Rodriguez looked like a much different pitcher in this game than he had in his first few starts. He got Jonathan Villar to ground out to short to begin the top of the first. Rodriguez whiffed both Joey Rickard and Trey Mancini to end the inning. Orioles starter David Hess initially pitched well in the bottom of the first as Andrew Benintendi popped up to third to start. Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center but Mitch Moreland doubled. JD Martinez flied out to center to end the inning.
Renato Nunez started the top of the second with a fly out to center before Dwight Smith grounded out to short. Hanser Alberto grounded out to short as well to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts popped up to second to begin. Rafael Devers grounded out to first and Eduardo Nunez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Rodriguez froze Sucre to open the top of the third before Richie Martin grounded out to second. Cedric Mullins grounded out to third to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr opened the bottom of the third by grounding out to first. Christian Vazquez grounded out to short but Benintendi smashed a solo home run to center to put the Sox on top. Mr. Mookie flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Rodriguez kept pace in the top of the fourth inning as Villar lined out to center to begin. Rickard and Mancini both whiffed to end the inning. Moreland singled to start the bottom of the fourth but Martinez lined out to left. Bogaerts scored Moreland with a double to center but Devers whiffed. Nunez lashed a single to left to score Bogaerts to increase the lead. JBJ flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Rodriguez got Nunez to ground out to third to start the top of the fifth before Smith whiffed. Alberto singled to left to break up the perfect game but Sucre flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Vazquez grounded out to second, Benintendi grounded out to short and Mr. Mookie hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Rodriguez blew away Martin to begin the top of the sixth before Mullins hit a routine grounder to short. Bogaerts picked the ball up and threw himself on the ground pretending to be shot for an error. Villar banged into a double play to end the inning. Moreland whiffed to start the bottom of the sixth but Martinez flied out to left. Bogaerts singled to chase Hess and Paul Fry got Devers to ground out to third to end the inning.
The O's struck back in the top of the seventh as Rickard grounded out to short to start. Mancini doubled to right before Nunez whiffed. Rodriguez was one out away from 7 innings of shut-out ball but Smith broke up the party with a 2 run bomb to cut the lead. That was it for Rodriguez who tossed 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball. He was outstanding tonight.
Matt Barnes came in and struck out Alberto but a wild pitch put him on first. Sucre whiffed to end the inning. The Sox got the run back in the bottom of the seventh although Nunez lined out to left. JBJ grounded out to second but Vazquez singled up the middle. A wild pitch moved Vazquez to second and Benintendi got a base hit to right. Rickard threw home and Benintendi took second on the throw with the alert Vazquez staying at third. Evan Phillips came in to pitch to Mr. Mookie but a wild pitch scored Vazquez and moved Benintendi to third. Mr. Mookie walked to put runners at the corners before Betts swiped second. With a chance to break the game open, Moreland whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Brandon Workman came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Rio Ruiz pinch hit for Martin only to look at strike three. Mullins whiffed but Villar walked. Rickard climbed the centerfield wall to rob Rickard of a double to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the eighth with Villar at short, Ruiz at third and Alberto at second. Martinez soubled and Bogaerts beat out an infield single to third. Devers sacrifice bunted both runners along and Nunez singled home Martinez, advancing Bogaerts to third. JBJ hit a sac fly to score Bogaerts for another run. Mike Wright Jr came in to pitch to Vazquez and he flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-2.
Tyler Thornburg sprinted to the mound for the top of the ninth and crapped his pants. Mancini walked and Nunez blasted a 40,000 foot home run to Cambridge to cut the lead. Thornburg got Smith to line out to short before he dropped his glove and sprinted into the dugout screaming. The confused Alex Cora had to bring in Ryan Brasier for the save. Brasier got Alberto on a failed drag bunt attempt before Chris Davis pinch hit for Sucre. Brasier got Davis to line out to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-4.
Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He pitched Boston's best game all year by a starter with 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed just 3 hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out 8.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a solo home run.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Matt Barnes struck out both batters he faced
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 8th inning
Ryan Brasier earned his 3rd save by slamming the door in the ninth.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Tyler Thornburg allowed 2 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked and stole a base.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Its about time the Sox won a game they didn't fall behind in. Wins like this have been few and far between but hopefully the Sox are turning a corner. The key to the season has been the rotation, if the starters suck then they have little chance of winning. Tonight Rodriguez pitched great and the Sox won, what a concept! If Chris Sale, David Price and the others can go 6 or 7 innings while giving up 3 runs or less, they'll be in good shape. The offense will beat around the Orioles so if the Sox hope to sweep, the starters have to step up. Having Dustin Pedroia back will give Nunez and Brock Holt a chance to be super utility guys and give the rest of the team breathers as we go along. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox are back in action against the Orioles. "Slick" Rick Porcello (0-2, 13.50 ERA) goes up against Andrew Cashner at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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