Dustin Pedroia led off the game with a meek chopper back to the mound but Brock "Hitman" Holt singled to right. The rally ended right there as Mr. Mookie Betts grounded into a double play to end the inning. What a wonderful start. David Price got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Rajai Davis hit one up the elevator shaft. Jason Kipnis popped up to short and Brock Holt made a great play to rob Fransisco Lindor of a hit to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing against Kluber in the top of the second as David Ortiz popped up to begin the inning. Hanley Ramirez took a 3-2 fastball right down the middle and Xander Bogaerts hit a weak ground ball on the first pitch to end the inning. The Indians iced the game early as Mike Napoli led off the bottom of the second with a ground out to short. The wheels fell off as Carlos Santana slashed a single to left, Brock Holt booted a ground ball hit by Jose Ramirez and Brandon Guyer singled home Santana to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Lonnie Chisenhall put the Indians up for good with a 3 run blast to make it 4-0 Cleveland. Roberto Perez walked. David struck out and Kipnis popped up to end the inning. 31 million dollar Price almost gets knocked out in the second inning, pathetic.
The Sox offense didn't bother at this point in the top of the third. Andrew Benintendi flied out to right, Sandy Leon whiffed and Jackie Bradley Jr looked at strike three to end the inning. Price settled down in the bottom of the third but it didn't matter anymore. Lindor grounded out but Napoli singled. Santana whiffed but Napoli swiped second. Ramirez whiffed to end the inning.
Could the Sox rally in the top of the fourth? Hell no. Pedroia walked but Holt looked at strike three. Mr. Mookie walked but Ortiz popped up. JBJ whiffed to end the inning. The Indians locked up the game in the bottom of the fourth. Guyer legged out an infield single but Chisenhall popped up. Perez walked and that was it for Price. The Indians had knocked out the ineffective "ace" after just 3 1/3 innings.
Matt Barnes came in to clean up the mess and got Guyer at third on a force by Davis, but Kipnis singled home Perez to make it 5-0. Lindor looked at strike three to end the inning.
As expected, the Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth against Kluber. Bogaerts legged out an infield single but Benny The Kid lined out, Leon popped up and JBJ struck out to end the inning. Barnes returned for the bottom of the fifth and got Napoli to ground out. Santana grounded out but Ramirez singled. The alert Leon gunned down Ramirez trying to steal to end the inning.
Kluber remained red hot in the top of the sixth. Pedroia flied out and Holt grounded out but Mr. Mookie singled. Ortiz lined out to end the inning. Barnes came back for the bottom of the 6th but was lifted after allowing a leadoff single to Guyer. Robbie Ross Jr came in and got Chisenhall to strike out. That was it for Ross as Sox manager John Farrell lifted him for Brad Ziegler. Ziegler induced a picture perfect double play ball from Perez...under the glove of Pedroia for an error. Guyer scampered to third and scored on the sac fly by Davis. Kipnis walked and Lindor struck out to end the inning with the Indians leading 6-0. What a disaster.
Kluber returned for the top of the seventh and retired the Sox in short order. Ramirez grounded out, Bogaerts struck out and Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning. Joe Kelly relieved Ziegler in the bottom of the sixth. Napoli popped up, Santana grounded out and Ramirez flied out to end the inning.
Kluber returned for the top of the eighth inning but was quickly chased. Leon walked and JBJ was hit with a pitch to chase Kluber. Indians manager Terry Francona brought in Dan Otero to put the fire out. Pedroia whiffed and Holt lined out even though Leon moved to third. Mr. Mookie grounded out to end the inning. Kelly returned for the bottom of the eighth and struck out Guyer. Chisenhall grounded out and Sox manager John Farrell brought in Craig Kimbrel for some reason. Kimbrel struck out Perez to end the inning.
Bryan Shaw came in to close out the ninth. Ortiz flied out, Ramirez grounded out and Bogaerts flied out to end the game. The Sox had been shut out 6-0 and are trailing 2-0 going back to Fenway for Game 3.
Jackass of the Night is an easy one, David Price hands down. The 31 million dollar man lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. For some reason Price can't pitch in the post-season.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Robbie Ross Jr struck out the only man he faced.
Brad Ziegler retired 2 of the 3 men he faced and would have gotten the third if it wasn't for Pedroia's error.
Joe Kelly tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Craig Kimbrel struck out the only man he faced.
The Bad:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 with a walk while committing a huge error.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 2 but walked.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but was hit with a pitch.
Matt Barnes was charged with an unearned run in 1 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox are in deep doo-doo going back to Fenway for Game 3. You figured Kluber would be good but you could expect some offense by the Sox right? Wrong....the same Sox that were on cruise control at the end of the regular season never put it back in gear. They're going to have to do some major soul searching like the 2003 and 2004 Red Sox did if they want to make this respectable. Clay Buchholz gets the start in Game 3, may god have mercy on our souls.
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