Braves Pulverize Sox (9/1/20)

The good news was the Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of their second round NBA playoff series, the bad news was the Boston Red Sox lost to the Atlanta Braves. What more can be said about the horrible Red Sox pitching staff that hasn't been said already? With Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree gone, what's left isn't going to get the job done. The Sox battled the Atlanta Braves to a 2-2 tie after 5 innings only for the incompetent bullpen to allow EIGHT runs in the next 3 innings. The Sox offense 9 days out of 10 can't score 8 runs a game and these guys did it in 3 innings. That's what happens when you refuse to have a major league pitching staff. Marcell Ozuna outslugged and outscored the Sox all by himself and the Braves laughed their way to a 10-3 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                 "THIS YEAR SUCKSSSSS!!!!!"

Weber got in trouble immediately in the top of the first inning although Dansby Swanson grounded out to third to start. Freddie Freeman got plunked and Marcell Ozuna hit a home run all the way to the Gulf of Mexico to give the Braves the lead. Nick Markakis grounded out to short but Travis d'Arnaud singled to center. Austin Riley doubled him to third but Adam Duvall flied out to center to end the inning with the Braves ahead 2-0.

                                                        That's one

Alex Verdugo tried to start a rally against Braves starter Ian Anderson with a base hit to right to start the bottom of the first. Christian Vazquez flied out to right, Rafael Devers flied out to left and Xander Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.

John Carmago grounded out to first to start the top of the second before Ender Inciarte grounded back to the mound. Swanson doubled to left but Freedman popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as Michael Chavis grounded out to third to start. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second and Yairo Munoz made his season debut by grounding out to third to end the inning.

Ozuna grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Markakis whiffed. d'Arnaud grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third as Tzu-Wei Lin got a base hit to center to begin. Lin moved to second on the Jonathan Arauz grounder and Verdugo singled to center to score Tzu. Vazquez whiffed but a wild pitch moved Verdugo to second. Devers singled home Verdugo to tie the game, but Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                       Tie game

Weber returned for the top of the fourth and Riley popped up to first to start. Duvall took strike three and Camargo flied out to center to end the inning. Weber had one bad first inning but held the Braves hitless the next 3 innings.

                                                  Weber shows some improvement

Chavis lined out to left to start the bottom of the fourth and JBJ took strike three. Munoz doubled to left but Lin whiffed to end the inning.

Josh Taylor came in for the top of the fifth inning and Inciarte grounded out to short to start. Swanson grounded out to third but Freeman walked. Ozuna whiffed to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Arauz struck out swinging to start. Verdugo grounded out to second but Vazquez singled to third. Devers walked but Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.

Robert Stock came in for the top of the sixth and puked all over himself. Markakis walked, d'Arnaud got a base hit to left and a wild pitch moved both runners over. Riley singled to right to score Markakis and advance d'Arnaud to third. Duvall whiffed and Carmago hit one up the elevator shaft, but Inciarte singled home d'Arnaud to chase Stock. Austin Brice came in and struck out Swanson to end the inning but the Braves were up 4-2.

                                            "Thanks for giving up the game!" - RR

The Sox turtled in the bottom of the sixth as Chavis lined out to left to start. JBJ was plunked but Munoz whiffed and Lin took strike three to end the inning.

Kyle Hart came in for the top of the seventh and Freeman lined out to left to start. Ozuna hit a home run onto the Mass Pike to ice the game. Markakis whiffed but d'Arnaud singled to right. Riley grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Braves ahead 5-2.

                                                            That's two

AJ Minter laughed at the Sox in the bottom of the seventh as Arauz grounded out to second to start. Verdugo flied out to left and Vazquez flied out to center to end the inning.

The floodgates opened in the top of the eighth although Duvall flied out to center to start. Carmago singled to left, Inciarte singled to center, Swanson singled to center to score Carmago, Freeman singled to score Inciarte and Ozuna put the exclamation point on with yet another home run onto the Mass Pike to wrap up the scoring for Atlanta. Markakis grounded out to short and d'Arnaud grounded out to second to end the inning with the Braves ahead 10-2.

                                                       That's three

Somehow the Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth with Shane Greene now on the mound. Devers took strike three but Bogaerts doubled to left. Chavis whiffed but JBJ singled home Bogaerts to cut the lead. Munoz popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox down 10-3.

Jeffrey Springs took over for the top of the ninth and Riley popped up to first to start. Duvall took strike three and Camargo grounded out to first to end the inning. Huascar Ynoa had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth and Lin grounded out to first to start. Arauz drew a walk but Verdugo banged into a double play to end the game. The Braves wiped out the Sox 10-3.

                                                      Braves win


Jackass of the Night is Kyle Hart. Yes, Robert Stock gave up the go-ahead runs but Hart put the game out of reach by allowing 6 runs in his 2 innings of work.

                                                 Kyle Jackass Hart



The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and an rbi.

Ryan Weber allowed just 2 runs in 4 innings of work.

Josh Taylor tossed a scoreless 5th inning.

Austin Brice struck out the only man he faced.

Jeffrey Springs tossed a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Robert Stock took the loss by allowing 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Yairo Munoz was just 1 for 4.

Tzu-Wei Lin was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Jonathan Arauz was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.




Final Thoughts:

Good news, gang. We only have 24 games left to suffer through. The only thing saving Sox owner John Henry and general manager Chaim Bloom from the fan's wrath are there aren't any. If Fenway Park allowed fans they would be booing from beginning to end, making fans from 1997 that booed Wally off the field in his debut proud. Not much can be said that hasn't already been said. The offense didn't have it, the pitching sucked and they lost again. That's been almost every loss this season and its getting worse with each passing day. The worst part was if the Sox was actually competent this season, the New York Yankees would be in big trouble. The Tampa Bay Rays are in first place and if the Sox were any good, they'd knock the Yankees right out of the playoffs. Oh well! The loss dropped the Sox to 12-24, last place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Braves complete the sweep when Robbie Erlin shuts down the Sox and whoever Ron Roenicke picks out of a hat loses for the Sox at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Outslug Jays (8/25/20)

The bad news was the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins in overtime in Game 2 of their second round NHL playoff series, the good news was the Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. So THAT'S what a real offense is supposed to look like? After being held to under 9 runs in every single game since opening day, the Red Sox finally put some offense on the board at the expense of the Blue Jays. The Sox fell behind 4-0 before anyone could breathe and normally that meant a death knell. Not tonight! The Sox fought back to trail 6-3 before exploding for 6 runs in the sixth inning. Sox starter Kyle Hart lasted 3 1/3 innings but the much maligned Boston bullpen allowed just 1 run in the remaining 5 2/3 to slam the door. Somehow the Sox came away with a 9-7 victory over the Jays in Sahlen Field.

                                                     Viikinki approves of the win

Jays starter Chase Anderson cruised in the top of the first inning as Alex Verdugo grounded out to first to start. Rafael Devers took strike three and JD Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning. The Jays feasted on Hart in the bottom of the first inning as Cavan Biggio and Randal Grichuk stroked back to back singles to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr lined out to center but Teoscar Hernandez walked to load the bases. Lourdes Gurriel Jr doubled home Biggio and Grichuk to put the Jays on top. Old friend Travis Shaw popped up to third but Danny Jansen singled home both runners to put the Jays up big. Verdugo gunned down Jansen at second trying to stretch to end the inning but it was 4-0 Jays.

                                                       YERRRR OUT!

The Sox somehow fought back in the top of the second as Xander Bogaerts doubled to center and Mitch Moreland singled him home to cut the lead. Christian Vazquez lined out to center, Kevin Pillar whiffed and Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.

                                                            X GON GIVE IT TO YA

Brandon Drury grounded out to third to start the bottom of the second but Santiago Espinal doubled to center. Biggio walked and Grichuk singled to third...but Guerrero Jr banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the third with Joe Panik in for Shaw as Jose Peraza lined out to second to start. Verdugo grounded out to first but Devers singled to left. Martinez popped up to first to end the inning. Hart froze Hernandez to start the bottom of the third before Gurriel Jr flied out to right but Panik singled to center. Jansen took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox tried to get back in the game in the top of the fourth when Bogaerts singled to right to start and Moreland doubled him home. Pillar grounded out to third but a passed ball moved Moreland to third. JBJ singled home Moreland to cut the lead, but Peraza grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.

                                                    JBJ drives in a run

Just as soon as the Sox fought back to get in the game, the Jays roared back in the bottom of the fourth. Drury took strike three but Espinal singled and Biggio walked to chase Hart. Who knows why they kept him over Brian Johnson but Hart was finished after 3 1/3 innings and 6 runs allowed. Phillips Valdez came in and Grichuk moved the runners over with a grounder to short. Guerrero Jr singled home both runners to give the Jays the three run lead back. Hernandez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays up 6-3.

                                             "You're a bum!" - RR

Verdugo singled to left to start the top of the fifth but Devers whiffed. Martinez flied out to right and Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning. Valdez returned for the bottom of the fifth and Gurriel Jr walked to start. Panik and Jansen both went down hacking and Drury flied out to right to end the inning.

Suddenly the Sox fought back as Moreland walked to open the top of the sixth and Wilmer Font took over for Anderson. Vazquez doubled Moreland to third but Pillar popped up to first. JBJ lashed a base hit to center to score Moreland and send Vazquez to third. Peraza was plunked and Verdugo singled to right to score Vazquez and reload the bases. AJ Cole came in for Font and Devers greeted him with a bases clearing triple to give the Sox the lead. Martinez scored Devers with a sac fly and Bogaerts got a base hit to left. Moreland popped up to first to end the inning but the Sox launched past the Jays 9-6.

                                                            Sox take the lead

Darwinzon Hernandez took over for the bottom of the sixth and Espinal singled to center to start. Biggio forced Espinal at second before Gruchuk took strike three. Guerrero Jr grounded out to short to end the inning.

Travis Bergen came in for the top of the seventh and Vazquez took strike three to start. Pillar grounded out to short but JBJ walked. JBJ was thrown out trying to steal to end the inning.

                                               "You're out you dummy!"

Darwinzon returned for the bottom of the seventh and Teoscar Hernandez grounded out to third to start. Gurriel Jr grounded out to short but Panik walked. Jansen singled to center but Drury whiffed to end the inning.

Peraza singled to left to start the top of the eighth but Verdugo and Devers both whiffed. Sam Gaviglio came in and got Martinez to fly out to center to end the inning. Ryan Brasier came on for the bottom of the eighth and whiffed Espinal to start. Biggio flied out to center and Grichuk flied out to left to end the inning.

Bogaerts flied out to right to begin the top of the ninth but Moreland walked. Vazquez flied out to center and Pillar grounded into a force to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth and got Guerrero Jr to ground out to second to begin. Suddenly Hernandez clobbered a home run all the way to the Skylon Tower in Ontario to cut the lead. Gurriel Jr whiffed but Panik singled to center. Rowdy "Roddy" Tellez pinch hit for Jansen and Barnes blew him away to end the game. The Sox had held on to win it 9-7.

                                                      Sox win


Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. His bases clearing triple put the Sox in front for good in the 6th.

                                                   Devers the Hero



The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with an rbi, outfield assist and a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Jose Peraza was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.

Phillips Valdez got the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Darwinzon Hernandez tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Ryan Brasier tossed a scoreless inning.



The Bad:

Kevin Pillar was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Kyle Hart got lit up for 6 runs in just 3 1/3 innings.



The Ugly:

JD Martinez was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.

Matt Barnes earned his 2nd save but allowed a run in the ninth inning.




Final Thoughts:

That's the kind of offense the Sox had in 2018 and parts of last year. Too bad they can't be more consistent like that. The key to it was Devers hitting shots all over Fenway. Too bad a lot of these guys have one good day then four bad ones and you never know when which one will have either or. Also good to see the bullpen get the job done after Kyle Hart vomited up his intestines again. Any other year Hart would be in Portland where he belongs but he's what they have. God help them. Barnes as the closer in the wake of losing Workman once again almost blew up in their face but he's all they have. The win improved the Sox to a horrible 10-20 on the season meaning we're halfway home. 6 more days till the Tax reset and 30 games left in this miserable season, yippie. Tomorrow night the Sox look to make it two in a row over the Jays when they pick a name out of a hat to face Julian Merryweather at 6:30 PM at Sahlen Field in Buffalo.

Sox Snap Streak, Down Phillies (8/19/20)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Christian Arroyo was activated from the Injured List, Mike Shawaryn was designated for assignment, Andrew Triggs was signed from the San Francisco Giants waiver wire and Marcus Walden was sent to the Alternate Training site. Arroyo is another utility infielder and Walden just simply doesn't have it this year. Another rotating wheel of bums.

                                                                      OUT

                                                                    IN

It was a great night for Boston sports as the Boston Bruins eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of their first round NHL playoff series and the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia Sixers in Game 2 of their first round NBA playoff series. As for baseball, the Boston Red Sox finally won, ITS A MIRACLEEEEE!!! After a 9 game losing streak that sent the Sox straight to the bottom of the American League, the Sox finally eeked a win out against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rafael Devers broke out of his slump to drive in 3 big runs. The much maligned Boston bullpen allowed just 2 walks, 1 hit and 1 run in 5 1/3 innings. Sox starter Kyle Hart was pulled after 3 2/3 innings but Austin Brice (1-0, 6.75 ERA) and a host of relievers nailed down the win as the Sox took the game 6-3 at Fenway Park.

                                                   David Krejci and David Pastrnak approve of the win

The Phillies wasted no time getting to Hart in the top of the first inning. Andrew McCutchen doubled to center, Rhys Hoskins walked and Bryce Harper drew a walk to load the bases with no one out. JT Realmuto flied out to right but Phil Gosselin singled to right to score McCutchen. Didi Gregorius hit a sac fly to score Hoskins but Alec Bohm whiffed to end the inning with the Phillies up 2-0.

                                                        Phillies up early

The Sox did themselves no favors in the bottom of the first against Philly starter Jake Arrieta as Alex Verdugo took strike three to start. Kevin Pillar walked but was picked off and Rafael Devers grounded out to short to end the inning.

Hart recovered in the top of the second as Scott Kingery was rung up for strike three to start. Kyle Garlick whiffed and McCutchen flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox bungled another rally in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts walked to start. Mitch Moreland singled to short but Christian Vazquez banged into a double play. Jackie Bradley Jr walked to put runners at the corners but Tzu-Wei Lin whiffed to end the inning.

Hart got in trouble in the top of the third as Hoskins walked to start. Harper whiffed but Realmuto walked as well. Gosselin flied out to left and Gregorius grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third although Jose Peraza grounded out to third to start. Verdugo took strike three but Pillar doubled to left. Somehow Devers pounded his third home run of the year to tie the game. Bogaerts lined out to right to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.

                                                             Tie game

Sox manager Ron Roenicke once again refused to let his starter go five innings as Tzu-Wei Lin threw a Bohm grounder away to start the top of the fourth. Kingery flied out to left and Garlick whiffed, but that was it for Hart. Kyle was lifted after just 73 pitches, 3 2/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. The fact the Sox go to the bullpen early every single game is the reason they're dead last in the American League. Austin Brice came in and got McCutchen to pop up to second to end the inning.

                                                      So much for Hart

The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Moreland walked to start. Vazquez singled Moreland to third and Mitch scored on the sac fly by JBJ. Lin banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 3-2.

                                               "OH MY GOD WE HAVE THE LEAD!" - MM

Brice cruised in the top of the fifth as Hoskins whiffed to start. Harper flied out to left and Realmuto whiffed to end the inning. The Sox got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth although Peraza popped up to short to start. Verdugo doubled to left and scored when Hoskins booted a routine grounder by Pillar. That was it for Arrieta as Adam Morgan came in to pitch, Devers greeting him with a base hit to center. Bogaerts and Moreland both whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                    All smiles today

Ryan Weber came in for the top of the sixth and Gosselin took strike three to start. Gregorius flied out to left but Bohm walked. Kingery grounded out to first to end the inning. Vazquez took strike three to start the bottom of the sixth before JBJ grounded out to second. Lin took strike three to end the inning.

The Phillies struck back in the top of the seventh as Neil Walker pinch hit for Garlick. Walker doubled to center and moved to third on the McCutchen grounder. Lin threw a routine grounder by Hoskins away which allowed Walker to score. Matt Barnes came in and blew away both Harper and Realmuto to end the inning but the Sox still led 4-3.

The Sox got the run back in the bottom of the seventh against Ramon Rosso. Peraza lined out to center but Verdugo walked. Verdugo swiped second but Pillar whiffed. Devers stepped up with a double to score Verdugo and increase the lead. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 5-3.

                                                 Runnin' Red Sox

Barnes came back for the top of the eighth and Gosselin took strike three to start. Gregorius walked but Bohm hit into a double play to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Moreland hit a ground rule double to right to start. A wild pitch moved Moreland to third and Vazquez walked to put runners at the corners. JBJ doubled to center to score Moreland and send Vazquez to third. Connor Brogdon relieved Rosso and Lin whiffed. Peraza flied out to center and Verdugo was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pillar flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.

Brandon Workman came on for the save in the top of the ninth with Roman Quinn pinch hitting for Kingery. Quinn grounded out to first, Walker whiffed and McCutchen flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had ended their losing streak with a 6-3 win.

                                                             A rare win


Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. He knocked in 3 big runs including hitting a 2 run home run to tie the game.

                                                      Our Hero


The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs batted in.

Austin Brice got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Matt Barnes tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Brandon Workman earned his 4th save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts and 2 errors.

Jose Peraza was 0 for 4.

Kyle Hart lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs.

Ryan Weber allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings.



The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.

Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

Hey look the Sox won for a change! The Sox set records for futility during their 9 game losing streak and it felt like they would never win again. With the draft rules changed because of Covid, the Sox simply can't tank for the number 1 pick because they may not actually get it even if they finish worst than the Pittsburgh Pirates. Apart from Devers and Verdugo, there was nothing really exciting about this game. Kyle Hart was unimpressive again and its a good thing this was a short season already because Sox manager Ron Roenicke would have been fired for sure at this point. He keeps saying starters need to go deep but then pulls them out in the third or fourth inning. The win improved the Sox to a pathetic 7-18, dead last in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox will go back to their losing ways when they travel to Baltimore to face the surprising Orioles. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.93 ERA) goes for the Sox up against Asher Wojciechowski at 7:35 PM at Camden Yards.

Rays Pound Sox, Complete Sweep (8/13/20)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Robert Stock was optioned to the Alternate Training Site and Kyle Hart was brought up to make his major league debut. Kyle was the 568th pick of the 2016 draft meaning MLB baseball (the Sox included) thought 567 high school and college players were better than him. God help us.....

                                                                   OUT

                                                          IN

It was a bad night all around for Boston sports. The Boston Bruins were beaten by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their first round NHL playoff series and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox. That was one of the worst beatdowns the Tampa Bay Rays have ever laid on the Boston Red Sox. They averaged 8 runs a game in the past four games including the absolute crush job in tonight's game. The Rays pulverized Kyle Hart (0-1, 22.50 ERA) and a host of horrible believers for 19 hits and 17 runs. The Rays were one of the worst offensive teams in the American League going into this series and they couldn't miss. The Sox managed to make 4 errors on defense and get Jose Peraza hurt while he PITCHED. It all added up to a 17-5 blowout loss at Fenway Park.

                                                     We surrender!

Hart got lit up immediately in the top of the first as Mike Brosseau walked to start. Jose Martinez hit a routine grounder to Jonathan Arauz who threw himself on the ball and screamed for an error. Yandy Diaz singled home Brosseau to put the Rays up early. Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe whiffed but Willy Adames singled home Martinez to increase the lead. Manny Margot flied out to center to end the inning but it was 2-0 Rays.

                                                The carnage begins

The Sox fought back in the bottom of the first against Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. Alex Verdugo led off with a double to left and scored on the base hit by Rafael Devers. JD Martinez walked but Mitch Moreland and Kevin Pillar both struck out swinging. Kevin Plawecki doubled to center to score both runners and give the Sox the lead. Arauz atoned for his error with a base hit to left but Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.

                                                 Sox take the lead.

Hart got Yoshi Tsutsugo to strike out swinging to begin the top of the second before Mike Zunino hit one up the elevator shaft. Brosseau walked and took second on a balk, but Martinez took strike three to end the inning. Jose Peraza popped up to first to start the bottom of the second before Verdugo grounded out to first. Devers whiffed to end the inning.

The Rays figured out Hart in the top of the third as Diaz walked to start. Renfroe hit a 90 mph meatball right down the middle all the way to Lake Michigan to give the Rays the lead. Lowe followed with a 400,000 foot home run of his own and Adames doubled to left. Margot singled Adames to third and Tsutsugo singled him home. That was it for Hart who showed why 567 prospects were chosen before him, getting pounded for 7 runs in just 2 plus innings. Phillips Valdez came in and Zunino beat out a double play ball to score Margot. Brosseau singled to center but Martinez banged into a double play to end the inning with the Rays ahead 7-3.

                                                         Welcome to the big leagues

The Sox did fight back in the bottom of the third as Martinez walked to start. Moreland singled to right but both Pillar and Plawecki took strike three. Arauz doubled to right to score Martinez. The human rally killer JBJ grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were down 7-3.

                                                 Arauz drives in a run

The Rays iced the game in the top of the fourth with some really bad defense by Devers. Diaz singled to right and Devers threw a double play ball by Renfroe away. Lowe singled home Diaz but Diaz went down hacking. Devers threw a ball by Margot away which scored Renfroe and advanced Lowe to third. Tsutsugo scored Lowe with a sac fly to increase the lead. Zunino lined out to center to end the inning with the Rays up 10-4.

The Sox wouldn't go quietly in the bottom of the fourth as Peraza doubled to left to begin. Verdugo and Devers whiffed but Martinez doubled home Peraza to cut the lead. Moreland whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were down 10-5.

                                                Peraza scores

Valdez cruised in the top of the fifth as Brosseau grounded out to third to start. Martinez whiffed and Diaz grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Old pal Jalen "Twin" Beeks took the mound in the bottom of the fifth and cruised. Pillar grounded out to third, Plawecki grounded out to short and Arauz whiffed to end the inning.

Marcus Walden came in for the top of the sixth and immediately crapped his pants. Renfroe smashed a home run into the Atlantic Ocean and Lowe walked to start. Adames tripled into the right field corner and Margot singled him home. Tsutsugo singled to center and Zunino effortlessly crushed a three run bomb to chase Walden. If there were fans in the stands they'd be booing as Josh Osich came in and somehow struck out Brosseau swinging. Martinez grounded out to third and Diaz whiffed to end the inning with the Rays ahead 16-5. The Rays have scored a total of 41 runs in 4 games and there's still three innings left.

                                                         "This sucks" - RR

JBJ grounded out to second to start the bottom of the sixth but Peraza doubled to center. Verdugo grounded out to first and Devers flied out to left to end the inning.

Michael Chavis took over at first in the top of the seventh and Devers made his third error of the gamer when he threw a ground ball by Renfroe away. Lowe and Adames whiffed but Margot singled to left.  Tsutsugo whiffed to end the inning. Anthony Banda came in for the bottom of the seventh and Martinez grounded out to third to start. Chavis tripled to right and Pillar was plunked...but Plawecki banged into a double play to end the inning.

Heath Hembree came in for the top of the eighth and Zunino took strike three to start. Brosseau whiffed and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Arauz lined out to center ton start. JBJ whiffed and Peraza flied out to left to end the inning.

In a case of Murphy's Law, Sox manager Ron Roenicke decided to have Peraza come from second base to pitch the top of the ninth with Tzu-Wei Lin now at short. Diaz singled and Renfroe doubled, then Lowe smashed a line drive off the leg of Peraza that went to Chavis for the out. Peraza's leg was shattered and Diaz scored to wrap up the scoring. Plawecki was brought from the catcher's spot to pitch, Lin moved to the catcher's spot and Christian Vazquez was brought in to play second base as Sox fans wondered if Roenicke had Alzheimer's. Adames walked but Margot lined out to left and Tsutsugo flied out to right to end the inning. The Rays scored a total of 42 runs in this four game sweep....pathetic.

                                                            Can it get any worse?

The Sox rallied for no reason in the bottom of the ninth as Verdugo walked to start. Alex was forced at second by Devers and Lin popped up to third. Chavis singled to center and Pillar doubled home both runners off the Monster. Plawecki the pitcher singled home Pillar to give the Sox 8 runs for the first time since Opening Day. Arauz took strike three to end the game, the Rays had completed the embarrassing sweep 17-8.

                                                        Rays win

Jackass of the Night is Marcus Walden. Hart looked shell-shocked in his ML debut and Valdez was let down by his defense, there's no excuse for Walden to allow 6 damn runs without making an out.

                                                           Walden Jackass


The Good:

JD Martinez was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3.

Michael Chavis was 2 for 2 with a run scored.

Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 5 with 3 rbis and got the final two outs of the ninth inning.

Jonathan Arauz was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Jose Peraza was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Josh Osich struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced.

Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Bad:

Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Kyle Hart got shelled in his ML debut, allowing 7 runs in just 2 plus innings.



The Ugly:

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and 3 errors but drove in a run and scored twice.

Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch, drove in 2 runs and scored a run.

Phillips Valdez allowed 3 unearned runs in 3 innings.



Honorable Mention:

Christian Vazquez played second base in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Murphy's Law was in effect tonight. Not only did one of the worst offenses in baseball pulverize the Sox horrible pitching staff, Rafael Devers managed to look worse than ever and Jose Peraza may be out for the season after taking a line drive off the leg as the PITCHER. Anything that went wrong could and did go wrong. There's really nothing left to say as the whole franchise has sent up the white flag. A lot of Sox fans have said management punted this season, no way. This franchise took a knee on fourth down, forget punting. Every game is a complete embarrassment and its getting worse with each passing day. They're unwatchable at this point and there's still 41 games left of this torture to go. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Not only did the Sox get their brains beat in by Tampa, guess who they get to go get slaughtered by next? That's right, they go to New York to play the Yankees. If the Rays looked like worldbeaters what are the Yankees going to do to them? As per norm, Sox manager Ron Roenicke will pick someone's name out of a hat to start for the Sox against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.