The bad news was the Boston Bruins lost Game 4 in overtime of their second round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning but the good news is the Boston Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers. Its a good thing the weather is decent because it heated up the Boston bats. Unlike last night, Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.14 ERA) came to kick ass and he did. The Sox bashed not one, not two, not three but 4 home runs, 2 of which by Rafael Devers as the Sox knocked off the Texas Rangers 5-1 at Arlington Park.
The ageless Bartolo Colon got the ball in the top of the first inning and Mr. Mookie Betts greeted him with a fly out to right. Andrew Benintendi looked at strike three and Hanley Ramirez lined out to right to end the inning. "Slick" Rick Porcello got the ball in the bottom of the first and Delino DeShields Jr singled to start. Shin-Soo Choo banged into a double play and Jurickson Profar lined out to left.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second when JD Martinez crushed a solo home run to left to give the Sox the lead. Colon got mad and struck out both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. Eduardo Nunez grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were up 1-0.
Porcello kept the Rangers off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning although Nomar Mazara doubled to start. Joey Gallo grounded out to third but Mazara moved to third. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded out to third but Mazara couldn't score. Porcello struck out the 6'5 Ronald Guzman to end the inning.
Jackie Bradley Jr singled to open the top of the third inning but Sandy Leon lined out to right. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third and Benintendi grounded out to first to end the inning. Porcello whiffed Robinson Chirinos to start the bottom of the third before Drew Robinson whiffed as well. DeShields lined out to center to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Ramirez grounded out to short, Martinez lined out to short and Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning. The Rangers struck back although Choo whiffed to begin the bottom of the fourth. Profar whiffed but Mazara smashed a 670,000 foot bomb to tie the game. Gallo flied out to center to end the inning but it was 1-1.
The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back in the top of the fifth when Devers crushed a solo home run to start. Nunez grounded back to the mound, JBJ grounded out to first and Leon grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 2-1 Red Sox.
Porcello made quick work of the Rangers in the bottom of the fifth as Kiner grounded out to third, Guzman whiffed and Chirinos popped up to short to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the sixth inning when Mr. Mookie smashed his 13th home run of the year to left. Benintendi grounded out to first, Ramirez grounded out to short and Martinez whiffed to end the inning but it was 3-1.
Porcello kept up the good work in the bottom of the sixth when he struck out Robinson to start. DeShields whiffed but Choo walked. Profar flied out to left to end the inning. That was it for Porcello who tossed 6 solid innings of 1 run ball while striking out 8.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the seventh inning. Bogaerts flied out to right but Devers belted his second solo home run of the game to increase the lead. Nunez and JBJ lined out to left to end the inning but the Sox were up 4-1.
"Machine Gun" Joe Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and got Mazara to line out to center to start. Gallo whiffed and Kiner lined out to right to end the inning.
The Sox added another run in the top of the eighth with Jake Diekman now on the mound for Texas. Leon walked but Mr. Mookie flied out to left. Benintendi popped up to first but Ramirez doubled home Leon for another insurance run. Martinez whiffed to end the inning but it was 5-1 Sox.
Matt Barnes got the call to pitch the bottom of the eighth and struck out Guzman to start. Chirinos whiffed and Robinson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Jesse Chavez got the call to pitch the top of the ninth and Bogaerts grounded out to the mound to begin. Devers singled but Nunez whiffed and JBJ watched strike three go by to end the inning. The returning Bobby Poyner took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and DeShields greeted him with a single. Choo lined out to left and Profar flied out to right. Mazara whiffed to end the game, the Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. He hit not one but two home runs which ended up being the difference in the game.
The Good:
Rick Porcello got the win with 6 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 8.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Bobby Poyner pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a solo home run.
Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 with an rbi.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a solo home run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 2 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
After the recent bout of stinkers thrown by the Red Sox, it was a breath of fresh air to see Porcello pitch well. He kept the Rangers off stride all game as the bats finally delivered some big hits. Betts can't do it all by himself so it was nice to see Devers and Martinez step up. Martinez so far has been worth every penny spent and when he's not in the field, Devers has been fine at the plate. Kelly is on fire after his newfound cult hero status and hope that continues. It was a much needed win as the New York Yankees had ANOTHER comeback win, this time over the Cleveland Indians. The win improved the Sox to 23-9, just 1 game ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night is the third game of this four game set with Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 4.78 ERA) going against Coole Hamels at 8:05 PM at Arlington Park
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