As for the game, the Boston Red Sox rotation still can't get anyone to go seven but today they didn't need it. "Slick" Rick Porcello (16-7, 4.20 ERA) pitched in with a base hit at the plate and 5 solid innings. The offense led by Steve Pearce provided enough spark to take Game 2 of this 3 game set with the NL East leading Atlanta Braves. When it was over the Sox had won the game 5-1 at Turner field to match the amount of regular season wins the 2007 World Series Champion Red Sox did.
Mr. Mookie Betts led off the top of the first against Sean Newcomb by flying out to right before Ian Kinsler lined out to center. JD Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Porcello had a strong bottom of the first as Ronald Acuna Jr grounded out to third to begin before ender Inciarte flied out to center. Freddie Freeman popped up to third to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Xander Bogaerts lined out to third to begin. Somehow Steve Pearce singled but naturally Eduardo Nunez lined out to short. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to right to end the inning. Porcello made no friends in the bottom of the second as Nick Markakis lined out to center to begin. Johan Camargo flied out to right but Kurt Suzuki launched a 54,000 foot home run to put the Braves on top. Ozzie Albers hit a routine ground ball to Kinsler who belly flopped on it and sang a song with it for an error. For no apparent reason Porcello hit Swanson in the head with an 85 mph slider that shattered his helmet and knocked him goofy. Charlie Culberson had to pinch run as Swanson was hauled off on a gurney. The crowd rained down boo's as Rick struck out Newcomb to end the inning with the Braves up 1-0.
Naturally the Sox failed to respond in the top of the third inning as Sandy Leon grounded out to second to start. Porcello grounded out to short but somehow Mr. Mookie walked. Shockingly Mookie swiped second but Kinsler grounded out to short to end the inning. Acuna whiffed to begin the bottom of the third before Inciarte flied out to center. Freeman singled and Markakis walked but Camargo whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox squandered a huge chance to do anything in the top of the fourth inning. Martinez walked, Bogaerts doubled and Pearce walked to load the bases with nobody out. The bottom of the order was useless as Nunez popped up to short, JBJ looked at strike three and Leon lined out to center to end the inning. Bases loaded with nobody out and they still didn't score. Porcello recovered to get Suzuki to ground out to second to begin the bottom of the fourth. Albies and Culberson whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Porcello himself singled to get the party started before Mr. Mookie walked. Kinsler flied out to right but Martinez singled to load the bases. This time Bogaerts drew a walk to score Porcello, tie the game and chase Newcomb. Shane Carle came in and Pearce singled home Betts to give the Sox the lead. Nunez grounded out but Martinez scored an insurance run. JBJ was intentionally walked to reload the bases but Leon whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Porcello returned for the bottom of the fifth and plunked pinch hitter Preston Tucker. He recovered to get Acuna to line out to right before Inciarte flied out to center. Freeman lined out to center to end the inning. He didn't last long but at least Porcello put the Sox in a position to win with 5 innings of 1 run ball.
The Sox iced the game with Luke Jackson on the mound with the returning Rafael Devers pinch hitting for Porcello in the top of the sixth. Devers drew a walk and advanced to second on the Mr. Mookie ground out. Kinsler singled but Martinez popped up to first. Bogaerts walked to load the bases and Pearce iced the game with a 2 out single that scored Devers and Kinsler. Nunez whiffed to end the inning with the Sox up 5-1.
Steven Wright got the ball in the bottom of the sixth and Markakis flied out to left to start. Camargo grounded out to third but Suzuki doubled. Albies walked but Culberson whiffed to end the inning.
The Braves pulled a double switch with Rene Rivera coming in to catch and Kyle Wright coming in to pitch to start the top of the seventh. JBJ and Leon whiffed before Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch hit for Wright only to ground out to first to end the inning. Joe Kelly got the call to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Rivera whiffed to start. Acuna walked but Inciarte stuck out swinging. Freeman grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the eighth as Mr. Mookie flied out to right to start. Kinsler walked but Martinez flied out to right. Kinsler swiped second but Bogaerts flied out to left to end the inning. Ryan Brasier got the bottom of the eighth and Markakis singled to start. Camargo banged into a double play and Brasier struck out pinch hitter Lucas Duda to end the inning.
Brad Brach came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Pearce whiffed to start. Nunez popped up to short but JBJ doubled. Leon grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Heath Hembree came in to finish off the ninth and Albies looked at strike three to start. Culberson grounded out to third before Rivera whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of the Night is Steve Pearce. He drove in 3 runs including the insurance runs to ice the game for the Sox.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and an rbi.
Rafael Devers walked and scored as a pinch hitter.
Rick Porcello got the win with 5 innings of 1 run ball, he was also 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored.
Steven Wright pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Sandy Leon was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Brock Holt was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked twice, stole a base and scored a run.
Ian Kinsler was just 1 for 4 with an error but stole a base, drove in a run, walked and scored.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 5 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
The rotation STILL can't go 7 innings but unlike 2011 this team is finding ways to win the game. The beat up and tired bullpen did their job tonight and contributed nicely to the win. With Ian Kinsler as yesterday's hero it was good to see Pearce as today's hero. Martinez and Betts can't do it every game so other people stepping up brings the Sox one step closer to their third division title in a row. At this point if the Sox can win 8 more games, the division is over. They still have another game against Atlanta and they also have 3 game sets with the lowly Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. There's 5 or 6 wins right there not even counting the 6 games remaining against the New York Yankees. Speaking of which, tonight's win improved the Sox to 96-44, 8.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. It should be noted the 2007 World Champion Sox won 96 regular season games. The 2018 Sox have 96 wins....with 22 games left. Tomorrow afternoon is the series finale and Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez takes the ball opposite Mike Foltynewicz at high noon at Turner Field.
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