Porcello began his dominance in the top of the first inning as Marcus Semien popped up to first to start. Robbie Grossman flied out to center and Matt Chapman looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first against Aaron Brooks although Andrew Benintendi grounded out to short to begin. Mr. Mookie Betts pounded his 6th home run of the season to center to give the Sox the early lead. JD Martinez grounded out to short before Xander Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Porcello got Khris Davis to fly out to center to start the top of the second but Stephen Piscotty walked. Kendrys Morales popped up to third and Chad Pinder watched strike three go by to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the second as Rafael Devers lined out to center to start. Michael Chavis blooped a single to center and Mitch Moreland walked. Jackie Bradley Jr beat out a double play ball which set up a Sandy Leon single to score Chavis. Benintendi grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Ramon Laureano singled to start the top of the third but Nick Hundley whiffed. Semien lined out to third but Grossman walked. Chapman grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the third as Mr. Mookie and Martinez both grounded out to third before Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Porcello cruised in the top of the fourth as Davis whiffed to start. Piscotty popped up to second and Morales whiffed to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fourth although Devers flied out to right to begin. Chavis singled and Moreland blasted his 8th home run of the season to increase the lead. JBJ grounded out to short but Leon walked. Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.
Porcello got Pinder to ground out to short to begin the top of the fifth before Laureano looked at strike three. Hundley doubled but Semien whiffed to end the inning. The Sox took advantage of an error to score another run although Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth. Laureano dropped a pop up by Martinez and Bogaerts walked. Devers doubled home Martinez to increase the lead. That was it for Brooks as Liam Hendriks came in and whiffed Chavis before Moreland flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
Porcello got Grossman to pop up to short, Chapman to pop up to third and Davis to pop up to first in short order in the top of the sixth. JBJ whiffed to start the bottom of the sixth before Hendriks snared a line drive by Leon. Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning.
Porcello made the A's beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the seventh inning as Piscotty grounded out to third to start. Morales grounded back to the mound and Pinder grounded out to short to end the inning. Mr. Mookie beat out an infield single to start the bottom of the seventh but Martinez flied out to right. Bogaerts flied out to right to chase Hendriks. Ryan Butcher blew away Devers to end the inning.
Porcello came back for one more inning in the top of the eighth and struck out Laureano to begin. Hundley grounded out to short and Semien lined out to right to end the inning. Porcello pitched one of the best games of his career with 8 shutout innings allowing just 2 hits.
Joakim Soria came in for the bottom of the eighth and Chavis whiffed to start. Moreland grounded out to short and JBJ whiffed to end the inning.
Tyler Thornburg sprinted to the mound to crap his pants again in the top of the ninth. Robbie Grossman ruined the shutout with a 950 foot bomb to put the A's on the board. Chapman flied out to center but Davis walked. Piscotty whiffed and Morales grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of the Night is Rick Porcello. He fired 8 shutout innings allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 including a home run.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with a walk including a 2 run home run.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Tyler Thornburg allowed a run in the top of the ninth.
The Ugly:
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Its about time Porcello pitched well. Better late than never and it came at a good time with the Sox season threatening to roll down the drain. The Sox have been bad this season mostly due to horrendous starting pitching but tonight Porcello turned it around big time. Chavis continues to get on base and Betts seemed to have broken out of his month long slump. Chavis has been a breath of fresh air and could be the heir apparent to Dustin Pedroia at second even though he's a natural third basemen. There's no chance in hell Devers is going to play second so short term, Chavis is the man. Hopefully the starters can pitch long and well going forward because the Sox can't afford to fall further behind as the calendar turns to May. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox finish their homestand with a 1:00 PM game against the A's. Mike Fiers goes for the A's with Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez (0-2, 3.86 ERA) going for the Sox at Fenway Park.
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