Masterson got the ball in the top of the first inning and Alejandro De Aza led the game off with a swinging strikeout. Jimmy Paredes grounded out. to second but Adam Jones walked. Chris Davis struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox got to Chen in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts singled to right to begin. Betts made a mad dash for second and made it, then advanced to third when old friend Ryan Lavarnway threw the ball into centerfield. Dustin Pedroia whiffed but David Ortiz put the Sox on the board with a sac fly. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox had a 1-0 lead.
The Dirty Birds wasted no time tying the game as Travis Snider tripled to lead off the top of the second inning. Manny Machado lined out to short but Ryan Flaherty doubled in Snider. Lavarnway struck out and Everth Cabrera grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Mike Napoli popped up to first to begin the bottom of the second inning. Shane Victorino stuck out swinging and Brock "The Hitman" Holt lined out to left to end the inning.
Masterson returned for the top of the third but Hanley Ramirez did not. Allen Craig took over in left field as Hanley left due to "illness". De Aza tried to bunt his way on but he failed as Masterson snuffed it out. Paredes hit a ground rule double to center but Jones flied out to center. Davis walked but Snider grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Xander Bogaerts walked to start and Ryan Hanigan singled to right. Chen threw a perfect double play ball away off the bat of Mr. Mookie, scoring Bogaerts. Pedroia laid down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Ortiz popped up to third but Craig walked to load the bases. Napoli walked to drive in the Sox' third run. Victorino lined one off the glove of Machado, scoring Betts and Craig to increase the lead. Holt walked to re-load the bases but Bogaerts popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Masterson returned for the top of the fourth and got Machado to fly out to right to start. Flaherty grounded out to first and Lavarnway struck out swinging to end the inning. Hanigan got plunked in the knee to begin the bottom of the fourth. Betts flied out to center but Pedroia singled to center. Ortiz then banged into a double play to end the inning.
The rain began to fall harder as Masterson whiffed Cabrera to open the top of the fifth. De Aza worked a full count walk and Parades struck out swinging, but De Aza stole second. Jones grounded out to short to end the inning, but Masterson had already thrown 93 pitches. Sox manager John Farrell decided that was enough from Masterson in the pouring rain. Don't want to get your starter hurt in April like Dustin Hermanson way back in 2002. Masterson put the Sox in line for the win with 5 innings of 1 run ball.
Craig struck out to begin the bottom of the fifth but Napoli walked to chase Chen from the game. Old Sox draft pick Jason Garcia was brought in and Victorino popped it up to the pitcher. Holt grounded out to second to end the inning.
Junichi Tazawa replaced Masterson to begin the top of the sixth as the rain intensified. Davis flied out to left and Snider hit one up the elevator shaft. Machado struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth. Bogaerts flied out to center but Hanigan was plunked again on the belt buckle. Mr. Mookie flied out to center but Pedroia doubled home Hanigan thanks to heads up coaching by Brian Butterfield. Ortiz was intentionally walked and Craig singled home Pedroia to wrap up the scoring. Sox analyst Don Orsillo started cracking up for no-reason as Napoli grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
Tazawa returned for the top of the seventh as most of the crowd had left. Flaherty singled up the middle but Lavaranway flied out to center. Tazawa was pulled for Robbie Ross Jr and Ross made up for yesterday by getting the 3-6-3 double play to end the inning. The umpires FINALLY put the game in a rain delay....Hours later the game was called. The Sox had won it 7-1.
Hero of the night is tough. The offense was pretty spread out so let's go with the starter. Justin Masterson pitched 5 solid innings, allowing just 1 run to earn the win.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an rbi
Allen Craig was 1 for 2 with a walk, an rbi and a run scored after taking over from Hanley Ramirez.
Ryan Hanigan was 1 for 1, was hit twice and scored two runs.
Junichi Tazawa pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Robbie Ross Jr got the game ending double play.
The Bad:
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 1 before leaving the game due to illness.
Shane Victorino was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but he singled, stole second and scored twice.
David Ortiz was 0 for 2 but walked and drove in a run with a sac fly.
Mike Napoli was 0 for 2 but walked twice and drove in a run. Brock Holt was 0 for 2 but walked.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 2 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
Not pretty but a win is a win. The Sox remained in first place by fending off the Dirty Birds although their starting pitching situation continues to be a problem. Masterson only went 5 like Rick Porcello yesterday and this can't continue or else the bullpen's collective arms are gonna fall off. The rain was a blessing in disguise because it saved the bullpen 2 innings of work. The offense was pretty good with Ortiz, Petts and Bogaerts leading the charge. Betts and Bogaerts are going to be deadly for years to come. Hope Hanley Ramirez is okay because the Sox are going to need his bat. The Sox hit the road and head to Tampa Bay for a series with the Rays beginning tomorrow night. Wade Miley (0-1) goes for the Sox against Chris Archer at 7:05 PM at Tropicana Field.
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