Before the game the Boston Red Sox made an expected roster move. Koji Uehara was placed on the 15 Day Disabled List with a strained pectoral muscle. It shouldn't be too serious but the Red Sox are already without Craig Kimbrel and Junichi Tazawa. The Sox called up Noe Ramirez from Pawtucket to take his place but now the Sox are gonna have to run with Brad Ziegler as the closer. Still, hopefully Uehara, Tazawa and Kimbrel come back soon.
As for the game, this is NOT good. The Sox traded for Drew Pomeranz expecting him to be the missing piece in the rotation to get them to October and tonight he couldn't handle the pressure of Fenway Park. He got lit up for 5 runs in just 3 innings, forcing the Boston bullpen already without Koji Uehara and Craig Kimbrel to throw 6 innings. The good news was the Boston bats picked up the pace. The Sox scored 7 early runs off Matt Cain including two separate 2 run home runs from Hanley Ramirez. The Giants added two runs off Robbie Ross Jr and Heath Hembree to make it 8-7 in the 5th, but the bullpen held fast after. Hanley Ramirez hit his third 2 run home run of the game and Sandy Leon added one for good measure as the Sox outslugged the Giants 11-7 at Fenway Park.
Pomeranz got the ball in the top of the first inning and Denard Span walked to start. Angel Pagan lined out to first and Span moved to second on the Brandon Belt grounder to first. Buster Posey flied out to center to end the inning. Cain got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to third to start. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third and Xander Bogaerts popped up to first to end the inning.
Brandon Crawford doubled to center to start the top of the second but Mac Williamson struck out swinging. Grant Green grounded out to first to move Crawford to third but Trevor Brown took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as David Ortiz walked to start. Hanley Ramirez then smashed a two run home run into the bullpen that took Williamson with the ball. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to short but Travis Shaw hit a home run completely over the bullpen for his 11th home run of the season. Sandy Leon took strike three but Brock "The Hitman" Holt got a base hit to left. Mr. Mookie got a base hit to right to move Holt to third and promptly stole second. Pedroia lined out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Ramiro Pena led off the top of the third by popping up to first. Span took strike three but Pagan ripped a base hit to center. Belt struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the third as Bogaerts got a base hit to left to start. Ortiz flied out to the centerfield warning track but Ramirez blasted another two run homer to dead center to chase Cain.
Albert Suarez came in to pour gas on the fire as JBJ doubled to right but Shaw flied out to left. Leon tripled off the centerfield wall to score JBJ and Hitman Holt doubled into the left field corner to score Leon. Mr. Mookie doubled to the left field wall to score Holt and Pedroia was retired on a nubber in front of the plate to end the inning with the Sox up 8-0.
The Sox pour it on
All of a sudden the Giants exploded on Pomeranz in the top of the fourth as Posey walked to start. Crawford dumped a base hit in front of JBJ and Williamson hit a home run all the way to Bombay, India to cut the lead. Green blooped a single to right and Sox pitching coach Carl Willis sprinted to the mound to tell Pomeranz that Red Dead Redemption is a good video game. Brown crushed a home run all the way to Natick as the fans started booing. Pena beat out a grounder to third and Span caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single and that was FINALLY it for Pomeranz. Handed an 8 run lead, he allowed 5 runs without getting an out in the fourth inning. Robbie Ross Jr came in and Pagan lined out to second before Pena moved to third on the fly out to center by Belt. Posey forced Span at second to end the inning but it was now 8-5 Sox.
Bogaerts got hit in the head on a grounder to third with the throw for a "single" to start the bottom of the fourth. Ortiz grounded out to second to move Bogaerts to second and Ramirez was hit with a pitch. Hanley stared down Suarez and said he'd get him back as the umpires warned both benches to not escalate this further. JBJ forced Hanley at second and Shaw popped up to third to end the inning.
The Giants struck again in the top of the fifth as Crawford struck out swinging to begin. Williamson took strike three but Green walked to chase Ross. Heath Hembree came in to pour gas on the fire as Brown singled off the Monster and Pena hit a grounder in no man's land at short to score Green. Span got a base hit to right to score Brown and put the tying run at second base. Shaw fell into the stands to catch a pop up by Pagan to end the inning but the 8-0 game was now 8-7.
Giants inch closer
Leon popped up to short to start the bottom of the fifth and Holt was rung up for strike three. Mr. Mookie doubled high off the Monster but Pedroia popped up to short to end the inning.
Tommy Layne came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Belt got a base hit to center to start. Posey got a base hit to center as well and Crawford walked to load the bases with nobody out. Matt Barnes was brought in to face pinch hitter Gregor Blanco. Blanco hit a grounder to first and Ramirez tagged the back before throwing home. Leon swipe tagged Belt and Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged that Belt was safe. The call was upheld and the double play stood. Conor Gillaspie pinch hit for Green and popped up to first to end the inning. Outstanding work by Barnes.
The Sox took advantage of the Giants' misfortunate in the bottom of the sixth although Bogaerts flied out to left to start. Ortiz got a base to right and Ramirez got his revenge on Suarez by hooking a home run just over the Monster to increase the lead. Josh Osich came in to pitch to JBJ and Bradley lined out to Pena. Shaw grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-7.
Barnes returned for the top of the seventh and Brown singled to right to start. Pena flied out to center and Span did the same, but Pagan lashed a base hit to center. Belt struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as Leon smashed his third home run of the season to ice the game. Holt popped up to Pagan and that was it for Osich. Derek Law came in to pitch to Mr. Mookie and Betts grounded back to the mound. Pedroia walked but Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 11-7.
Barnes came back for the top of the eighth and Posey was frozen for strike three on the outside corner to start. Crawford grounded out to second and Blanco flied out to left to end the inning. Ortiz grounded out to second to start the bottom of the eighth but Hanley failed to hit four home runs, as he grounded back to the mound. JBJ got a base hit to left but Shaw struck out swinging to end the inning.
Brad Ziegler came in to close out the top of the ninth and Gillaspie grounded out to second to start. Brown grounded out to short and Pena lined out to a running Holt to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-7.
We got two Heroes of the Night. First is Hanley Ramirez. He hit not one, not two but THREE 2 run home runs to almost outslug the Giants by himself.'
The second is Matt Barnes. He inherited a bases loaded, nobody out situation and Houdini'd out of it to keep the Sox on top before tossing 3 full scoreless innings.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis, a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Brock Holt was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Drew Pomeranz allowed 5 runs in just 3 innings off 8 hits and 2 walks.
Robbie Ross Jr allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Heath Hembree allowed a run in 1/3 of an inning.
Tommy Layne allowed 2 hits and a walk without recording an out.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 but walked.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored two runs.
Travis Shaw was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Final Thoughts:
Thank goodness for Hanley Ramirez because that game headed for a loss the way the pitching gave it up. Pomeranz was supposed to be the big help in the rotation and he was anything but. Brad Ziegler continues to be worth every penny but he can't pitch every day. The worst part about Pomeranz getting lit up is the offense exploding is supposed to save your key arms, they couldn't save them tonight. Still, a win is a win and the Sox leapfrogged the Baltimore Orioles into first place. Still, if you're thinking of October, the Sox are going to need Pomeranz for a fourth start in a series after Rick Porcello, Steven Wright and David Price. Maybe it was just opening game jitters but that was not a good impression. Its great to see Hanley turn into David Ortiz for one game anyway. Kudos to Matt Barnes for pulling the Houdini in the sixth inning. That was as important to the outcome as the Hanley home runs. The win improved the Sox to 53-39, 0.5 game in front of the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox now welcome the Minnesota Twins for a three game set beginning tomorrow night. Steven Wright (11-5) takes on Tyler Duffey of the Twins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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