Sale took the mound and struggled in the top of the first inning and Kevin Kiermaier led off with a pop up to left field on a full count. Cesar Puello whiffed but Evan Longoria singled up the middle. Logan Morrison walked on a borderline pitch then a passed ball moved Longoria to third. Trevor Plouffe grounded out to third to end the inning but Sale had already thrown over 20 pitches. Eduardo Nunez nearly killed himself sliding back into first on a single off Matt Andriese to the left field wall to begin the bottom of the first. Then he almost killed himself again swiping second on a terrible throw. Luckily Dustin Pedroia made the rest of his time on the bases easier with a 2 run home run into the Monster to give the Sox the lead. Andrew Benintendi crushed a ball but was ran down at the centerfield wall. Mookie Betts singled up the middle and swiped second when the throw hit him, so he advanced to third. Mitch Moreland grounded out but Betts scored to increase the lead. Hanley Ramirez grounded to third to end the inning but it was 3-0 Red Sox.
Sale had an easier top of the second inning as Wilson Ramos grounded out to third, Adeiny Hechavarria whiffed and Peter Bourjos struck out on a nasty change to end the inning. The Sox blew it wide open in the bottom of the second as Rafael Devers opened with a single up the middle but Sandy Leon watched strike three go by. Jackie Bradley Jr swung at a full count pitch in the dirt for strike three but Nunez hit a ground ball down the third base line. He gunned it to first to beat it out, but collapsed in a heap after making it. Nunez was carried out on a stretcher as Xander Bogaerts pinch ran for Nunez. Pedroia walked to load the bases and Benintendi doubled off the Monster to score Devers and Bogaerts. Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley said the Sox were one hit away from a lunch job and sure enough, Moreland iced the game with a single off the Monster to score Pedroia and Benintendi. That was it for Andriese as Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled him for Jose Alvarado. The carnage continued as Ramirez hit a routine grounder to Longoria, but he threw low and Morrison couldn't pick it, allowing Betts to score on the error. Devers nearly beat out a swinging bunt but was retired to end the inning with the Sox up 8-0.
Sale now had an 8 run lead to work with in the top of the third but Danny Espinosa singled to start. Sale then fielded a comebacker by Kiermaier, erased Espinosa at second...over to first DOUBLE PLAY! No...wait...Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call as Sox analyst Jerry Remy predicted he was out. The call was upheld, it was a double play, and Remy got a standing ovation from the crowd. Puello struck out to end the inning. Austin Pruitt came in to pitch the bottom of the third and struck out Leon to start. JBJ popped up to second but Bogaerts beat out an infield single. Pedroia singled and Benintendi singled home Bogaerts. To kill time, Remy and Eckersley discussed Remy's home run hitting prowess and the notorious spitballers of the late 70's. Betts struck out to end the inning with the Sox up 9-0.
Sale returned for the top of the fourth inning and Bogaerts made a GREAT play to rob Longoria of a hit to start. Morrison was hit with a wayward slider but Plouffe popped up to short. Ramos hit a swinging bunt in front of home that he thought was foul, the umpire thought different. Leon threw the ball to first to retire the side to end the inning. Pruitt returned for the bottom of the fourth inning as Eckersley told a story of how back in 1979 he gave up 5 home runs to the Yankees after hitting up Studio 54 the night before, earning the nickname Disco Denny. Moreland struck out then Ramirez singled off the Monster....but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Devers hit his own shot off the Monster but he didn't run with a load in his pants, so he made it to second with a double. Leon grounded out to short to end the inning.
The top of the fifth inning began with Hechavarria flying out to Benintendi making a jumping catch against the wall. Bourjos struck out again but Espinosa blooped a single to right. Kiermaier beat out an infield single but Puello grounded out to first to end the inning. JBJ was plunked to begin the bottom of the fifth inning but Bogaerts was robbed of a hit by a diving Kiermaier. Pedroia walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Brock Holt. Benintendi and Betts both flied out to left to end the inning.
Sale returned for the top of the sixth with Curt Casali pinch hitting for Longoria, singling off Sale. Chris recovered to strike out Morrison but Plouffe singled Casali to third. Mallex Smith pinch hit for Ramos and looked at strike three before Hechavarria whiffed to end the inning. Sale had tossed 6 shut-out innings against a team that is known for hitting home runs, guess the pink hats ready to declare him legally dead were wrong huh?
Moreland walked to begin the bottom of the sixth inning but Ramirez struck out. Devers flied out to right and Leon whiffed for the third time to end the inning.
Carson Smith got the ball in the top of the seventh inning with Rajai Davis now in right for Betts. Bourjos greeted Smith with a single to right and Espionsa, who came in hitting .170, got his third single of the game. Brad Miller pinch hit for Kiermaier and struck out on a slider. Puello banged into a double play to end the inning. Dan Jennings got the ball in the bottom of the seventh inning and JBJ grounded out to start. Bogaerts singled in the hole at short but Holt looked at strike three. Benintendi was out on a bang bang play......but for whatever reason Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call up 9-0. Benintendi was safe but the Rays were not amused. Davis popped up to center to end the inning.
Heath Hembree got the ball in the top of the eighth and got Casali to ground out to first. Morrison whiffed and Plouffe flied out to center to end the inning. Brad Boxberger came in for the bottom of the eighth and Moreland greeted him with a ground rule double. Sam Travis replaced Ramirez and struck out. Devers and Leon both whiffed to end the inning, Leon earning the golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout.
Blaine Boyer had mop up duty in the top of the ninth inning and got Smith to line out to Bogaerts to start. Jesus Sucre pinch hit for Boxberger jogged down the line on a ball up the middle and the hustling Holt made a jumping throw to get him at first. Bourjos grounded out to end the game, the Red Sox had won it easily 9-0.
Hero of the Night is Eduardo Nunez. He was 2 for 2 with a run scored, playing hurt and inspiring the team to victory before leaving with injury.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 2 with 2 walks, 2 total runs scored and a two run home run.
Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 5 with a run scored while knocking in 3.
Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a walk and 3 rbi's.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Chris Sale earned his 16th win with 6 innings of shut-out ball.
Carson Smith pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Blaine Boyer pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Brock Holt was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Rajai Davis was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Sam Travis was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 5 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4
Final Thoughts:
Another nice easy win and a good bounce back game for Chris Sale who the pinkhats declared legally dead after his last start. Its also good to see the Red Sox spring to life after "Applegate" broke and fizzled out. This is the Sox fourth win in a row and it comes at a big time as the New York Yankees beat Baltimore today and the Cleveland Indians won their 17th in a row. The Sox have to take advantage of their cupcake schedule in the middle of September if they have any hope of the playoffs. The win propelled the Sox to 81-61, 4.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL Easy with 20 to play. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to sweep the series and hope Rick Porcello (9-16, 4.67 ERA) doesn't crap his pants when he takes on Alex Cobb of the Rays at 1:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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