McCullers Jr cruised in the top of the first inning as Andrew Benintendi flied out to center to start. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short and Mitch Moreland whiffed to end the inning. The Astros wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the first inning although George Springer grounded out to second to begin. Alex Bregman walked but Jose Altuve popped up to second. Carlos Correa had been slumping so naturally he hit a 950,000 foot home run halfway to Waco to give Houston the quick lead. JD Davis whiffed to end the inning but the Astros led 2-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second although JD Martinez walked to start. Rafael Devers collided with McCullers on a ground out but thankfully both guys were ok. Brock "Hitman" Holt grounded out to third and Sandy Leon grounded out to short to end the inning. The Astros threatened in the bottom of the second as Marwin Gonzalez whiffed to begin. Tim Federowicz flied out to right but Tony Kemp walked. Jake Marisnick singled past Pomeranz but Springer whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third as Jackie Bradley Jr smacked a leadoff double but Blake Swihart whiffed. Benintendi walked and Bogaerts doubled home both runners before taking third on the throw. Moreland whiffed and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning but it was tied 2-2.
Somehow Pomeranz kept the Astros off the board in the bottom of the third as Bregman popped up to third to start. Altuve singled but Correa bounced into a 2-3 double play to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Devers and Holt both grounded back to the mound and Leon lined out to right to end the inning. The Astros pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth as Davis ate up Bogaerts with a single. Gonzalez whiffed but Federowicz hit a ground rule double. Kemp hit a swinging bunt to Moreland who fired home but Davis scored the go-ahead run. Marisnick tried a suicide squeeze bunt and it did score Federowicz but Kemp was out at second. Marisnick was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning but the Astros were up for good 4-2.
The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the fifth as JBJ looked at strike three to begin. Swihart flied out to center but Benintendi singled and stole second. Bogaerts lined out to center to end the inning. Pomeranz came back for one final inning in the bottom of the fifth and he got Springer to ground out to third to begin. Bregman lined out to left and Altuve whiffed to end the inning. Pomeranz once again didn't last long and gave up 4 runs, brutal.
McCullers stayed tough in the top of the sixth as Moreland grounded out to second to start. Martinez flied out to right but Devers doubled. Holt hit a bullet....right to second to end the inning. Steven Wright got the call to pitch the bottom of the sixth and he froze Correa to start. Davis walked but was erased at second on the force by Gonzalez. Marwin was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning.
Will Harris took over in the top of the seventh and struck out Leon to start. JBJ and Swihart grounded out to short to end the inning. Wright struck out Federowicz to start the bottom of the seventh before also whiffing Kemp. Marisnick lined out to right to end the inning.
The Sox tried to rally in the top of the eighth when Benintendi singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Nothing happened as Bogaerts popped up to first and Moreland lined out to center. Hector Rondon came in to pitch to Martinez and got him to ground out to short to end the inning. Wright returned for the bottom of the eighth and walked Springer to start. Springer was erased on the force by Bregman but Altuve singled. Correa was intentionally walked to load the bases but Devers gunned down Springer at home on a force by Davis. Gonzalez whiffed to end the inning, good work by Wright.
Ken Giles came into close out the game in the top of the ninth and easily blew away Devers. Holt looked at strike three but Leon singled. JBJ walked to put the tying run at first but Swihart lined out to center to end the game. The Astros had won it 4-2.
Jackass of the Night is Drew Pomeranz. Yes the small ball can't be blamed on him but he still gave up 4 runs in just 5 innings to take another loss.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Steven Wright pitched 3 scoreless innings
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Brock Holt was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Blake Swihart was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but made it count as it was a 2 run double.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
So much for Pomeranz, Pedroia and Betts. The less said about this game the better although its nice to see Bradley Jr no longer useless and Benintendi catching fire. Hopefully Steven Wright replaces Pomeranz before things get any worse. The loss dropped the Sox to 39-18, 1 1/2 game ahead of the New York Yankees who were once again rained out. Tomorrow night Chris Sale runs smack into Gerrit Cole and it looks like another close loss for the Red Sox. The carnage begins at 8:10 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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