Sox Blow It Late Against Twins (6/19/18)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a pitching change so to speak. Justin Haley was sent down to Pawtucket and Robby Scott has been called up. The Sox may be interested in having another lefty in the bullpen so it would make sense to try out Scott to see if he shows them something before they start looking for lefty relief pitchers elsewhere.

OUT

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As for the game, what a disaster. The Sox were trailing 2 to 1 going into the eighth inning and somehow tied the game only for the Minnesota Twins to put 4 runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Sox. Chris Sale's brilliant start was wasted and Eduardo Escobar was the primary culprit as the Sox lost 6-2 at Target Field.

Jose Berrios was unhittable in the top of the first although Mr. Mookie Betts walked to begin. Andrew Benintendi grounded back to the mound but Betts moved to second. Xander Bogaerts whiffed but JD Martinez beat out an infield single to put runners at the corners. Mitch Moreland whiffed to end the inning.  Sale was equally unhittable in the bottom of the first inning. Joe Mauer whiffed, Eddie Rosario flied out to center and Eduardo Escobar looked at strike three to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the second inning as Rafael Devers grounded out to second, Eduardo Nunez popped up to third and Sandy Leon failed to get a bunt past Berrios to end the inning. Sale got Brian Dozier to ground out to third to begin the bottom of the second. Robbie Grossman whiffed and Ehire Adrianza struck out swinging as well to end the inning.

The Sox squandered their only scoring chance in the top of the third inning. Jackie Bradley Jr walked and took second on a wild pitch, but Mr. Mookie lined out to left. Berrios tried to pick JBJ off but airmailed the throw and JBJ motored to third. Benintendi whiffed and Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Sale dominated the bottom of the third as Taylor Motter grounded out to first, Mitch Garver looked at strike three and old friend Ryan LaMarre flied out to right to end the inning

The Sox squandered another chance in the top of the fourth as Martinez and Moreland stroked back to back singles but Devers whiffed. Nunez popped up to first and Leon flied out to right to end the inning. Sale did not allow a runner in the bottom of the fourth as Mauer looked at strike three to start. Rosario watched strike three go by before Escobar grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Still nothing in the top of the fifth as JBJ flied out to right to start. Mr. Mookie walked but Benintendi lined out to left. Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. The Mariners struck first in the bottom of the fifth due to bad defense although Dozier flied out to right to start. Grossman looked at strike three but Adrianza singled off the glove of Devers. Nunez dropped a throw by Leon and Adrianza swiped second before Motter walked. Garver flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the sixth as Martinez lined out to right to start. Moreland flied out to center but Devers crushed a solo shot to put the Sox on top. Nunez singled but Leon struck out to end the inning with Boston ahead 1-0.

                                                   Devers goes yard

Just as soon as the Sox scored, Sale coughed it up in the bottom of the sixth. LaMarre singled and Mauer was plunked before both runners advanced on the Rosario ground out. Escobar doubled home both runners to give the Twins the lead. Dozier grounded out to third and Grossman whiffed to end the inning but the Twins were up 2-1.

                                                          The Twins take the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the seventh as JBJ whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie was plunked and that was it for Berrios. Trevor Hildenberger replaced Berrios and Betts swiped second before Benintendi walked to put the tying run at first. Both runners advanced on the ground out by Bogaerts but Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Sale returned for the bottom of the seventh and froze Adrianza to begin. Motter whiffed and Garver grounded out to short to end the inning. That was it for Sale who tossed 7 innings of 2 run ball but had nothing to show for it as usual.

                                                  Sale dominates but doesn't win

The Sox did manage to get Sale off the hook in the top of the eighth inning. Zach Duke pitched for the Twins and Moreland flied out to left to start. Devers singled and advanced on the Nunez ground out to third. Leon singled home Devers to tie the game. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                            Leon ties it up

Robby Scott made his season debut in the bottom of the eighth and he promptly crapped his pants. LeMarre walked and Mauer was plunked but Rosario popped up to center. That was it for Scott as Joe Kelly was brought in to stop the bleeding. Instead he made it worse as Rosario hit a bullet that JBJ muffed for a two run double to put the Twins back on top. Dozier walked and Grossman smacked a triple that JBJ missed catching to ice the game. That was it for the incompetent Kelly as Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez came in to clean up the mess. Adrianza flied out to center and Grossman broke for home.....YER OUTTA THERE! The Twins challenged the call but it was upheld and the inning was over with the Twins up 6-2.

                                                     The Twins are up for good

Fernando Rodney came in to close out the top of the ninth and whiffed Mr. Mookie to start. Benintendi looked at strike three but Bogaerts singled. Martinez whiffed to end the game, the Twins had won it 6-2.

Jackass of the Night is Joe Kelly. He allowed two inherited runners to score and two of his own to put the game out of reach

                                             "You're a Jackass, Kelly" - DL                           



The Good:

Mookie Betts walked twice in 4 plate appearances with a stolen base.

JD Martinez was 2 for 5.

Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with 2 total runs scored and a solo home run.

Chris Sale tossed 7 innings of 2 run ball while striking out 11.

Hector Velazquez tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.




The Bad:

Robby Scott was charged with 2 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4.

Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.

Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked.




Final Thoughts:

What is it about Chris Sale that transforms the Red Sox offense into the Stooges and opposing pitchers into Cy Young? The last two years Sale has run into the most mediocre starters that turn into Bob Gibson while the Sox offense evaporates. Still, Robby Scott didn't exactly endear himself with his performance either. Edwin Escobar had a career day but those things happen. If the Sox had any kind of an offense against Berrios then they could have countered the offense by Escobar. The less said of this game the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 49-25, 1 game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night its David Price (8-4) going for the Sox opposite Lance Lynn against these same Twins at 8:00 PM at Target Field.