Indians Rally Early, Late To Beat Sox (9/5/21)

Before the game the Sox made two emergency transactions. Today's starter Nick Pivetta and Danny Santana were both placed on the COVID List. That thrust 25 year old rookie starter Kutter Crawford to pitch today's game and Franchy Cordero was also called up to replace Santana. 

                                                                          OUT

                                                                       IN

What a tough way to make your Major League debut for 25 year old Kutter Crawford (0-1, 22.50 ERA). Nick Pivetta couldn't make the start due to testing positive for Covid and Crawford ended up taking a beating at the hands of the Cleveland Indians. Crawford allowed 5 runs and got knocked out without getting an out in the third inning. The sad part was the Red Sox rallied to cut the lead to 6-5 going into the top of the ninth. Any hope of a comeback ended when Phillips Valdez threw up on himself by allowing 5 runs to put the game away. The Indians spoiled Crawford's debut, pounded out 15 hits and scored 11 runs to defeat the Sox 11-5 at Fenway Park.

                                                             Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!1

Crawford got his lunch handed to him instantly in the top of the first inning as Myles Straw walked to start. Amed Rosario dropped a base hit to center and Franmil Reyes hit a rocket to center for a single that loaded the bases just like that. Bobby Bradley hit a sac fly to score Straw and move Rosario to third before Harold Ramirez brought in Rosario with his own sac fly. Bradley Zimmer struck out swinging to end the inning with the Indians ahead 2-0.

                                                             Indians take the lead

Zach Plesac got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Kyle Schwarber walked to start. Hunter Renfroe popped up to first but Owen Miller booted a grounder by JD Martinez for an error. Alex Verdugo lined out to right and Kevin Plawecki grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Indians struck again in the top of the second as Miller doubled to center to start. Miller moved to third after Austin Hedges was retired on a squibber in front of the plate but Andres Gimenez flied out to right. Straw ripped a base hit to center to score Miller and increase the lead before swiping second. Rosario struck out swinging to end the inning with the Indians ahead 3-0.

                                                        Straw put the Sox in a deeper hole

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the second as Travis Shaw walked to start. Bobby Dalbec doubled to center but Jack Lopez struck out swinging. Jonathan Arauz flied out to center and Schwarber grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Indians iced the game and chased Crawford in the top of the third as Reyes clobbered a home run all the way back to Cleveland to increase the lead. Bradley walked and that was it for Crawford. Maybe he was nervous but Crawford was hit hard in his major league debut, allowing 5 runs in just 2 plus innings. John Schreiber made his Red Sox debut by getting tagged by a double to left by Ramirez. Zimmer singled to left to score both Bradley and Ramirez. Miller singled to right but Hedges banged into a double play. Gimenez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Indians up 6-0.

                                                  Welcome to the big leagues, Crawford

Renfroe lined out to center to start the bottom of the third but Martinez singled to center. Verdugo forced Martinez at second and Plawecki flied out to right to end the inning.

Schreiber settled down in the top of the fourth as Straw flied out to right to start. Rosario struck out swinging but Reyes walked. Bradley took strike three to end the inning. The Sox blew another rally in the bottom of the fourth as Shaw watched strike three go by to begin. Dalbec singled to left and Lopez doubled to left but Arauz popped up to left. Schwarber struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ramirez grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth before Zimmer struck out swinging. Miller also struck out swinging to end the inning. Suddenly the Sox came out swinging in the bottom of the fifth as Renfroe doubled to center to start. Martinez doubled to left to score Renfroe and Verdugo walked. Plawecki singled to center to score Martinez with another run and Shaw doubled to center to score Alex, cutting the lead in half. Dalbec flied out to left and Sox manager Alex Cora figured the Sox could win this game and had Rafael Devers pinch hit for Lopez. Unfortunately both Devers and Arauz struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 6-3.

                                                   Shaw with a big double

Taylor Motter took over for Devers in the field in the top of the sixth and the Indians quickly chased Schreiber with a double to center by Hedges. Stephen Gonsalves came in to pitch and Gimenez struck out swinging before Hedges moves to third on the grounder to second by Straw. Rosario grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox rallied again in the bottom of the sixth with Nick Wittgren now on the mound. Schwarber grounded out to first but Renfroe singled to center. Martinez then clobbered his 25th home run of the season to cut the lead. Verdugo doubled to right and just like that, the Sox had the tying run in scoring position. Verdugo moved to third on the Plawecki grounder to short but Shaw grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 6-5.

                                                        Martinez goes yard

Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Reyes singled to center. Bradley forced Reyes at second and Ramirez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Trevor Stephan came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Dalbec struck out swinging to start. Motter walked but Arauz flied out to left and Taylor was picked off to end the inning.

                                                                     Yerrrrr out

Hansel Robles came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Zimmer struck out swinging to start. Miller struck out swinging and Hedges grounded out to third to end the inning. Blake Parker came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Schwarber grounded out to second to start. Renfroe singled to left then moved to second on the Martinez grounder to first. Emmanuel Clase came in to pitch to Verdugo and Alex grounded out to second to end the inning.

Phillips Valdez came in to vomit up his intestines in the top of the ninth as Gimenez singled to center to start. Gimenez stole second, Straw walked and Rosario singled off the glove of Dalbec to score Andres. Reyes doubled to center to score both Straw and Rosario to ice the game. Bradley singled to right to put runners at the corners and Ramirez singled to center to score Reyes. Oscar Mercado ran for Ramirez and Zimmer beat out a double play ball. Miller hit a routine grounder to short but Arauz did a backflip on the ball and wrestled with it for an error to score Bradley. Schwarber made an insane diving catch to rob Hedges of a bloop single and double off Zimmer to end the inning with the Indians up 11-5.

                                                                What a massacre

Yu Chang took over at first for the bottom of the ninth and Plawecki got a base hit to right to start. Kevin moved to second on the grounder to second by Shaw. Plawecki moved to third on the grounder to short by Dalbec but Motter grounded out to second to end the game. The Indians had won it 11-5.

                                                       Indians win

Jackass of the Night is Phillips Valdez. He allowed 5 runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach.

                                                "Thanks a lot you Jackass" - Cora

The Good:

Hunter Renfroe was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

JD Martinez was 3 for 5 with 3 total rbis and 2 runs scored including a 2 run home run.

Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 5.

Jack Lopez was 1 for 2.

Stephen Gonsalves pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Hansel Robles pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bad:

Rafael Devers struck out as a pinch hitter.

Jonathan Arauz was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.

Kutter Crawford was hammered for 5 runs in just 2 plus innings. He allowed 5 hits and 2 walks but struck out 2.

The Ugly:

Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 4 but drew a walk.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Travis Shaw was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and drove in a run.

Taylor Motter was 0 for 1 and got picked off after walking.

John Schreiber allowed an inherited runner to score and one of his own in 3 innings of work.

Final Thoughts:

What should have been an epic comeback win crashed and burned in a hurry for the Red Sox. Kutter Crawford was put in a tough spot having to pitch on such short notice but the Sox bats went ice cold after nearly tying the game in the sixth. If Valdez hadn't crapped his pants in the ninth, the Sox might have had a chance. The bottom of the order was a black hole but that was mostly due to Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Kike Hernandez not playing or starting. Time is running out for the Sox this season with only 23 games left in the season and each loss pushes them further to the brink. They're only a half game behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card but Seattle is only 3 games behind them. They haven't looked good at all after the all-star break and Nick Pivetta getting sick sure as hell didn't help. The loss drops the Sox to 79-60, 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. Its do or die for the Sox now if they have any hope to win the division because the Rays are up next for a three game. Chris Sale gets the start for the Sox with the AL East hanging in the balance against Ryan Yarbrough of the Rays. The game begins at 1:10 PM on Labor Day Monday at Fenway Park.

Rays Crush Peacock, Sox (8/31/21)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a bevy of roster moves. Josh Taylor and Hiro Sawamura were placed on the Covid List and Raynel Espinal was sent back to Worcester. The Sox called up veteran starter Brad Peacock to make today's start along with journeyman minor leaguer Steven Gonsalves to replace Taylor. Hunter Renfroe was activated off the Bereavement List so its nice to see him back.

                                                                             OUT

                                                                    IN

As for the game, ever notice that every bum and reclamation project the Tampa Bay Rays bring up works out while everyone the Red Sox sign falls flat on their face? Brad Peacock was picked up off the scrap heap to pitch tonight's game and he got swatted like a fly. After allowing a run in the second inning, he got knocked out in the third, allowing 6 runs total. New pitcher Steven Gonsalves allowed another two and shoddy defense allowed the Rays to score one off Phillips Valdez. Meanwhile the Sox did put up 5 runs against Ryan Yarbrough and the Tampa bullpen. To add insult to injury, Xander Bogaerts left the game with a positive Covid test. It was all bad news as the Rays won their ninth straight game and pretty much ended the AL East race with an 8-5 win over the Sox at Tropicana Field.

                                          Both the Sox and John Cena lose....this sucks

The Sox did rally in the top of the first against Yarbrough although Hunter Renfroe took strike three to start. Kyle Schwarber flied out to right but JD Martinez doubled to left. Xander Bogaerts dropped a base hit to right to score JD but Rafael Devers hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with Boston ahead 1-0.

                                                       Bogaerts puts Boston on top

Peacock got the ball in the bottom of the first and Brandon Lowe flied out to center to start. Nelson Cruz popped up to first and Wander Franco grounded out to first to end the inning.

Bobby Dalbec grounded out to third to start the top of the second before Alex Verdugo struck out swinging. Christian Vazquez flied out to left to end the inning. All of a sudden Xander Bogaerts keeled over in the dugout and had to be rushed to a local ICU with Covid. Yairo Munoz took his spot in the batting order at second base with Jonathan Arauz moving to short. Austin Meadows flied out to center but Randy Arozarena hit a home run all the way to the deepest part of Finland to tie the game. Joey Wendle flied out to center and Yandy Diaz flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                      Rays tie it up

Arauz lined out to right to open the top of the third but Renfroe doubled to left. Renfroe moved to third on the grounder by Schwarber but Martinez popped up to second to end the inning. The floodgates opened in the bottom of the third as Kevin Kiermaier walked to start. Francisco Mejia was hit with a pitch and both runners moved over on the Lowe fly out to center. Cruz walked to load the bases and Franco dumped a base hit to right. Renfroe threw the ball into Dalbec who turned and heaved the ball into the left field stands for an error to score Kiermaier and Mejia. That was it for Peacock who Sox manager Alex Cora pulled the plug on after just 2 1/3 innings. Stephen Gonsalves made his Sox debut by pouring gas on the fire. A wild pitch scored Cruz and Meadows singled in the hole at second to score Franco. Arozarena was hit with a pitch but Wendle flied out to left. Diaz doubled to right to score both runners to ice the game. Kiermaier struck out swinging but the game was basically over with the Sox down 7-1.

                                                              Gonsalves was not the answer

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Munoz flied out to left to start. Devers grounded out to short and Dalbec went down hacking to end the inning. Mejia popped up to short to start the bottom of the fourth before Lowe struck out swinging. Cruz grounded out to third to end the inning.

Verdugo grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth but Vazquez got a base hit to right. Arauz flied out to left and Renfroe flied out to right to end the inning. Franco walked to start the bottom of the fifth before Meadows flied out to center. Franco took second on a wild pitch but Arozarena struck out swinging. Wendle flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox did manage a run back when Schwarber belted his 28th home run of the season to cut the lead to start the top of the sixth. Martinez flied out to right, Munoz lined out to right and Devers lined out to third to end the inning with the Sox still down 7-2.

                                                     Schwarber hits one out

The Rays got to Phillips Valdez in the bottom of the sixth as Diaz was hit with a pitch to start. Kiermaier hit a routine grounder to Dalbec who threw himself on the ball and swam on it for another error to move Diaz to third. Diaz scored on the sac fly by Mejia to increase the lead. Lowe struck out swinging but Cruz walked. Franco grounded out to first to end the inning with the Rays up 8-2.

                                                           Rays pour it on

Shawn Armstrong came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Dalbec tried to atone for his error with a base hit to right. Verdugo flied out to center but Vazquez drew a walk. Arauz grounded out to second to move both runners over but Renfroe flied out to right to end the inning. Valdez returned for the bottom of the seventh and Meadows flied out to left to begin. Arozarena struck out looking and Wendle grounded out to first to end the inning.

Dietrich Enns came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Schwarber walked to start. Martinez took strike three and Munoz hit a routine grounder to third...thrown away by Wendle to move both runners into scoring position. Devers ripped a base hit to left to score Schwarber but Munoz remained at third. Dalbec struck out swinging and Verdugo flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 8-3.

                                                     Devers drives in a run

Valdez returned for the bottom of the eighth and Diaz grounded out to third to start. Kiermaier lined out to third but Mejia doubled to center. Lowe flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox rallied in the top of the ninth as Vazquez flied out to left to start. Arauz walked, Renfroe doubled to left and Schwarber ripped a base hit to center to score Arauz. Martinez ripped a base hit to right to score Renfroe and bring the tying run to the plate. Rays manager Kevin Cash brought in Andrew Kittredge to face Munoz so Sox manager Alex Cora sent in Travis Shaw to pinch hit for Yairo. Shaw struck out swinging and so did Devers to end the game. The Rays had won it 8-5.

                                                              Rays win

Jackass of the Night is Brad Peacock. He got hammered for 5 runs in just 2 1/3 innings to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't get out of.

                                                        Peacock Jackass

The Good:

Hunter Renfroe was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Kyle Schwarber was 2 for 4 with a home run, a walk, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.

JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts singled and drove in a run before leaving with illness.

Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk.

The Bad:

Stephen Gonsalves allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Yairo Munoz was 0 for 3 at the plate.

Travis Shaw struck out as a pinch hitter.

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but drove in a run.

Bobby Dalbec was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and 2 errors.

Phillips Valdez allowed a run in 3 innings of work.

Jonathan Arauz was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

Another game, another loss to the Rays. Once again the starting pitching leaves a lot to be desired as starting Brad Peacock during a crucial game against your division rival failed big time. The sins of the spring are biting the Sox in the summer as the bullpen is worn down and they're not beating the red hot Rays. It may come down to the Sox having to fight the New York Yankees for the wild card and currently they're two games behind them as well. Its a shame after how this year was supposed to be redemption for last year's abortion but things are going down fast. Losing Bogaerts to a positive Covid test doesn't help either, especially if he infects anyone else on the team. The less said about this disaster, the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 79-59, 10 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back in the third game of this series when Chris Sale takes on Drew Rasmussen of Tampa. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.