As for the game, at least the Sox are going into the all-star break on a bit of a hot streak. They've won 7 of their last 9 games including today's first half finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. David Price (9-6, 4.34 ERA) was masterful, blinding the Rays for 8 innings allowing just four hits. David Ortiz hit his 525th career home run and Mookie Betts went 3 for 4 with an rbi of his own. Brad Ziegler made his Sox debut with a scoreless ninth and the Sox walked into the break with a 4-0 win over the Rays at Fenway Park.
Price got the ball in the top of the first inning and Logan Forsythe struck out swinging to start. Brad Miller grounded out to first but Evan Longoria doubled to the wall. Brandon Guyer got hit with a pitch but Logan Morrison struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Jake Odorizzi in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts singled to right to start. Dustin Pedroia smacked a double high off the Monster and Xander Bogaerts hit a sac fly to right to score Betts, moving Bogaerts to third. David Ortiz then annihilated his 22nd home run of the season and 525th career to increase the lead. Jackie Bradley Jr singled to center but Aaron Hill took strike three. Travis Shaw flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
The Rays threatened in the top of the second as Curt Casali got a base hit to center but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Corey Dickerson ripped a base hit to center but Nick Franklin struck out swinging. Oswaldo Arcia struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the second as Bryce Brentz flied out to center to start. Sandy Leon doubled down the left field line and moved to third on a passed ball. Mr. Mookie blooped a base hit just inside the right field foul line to score Leon to put the Sox on top. Pedroia grounded out to third to move Betts to second but Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.
Forsythe hit a bullet off the Monster for a single to start the top of the third but Miller forced him at second. Longoria grounded into a double play to end the inning. Ortiz walked to start the bottom of the third but JBJ flied out to left. Hill flied out to left and Shaw struck out swinging to end the inning.
Guyer struck out swinging to start the top of the fourth before Morrison grounded out to second. Casali grounded out to third to end the inning. Brentz grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth before Leon took strike three. Mr. Mookie grounded out to first to end the inning.
Dickerson struck out swinging to start the top of the fifth as Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley hilariously told a story that Sandy Alomar Sr got a few hits off him and Eck yelled at him for it. Franklin grounded back to the mound and Arcia struck out swinging to end the inning. Pedroia flied out to left to begin the bottom of the fifth before Bogaerts grounded out to short. Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning.
Forsythe struck out looking to open the top of the sixth and Miller flied out to right. Longoria flied out to right to end the inning. Matt Andriese came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and JBJ took strike three to start. Hill flied out to center and Shaw struck out swinging to end the inning.
Price dominated the top of the seventh as Guyer was plunked to start. Morrison grounded out to third to move Guyer to second but Casali lined out to right. Dickerson struck out swinging to end the inning. Brentz struck out swinging to start the bottom of the seventh but Leon singled off the glove of Andriese. Mr. Mookie got a base hit to right but Pedroia struck out swinging. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.
Price came back for one final inning in the top of the eighth as Franklin lined out to third to start. Arcia grounded out to first but Forsythe walked. Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley was miffed when Miller tried to bunt and said "You gonna bunt? What?? What are you doing? You're gonna punch out is what you're gonna do." Right on cue Miller struck out swinging to end the inning. Price was masterful, allowing just 4 hits and a walk while striking out 10 in 8 shutout innings.
Good work Price
Ortiz lined out to first to start the bottom of the eighth and JBJ grounded out to short. Alex Coleme came in to face Hill and Aaron grounded out to short to end the inning.
Brad Ziegler made his Sox debut in the top of the ninth and Longoria struck out swinging to start. Guyer took strike three and Morrison grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-0.
Sox win
David Hero
Hero of The Night is David Price. He shut out the Rays for 8 innings allowing just 4 hits and a walk. He struck out 10 batters.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
David Ortiz was 1 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.
Sandy Leon was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Aaron Hill was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Travis Shaw was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Bryce Brentz was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Final Thoughts:
Things look good for the Red Sox going into the break. They're only two games out of first place and they got great starts from both Rick Porcello and David Price. The offense has been solid all season and the addition of Ziegler is going to help down the road when Craig Kimbrel returns and Junichi Tazawa's feeling better. Who would have thought David Ortiz would have one of the best seasons of his career in his last season? The Sox have 75 games remaining and if the starting pitching matches the offense, they might be playing October baseball for the first time in 3 years. Beating the AL East teams will most certainly help that. The win improves the Sox to 49-38, 2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. After the break the Sox return to action Friday the 15th in a three game set with the New York Yankees in the Bronx. If there was ever a time to send a statement, it will be then. Steven Wright (10-5) takes the hill against Michael "Pine Tar" Pineda of New York. The game begins Friday night at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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