Pomeranz staggered to the mound in the top of the first inning and Ozzie Albies grounded out to short to start. Ronald Acuna grounded out to third but Freddie Freeman singled. Nick Markakis doubled but Kurt Suzuki looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox threatened Atlanta starter and Middleboro native Sean Newcomb in the bottom of the first although Mr. Mookie Betts watched strike three go by to start. Andrew Benintendi singled and JD Martinez walked, but Mitch Moreland whiffed. Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases but the returning Dustin Pedroia flied out to right to end the inning.
The Braves struck first against the incompetent Pomeranz in the top of the second as Ender Inciarte walked to begin the frame. Tyler Flowers whiffed and Johan Camargo hit one up the elevator shaft but Dansby Swanson smashed a 3,000 foot bomb to give the Braves the lead. Albies lined out to right to end the inning but it was 2-0 Atlanta.
The Sox threatened again in the bottom of the second as Eduardo Nunez singled to start before Blake Swihart walked. Christian Vazquez beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners but Mr. Mookie popped up to third. Benintendi grounded out to end the inning.
The Braves tacked it on in the top of the third as Acuna grounded out to short to start before Freeman grounded out to second. Markakis and Suzuki swatted back to back doubles to add to the lead. Inciarte walked but somehow Flowers took strike three to end the inning with the Braves up 3-0.
The Sox had enough and roared back in the bottom of the third although Martinez whiffed to start. Moreland somehow legged out a triple before Bogaerts singled him home to break the drought. Pedroia walked but Nunez whiffed. Swihart singled to score Bogaerts and Vazquez singled home Pedroia to tie the game. Mr. Mookie grounded out to end the inning but it was 3-3.
Just as soon as the Sox clawed back, the ineffective Pomeranz coughed it up in the top of the fourth. Camargo grounded out to third but Swanson singled and Albies walked to chase Drew from the game. The diminished pitcher was finished after 3 1/3 innings, 6 hits and 3 walks.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez came in and poured gas on the fire. Acuna and Freeman hit back to back singles to score Swanson before a Markakis sac fly scored Albies. Suzuki popped up to short but it was 5-3 Braves.
The Sox fought back against Jesse Biddle in the bottom of the fourth inning as Benintendi blasted a solo shot to inch closer. Martinez lined out to right, Moreland grounded out to second and Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 5-4 Braves.
Steven Wright (1-0, 3.27 ERA) took over in the top of the fifth and got Inciarte popped up to short to start. Flowers singled but Camargo banged into a double play to end the inning. Peter Moylan came in for the bottom of the fifth and Pedroia grounded back to the mound to start. Nunez whiffed and Swihart took strike three to end the inning.
Wright returned for the top of the sixth and got Swanson to pop up to second to start. Albies lined out to left but Acuna singled. Freeman whiffed to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth although Vazquez flied out to center to start. Mr. Mookie singled to chase Moylan and Sam Freeman hit Benintendi with a pitch. Martinez flied out to right but Moreland doubled home both runners. Bogaerts walked but Pedroia lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-5.
Wright returned for the top of the seventh and Markakis grounded out to short to begin. Suzuki grounded out to third but Inciarte walked. Flowers flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox got some much needed insurance in the bottom of the seventh as Nunez reached on an error by Albies. Swihart whiffed and Vazquez flied out to right but Mr. Mookie walked. Benintendi cleared the bases with a triple to add to the lead before Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-5.
Joe "Machine Gun" Kelly took over for Wright in the top of the eighth and got Camargo to hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Swanson whiffed and Albies grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Lucas Sims quieted the Sox in the bottom of the eighth as the Sox beat the ball in the dirt. Moreland grounded out to second, Bogaerts grounded out to third and Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in for the save in the top of the ninth with Jackie Bradley Jr in center in Martinez spot with Benintendi moving over to left. Acuna worried the crowd with a 460,890 foot home run to lead off although Freeman lined out to right. Markakis grounded out to short and Suzuki flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-6.
Hero of the Night is Steven Wright. He came into the game and shut down the Braves offense allowing the Sox to make the comeback.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 3 for 4 with a hit by pitch, 3 total rbis, 2 total runs scored including a solo home run.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 5 with 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and and a run scored.
Blake Swihart was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
The Bad:
Drew Pomeranz stunk by giving up 5 runs in 3 1/3 innings giving up 6 hits and 3 walks.
Hector Velazquez allowed 2 inherited runners to score in just 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored 2 runs.
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 but walked.
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Jackie Bradley Jr played centerfield in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Holy moly Drew Pomeranz sucks right now. His diminished velocity makes his off-speed pitches very easy to time and without that extra couple of miles on his fastball, he's nothing but batting practice. The offense can bail him out now and then like tonight but not every single time. If he continues to stink they may need to think about a trade to get another starter before the trade deadline in August, especially if they're going to keep Velazquez, Brian Johnson and Wright in the bullpen. The win improved the Sox to 36-16, 2.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox go for the sweep as they send Chris Sale to the mound opposite Mike Foltynewicz at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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