Sox Lose Refsnyder, Defeat Twins (5/5/24)

Its always something when it comes to the Boston Red Sox this season. Not a week goes by without a catastrophic injury and today was no different. The Red Sox snapped the Minnesota Twins 12 game win streak but Rob Refsnyder had to be carried out with what's being described as a bad hamstring. The injury overshadowed a game where the Red Sox finally outplayed the Twins, outhitting them 11-9 and shutting down their bats. Cooper Criswell pitched 4 1/3 innings of 1 run ball and the bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the game. The bats finally woke up to take a 3-1 lead courtesy of a two run Ceddanne Rafaela home run off Joe Ryan. Vaughn Grissom stepped up with a two run double in the eighth and Rafael Devers pounded a two run home run in the ninth. No one knows how long Refsnyder will be out but the Sox hung on to win 9-2 at Target Field.

                                                      Calling Dr. Pierce

Ryan got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren popped up to short to start. Rafael Devers took strike three and Rob Refsnyder popped up to short to end the inning. Criswell got the ball in the bottom of the first and Alex Kirilloff lined out to center to start. Edouard Julien took strike three and Ryan Jeffers lined out to short to end the inning.

Wilyer Abreu struck out swinging to start the top of the second inning before Vaughn Grissom lined out to left. Dominic Smith flied out to center to end the inning. The Twins blew a huge chance in the bottom of the second as Max Kepler singled in the hole at third to start. Carlos Correa got a base hit to left and Trevor Larnach got a base hit to right to load the bases. Willi Castro and Carlos Santana both struck out swinging and Jose Miranda forced Kapler at home to end the inning. Good Houdini job by Criswell.

Reese McGuire struck out swinging to open the top of the third before Ceddanne Rafaela took strike three. Zack Short grounded out to short to end the inning. The Twins struck first in the bottom of the third as Kirilloff took strike three to start. Julien struck out swinging but Jeffers hit a home run to Andrews Air Force Base to put the Twins on top. Kepler flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins up 1-0.

                                                     Home run Jeffers

The Sox struck back in the top of the fourth as Duran doubled to left to start. Duran moved to third on a grounder to first by Devers and Refsnyder doubled off the glove of Corea to score Jarren. Abreu flied out to right and Grissom grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                     Refsnyder tied it

Correa walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Larnach grounded into a double play. Castro flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth as Smith flied out to center to start. McGuire got a base hit to center and Santana mucked a pickoff throw to move Reese to second. McGuire was thrown out at third trying to steal....but wait! Sox manager Alex Cora challenged that McGuire was safe and Reese was shown to get the hand in. The call was overturned and Rafaela cracked his third home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Short popped up to Correa and Duran flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 3-1.

                                                            Home run Rafaela

David Hamilton took over for Refsnyder, who had to be carried into the runway with a bad hamstring, to start the bottom of the fifth and Santana doubled to right to start. Miranda popped up to first and that was it for Criswell. He lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on 5 hits and a walk. Brennan Bernardino (1-1, 0.64 ERA) came in and got pinch hitter Manny Margot to pop up to second. Julien took strike three to end the inning.

                                                    Criswell keeps the Sox in it

Devers struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth before Hamilton drew a walk. Abreu flied out to center and Grissom lined out to right to end the inning. Zack Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Jeffers lined out to right to start. Kepler and Corrrea drew back to back walks before Larnarch struck out swinging. Castro flied out to center to end the inning.

Kody Funderburk came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Smith struck out swinging. McGuire got a base hit past Funderburk and was sacrificed to second by Rafaela. Short struck out swinging to end the inning. Santana got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the seventh before Miranda struck out swinging. Margot forced Santana at second and Cam Booser was brought in to face Julien. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli countered by pinch hitting Kyle Farmer for Julien. Farmer forced Margot at second to end the inning.

The Sox put the game away in the top of the eighth as Duran grounded out to second to start. Devers got a base hit to right and Tyler O'Neill pinch hit for Hamilton. Tyler doubled to left while Abreu drew a walk to load the bases. Grissom got his first big hit with the Sox by pounding a double off the right field wall to score Devers and O'Neill. Smith doubled to left to score Abreu and Grissom to ice the game. Jay Jackson came in to face McGuire and Reese grounded out to first to move Smith to third. Rafaela flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 7-1.

                                                             Welcome to Boston, Grissom

Josh Winckowski came in to get tagged in the bottom of the eighth as Jeffers flied out to left to start. Kepler doubled to right but Correa lined out to right. Larnach singled to center to score Kepler but Castro grounded out to second to end the inning with the Twins down 7-2.

                                                        Twins get a run back

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth as Short went down hacking to start. Duran smacked a triple to right and Devers mashed his fourth home run of the season to increase the lead. O'Neill popped up to second but Abreu walked. Grissom grounded back to Jackson to end the inning with the Sox up 9-2.

                                                         Home run Devers

Kenley Jansen came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Santana lined out to right to start. Rafaela booted a grounder by Miranda for an error but Margot flied out to right. Miranda moved to second on defensive indifference and to third on the Farmer base hit to right. Farmer moved to second on defensive indifference and Jeffers popped up to Grissom to end the game. The Sox had won the game 9-2.

                                                           Sox win

Hero of The Night is Ceddanne Rafaela. His two run home run put the Sox up for good.

                                                    Ceddanne Hero

The Good:

Jarren Duran was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a 2 run homer and two total runs scored.

Rob Refsnyder was 1 for 2 with an rbi before leaving with an injury.

David Hamilton walked as a pinch hitter.

Tyler O'Neill was 1 for 2 with a run scored.

Reese McGuire was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.

Cooper Criswell tossed 4 1/3 innings of 1 run ball allowing 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5.

Brennan Bernardino tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning to earn the win.

Zack Kelly tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Cam Booser got the final out of the seventh inning.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Zack Short was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Josh Winckowski allowed a run in the eighth inning.

The Ugly:

Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice and scored a run.

Vaughn Grissom was just 1 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Dominic Smith was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in 2 runs.

Final Thoughts:

Is it possible to go one week without a serious injury? Its bad enough that the Sox lost Triston Casas, Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida to long term injuries but now their sparkplug Refsnyder is gone. Refsnyder was the only consistent hitter they had after he was activated from the Injured List and he's hurt AGAIN. They think its just a hamstring pull but knowing this year, he probably tore it completely off the bone. This overshadows what was a great win against a team that won 12 in a row. The bullpen stepped up big time after Cooper was pulled early AGAIN but thankfully there's an off-day tomorrow to rest everyone. Abreu continues to show improvement and Grissom got his first big hit with the Sox. If it wasn't for all the injuries, the Sox record would be better than it is. Good news is fresh troops are on the way as Brayan Bello is scheduled to pitch in Portland on Tuesday night for a rehab start and rumor is Nick Pivetta will be starting Wednesday's game against none other than Chris Sale. The win improved the Sox to 19-16, 4.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox are back in action Tuesday night in Atlanta for a two game set with the Braves. Kutter Crawford (2-1, 1.56 ERA) takes on Reynaldo Lopez of Atlanta. The game begins at 7:20 PM at Truist Park.

Giants Shut Down Sox (5/2/24)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Enmanuel Valdez was optioned down to Worcester and Sox activated shortstop Zack Short. Short isnt much with the bat but he fields his position well, and with the Sox record at 14-2 when they don't allow an error, Sox brass looks to keep it that way. Valdez was hitting just .156 with an error so it was an easy move to make. Maybe once a bunch of people come back healthy, Valdez will be seen again.

                                                                                OUT

                                                                         IN

It was bad news all around as the Boston Bruins lost Game 6 of their first round NHL playoff series to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox. The Boston bats went quiet in this one as the Giants bullpen held the Sox to just one measly run the entire game. Josh Winckowski tossed shutout ball but was pulled in the fifth with the game tied 1-1. In the top of the seventh, Zack Kelly (0-1, 3.18 ERA) was charged with two runs to put the Giants ahead. The Sox bats couldn't rally in the final three innings and the Giants had beaten the Sox 3-1 at Fenway Park.

                     The retiring Jack Edwards (with Andy Brickley) can't bear to watch

Winckowski got the ball in the top of the first and Jung Hoo Lee flied out to center to start. Jorge Soler grounded out to third but Wilmer Flores walked. Michael Conforto grounded out to second to end the inning. Harrison got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran grounded out to second to start. Rafael Devers was hit with a pitch. Tyler O'Neill drew a walk but Rob Refsnyder struck out swinging. Connor Wong walked to load the bases but Garrett Cooper flied out to right to end the inning.

Patrick Bailey flied out to right to start the top of the second but Matt Chapman walked. Thairo Estrada grounded into a double play to end the inning. Bobby Dalbec walked to start the bottom of second but Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging. Zack Short made his Sox debut by striking out swinging and Duran also went down hacking to end the inning.

The Giants struck first in the top of the third as Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run all the way to Cambridge to start. Nick Ahmed popped up to first and Lee flied out to center, but Soler singled to left. Flores lined out to left to end the inning with the Giants up 1-0.

                                                   A Yastrzemski homer at Fenway

The Sox answered in the bottom of the third as Devers singled to center to start. O'Neill hit a rocket off the top of the Monster to score Devers to tie the game. Refsnyder walked but Wong went down hacking. Cooper grounded into a double play to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                          Tyler ties it up

Conforto grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth and Bailey flied out to center. Chapman popped up to first to end the inning. Dalbec grounded out to second to begin the bottom of the fourth but Yaz lost a Rafaela ball in the sun for a double. Short took strike three and Lee robbed Duran of a double with a good catch to end the inning.

Winckowski briefly came back for the top of the fifth as Estrada grounded out to third to start. He allowed no runs, 2 hits and 2 walks. Brennan Bernardino came in and Yaz hit one up the elevator shaft. Ahmed grounded out to third to end the inning. 

                                                     Short and sweet for Wink

Devers froze for strike three leading off the bottom of the fifth but O'Neill walked. Refsnyder grounded into a double play to end the inning. 

Lee flied out to left to start the top of the sixth and Bernardino was done. Zack Kelly came in and Soler flied out to left. Flores singled to center but Conforto popped up to third to end the inning. Ryan Walker came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Wong grounded out to third to start. Cooper got a base hit to center but Dalbec struck out swinging. Rafaela lined out to center to end the inning. 

The Giants put the game away in the top of the seventh as Bailey singled to left to start. Chapman singled to left and Estrada got a base hit to right to score Bailey, putting the Giants up for good. Cam Booser came in to face Yaz with runners at the corners but Austin Slater pinch hit for him. Slater struck out swinging but Ahmed hit a sad fly to left to score Chapman, icing the game. Lee lined out to left to end the inning with the Giants up 3-1.

                                                          Giants take the lead

Erik Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Short flied out to left to start. Duran grounded out to second and Devers struck out swinging to end the inning,

Naoyuki Uwasawa made his ML debut in the top of the eighth and Soler popped up to third to start. Flores popped up to third and Conforto struck out swinging to end the inning.

                                                    Welcome to the big leagues

Tyler Rogers came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and O'Neill grounded out to short to start. Wilyer Abreu pinch hit for Refsnyder and struck out swinging before Wong grounded out to short to end the inning.

Bailey grounded out to short to start the top of the ninth before Chapman grounded out to second. Estrada grounded out to short to end the inning. Camilo Doval came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Cooper grounded out to first to start. Reese McGuire pinch hit for Dalbec and struck out swinging. Rafaela lined out to right to end the game. The Giants had won it 3-1.

                                                             Giants win

Jackass of The Night is Zack Kelly. He was charged with 2 runs to take the loss.

                                                        Kelly The Jackass

The Good:

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.

Tyler O'Neill was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Josh Winckowski tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed just 1 run off 2 hits and 2 walks.

Brennan Bernardino tossed a full scoreless inning.

Naoyuki Uwasawa tossed two scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Wilyer Abreu struck out as a pinch hitter.

Reese McGuire struck out as a pinch hitter.

Zack Short was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

The Ugly:

Rob Refsnyder was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.

Connor Wong was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Garrett Cooper was just 1 for 4.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.

Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Cam Booser allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in a full inning.

Final Thoughts:

The problem with the Sox having so many injuries is they're going to have to win a lot of low scoring games for a while. Masataka Yoshida, Vaughn Grissom, Trevor Story and Triston Casas are all on the Injured List and that's four of your nine starters. The rumor is Grissom will be ready tomorrow and Bobby Dalbec gets shot out of a cannon. Dalbec has been a disaster at the plate and Grissom does have a good bat. Sure Zack Kelly got lit up tonight but otherwise the pitching has been the bright spot this season. They all have interesting stories from Booser taking up carpentry thinking he'd never pitch again and Uwasawa coming over from Japan only to get cut by the Tampa Bay Rays, then picked up on a whim here. Jarren Duran picked a fine time to go into a slump and Rafaela still looks lost at the plate. Hopefully both of them turn it around soon because both the Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays have looked awful this year to start. The Sox may be perfectly mediocre but there are some BAD teams in baseball that are far worse than they are. If the Sox can get healthy, they might have something here. The loss dropped the Sox to 18-14, 2.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox now hit the road and the first stop is Minnesota to play the Twins. Tomorrow night Tanner Houck (3-2, 1.60 ERA) gets the start against Chris Paddack of Minnesota. The game begins at 8:10 PM Eastern time at Target Field.