As for the game, what should have been an easy win turned into a nail-biter in two seconds flat. The Red Sox jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before the Tampa Bay Rays clawed their way back, tying the game in the 8th inning. Rookie Michael Chavis made his major league debut with a clutch double in the ninth inning that led to the winning run scoring. After Ryan Brasier slammed the door the Sox had won two in a row with a 6-5 win over Tampa at Tropicana Field.
Charlie Morton got the ball for the Rays in the top of the first inning and Andrew Benintendi whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to third and Mitch Moreland whiffed to end the inning. Rick Porcello got the start for the Sox and he punched out Austin Meadows to begin the bottom of the first. Tommy Pham singled but was erased on the Ji-Man Choi force. Yandy Diaz whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the top of the second inning as JD Martinez began the rally with a base hit to center. Xander Bogaerts walked but Rafael Devers popped up to third. Jackie Bradley Jr walked to load the bases but Tzu-Wei Lin looked at strike three. The Sox caught a break when Sandy Leon was plunked to score JD and Benintendi croaked a grand slam to left to quiet the crowd. Mr. Mookie singled but Moreland whiffed again to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
Porcello tried to piss away the lead in the bottom of the second although Brandon Lowe flied out to right. Avisail Garcia hit a 50,000 foot home run to cut the lead instantly. Kevin Kiermaier looked at strike three before Daniel Robertson grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Rays down 5-1.
The Sox offense went to sleep as Martinez and Bogaerts both struck out to open the top of the third. Devers doubled to left but JBJ popped up to third to end the inning. All of a sudden Moreland keeled over in the dugout and had to be carried out on a stretcher with back spasms. Steve Pearce replaced Moreland and Miguel Perez singled to begin the bottom of the third. Meadows flied out to left and Pham banged into a double play to end the inning.
Mr. Mookie singled to center to start the top of the fifth but Pearce and Martinez both whiffed. Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Porcello got in trouble in the bottom of the fifth although Robertson grounded out to short to begin. Perez walked but Meadows was hit with a pitch. Porcello got a big out when Pham hit into a double play to end the inning.
Willy Adames came in to play short but was in Choi's spot as Diaz went to first and Robertson went to third to begin the top of the sixth. Devers grounded out to first, JBJ whiffed and Lin grounded out to short to end the inning. Porcello came out for the bottom of the sixth and Adames lined out to center to start. Diaz looked at strike three but Lowe singled to right to chase Porcello. Sox manager Dr. Quick Hook Cora struck again, removing Porcello after just 91 pitches. Still, Rick went 5 2/3 and allowed just 2 runs which was his best start of the season. Heath Hembree came in and got Garcia to pop up to second to end the inning.
Jake Faria came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Leon grounded out to second to begin. Benintendi flied out to left and Mr. Mookie whiffed to end the inning. The Rays struck back in the bottom of the seventh when Kiermaier tripled to start. Hembree got Robertson to pop up to second and Cora rolled the dice bringing in Bobby Poyner to face pinch hitter Guillermo Heredia. Naturally Poyner walked him but the Rays set a franchise record when Meadows tripled to cut the lead to one run. Sox manager Alex Cora kicked dirt at Poyner as he left the mound and Marcus Walden saved the day. Walden froze Pham with a nasty slider and Adames whiffed to end the inning with the Rays down 5-4.
Nick Ciuffo came in to catch the top of the ninth and the Sox blew a chance to add insurance when Pearce doubled to start. Martinez walked but Bogaerts banged into a double play. Devers popped up to short to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in for the bottom of the eighth and the Rays completed the comeback with a home run by Diaz to tie the game. A pissed off Barnes whiffed Lowe, Garcia and Kiermaier in short order but the damage was done, 5-5.
The Sox refused to let the game slip away with a ninth inning rally against Jose Alvarado. JBJ singled but Lin bunted foul with two strikes. Michael Chavis made his major league debut with a pinch hit double (for Leon) to put the go-ahead run at third. Benintendi did the honors with a sac fly that sent Chavis to third. Mr. Mookie was intentionally walked and Pearce flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-5.
Christian Vazquez came in to catch with Ryan Brasier in for the save in the bottom of the ninth. Sox fans groaned when Robertson singled to start but Ciuffo flied out to right. Meadows whiffed but Pham singled to put the winning run at first. The alert Vazquez suddenly gunned down Pham at first to end the game. The Sox had won their second in a row 6-5.
Hero of the Night is Michael Chavis. His first major league at-bat with the double in the ninth that led to the winning run scoring.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with a walk.
Steve Pearce was 1 for 3.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 2 with an HBP and a run scored.
Rick Porcello tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed just 2 runs. He struck out 5 and walked just 1.
Marcus Walden struck out the only two batters he faced.
Ryan Brasier earned his 5th save with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Heath Hembree allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.
Bobby Poyner faced two batters and allowed a hit and a walk.
Matt Barnes allowed a run in an inning of work.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a grand slam and he drove in five runs.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Christian Vazquez caught the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
They won again? What is this witchcraft? Even though the Sox never trailed, a sense of "here we go again" was there when the Rays tied the game against the incompetent Sox bullpen. Michael Chavis has been one of the top prospects for years and hopefully tonight was the beginning of a great career. Benintendi drove in 5 big runs and if Mookie Betts ever gets hot, this team will be fine offensively. Porcello finally pitched well and if he can get it going, that would be a welcome sight. Two wins in a row is never a bad thing and the Sox go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon at 2:05 PM. Tyler Glasnow goes for the Rays against David Price at Tropicana Field.
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