OUT
As for the game, the Red Sox offense fell asleep again. Former Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta blinded the Red Sox as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Drew Pomeranz (1-5, 6.56 ERA) pitched better than he usually has but the dormant offense finally doomed them after playing with fire for most of the past week. The Phillies scratched out a few runs and ended their own four game losing streak with a 3-1 victory at Fenway Park.
The Sox got some defensive help in the top of the first inning although Cesar Hernandez grounded out to short to begin. Pomeranz walked Rhys Hoskins but Carlos Santana was thrown out at second by Andrew Benintendi trying to stretch a double. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox ran themselves out of the bottom of the first inning against Arrieta as Benintendi singled to start. Blake Swihart flied out to left but Benintendi swiped second base. Mitch Moreland whiffed but a wild pitch moved Benintendi to third. JD Martinez was plunked and the Sox botched a double steal. Martinez took off for second and when the throw went to second, Benintendi took off for home. The Phillies were ready and gunned home to get Benintendi for the out to end the inning. That was one of their only chances of the game.
Right on cue the Phillies took the lead in the top of the second inning although Nick Williams flied out to center to start. Maikel Franco walked but Roman Quinn popped up to first. Jorge Alfaro doubled into the centerfield gap to score Franco to give the Phillies the lead. Scott Kingery whiffed to end the inning but it was 1-0 Phillies
Xander Bogaerts tried to start a rally in the bottom of the second with a double to center but Ian Kinsler struck out swinging in his first at-bat with the Red Sox. Eduardo Nunez looked at strike three before Brock "The Hitman" Holt flied out to center to end the inning.
Pomeranz settled down in the top of the third as Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Hoskins walked but Santana whiffed. Cabrera popped up to first to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr tried to rally with a ground rule double to start the bottom of the third but Benintendi lined out to short. JBJ went to third on a grounder by Swihart but Moreland grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Phillies added a run in the top of the fourth as Williams grounded out to first to begin. Franco walked and Quinn doubled him to third before Alfaro was plunked to load the bases. Kingery flied out to center but Franco beat the throw home for a sac fly run scored. Hernandez flied out to center to end the inning with the Phillies ahead 2-0.
The sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez looked at strike three to start. Bogaerts popped up to second but Kinsler singled. Arrieta threw a pickoff throw away and Kinsler scooted all the way to third but Nunez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Pomeranz came back for one more inning in the top of the fifth and got Hoskins to ground out to third to begin. Santana flied out to center but Cabrera singled to center. Williams was plunked but Franco whiffed on a full count to end the inning. It wasn't his best start but it wasn't a disaster either as Pomeranz went 5 innings and allowed just 2 runs. About as average a start as you can get.
The Sox failed to score in the bottom of the fifth as Holt popped up to third to begin. JBJ and Benintendi both whiffed to end the inning.
Joe Kelly was brought in to pitch the top of the sixth and Quinn immediately singled. Quinn was thrown out trying to steal by the alert Swihart and Alfaro flied out to center. Kingery flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth as Swihart singled to start. Moreland lined out to right but Martinez doubled Blake to third. Bogaerts grounded out to third but Swihart scored to cut into the lead. Kinsler lined out to right to end the inning but it was 2-1 Phillies.
Heath Hembree walked Hernandez to start the top of the seventh but Hoskins whiffed. Santana lined out to center and Cabrera whiffed to end the inning. Arrieta had one last inning and it was the bottom of the seventh. Nunez flied out to center, Holt grounded out to short and JBJ whiffed to end the inning. Arrieta was too much for the Sox tonight.
Matt Barnes had the top of the eighth for the Sox and Williams looked at strike three to start. Franco and Quinn singled but Alfaro whiffed. Kingery walked on a borderline full count pitch to piss Barnes off. Matt responded by blowing away Hernandez to end the inning.
Tommy Hunter came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Benintendi grounded out to short to begin. Swihart lined out to center and Moreland grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Phillies iced the game against Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez in the top of the ninth. Hoskins doubled and Santana singled him home. Cabrera lined out to second and Williams erased Santana at second on a force. Franco singled but Quinn grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Phillies ahead 3-1.
Seranthony Dominguez nearly gave the game away in the bottom of the ninth when Martinez walked and Bogaerts was plunked to start. With the tying run on first, Kinsler whiffed. Mr. Mookie Betts pinch hit for Nunez but popped up to third. Holt looked at strike three to end the game. The Phillies had won it 3-1.
Jackass of the Night is Mitch Moreland. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and left runners in scoring position back when it was a one run game.
The Good:
JD Martinez was 1 for 2 with a walk and a hit by pitch.
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Mookie Betts was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Brock Holt was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Hector Velazquez allowed a run in the 9th inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but stole a base and got an outfield assist.
Blake Swihart was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Ian Kinsler was just 1 for 4.
Drew Pomeranz was as average at could be. He took the loss but allowed just 2 runs in 5 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
What a day this was. The bad news was the Sox lost the game, Chris Sale went on the disabled list and Xander Bogaerts took a high hard one to the wrist. A similar situation last year made Bogaerts all but useless the final two months of the season because John Farrell refused to sit him. Who knows what's wrong with Sale but Bogaerts needs wrist above anything else. The good news is Ian Kinsler may be on the downside but will play a good second base and give the team more speed. The Sox did NOT add a reliever at the deadline so what they have is what they're going to be from here on. Its up to Hembree, Kelly, Barnes, Craig Kimbrel and Tyler Thornburg to be effective in the second half. As for today's loss, they ran into a good pitcher and didn't hit well, it happens. The focus now changes to the New York Yankees for the big four game series coming up. This is the Sox chance to send a message that they are the real deal by winning at least 3 out of 4. It may be a tall task with Sale now on the disabled list and Bogaerts ailing but its possible. The loss dropped the Sox to 75-34, 5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox start the big weekend series with the Yankees on Thursday night. With Chris Sale on the disabled list, Brian Johnson will get the start for the Sox against CC Sabathia. The two burly lefties will meet Thursday night at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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