The achillies heel of the Boston Red Sox reared its ugly head tonight against the Houston Astros. Leading 2-0 after 6 innings, the notorously shaky bullpen was lit up for 6 runs and the Astros held on to take game 1 of this playoff preview series. David Price did what he could but the Sox could only muster 2 runs against Gerrit Cole as the Astros won the game at Fenway Park, 6-3.
Price got the ball in the top of the first inning and George Springer popped up to sexond to start. Jose Altuve looked at strike three but Alex Bregman walked. Carlos Correa froze for strike three to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the first against Morton as Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a single. Andrew Benintendi singled Betts to third and Betts scored on the JD Martinez sac fly. The Sox screwed up when Benintendi was caught stealing on a Xander Bogaerts strikeout to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Price whiffed Tyler White to start the top of the second before Yuli Gurriel singled. Old friend Josh Reddick struck out swinging and Martin Maldonado grounded into a force to end the inning. Things got hairy in the bottom of the second when a wayward pitch struck home plate umpire Brian O'Nora. He had to leave the game and the others had to rotate. When action resumed Mitch Moreland whiffed, Ian Kinsler popped up to short and Eduardo Nunez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Price cruised in the top of the third as Jake Marisnick lined out to left to start. Springer looked at strike three and Altuve was frozen to end the inning. The Sox wasted a big chance for insurance in the bottom of the third as Sandy Leon whiffed to start. Jackie Bradley Jr walked and Mr. Mookie singled but Benintendi lined out to left. Martinez whiffed to end the inning.
Price stayed strong in the top of the fourth as Bregman popped up to second, Correa flied out to center and White whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning when Bogaerts led off with a solo home run to increase the lead. Moreland grounded out to first, Kinsler lined out to right and Nunez also lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Price continued his dominance in the top of the fifth as Gurriel lined out to right, Reddick flied out to left and Maladonado whiffed to end the inning. The Sox blew a golden chance to tack on insurance in the bottom of the fifth as Leon whiffed but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Sandy to reach first. JBJ whiffed but Mr. Mookie singled before Benintendi lined out to left. Martinez walked to load the bases but Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Price kept up the pace in the top of the sixth as Marisnick popped up to first to start. Springer looked at strike three before Altuve grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth as Moreland grounded out to short to begin. Kinsler looked at strike three before Nunez lined out to center to end the inning.
The Astros roared back in the top of the seventh as Bregman doubled to start. Correa looked at strike three but White walked to chase Price. In what was the Sox best start in weeks, Price went 6 1/3 innings and would be charged with just 2 runs. Ryan Brasier was called in to save the day but he poured gas on the fire. Gurriel doubled home Bregman although Reddick hit one up the elevator shaft. Tony Kemp pinch hit for Maldonado and doubled home White and Gurriel to give the Astros the lead. Marisnick grounded out to short to end the inning but the Astros went from down two to up 3-2, thanks bullpen.
Brian McCann came in to catch with Collin McHugh coming in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch hit for Leon only to strike out swinging. JBJ walked to chase McMugh with Ryan Pressly coming in. Mr. Mookie walked but Benintendi erased Betts at second. Martinez singled home JBJ to tie the game but Bogaerts flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Just as soon as the Sox tied it up in the 7th, Joe Kelly gave it away in the top of the eighth inning. Christian Vazquez took over behind the plate as Springer singled to start. Altuve and Bregman singled to load the bases and Betts had to make a great diving catch to rob Correa of a sure triple. Springer scored and both runners advanced but then Altuve scored on a wild pitch by Kelly. White singled home Bregman as the boo's rained down on Kelly. Gurriel whiffed and Reddick flied out to center to end the inning but it was 6-3 Astros, goodbye Sox.
Hector Rondon came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Moreland whiffed to start. Kinsler and Nunez both singled to bring the tying run to the plate, but pinch hitter Rafael Devers (for Vazquez) whiffed to end that. JBJ grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Tyler Thornburg made a mad dash to the mound for the top of the ninth with Blake Swihart coming in to catch. McCann singled but Marisnick whiffed. Springer singled but Altuve banged into a double play to end the inning. Roberto Osuna came in close out the bottom of the ninth and the Sox laid down. Mr. Mookie flied out to center, Benintendi lined out to left and Martinez grounded out to third to end the game. The Astros won it 6-3.
Jackass of the Night is Joe Kelly. He gave up the 3 runs in the 8th to take the loss.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 rbis.
David Price tossed 6 1/3 innings of 2 run ball, his bullpen failed him.
Tyler Thornburg pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Rafael Devers struck out as a pinch hitter.
Ryan Brasier allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 1 of his own in 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but made it count as it was a solo home run.
Ian Kinsler was just 1 for 4.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Christian Vazquez caught the 8th inning.
Blake Swihart caught the 9th inning.
Final Thoughts:
Once again if this was a playoff preview the Sox gagged big time. They only scored 2 runs off Cole and the bullpen melted again. They're gonna live or die with what they got....and somewhere down the line they're gonna die. Unless the rotation all throw gems in the playoffs, their ALDS matchup in October will go down in flames very quickly. The good news is Price looked good against the defending champs and Chris Sale returns on Tuesday. Other than that this game was an unmitigated disaster for the offense and the bullpen. The less said of this, the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 97-45, 8.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to bounce back with Eduardo Rodriguez (12-3, 3.34 ERA) taking on Charlie Morton at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park
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