As for the game, now that's more like it. After the Sox blew it late last night they served the same humiliation back to the defending world champion Houston Astros. Trailing 3-2 heading into the later innings, the Sox turned it on and held on to take a 5-4 victory in game 3 of this set with the Astros at Fenway Park.
Verlander got the ball in the top of the first inning and the Sox got to him early. Andrew Benintendi drew a leadoff walk but Xander Bogaerts flied out to center. Benintendi moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on the JD Martinez single. Mitch Moreland whiffed before Eduardo Nunez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Price got the ball in the bottom of the first and he whiffed George Springer to start. Alex Bregman looked at strike three before Jose Altuve singled. Carlos Correa grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Rafael Devers whiffed to start. Blake Swihart popped up to third before Christian Vazquez lined out to right to end the inning. The Astros tied it in the bottom of the second as Yuli Gurriel singled to start. Evan Gattis lined out to second and Max Stassi whiffed but Gurriel swiped second. Marwin Gonzalez tripled home Gurriel but Jake Marisnick struck out to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to center to begin. Benintendi flied out to left and Bogaerts grounded out to second to end the inning. The Astros took the lead in the bottom of the third as Springer led off with a single and Bregman blasted a 500,000 foot bomb into the Atlantic Ocean. Price recovered to get Altuve to ground out to third but Correa walked. Gurriel grounded back to the mound and Gattis popped up to short to end the inning with Houston ahead 3-1.
Tony Kemp replaced Marwin Gonzalez for the top of the fourth and Martinez whiffed to start. Moreland grounded out to first but Nunez singled. Devers whiffed to end the inning. Price matched Verlander in the bottom of the fourth as Stassi lined out to left, Kemp struck out swinging and Marisnick grounded out to third to end the inning.
Verlander cruised in the top of the fifth as Swihart lined out to left, Vazquez flied out to right and JBJ grounded out to first to end the inning. Price whiffed Springer to start the bottom of the fifth before Bregman popped up to second. Altuve looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the sixth although Benintendi took strike three to begin. Bogaerts walked and stole second, then scored on the Martinez single. Martinez swiped second which made the dugout laugh but Moreland lined out to second. Nunez whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were back in it 3-2.
Price returned for the bottom of the sixth and got Correa to fly out to right to begin. Gurriel lined out to right before Gattis flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox somehow rallied against Will Harris in the top of the seventh inning although Devers whiffed to start. Swihart grounded out but Vazquez swatted his first home run of the season to tie the game. JBJ walked and Benintendi blasted a 2 run bomb to take the lead. Hector Rondon replaced Harris and Bogaerts walked. Martinez whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were up 5-3.
Heath Hembree took over for Price in the bottom of the seventh and Stassi grounded out to short to start. Kemp grounded back to the mound but Marisnick walked. Springer whiffed to end the inning.
Tony Sipp took the mound in the top of the eighth and Moreland whiffed to start. Nunez struck out swinging and Devers popped up to first to end the inning. Joe Kelly came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and got Bregman to fly out to center to start. Altuve walked and stole second but Correa grounded out to third. Altuve stole third and scored on the Gurriel single. Gattis popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-4.
Swihart flied out to right to begin the top of the ninth but Joe Smith came in to pitch. Vazquez walked but JBJ flied out to left. Vazquez stole second but JBJ flied out to left to end the inning. Brock "The Hitman" Holt came in to play right with Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel in looking for the save in the bottom of the ninth. Kimbrel blew away Stassi before Kemp flied out to left. JD Davis pinch hit for Marisnick and Kimbrel blew him away to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-4.
Hero of the Night is Andrew Benintendi. His 2 run home run was the difference maker.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts walked twice in four plate appearances with a stolen base and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and 2 rbis.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk including a solo home run.
David Price got the win with 6 innings of 3 run ball while striking out 7.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 19th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Blake Swihart was 0 for 4.
Joe Kelly allowed a run in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Honorable Mention:
Brock Holt played right field in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Now that's more like it. If the Sox have any hope for success in October they have to at least look like they can hang with the world champs in the regular season. So far both teams bullpens have wilted although the starting pitching has been serviceable. The key to both teams is finding a shut-down 8th inning guy and the Sox are definitely going to have to find one. They have two whole months to find a reliever to compliment the ones they have, especially since that idiot Carson Smith threw himself out for the season. Tyler Thornburg may return this season so that could be the guy. As for the game, kudos to the offense for having the balls to come back and win. The win improved the Sox to 40-19, 1 game ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow evening "Slick" Rick Porcello (7-2) looks to hand Charlie Morton his first loss of the season and the Sox look to even this four game set at 6:35 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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