Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Ian Kinsler led off with a fly ball to a running Jackie Bradley Jr to start. Jose Iglesias lined out to right but Miguel Cabrera ripped a base hit to center. Victor Martinez stroked a base hit to left but Nick Castellanos struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Fulmer in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts struck out swinging to start. Dustin Pedroia crushed his 11th home run of the season to dead center to put Boston on top. Xander Bogaerts popped up to third and David Ortiz flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Justin Upton took strike three to start the top of the second but Mike Aviles singled off the Monster. James McCann grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as JBJ grounded out to second to start. Aaron Hill grounded out to third and Travis Shaw grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Tigers struck back in the top of the third although Collins struck out swinging to start. Kinsler beat out a roller to third and Iglesias doubled off the Monster just out of the reach of Holt. Cabrera was intentionally walked and Martinez lashed a base hit to left to score both Kinsler & Iglesias. Castellanos struck out swinging and Upton was rung up for strike three to end the inning with the Tigers up 2-1.
Leon hit a rocket down the right field line that hopped into the stands for a ground rule double to start the bottom of the third. Holt grounded out to second to move Leon to third and Mr. Mookie hit a fly ball to center. Leon tagged and tried for home but was thrown out to end the inning.
Aviles lined out to first to start the top of the fourth and McCann walked. Collins struck out swinging and Kinsler popped up to short to end the inning. Castellanos bobbled a grounder by Pedroia for an error to start the bottom of the fourth as Sox analyst Jerry Remy pointed out "One drop....two drops....two drops means you're safe at first base." Bogaerts grounded into a double play and Ortiz struck out swinging to end the inning.
Iglesias flied out to center to start the top of the fifth but Cabrera lined a base hit to center. Martinez blooped a base hit to center but Castellanos flied out to right. Upton popped up to right to end the inning. JBJ grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth but Hill doubled into the right field corner. Shaw took strike three and Leon grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Tigers finally chased E-Rod in the top of the sixth as Aviles popped up to short to start. McCann then hit a home run all the way to Paris, France to increase the lead. Collins walked and that was it for Rodriguez. He allowed 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings off 9 hits and 3 walks, not good. Matt Barnes came in to pitch and Kinsler flied out to right. Sox analyst Dave O'Brien called Iglesias a pain in the neck before Jose grounded out to second to end the inning with the Tigers up 3-1.
"Yeah you're out Rodriguez, now beat it!" - Farrell
Holt got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the sixth but Mr. Mookie grounded into a double play. Pedroia grounded out to second to end the inning.
Cabrera flied out to the left field warning track to start the top of the seventh but Martinez singled off the Monster in left. Castellanos struck out swinging and Upton forced Martinez at second to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the seventh as Bogaerts launched his 12th home run of the season to cut the lead. Ortiz popped up to third but JBJ lined one off of Fulmer but Iglesias threw him out anyway. Hill grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 3-2.
Clay Buchholz came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Aviles flied out to center to start. McCann flied out to left and Collins was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Shaw got a base hit to left to start. Leon dropped down a bunt to move Travis to second and Shaw moved to third on the grounder to second by Holt. Mr. Mookie tripled out of the reach of Collins to score Shaw, tying the game. Bruce Rondon came in to face Pedroia and struck him out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Brad Ziegler came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Kinsler struck out swinging to start. Iglesias grounded out to second but suddenly Cabrera hit a home run all the way to Zimbabwe to put the Tigers back on top. Martinez walked but Castellanos forced Victor at second to end the inning with the Tigers up 4-3.
Justin Wilson came in to close out the bottom of the ninth with Austin Romine now in at third. Bogaerts took strike three to start before Ortiz lined out to left. JBJ flied out to right to end the game. The Tigers had swept the Sox with a 4-3 win.
Tigers win
Better luck next time, Jackass
Jackass of The Night is Brad Ziegler. He served up the two out gopher ball to Miguel Cabrera
The Good:
Aaron Hill was 1 for 3.
Travis Shaw was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 2.
Brock Holt was 1 for 3.
Matt Barnes tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Clay Buchholz pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but the one hit was a home run.
Eduardo Rodriguez was tagged for 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings allowing 9 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6.
Final Thoughts:
That was a miserable home stand that did more harm than good. Dropping 5 out of 9 games including a three game sweep by the Tigers is flat out embarrassing. The Sox have a few days before the trade deadline but what can be done? They've hit a funk lately where the pitchers can't pitch somedays and the hitters can't hit the others. Getting shut down by Kyle Gibson one game, allowing a trillion runs another and now Cabrera hitting a back breaking home run in this one. Cabrera and Martinez went 7 for 8 combined today, maybe a walk wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world. Then again, who expected Ziegler to throw Cabrera a meatball in the eighth. The Sox had their chances offensively but couldn't cash in, especially after Mookie's triple. David Ortiz can't win every single game for you, someone has to step up in the later innings. Rodriguez also looked off but that's par for the course this season. As awful as it sounds, maybe the incoming road trip will do them some good to wash the stink of this home stand off. The loss dropped the Sox to 55-44, 2.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox hit the road and the first stop are the Los Angeles Angels. David Price goes for the Sox against Jered Weaver of the Angels. The game begins at 10:10 PM Eastern time at Angel Stadium.
No comments:
Post a Comment