Yankees Host WC After Beating Sox (9/28/18)

In a game that meant a hell of a lot more to the New York Yankees than it did the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees played with a fire that got them the win they needed. The Yankees clinched the top wild card spot so they will host the wild card game against the Oakland A's this coming Wednesday night. The Red Sox trotted out pitchers that wont be making the post-seaso roster in a game manager Alex Cora clearly didn't care about. The Yankees ran away with this one by a score of 11-6 at Fenway Park.

                                               "Loss to the Yankees? Meh!"

Brian Johnson (4-5, 4.17 ERA) took the mound in the top of the first and started out well. McCutchen lined out to third to begin before Aaron Judge flied out to right to end the inning. Aaron Hicks popped up to first to end the inning. JA Happ got the start for New York and he froze Mr. Mookie Betts for strike three to start. Andrew Benintendi whiffed before JD Martinez flied out to left to end the inning.

Johnson got Giancarlo Stanton to fly out to center to begin the top of the second but walked Luke Voit. Didi Gregorius beat out a double play ball but Miguel Andujar lined out to right to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts flied out to center to begin. Steve Pearce looked at strike three and Rafael Devers flied out to center to end the inning.

The Yankees struck first in the top of the third inning when Gary Sanchez crushed a 50,000 foot moonshot to give the Yankees the lead. Johnson recovered to get both Gleyber Torres and McCutchen to strike out swinging before Judge walked. Hicks and Stanton stroked back to back singles to score Judge with another run. Voit flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-0.

                                                    Yankees strike first

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Eduardo Nunez grounded out to second to start before Ian Kinsler lined out to left. Blake Swihart whiffed to end the inning.

Sox manager Alex Cora waived the white flag early as he sent William Cuevas to take a beating in the top of the fourth inning. Gregorius lined out to center but Andujar doubled. Second base umpire Andy Fletcher keeled over and had to be hauled off on a gurney as Sanchez walked. Torres doubled home both runners and McCutchen singled him home. Judge singled and Hicks smashed a 400,000 foot bomb to ice the game. Stanton singled and FINALLY Cora removed the stunned Cuevas. As good as William was against Cleveland, he was that bad tonight. Heath Hembree came in and got Voit and Gregorius to fly out to right to end the inning but it was 8-0 Yankees.

                                                     "I sucked tonight!" - Cuevas

The Sox tried to fight back when Mr. Mookie singled to open the bottom of the fourth and Benintendi walked. They were stranded as Martinez flied out to right, Bogaerts whiffed and Pearce grounded into a force to end the inning.

Drew Pomeranz strolled to the mound to begin the top of the fifth and Andujar lined out to first to begin. Sanchez whiffed and Torres grounded out to short to end the inning. Rafael Devers grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fifth before Nunez grounded out to first and Kinsler looked at strike three to end the inning.

Pomeranz returned for the top of the sixth inning and got McCutchen to ground out to third to begin. Judge and Hicks both watched strike three go by to end the inning. The Sox finally rallied against Happ in the bottom of the sixth although Swihart whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie singled and Benintendi doubled him to third. Martinez popped up to first but Bogaerts walked to load the bases. Pearce cleared the bases with a grand slam into the Monster Seats to cut the lead in half. Devers grounded out to short but the Sox were back in it 8-4.

                                             Pearce with a grand salami

Just as the soon as the Sox inched closer Pomeranz reared his head and ruined it in the top of the seventh. Stanton whiffed but Voit crushed a 9,000 foot bomb to kill off the momentum. Gregorius singled and Andujar walked to chase Pomeranz. Joe Kelly came in and got a grounder to short by Sanchez...but Xander booted it and Gregorius scored another run. Kelly punched out Torres and got McCutchen to ground into a force to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 10-4.

                                                Voit pours it on

Chad Green replaced Happ for the bottom of the seventh as Nunez lined out to center to start. Kinsler flied out to right before Swihart whiffed to end the inning.

Bobby Poyner came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Judge greeted him with a 800 foot home run to increase the lead. Hicks flied out to right, Stanton flied out to right and Voit whiffed to end the inning but it was 11-4 Yankees.

                                               Judge hits another one out

The Sox tagged Dellin Betances in the bottom of the eighth inning as Mr. Mookie walked to start. Benintendi whiffed but Martinez singled. Bogaerts popped up to third but Pearce singled home Betts. Devers walked but Nunez lined out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 11-5.

                                                           Pearce does it again

Tzu-Wei Lin took over for Martinez in the batting order but moved to center with Betts moving to right as the top of the ninth inning began. Gregorius lined out to right before Andujar popped up to first. Sanchez doubled but Torres whiffed to end the inning. Zach Britton came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and the Sox tagged him. Kinsler walked and Sam Travis pinch hit for Swihart only to erase Kinsler at second with a force. Mr. Mookie hit a routine grounder to short but Gregorius threw the ball away. Benintendi lined out to short before Christian Vazquez pinch hit for Lin, drawing a walk to load the bases. Bogaerts drew a bases loaded walk to drive in Travis. Instead of another grand slam, this time Pearce grounded out to third to end the game. The Yankees had won 11-6.

Jackass of the Night is William Cuevas. He allowed 6 runs in just 1/3 of an inning putting a Sox in too big of a hole to climb out of.

                                                  Cuevas the Jackass


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.

Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Christian Vazquez walked as a pinch hitter.

Steve Pearce was 2 for 5 with 5 total rbis including a grand slam.

Heath Hembree got the final two outs of the 4th inning.

Joe Kelly got the final two outs of the sixth.



The Bad:

Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 4.

Blake Swihart was 0 for 3.




The Ugly:

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with an error but walked twice, drove in a run and scored.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 but walked.

Ian Kinsler was 0 for 3 but walked.

Sam Travis was 0 for 1 but scored a run.

Brian Johnson took the loss allowing just 2 runs in 3 innings of work.

Drew Pomeranz gave up 2 runs, 1 earned in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Bobby Poyner allowed a run in 2 innings of work.



Honorable Mention:

Tzu-Wei Lin played centerfield in the bottom of the eighth inning.




Final Thoughts:

Unlike the Baltimore game, this game had more positives than there were negatives. Its no secret that neither William Cuevas or Drew Pomeranz will sniff the post-season roster, so for those two to give up 8 runs isn't going to matter next week. Its debateable if Poyner or Johnson make the roster as well. The fact the Sox were able to tag not only Happ but Betances and Britton as well is encouraging when the games start to matter. This game meant a hell of a lot more to the Yankees than it did to the Red Sox who are just trying to keep everybody healthy at this point. Yankee fans can dance around saying this is a Game 1 preview (already arrogantly believing the wild card game is in the bag) but Chris Sale is no William Cuevas. Thankfully the regular season is coming to a close and the next tuneup is tomorrow afternoon. Nathan Eovaldi (6-7) gets the start for the Red Sox opposite Domingo Germain at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Bench Rallies Past Indians (9/21/18)

When most of the Boston Red Sox walked into the clubhouse wearing sunglasses and carrying bottles of advil, you knew not only did they party hard last night but they were screwed tonight. Stop me if you've heard this, the Sox starter didn't last long, the bullpen blew it and they still rallied to win. The formula for most of September stayed true tonight. Chris Sale went just 3 1/3 innings, Heath Hembree gave up the lead, the Sox bench rallied in the 7th inning and the bullpen somehow locked it down to defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-5 at Progressive Field.

                                               The late Lee Strange approves of the win

The eccentric Trevor Bauer took the ball in the top of the first and Tzu-Wei Lin lined out to center to begin. Brandon Phillips walked but Rafael Devers flied out to left. Phillips got picked off to end the inning. Sale looked strong in the bottom of the first as Fransisco Lindor popped up to short to begin. Michael Brantley grounded out to second and Jose Ramirez whiffed to end the inning.

JD Martinez continued his slump by whiffing badly to begin the top of the second. Suddenly Steve Pearce and Brock "The Hitman" Holt stroked back to back singles to chase Bauer 1 1/3 innings into the game. Tyler Olson came in and Blake Swihart banged into a double play to end the inning. Sale turned up the heat to strike out Edwin Encarnacion to start the bottom of the second. Josh Donaldson singled but Yandy Diaz looked at strike three. Brandon Guyer whiffed to end the inning.

Shane Bieber was called in to pitch the top of the third and Sam Travis greeted him with his first major league home run to put the Sox on top. Sandy Leon looked at strike three, Lin flied out to left and Phillips grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were up 1-0.

                                                 Travis with his first ML home run

Sale allowed a single to Yan Gomes to open the bottom of the third but struck out Jason Kipnis on a nasty slider. Lindor looked at strike three but Brantley singled. Ramirez grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Devers grounded out to third to begin. Martinez walked but Pearce banged into a double play to end the inning. Sale whiffed Encarnacion to begin the bottom of the fourth but Donaldson blasted a 4,000 foot home run to tie the game. It was the first run allowed by Sale in a month and Diaz' single chased him after 3 1/3 innings. He was supposed to throw 75 pitches and was at 73, oh well.

                                                Another short but sweet start for Sale

Heath Hembree came in to pitch and got Guyer to ground out to short, but just like last night Gomes blasted a 4,000 foot bomb to give the Indians the lead. Kipnis whiffed to end the inning but the Indians were ahead 3-1.

                                                  Here we go again

Greg Allen came in for Guyer after he crashed into the wall on the Travis homer to begin the top of the fifth. Holt singled and Swihart walked, but Travis banged into a double play. Leon grounded out to second to end the inning. Bobby Poyner got called in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and crapped his pants. Lindor doubled, Brantley singled him to third and Lindor scored on the Ramirez sac fly. Encarncion whiffed before Donaldson flied out to left to end the inning with the Indians up 4-1.

                                                   Things looked bleak for the Sox

The Sox began their comeback in the top of the sixth although Lin and Phillips grounded out to short to begin. Devers smashed his 18th home run of the year to cut into the lead. Martinez lined out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 4-2.

                                               Devers hits one out

Matt Barnes made his first appearance since September 2nd and walked Diaz to begin. Old pal Rajai Davis pinch ran for him and the alert Leon gunned him down at second trying to steal.  Allen grounded out to third and Gomes whiffed to end the inning.

Once again the Sox exploded in the top of the seventh inning with Erik Gonzalez now playing third. Pearce grounded out to short but Holt and Swihart hit back to back singles. A wild pitch moved both runners and Travis doubled home both men to tie the game. Leon grounded out to second but Travis moved to third, and Lin lined one off of Bieber for a base hit to score Sam to increase the lead. Phillips singled Lin to third and that was it for Bieber. Neil Ramirez came in and Devers greeted him with a base hit to left to score Lin. Martinez walked to load the bases but Pearce grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-4.

                                            Travis ties it up and scores the go-ahead run

Drew Pomeranz was sent in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and at first it looked like a good move when Kipnis looked at strike three and Lindor whiffed. Then Brantley was plunked and Ramirez doubled him home. Encarnacion walked and that was it for Pomeranz. Sox manager Alex Cora threw his hands up and brought in Brandon Workman to save the day. Donaldson lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 6-5.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the eighth inning as Holt lined out to left to begin. Swihart grounded out to first and Travis whiffed to end the inning. Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez got no help from his defense in the bottom of the eighth when Devers muffed a routine ground ball by Gonzalez for an error. Allen lined out to left but Swihart missed catching a line drive by Gomes to put runners on second and third. Sox manager Alex Cora shook his head and brought in Robby Scott and somehow Scott got Kipnis to hit one up the elevator shaft. Lindor was intentionally walked to load the bases and Scott put on his big boy pants to get Brantley to fly out to end the inning.

The Sox got a surprise insurance run in the top of the ninth inning and against Dan Otero. Leon grounded out to first but Lin of all people crushed a solo home run, his first of the season. Phillips singled but Devers grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-5.

                                                        The unlikeliest of home runs

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel was brought in for the save in the bottom of the ninth inning with Jackie Bradley Jr now in right. Ramirez grounded out to short to start before Encarnacion whiffed. Donaldson grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-5.

                                                   Another win


We got Co-Heroes of the Night this time. Sam Travis and Tzu-Wei Lin strong armed the Sox as both hit solo shots and drove in 5 runs combined.

                                                  Hero 1 - Travis

                                                 Hero 2 - Lin


The Good:

Brandon Phillips was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with 2 rbi's and a run scored including a solo home run.

JD Martinez walked twice in four plate appearances.

Brock Holt was 3 for 4 with a run scored.

Blake Swihart was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Matt Barnes got the win with a scoreless 6th inning.

Brandon Workman retired the only man he faced.

Hector Velazquez got a man out in the bottom of the eighth.

Robby Scott got the final two outs of the bottom of the eighth.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 42nd save with a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Sandy Leon was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Heath Hembree gave up the two run homer to Gomes in just 1/3 of an inning.

Bobby Poyner allowed the fourth run in 1 inning of work.

Drew Pomeranz allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Steve Pearce was just 1 for 4.

Chris Sale lasted just 3 1/3 innings and was charged with 2 runs. He got hit around more than his last few starts.



Honorable Mention:

Jackie Bradley Jr played right field in the bottom of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Yet another formulaic win. Starter falters, Hembree gives up a moonshot, Sox rally and win in it late. Rinse and repeat. That formula will not work in the playoffs but it seems to be working this September. A win is a win no matter how ugly it is. With the division clinched Sox manager Alex Cora can rest whoever he wants but he's got to let the starters go 7 with virtually nobody reliable in the bullpen. Hembree, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Workman, etc can't be counted on in big game situations so its imperative the starters last. The Sox have 8 games left and offensively they're meaningless but they still have time to set the rotation for the ALDS and stretch the guys out for the long haul. The win improved the Sox to 105-49, matching the 1912 Boston Red Sox for best record in franchise history. They have 8 games to break that record and it looks like they will with 3 games against Baltimore coming up. Tomorrow night Rick Porcello (17-7, 4.30 ERA) takes the mound opposite Mike Clevinger at 7:10 PM at Progressive Field.

Sox Hold Off Mets (9/16/18)

In what should have been a battle of Cy Young contenders, today's matchup between Chris Sale and Jake deGrom was as good as advertised....for about two innings. The Sox got to deGrom in the bottom of the third and Sale was gone shortly after. After the obligatory bullpen meltdown that tied the game, the Sox surged ahead in the bottom of the eighth to take the game 4-3 at Fenway Park and head to the Bronx 11 games up needing just one win to clinch their third consecutive AL East crown.

                                                       The Predator approves of the win.

Sale took the mound in the top of the first inning and Amed Rosario flied out to center on the first pitch. Jeff McNeil grounded out to first and Wilmer Flores grounded out to third to end the inning. deGrom took the ball in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts was rung up for strike three on a borderline call. Brock "The Hitman" Holt whiffed badly on 3 pitches and Andrew Benintendi grounded into the shift to end the inning.

Sale returned for the top of the second and Michael Conforto grounded out to short to begin. Todd Frazier whiffed on a 2-2 count but Jay Bruce singled. Bruce was gunned down at second trying to steal by the alert Christian Vazquez to end the inning. deGrom made quick work of the Sox in the bottom of the second as Steve Pearce whiffed, Mitch Moreland looked at strike three and Ian Kinsler was rung up on a check swing to end the inning.

Sale blew through the Mets in the top of the third as Brandon Nimmo hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Kevin Plawecki flied out to center and Austin Jackson grounded out to first to end the inning. That was it for Sale as Sox manager Alex Cora stuck to his guns about only giving him 3 innings.

                                                     Short and sweet for Sale

The Sox somehow smacked around deGrom in the bottom of the third although Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed badly to begin. Rafael Devers somehow singled to center and moved to third on the Vazquez singled. Devers scored on the Mr. Mookie sac fly to give the Sox the lead. Brock "The Hitman" Holt cracked a 2 run homer into the bullpen to increase the lead. Benintendi was robbed of a hit by a lunging Rosario to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                    Holt puts the Sox on top

Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez took the mound for the top of the fourth inning with Sale now throwing in the bullpen. Rosario an McNeil both grounded out to short but Flores was plunked. Conforto singled and both runners moved over on a wild pitch but Frazier popped up to Devers in foul territory to end the inning. Pearce drew a walk to start the bottom of the fourth but Moreland was frozen for strike three. Kinsler whiffed and JBJ popped up to center to end the inning,

For reasons unexplained, Sox manager Alex Cora brought in Drew Pomeranz to pitch the top of the fifth inning. Bruce and Nimmo lined out to right before Plawecki grounded out to short to end the inning. Devers popped up to left to begin the bottom of the fifth before Vazquez took strike three before Mr. Mookie whiffed to end the inning,

The Mets finally came alive in the top of the sixth when Jackson singled to start. Rosario doubled but McNeil lined out to right so hard Jackson couldn't score. Flores lined to right and Jackson broke for home. Betts threw home....SAFE! But wait! Sox manager Alex Cora challenged the call but New York Yankees manag.....errr Head of MLB Operations Joe Torre DEMANDED the call be upheld and Jackson was safe. To add insult to injury, Betts fell to the ground holding his shoulder and had to be hauled off on a gurney. Cora decided it would be funny to put infielder Tzu-Wei Lin in center and have JBJ in right and that bit him in the ass when Lin dropped a routine fly ball by Conforto trying to catch the ball with his glove on the wrong hand, scoring Rosario. That was it for Pomeranz as Heath Hembree came in and Frazier grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.

                                              The Sox lose Betts

deGrom returned for the bottom of the sixth and Holt looked at strike three to start. Benintendi flied out to left but Pearce doubled off the Monster. Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning.

The awful Red Sox bullpen blew the game in the top of the seventh when Hembree walked Bruce to start. Nimmo was plunked and Sox manager Alex Cora brought in Joe Kelly to complete the meltdown. Somehow Kelly blew away Plawecki and got Jackson to pop up to right, but naturally Rosario singled to center. Lin turned around and threw the ball into the Monster seats and Bruce scored to tie the game, Nimmo moving to third on the insane throw. McNeil grounded out to short to end the inning but the game was tied 3-3.

                                                        The Mets tie it up

Pitching with new life, deGrom stayed strong in the bottom of the seventh as Kinsler flied out to right to start. Somehow JBJ singled and stole second but naturally Devers looked at strike three. Vazquez popped up tp left to end the inning.

Brandon Workman took the mound in the top of the eighth and walked Flores to start. Jack Reinheimer pinch ran for Flores and end up getting picked off in a rundown. Conforto and Frazier whiffed to end the inning. The Sox somehow rallied against Seth Lugo with Dominic Smith at first in the bottom of the eighth. Lin atoned for his error earlier with a double and moved to third on the Holt fly out to center. Benintendi scored Lin with a sac fly to give the Sox the lead. Pearce whiffed to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 4-3.

                                                         Lin scores

With Craig Kimbrel unavailable, Steven Wright was brought in for the save in the top of the ninth. Bruce grounded out to second but Nimmo walked. Plawecki popped up to second and Jackson looked at strike three to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-3.

                                                    Another win


Hero of the Night is Andrew Benintendi. His herculean sac fly ended up being the difference in the game.

                                                                Benintendi the Hero



The Good:

Tzu-Wei Lin singled and scored.

Steve Pearce was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a stolen base.

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Chris Sale pitched 3 scoreless innings.

Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless 4th inning.

Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Brandon Workman got the win with a scoreless 8th inning.

Steven Wright got the save with a scoreless 9th.



The Bad:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Ian Kinsler was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Drew Pomeranz gave up 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Heath Hembree was charged with the tying run in 1/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but drove in two runs and scored.





Final Thoughts:

For once the Sox showed an encouraging sign by getting to a pitcher the caliber of deGrom. If the Sox are going to have any hope of competing in the playoffs they need to attack the best pitchers in the league. They're also going to need their own pitchers to actually pitch well but their inability to get to Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber the last two years have been the main reason they've had quick exits in October. Hopefully Mookie Betts is ok but if he's not then forget about October with JD Martinez in a slump he's never going to recover from just like Moreland. Wright became the first knuckleballer to earn a save since April 2003 and it was comical. The win improved the Sox to 103-47, 11.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees with 12 to play. After an off-day its the big showdown in the Bronx against the Yankees on Tuesday afternoon. Nathan Eovaldi (5-7, 4.22 ERA) who dominated the Yankees last month takes the mound opposite JA Happ at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Magic Number: 2

Sox Post Amazing Comeback, Sweep Braves (9/5/18)

Wow. Shades of the New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons in Superbowl 51, the Boston Red Sox posted a huge comeback against the Atlanta Braves today. The Braves were cruising in the 8th inning leading 7-1 when the Sox roared back to tie the game. The Braves retook the lead but Brandon Phillips introduced himself to Red Sox nation by launching a go-ahead 2 run home run in the ninth. The Sox held on to complete the comeback and shock the Braves 9-8 at Turner Field.

                                                       Look familiar?

Jackie Bradley Jr got the rare leadoff start against Foltynewicz and he popped up to left to begin. Blake Swihart popped up to center before Andrew Benintendi also popped up to center to end the inning. Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez got the start for the Sox and immediately crapped his pants. He gave up a 780 foot bomb to Ronald Acuna to open the game before Ender Inciarte tripled into the right field corner, scoring on the Nick Markakis base hit. Johan Camargo singled into center as Sox pitching coach Dana LeVange ran to the mound to inform Hector that Desperado was on in the dugout. Hector immediately got Lucas Duda tp bang into a double play and Ozzie Albies grounded out to first to end the inning with the Braves up 2-0.

                                                              That didn't take long

The Sox struck back in the top of the second inning although Mitch Moreland whiffed to begin. Brandon Phillips drew a walk an Rafael Devers singled him to third. Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to first but Phillips caught everyone asleep by faking going to third and then making a mad dash home to score a run. Christian Vazquez was intentionally walked to get to the pitcher and Velazquez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                                Heads up play by Phillips

Velazquez settled down in the bottom of the second as Tyler Flowers whiffed befoe Charlie Culberson lined out to right. Foltynewicz whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as JBJ grounded out to short before Swihart whiffed. Markakis dropped a routine pop up by Benintendi to allow him to reach second but Moreland flied out to center to end the inning. Acuna walked to open the bottom of the third but Inciarte flied out to center and Markakis grounded out to short. Camargo grounded out to short to end the inning.

Nothing was accomplished in the top of the fourth as Phillips grounded out to short to begin. Devers grounded out to second before Holt looked at strike three to end the inning. Velazquez got in trouble in the bottom of the fourth when Duda walked to start. Albies popped up but Flowers doubled to left. Benintendi gunned the ball to Holt who gunned it home....DUDA IS OUT! Flowers took third and Culberson was intentionally walked, but Velazquez retired Foltynewicz on a comebacker to end the inning.

                                                       YERRR OUT!

Vazquez grounded out to short to begin the top of the fifth and Sam Travis pinch hit for Velazquez only to fly out to center. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning. Drew Pomeranz took over for the bottom of the fifth and he crapped his pants. Acuna walked and Inciarte singled him to third. Markakis singled home Acuna and Inciarte to third before Camargo walked to load the bases and pinch hitter Kurt Suzuki (for Duda) beat out a double play ball to score another run. Ryan Flaherty ran for Suzuki and Albies cleared the bases with a triple to seemingly put the game out of reach. That was it for the incompetent Pomeranz who retired just 1 of the men he faced while giving up four runs to that point. William Cuevas came in and Flowers singled home Albies to increase the lead. Culberson walked but Foltynewicz and Acuna hiffed to end the inning with the Braves ahead 7-1...yuck!

                                                        The game looked over

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the sixth as Swihart whiffed, Benintendi was caught loking and Moreland grounded ou to first to end the inning. Cuevas returned for the bottom of the sixth and Inciarte flied out to left before Markakis lined out to left. Camargo was plunked and Flaherty walked but Albies whiffed to end the inning.

Jesse Biddle came in for the top of the seventh and Phillips walked, but Devers banged into a double play. Holt grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox made a double switch in the bottom of the seventh by bringing in Tzu-Wei Lin to play short and hit 9th with Bobby Poyner on the mound hitting 7th. Flowers lined out to a running JBJ before Culberson whiffed. Adam Duvall pinch hit for Biddle and whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox somehow exploded in the top of the eighth inning with Duvall taking over in right hitting 9th with Dan Winkler on the mound hitting third. Vazquez got the rally started with a bloop single that Duvall just missed catching. Lin singled to left and JBJ reached on a single to load the bases that Duvall gave up on. Swihart drove in Vazquez and Lin with a double into the right center gap to chase Winkler. Jonny Venters came in after Winkler threw a tantrum in the dugout and Benintendi singled to left to score JBJ to keep the rally going. Steve Pearce pinch hit for Moreland and hit a rocket to left but it was caught, still scoring Swihart to make it a two run game. Phillips hit a routine ground ball to Camargo who booted it, picked it up and threw it away for an error to put both runners into scoring position. That was it for Venters as the Braves turned to Brad Brach to save the day only for Sox manager Alex Cora countering by bringing in Ian Kinsler to pinch hit for Devers. Kinsler lined a single to left to score both runners to tie the game. Eduardo Nunez pinch hit for Poyner but he popped up to center. Vazquez singled Kinsler to third and Xander Bogaerts pinch hit for Lin. The Braves countered by bringing in Freddie Freeman to hit third and play first, Flaherty moving to third, Camargo moving to short with Culberson in right. AJ Minter came in to pitch and Bogaerts walked to load the bases with Mr. Mookie Betts pinch hitting for JBJ only to look at strike three to end the inning with the game tied 7-7. How about that?

                                                          Kinsler ties up the game

Just as soon as the Sox tied it up, the Braves took the lead with Phillps moving to third and Brandon Workman now on the mound. Acuna whiffed and Inciarte lined out to center, but Freeman crushed a 500,000 foot home run to give the Braves the lead back. Camargo grounded out to second to end the inning but the Braves jumped ahead 8-7.

                                                Freeman gives the Braves the lead

Lane Adams came in for Culberson with Dansby Swanson taking Flaherty's spot but playing short to open the top of the ninth. Swihart popped up to a running Albies in shallow right to start but Benintendi ripped a base hit to center. Things look bleak when Pearce looked at strike three but Phillips launched the first pitch Minter threw into the left field stands to give the Sox the lead. Kinsler whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were 3 outs away from an improbable win 9-8.

                                                    Welcome to Boston Phillips

Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth and Swanson whiffed on a pitch in the dirt before Albies popped up to center. Flowers walked and yesterday's pitcher Touki Toussaint ran for him. Kimbrel ran the count full on Adams before blowing him away with a 98 mph fastball to end the game. The Sox had stunned the Braves 9-8.

Hero of the Night is Brandon Phillips. His two run home run sealed the game and he scored the first run on a head's up play.

                                                      Phillips is the Hero today



The Good:

Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 5 with an rbi and two runs scored.

Steve Pearce drove in a run with a sac fly as a pinch hitter.

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3.

Ian Kinsler was 1 for 2 with 2 rbis after coming in for Devers.

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

Tzu-Wei Lin singled and scored as a pinch hitter.

Xander Bogaerts walked as a pinch hitter.

William Cuevas pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Bobby Poyner pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 38th save with a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Mookie Betts struck out as a pinch hitter.

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Sam Travis was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Drew Pomeranz was horrible, allowing 5 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Blake Swihart was just 1 for 5 but drove in 2 runs and scored one.

Brock Holt was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.

Hector Velazquez lasted just 4 innings but allowed only 2 runs to keep the Sox in the game.

Brandon Workman vultured the win by allowing a go-ahead homer to Freeman in the eighth.




Final Thoughts:

That was a comeback for the ages in a season that's already been special. The Braves were up 7-1 against the Sox' JV team and the JV's refused to quit. That's the kind of heart the Sox need to display when the games really matter in October. Phillips may be 37 but he can still swing the bat and Kinsler has been driving in key runs lately. It was a good team win that pretty much put the exclamation point on the AL East race. The win improved the Sox to 97-44, 9.5 games ahead of the Yankees who lost two out of three to Oakland with a 3 game set in Seattle looming. It should be noted the 2013 World Champion bearded Red Sox won 97 regular season games. The 2018 Red Sox have 97 wins with 21 games remaining. After an off-day the Sox return to action Friday night in an important 3 game set at home against the world champion Houston Astros. David Price (14-6, 3.60 ERA) makes his return against Gerrit Cole at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park

Bats Fall Silent in Rain Soaked Chicago (8/31/18)

Former Boston Red Sox prospect Michael Kopech never got over how he was treated by Boston media and fans when he was suspended for PED's. After he was traded to the Chicago White Sox he vowed to prove everyone that he was a damn good pitcher. Tonight, until mother nature intervened, Kopech was as good as advertised. He held the Red Sox to just 1 hit in 3 innings before a rain delay wiped out both starters. The problem was Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi stunk the joint out once again and Tyler Thornburg had a meltdown. The Red Sox as a team only had 5 measly hits as the White Sox knocked them off 6-1 at Commiskey Park.

                                              Judge Doom dislikes rain and bad pitching

The Bosox sunk their own grave early in the top of the first inning when Kopech struck Mr. Mookie Betts with a fastball. Andrew Benintendi walked to put early pressure on but Mr. Mookie was foolishly thrown out at third trying to steal. JD Martinez flied out to right and Xander Bogaerts popped up to second to end the inning. That was the closest the Sox would come to have any sort of chance the rest of the game as Eovaldi got rocked in the bottom of the first. In retaliation to Mookie getting plunked, Eovaldi hit Yolmer Sanchez to begin the inning. The ChiSox actually made him pay although Nicky Delmonico flied out to left. Avisail Garcia doubled home Sanchez to give Chicago the lead early then moved to third on the Daniel Palka fly out to center. Yoan Moncada crushed a 40,000 foot bomb to ice the game early. Matt Davidson grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 3-0 already.

                     2 years after the Chris Sale trade, Moncada and Kopech bite them

The BoSox tried to rally in the top of the second although Eduardo Nunez popped up to first to start. Blake Swihart took strike three but Ian Kinsler doubled. Sandy Leon was plunked to bring the tying run to the plate but Jackie Bradley Jr popped up to second to end the inning. Eovaldi settled down to get Tim Anderson to ground out to second to begin but Kevan Smith hit a ground rule double to right. Adam Engel flied out to right but Sanchez lined out to left to end the inning.

The BoSox did nothing in the top of the third as Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to begin before Benintendi popped up to third. Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning. The rains came and delayed it for almost 2 hours. When play resumed Drew Pomeranz was now on the mound for the BoSox with Eovaldi lasting just 3 innings and allowing 3 runs.

                                            "What do I have to do to not suck?" - Eovaldi

Delmonico whiffed but Garcia doubled and Palka was plunked. Moncada whiffed but Davidson singled to load the bases. Pomeranz whiffed Anderson to end the inning.

Dylan Covey replaced Kopech and the BoSox tried to rally in the top of the fourth when Bogaerts and Nunez stroked back to back singles to start. Swihart grounded out to second to move both runners over but Kinsler was screwed big time by looking at strike three when the pitch was clearly a ball. Leon lined out to center to end the inning, another huge squander.

                    "THE HOT DOG VENDOR SEES BETTER THAN YOU!" - IK

Pomeranz came back for the bottom of the fourth and Smith grounded out to third to begin. Engel singled but Sanchez whiffed. Delmonico flied out to left to end the inning.

JBJ flied out to center to open the top of the fifth but Mr. Mookie singled. Benintendi and Martinez both whiffed to end the inning. Pomeranz stayed strong in the bottom of the fifth as Garcia lined out to short to begin. Palka whiffed but Moncada singled. Davidson singled but was thrown out trying to stretch a double to end the inning.

The BoSox again did nothing in the top of the sixth as Bogaerts grounded back to the mound, Nunez popped up to first and Swihart grounded out to second to end the inning. Pomeranz got some big defensive help in the bottom of the sixth although Anderson grounded out to third to start. Smith singled but Engel whiffed. Sanchez doubled but Smith was thrown out at home to end the inning.

                                                YERRRRR OUT!

Kinsler opened the top of the seventh with a walk to chase Covey. Juan Minaya was brought in and Sox manager Alex Cora countered by pinch hitting Mitch Moreland for Leon. Moreland ended up flying out to left and Kinsler was thrown out trying to steal anyway. JBJ flied out to left to end the inning. Swihart moved to catcher, Moreland stayed at first and Tyler Thornburg bolted out of the bullpen running as fast as he could to the mound to pitch the bottom of the seventh. It was a disaster although Delmonico struck out to begin. Garcia walked and Palka singled but Moncada whiffed. Davidson put the exclamation point on with a 2,800 foot 3 run home run to send everyone home happy. Anderson singled and Smith walked, but Engel struck out to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 6-0.

                                                     Its all over now

Old pal Ryan LaMarre came in to play left as Minaya returned for the top of the eighth inning. Mr. Mookie flied out to left but Benintendi swatted an opposite field home run to break up the shutout. Martinez whiffed and home plate umpire Wil Little rung up Bogaerts the same way he rang up Kinsler earlier to end the inning. Bogaerts complained and got the heave ho with the BoSox down 6-1.

                                               The lone highlight of the game

                                               "You suck, Little" - Bogaerts

Brock "The Hitman" Holt took over for Bogaerts with Brandon Workman now on the mound for the Bosox for the bottom of the eighth inning.  Sanchez flied out to right as "Slick" Rick Porcello apparently was barking at Little so much that he got tossed too and he wasn't even in the game. LaMarre whiffed but Garcia singled. Palka flied out to left to end the inning. The BoSox were clearly not happy.

Ian Hamilton got the call to close the game out in the top of the ninth inning and the BoSox went quietly. Nunez grounded out to second, Swihart lined out to third and Kinsler lined out to right to end the game. The White Sox had won it easy, 6-1.

Jackass of the Night is Tyler Thornburg. He turned a 3-0 game into an unreachable 6-0 real quick in the seventh inning.

                                              Thornburg you Jackass!



The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with an HBP.

Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.

Ian Kinsler was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Sandy Leon was hit with a pitch in 2 plate appearances.

Drew Pomeranz pitched 4 scoreless innings and struck out 6.

Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Blake Swihart was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3.

Nathan Eovaldi allowed 3 runs in just 3 innings of work.



The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4.

Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.



Honorable Mention:

Brock Holt played short in the bottom of the eighth.




Final Thoughts:

Just when it seemed like the Sox were turning a corner with 3 straight wins they once again fell flat on their face against an inferior team. Going life or death with the Marlins and White Sox won't do the Sox any favors if the division race gets closer if the New York Yankees go on a run. The good news is fresh troops are arriving tomorrow including Eduardo Rodriguez so Eovaldi's days could be numbered, which would be a good thing at this point because he's giving them nothing. The bats have gone silent again and that's expected when Betts, Benintendi and Martinez combine to go 2 for 10. They have to find a way to snap out of their funk since the Yankees are not going away. The loss drops the Sox to 93-43, 6.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night marks the first day for September call-ups and it also marks the return of Eduardo Rodriguez (11-3) as he takes on Carlos Rodon at 7:10 PM at Commiskey Park.