher on his way out. "The Human White Flag" Fernando Abad came in and gave up a single to Dickerson, but struck out Espinosa to end the inning with the Rays seemingly up for good 5-2.

                                             Ramos looked to have iced it

Cash brought in closer Alex Colome to close the game out in the top of the ninth, but somehow the Sox rallied. Moreland walked and took second on a wild pitch. Devers hit a routine groundball to Espinosa but it went under his glove and Moreland scored, Devers moving to second. Christian Vazquez pinch hit for Lin and singled Devers to third to put the tying run on. Rajai Davis pinch ran for Vazquez and Leon singled in the hole at short to score Devers. Now it was 5-4 with the winning run on first. JBJ then hit a rocket to center that looked to be a sure triple when Kiermaier made one of the most amazing catches of the season to rob JBJ. Davis tagged up and went to third but that would have put the Sox on top.

                                                 Superhuman catch saved the Rays

Blake Swihart ran for Leon then Bogaerts hit a line drive off of Colome that ended up in left field, scoring Davis with the tying run and putting the go-ahead run at second. With the game on the line....Pedroia whiffed badly. That was it for Colome as Jose Alvarado came in and got Benintendi to ground out to end the inning. Still, the Sox had tied the game.

                                                           Tie game

Swihart was now catching with Deven Marrero now at second base with Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel now on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. This is where Cash's bullpen management had come back to haunt him because he had already used his best relief pitchers with the bottom of the barrel left for extras. Meanwhile Farrell had used Maddox, Abad and Barnes with his best still to come. Things didn't look good when the pain in the ass Kiermaier walked to start the inning, but Kimbrel blew away Souza Jr. Kiermaier swiped second but Kimbrel blew away Longoria. Logan Morrison pinch hit for Plouffe and whiffed to end the inning. It was on to extra innings where the Sox are 13-2 this season.

Once again Kiermaier saved the Rays as he made another AMAZING leaping catch to rob Betts of at least a double to open the top of the 10th inning. Moreland flied out to right, which would have moved Betts to third and Devers whiffed to end the inning.

                                             JBJ beware of Kiermaier

Addison Reed came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th and he got Hechavarria to ground out to short. The pain in the ass Ramos singled but Cash lifted him for Mallex Smith. Lucas Duda pinch hit for Bourjos but grounded out, putting the winning run at second. Reed intentionally walked Dickerson to set up a force as Brad Miller pinch hit for Espinosa...and struck out to end the inning.

Smith stayed in left with Jesus Sucre behind the plate along with Miller at second. Andrew Kitterdge was brought into pitch the top of the 11th and the Sox pissed on themselves again. Marrero doubled and Swihart caught the Rays asleep with a bunt single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. A freak play occurred when JBJ hit a ground ball to Hechavarria to fired home to Sucre, Marrero deciding to retreat to third. Unfortunately Swihart was already heading there and Marrero leaped to avoid the tag. Sucre threw to third and Swihart was safe, Marrero never heard a call so he went home safely. It looked like the Sox had 2 men in scoring position with a run in, but wait! Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call and even though it looked like Sucre missed the tag, Yankees manager Joe T.....I mean head of MLB operations Joe Torre ruled Marrero out. Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases but the slumping Pedroia lined out to a leaping Hechavarria at short. Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning, what a huge squander.

                                                     Yerrrrrr out!

Joe Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the eleventh and he was on fire. Kiermaier grounded out to third, Souza Jr grounded out to second and Longoria flied out to left to end the inning.

Brad Boxberger came in to pitch the top of the 12th and Betts led off with a double. Moreland grounded out to move Betts to third and Devers was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners. They were stranded as Marrero and Swihart struck out to end the inning. Another squander....brutal. Kelly returned for the bottom of the 12th and struck out Morrison to start. Hechavarria grounded out to third and Smith grounded out to first to end the inning.

Austin Pruitt had the ball in the top of the 13th inning and got JBJ to ground out to first. Bogaerts singled to put the go-ahead run on AGAIN but Pedroia whiffed. A wild pitch moved Xander to second but Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning. Squander, squander and more squander. Kelly returned for his third and final inning in the bottom of the 13th and got Sucre to ground out to begin. Dickerson whiffed and Miller flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox FINALLY broke through in the top of the fourteenth inning. Betts and Moreland stroked back to back singles to once again put the first two men on. Devers singled up the middle and for some reason Moreland broke for third. Betts scored and Moreland slid in....SAFE! Oh no, wait a minute. Cash challenged again and Joe Torre in his Yankees hat made the call....OUT! Instead of a 6-5 lead with 2 on and nobody out, it was 1 on, 1 out. Devers did go to second but Marrero and Swihart struck out to end the inning. Still it was 6-5 Sox and were 3 outs away from ending this damn thing.

                                               Yerrrrrrrrr out!

The lead lasted approximately 17 seconds as Brandon Workman promptly served up a home run to...you guessed it....Kiermaier to tie the game. Souza Jr struck out but Longoria singled off the glove of Devers. A wild pitch moved Longoria to second but Morrison lined out to left. Hechavarria was intentionally walked but Smith struck out to end the inning. Still, after the Sox finally broke through, the Rays tied it instantly 6-6.

                                                 It was Kiermaier's night for sure

The Sox had enough of the Rays and they finally iced it in the top of the 15th inning. JBJ walked and Bogaerts singled. Pedroia hit a double play ball to Miller....BOBBLED INTO CENTER! JBJ scored and the Sox had the lead. Chase Whitley replaced Pruitt and Benintendi slammed a single to score Bogaerts with an insurance run. Betts flied out to right but Moreland singled. Pedroia broke for home and he slid......SAFE! Oh wait, Kevin Cash once again decided to challenge. Only problem for Cash is that Joe Torre had slipped into his Yankee pajamas and one of his assistant's made the call, SAFE! Rumors swirled after the game that the assistant was fired that night but another run was in.

                                                       SAFE!

The hits kept coming as Devers hit a double play ball to Morrison who stupidly fired home and Moreland was safe by a mile. Marrero put the exclamation point on the shoddy inning with a doubled to right that scored Moreland and Devers. Swihart flied out but JBJ was hit with a pitch. Bogaerts singled home Marrero and Pedroia grounded out to end the inning. The Sox removed all doubt about a comeback with a 7 run inning to take the lead 13-6.

                                          "We're number 1 in extras" - Marrero

Blaine Boyer was brought in to pitch the bottom of the 15th and Sucre grounded out to short to start. Dickerson singled and took second when nobody cared. Miller struck out and Cash for whatever reason sent up ice cold Curt Casali to pinch hit for Superman Kiermaier. A passed ball moved Dickerson to third but Casali struck out to end the game. The Sox broke their own record for strikeouts in a game with 24 and had FINALLY won it 13-6.

                                   "We did it Vaz" - Boyer    "About time amigo" - Vaz


Hero of the Night could be anybody but I'll go with Xander Bogaerts. He set the table all night and eventually finished 4 for 7 with a walk, hit by pitch, 2 rbi's and 2 runs scored.

                                              Bogaerts is the Hero


The Good:

Mitch Moreland was 3 for 7 with a walk, 3 total runs scored, 2 total rbis and a solo home run.

Christian Vazquez was 1 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Rajai Davis scored a run as a pinch runner.

Deven Marrero was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Sandy Leon was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 6 with an HBP and a run scored

Austin Maddox pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Fernando Abad got the final out of the 8th inning.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th inning.

Addison Reed pitched a scoreless 10th inning.

Joe Kelly pitched 3 scoreless innings.

Blaine Boyer pitched a scoreless 15th inning.



The Bad:

Brock Holt was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Tzu-Wei Lin struck out as a pinch hitter.

Chris Sale got lit up by the Rays for 4 runs off 6 hits and 3 walks in just 5 2/3 innings.`

Matt Barnes gave up a run in just 2/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 9 and headed to Jackass dishonors but scored a run.

Andrew Benintendi was just 2 for 8 but drove in 2 runs and scored one.

Mookie Betts was just 3 for 8 but scored a run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 6 but walked twice, drove in 2 runs and scored twice.

Blake Swihart was just 1 for 4.

Brandon Workman got the win but allowed the tying run to score in the 14th inning.



Honorable Mention:

Sam Travis was penciled in as a pinch hitter but didn't get to bat




Final Thoughts:

This was without a doubt THE most frustrating game this season. Just when you think they were dead, they came back. Just when you think they had it in the bag, they squandered chance after chance. Just when you thought the game would be lost, the pitchers closed it out. Just when you thought the game was over, the pitchers gave it up. Still, after all of that...they won the game. Doesn't matter if its 9 innings or 19, doesn't matter if its 10-1 or 2-1, the bottom line is it was a big win as every game becomes more important. The Sox have 15 games left and are trying to hang on to win the division. The win propels the Sox to 84-63, 3 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Rick Porcello (9-17, 4.64 ERA) is matched up with Alex Cobb. The bullpen is taxed so Porcello better go deep in the game that begins at 6:10 PM at Tropicana Field.

Betts, Sox Pound A's (9/12/17)

Boston Red Sox fans wondered if this team would ever hit. For one day at least, they did. They pounded starter Sean Manaea and a host of relievers with two big home runs coming from Mookie Betts. Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.19 ERA) finally pitched well and the pitching staff allowed just 3 total hits to defeat the previously hot A's 11-1 at Fenway Park.

                                                The Mayor approves of the win

Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first inning and immediately, once again, put his team in the hole. He struck out Marcus Semien to start but got squeezed as he walked Chad Pinder. He left a meatball to Jed Lowrie who crushed it off the centerfield wall off the glove of a jumping Jackie Bradley Jr for an rbi double. Khris Davis grounded out to third and Ryon Healy lined out to a jumping Sam Travis at first to end the inning, but the A's were up early 1-0.

                                                 "I got it, I got it....I don't got it"

The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the first when Dustin Pedroia got a single off A's starter Sean Manaea before Chris Young hit a swinging bunt under the bare hand of Matt Chapman at third. It didn't matter though, because Mookie Betts banged into a double play. Hanley Ramirez popped up to end the inning, same crap different day.

Rodriguez almost had his annual second inning meltdown beginning when he plunked Matt Olson to start. Somehow Rodriguez struck out Chapman and Mark Canha before Dustin Garneau flied out to right to end the inning. Somehow the Red Sox exploded in the bottom of the second as Travis sliced an inside out double to left to start. Travis scored on the single up the middle by Xander Bogaerts. Rafael Devers singled. Christian Vazquez scored Bogaerts with a single and Devers advanced to third. JBJ popped up to short but Pedroia singled home Devers. Young was rung up for strike 3 but Betts tripled off the bullpen wall to score both runners. Ramirez whiffed to end the inning but it was now 5-1 Sox.

                                          A triple ices it early

Rodriguez helped himself by getting Semien to pop up to right to start the top of the third inning. Pinder walked but Lowrie lined out to short, Bogaerts fired to first....OUT! But wait, Oakland manager Bob Melvin challenged the call and it turned out that Pinder was safe at first. Rodriguez struck out Davis to end the inning anyway. Travis struck out to begin the bottom of the third but Bogaerts blooped a double misplayed by Pinder. Xander moved to second on the ground out by Devers before Vazquez struck out to end the inning.

Healy popped up to right to begin the top of the fourth inning and Rodriguez struck out Olson. Chapman watched strike three go by to end the inning. JBJ grounded out to first to start the bottom of the fourth. Pedroia singled to left but Young popped up to center but Betts absolutely crushed a two-run home run completely out of Fenway Park to increase the lead. That was it for Sean Manaea as Simon Castro came in to retire Ramirez on a ground out to third to end the inning. The Sox were now up 7-1 and just needed Rodriguez not to piss himself.

                                        Betts with a 2 run blast out of Fenway

Rodriguez started the top of the fifth inning by striking out Canha but Garneau walked. Semien flied out to center and Pinder whiffed to end the inning. 97 pitches for Rodriguez through 5 but only 1 run allowed is an improvement. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning as Travis grounded out to third to start. Bogaerts squibbed one in front of the mound and Garneau heaved the ball into right field, allowing Bogaerts to take second. Devers struck out but Vazquez doubled home Xander to up the lead. JBJ doubled in Vazquez but Pedroia grounded out to end the inning with the score 9-1.

Rodriguez returned for the top of the sixth inning and walked Lowrie to start, but Davis banged into a double play to kill that rally. Healy struck out to end the inning. Rodriguez recovered from his shoddy first inning to toss 6 solid innings, good work Eduardo.

                                          FINALLY a good game from Rodriguez

The Sox tacked it on in the bottom of the sixth against former Sox prospect Raul Alcantara as Young singled and Betts bashed ANOTHER two run home run to light up the crowd. Ramirez and Travis both grounded out but Bogaerts walked. Devers lined out to third to end the inning but it was now 11-1.

                                            Ramirez "Sonic Boom!" Betts "What?"

Brock Holt took over at second base for Pedroia, Rajai Davis took over in center for Bradley and Brandon Workman came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning. Olson whiffed, Chapman was rung up for strike three and Canha whiffed to end the inning. Franklin Barreto took over at second for Lowrie and Renato Nunez took over in left for Davis for the bottom of the seventh. Vazquez grounded out to short, Davis popped up to short and Holt grounded out to second to end the inning.

                                          Traded him and Josh Reddick for Andrew Bailey

Carson Smith was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth inning and he walked Garneau to start. Devers made a great diving catch to rob Semien of a hit and Pinder whiffed. Barreto singled Garneau to third and Nunez walked to load the bases to chase Smith. Austin Maddox came in and got pinch hitter Jake Smolinski to strike out to end the inning. Michael Brady was called upon to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. Young popped up to third, Betts grounded out to third and Ramirez hit a comebacker to the mound to end the inning.

Maddox returned for the top of the ninth and Olson greeted him with a single. Chapman flied out to center and Canha hit one up the elevator shaft. Garneau lined out to Davis to end the game. The Sox had broken the A's streak, held them to 3 hits and won in a landslide 11-1.

                                              Win, Dance, Repeat


Hero of The Night is Mookie Betts. He clobbered not one, but 2 two run homers while driving in 6 total runs.

                                                Betts is the Hero


The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Chris Young was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Eduardo Rodriguez got his first win in months by pitching six innings of one-run ball. He allowed just one hit while striking out nine.

Brandon Workman struck out the side in the top of the seventh.

Austin Maddox pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Brock Holt was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Rajai Davis was 0 for 1 at the plate.



The Ugly:

Sam Travis was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

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

Carson Smith left the bases loaded after 2/3 of an inning but with no runs allowed.




Final Thoughts:

It's about time the offense woke up considering the New York Yankees are breathing down their neck and the Cleveland Indians have won 20 games in a row. Every win counts now and until the end of the year. Rodriguez finally had a good game on the mound and if he was pitching for a postseason job, this will bring out the good kind of competition. With David Price out, the third starter slot is wide open. Hopefully this means that Rodriguez, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello can pitch their asses off in order to get that slot. On the other side of the ball, Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts have to get hot. They will not win the division if they remain ice cold until the end. The win puts the Sox at 82-62, 4 games ahead of the Yankees who were stunned 2-1 by the Tampa Bay Rays on an 8th inning home run by Adeiny Hechavarria. Tomorrow night Doug Fister (5-7, 3.91 ERA) looks to continue his hot streak and standing in the way is Jharel Cotton. The game starts at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.