As for the game, the Boston Red Sox are having way too much trouble containing the Minnesota Twins. After the Twins feasted on Sox pitching for 18 hits and 11 runs last night, they responded with 9 hits and 7 runs in this one. "Slick" Rick Porcello (13-2, 3.57 ERA) took a step back in his march to the AL Cy Young Award as he was plastered for 5 runs in 6 2/3 innings although only 4 were earned. Matt Barnes was also smacked charged fpr two runs as well. The key to this one was the offense remained red hot. The Sox beat up Twins starter Tommy Milone for 8 runs although only 4 of theirs were earned as well. The key was in the bottom of the fifth with the Sox nursing a 5-3 lead, Travis Shaw belted a three run home run to give Boston some cushion. The Twins would score four runs off Barnes (Junichi Tazawa allowed them) and Porcello but Brad Ziegler saved the day in the ninth inning. The Sox had held on to win 8-7 at Fenway Park.
Porcello got the ball in the top of the first inning and Eduardo Nunez struck out swinging to start. Joe Mauer singled off the Monster and damn near got tagged out at first. Miguel Sano popped up to Jackie Bradley Jr and Brian Dozier popped up to first to end the inning. Millone got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Brock ''The Hitman" Holt struck out swinging to start. Dustin Pedroia popped up to center and Xander Bogaerts poked a base hit to right to start. Hanley Ramirez popped up to first to end the inning.
The Twins struck first in the top of the second as Bogaerts booted a grounder by Max Kepler for an error to start. Kennys Vargas walked and Eddie Rosario beat out a double play ball. Jackie Bradley Jr couldn't make a sliding catch on a Juan Centeno line drive for a two run double. A passed ball moved Centeno to third. Byron Buxton struck out swinging and Nunez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox down 2-0.
JBJ got a base hit to center to start the top of the second and Aaron Hill lined out to center. Travis Shaw flied out to center and Bryce Brentz popped up to left to end the inning.
Mauer grounded out to first to start the top of the third before Sano struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third as Ryan Hanigan took strike three to start. Holt grounded out to second but Pedroia got a base hit down the left field line. Bogaerts lined a base hit off the glove of Sano and Ramirez crushed his 13th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning.
Home run Ramirez
The Twins answered in the top of the fourth as Holt failed to come up with a line drive by Kepler for a triple. Vargas grounded out to second to score Kepler and Rosario struck out swinging. Centeno took strike three to end the inning with the Twins down 3-1.
Twins get a run back
Hill grounded out to third to begin the bottom of the fourth and Shaw flied out to left. Brentz got a base hit to center but Hanigan flied out to right to end the inning.
Porcello snuffed out Buxton's bunt attempt to start the top of the fifth and Nunez grounded back to the mound. Mauer grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Holt took strike three to start. Pedroia then launched his 10th home run of the season to increase the lead. Bogaerts got a base hit to center but was thrown out trying to steal.....but wait! Sox manager John Farrell challenged Bogaerts was safe and replays showed he was. Ramirez singled in the hole at short to put runners at the corners but JBJ struck out swinging. Hill hit a routine grounder to Sano who went OLE for an error to score Bogaerts. Shaw then clobbered his 12th home run of the season to chase Milone. Trevor May came in and Brentz grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 8-3.
Shaw jacks one
Porcello cruised in the top of the sixth as Sano grounded out to short to start. Dozier struck out swinging and Kepler grounded out to second to end the inning. Hanigan grounded out to short to start the bottom of the sixth but Holt walked. It looked like Holt stole second but Twins manager Paul Molitor challenged that he was out. Sure enough, replays overturned the call. Pedroia took strike three to end the inning.
The Twins struck back in the top of the seventh as Vargas doubled off the centerfield garage to start. Rosario grounded out to third but Holt lost a Centeno ball in the sun for a "double", although Vargas stayed at third. Buxton got a base hit to left to score both runners and Nunez struck out swinging. That was it for Porcello who was charged with 5 runs in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed 6 hits and a walk. Matt Barnes came in and Mauer grounded out to short to end the inning with the Twins down 8-5.
Bogaerts popped up to second to start the bottom of the seventh before Ramirez struck out swinging. JBJ grounded out to first to end the inning.
Things got hairy in the top of the eighth as Sano got a base hit to center to start. Dozier singled to left and Kepler walked to load the bases with nobody out. Junichi Tazawa came in and Vargas hit a sac fly to the left field warning track to score Sano. Rosario struck out swinging but Centeno singled in the hole at first to score Dozier. Buxton struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins down 8-7.
Twins inch closer
Taylor Rogers came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Hill flied out to right to start. Shaw struck out swinging and Brentz grounded out to short to end the inning.
Brad Ziegler came in to close out the top of the ninth and Nunez struck out swinging to start. Mauer grounded out to second and Sano struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had held on to win it 8-7.
Hero of The Night is Travis Shaw. His 3 run home run was the deciding factor in the game.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a 3 run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Brad Ziegler earned his 19th save with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Ryan Hanigan was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Matt Barnes was charged with 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Brock Holt was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Aaron Hill was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Bryce Brentz was just 1 for 4.
Rick Porcello earned the win but got tagged for 5 runs (4 earned) in 6 2/3 innings of work. He allowed 6 hits and a walk while striking out 8.
Junichi Tazawa allowed 2 inherited runners to score but none of his own in an inning of work.
Final Thoughts:
Good bounce back win for the Sox but the pitching once again leaves a lot to be desired. The offense is carrying the Sox as the starters and bullpen haven't been good enough in this series. Brad Ziegler saved the day but Tazawa and Barnes kept giving up hits. Porcello's Cy Young march took a hit with 4 earned runs on his record but he still got the win. Thank goodness for the offense as Shaw, Ramirez and Pedroia all hit big home runs to help the cause. The Baltimore Orioles knocked around Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians today so the Sox needed the win to keep pace. There's still a long way to go in the season but every win counts in the era of the second wild card. Hopefully Koji Uehara and Craig Kimbrell can come back and turn the bullpen into a weapon again. Until then, they're going to have to outslug other teams and pray David Price doesn't suck moving forward. The win improved the Sox to 55-41, 1.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox now welcome in the Detroit Tigers for a three game set beginning tomorrow night. Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83 ERA) takes on Justin Verlander of Detroit at Fenway Park.
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