As for the game, that was about as listless and lifeless as games go. Nothing really happened and there seemed to be no effort by the Sox. Rick Porcello (3-7, 4,24 ERA) pitched well but once again got almost zero run support which led to his demise. The Sox managed just 4 hits against the O's pitching staff and Baltimore won 3-2 at Camden Yards.
O's starter Alec Asher cruised in the top of the first. Mr. Mookie Betts lined out, Andrew Benintendi struck out and Xander Bogaerts popped up to end the inning. The O's wasted zero time scoring off Porcello in the bottom of the first as Seth Smith took Porcello deep 5 pitches into the game to give the O's the lead. Adam Jones whiffed but Manny Machado blasted one into the upper deck for another home run. Mark Trumbo lined out to center but Chris Davis singled to the wall. Jonathan Schoop popped up to end the inning but the O's led 2-0.
The homers deflated the Sox in the top of the second inning. Mitch Moreland popped up, Hanley Ramirez popped up and Jackie Bradley Jr watched strike three go by to end the inning. Porcello continued to get rocked in the bottom of the second as Hyun Soo Kim popped up to third but JJ Hardy and Caleb Joseph stroked back to back singles. The Sox caught a break when a pitch that bounced in the dirt got away from Leon and Hardy made it to third, but Joseph got caught in a rundown for the second out. Smith popped up to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third inning. Josh Rutledge grounded out but Pablo Sandoval swatted a home run just over the wall in right to cut the lead in half. Sandy Leon whiffed badly and Mr. Mookie lined out to end the inning but the Sox were down 2-1. Porcello came back for the bottom of the third and Jones grounded out. Machado grounded back to the mound and Trumbo popped up to end the inning.
The Sox couldn't capitalize on Asher in the top of the fourth. Benny The Kid grounded out, Bogaerts popped up and Moreland struck out on a 3-2 pitch down the middle to end the inning. Porcello got rocked in the the bottom of the fourth inning. He took forever to strike out Davis then Schoop singled to center. Kim doubled home Schoop then Hardy got robbed of a sure double by a diving Bogaerts. Joseph struck out to end the inning but it was now 3-1 Baltimore.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the fifth as Ramirez popped up, JBJ flied out and Rutledge grounded out to end the inning. The Sox had just 1 hit the entire game yet was still only down 2. Porcello looked to have a quick inning when Smith whiffed and Jones lined out. Mr. Mookie made a running catch off the bat of Machado to end the inning.
Asher continued to dominate in the top of the sixth inning. Sandoval grounded out but Leon singled. Leon was erased on the Mr. Mookie force and Benny The Kid struck out to end the inning. Porcello got some help from his defense in the bottom of the sixth. Trumbo popped up but Davis walked. Schoop grounded right back to the mound but Porcello decided to shoot the ball like a basketball into the dugout, allowing Davis to reach third on the error. Porcello atoned for the mistake when Kim grounded back to the mound, Rick throwing to home to nail Davis in a rundown. Joey Rickard pinch ran for Kim but Hardy struck out to end the inning. Porcello had gone 6 and gave up 3 runs, a quality start but once again Rick got no run support.
The Sox had a golden chance to get back in the game in the top of the seventh inning. Bogaerts doubled to right but Moreland popped up to chase Asher. Mychal Givens relieved Asher and whiffed Ramirez. JBJ singled home Bogaerts to cut the lead to 1. JBJ was promptly thrown out trying to steal to end the inning. The Sox were now down 3-2.
Heath Hembree came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. Joseph singled but Smith popped up. Mr. Mookie made a diving catch to rob Jones of a hit. Machado struck out to end the inning.
Darren O'Daye came on to pitch the top of the eighth inning and he got Rutledge to fly out to start the inning. Sandoval whiffed but Leon walked. Mr. Mookie whiffed to end the inning. Deven Marrero took over at third for Sandoval as Sox manager John Farrell mixed and matched in the bottom of the eighth. Trumbo lined out and Farrell sprinted out of the dugout into center field pointing to his left arm, signalling the arrival of Robby Scott. Robby struck out Davis and Farrell crawled out of the dugout on his hands and knees, signalling for Joe Kelly to enter the game. 2 pitches later Schoop lined out to end the inning.
Brad Bach got the call in the top of the ninth inning to close out the game. The Sox offered no resistance as Benny The Kid flied out, Bogaerts flied out and Moreland grounded out to end the game. The Sox had just 4 measly hits in the 3-2 loss.
Jackass of the Night is a tough one. It's gotta be Mookie Betts. He's supposed to be the table setter and he's been slumping horribly lately.
The Good:
Jackie Bradley was 1 for 3 with an tbi.
Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Robby Scott got his man.
Joe Kelly got his man.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Josh Rutledge was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Rick Porcello took the loss but he tossed 6 innings of 3 run ball. He's now 3-7 but hasn't pitched as bad as his record indicated.
Honorable Mention:
Deven Marrero played third base in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Final Thoughts:
That was hard to watch. They couldn't hit another mediocre starter and Porcello is now 3-7. There's really nothing else to say but try to move on. The loss drops the Sox to 29-25, 3 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow David Price goes for the Sox opposite Dylan Bundy who's had the Sox number lately. The carnage begins at 7:05 PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment