Saturday, May 18, 2019

Astros Pound Sox (5/18/19)

The Houston Astros have won 10 straight games and have completely humiliated the Boston Red Sox in the process. The red hot Astros tore apart Boston starter Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez (1-3, 5.53 ERA) for 5 runs before adding two more runs off the incompetent Red Sox bullpen. The Sox offense tried to come back but once again they trailed by too many. When it was over the Sox were handed yet another loss and the Astros won their 10th straight with a 7-3 victory at Fenway Park.

The destruction began in the top of the first inning when Springer effortlessly tripled to begin the game. Alex Bregman walked and Michael Brantley ended the game early with a double that scored Springer to put the Astros up for good 3 batters into the game. Carlos Correa walked and Josh Reddick hit a sacrifice fly to score Bregman. Yuli Gurriel singled and Sox manager had seen enough of Velazquez. The incompetent starter got just one guy out and would be charged with 5 runs, yuck. Colten Brewer came in and poured gas on the fire as Tyler White doubled home both runners to ice the game. Max Strassi grounded out to third and Jake Marisnick whiffed to end the inning but it was 5-0 Astros.
                             "Gimmie that ball...and..AND GET OUTTA HERE!" - Cora

The Sox tried to answer in the bottom of the first against Astros starter Corbin Martin although Andrew Benintendi lined out to center to start. Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to first before JD Martinez, Mitch Moreland and Xander Bogaerts all walked to load the bases. A passed ball by Strassi scored Martinez but Rafael Devers flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox down 5-1.

The Astros got another run in the top of the second although Springer flied out to center to start. Bregman doubled and Brantley singled him to third before Correa scored him with a sac fly to increase the lead. Reddick grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 6-1 Astros.
                                                   Brewer gives up a run

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as Michael Chavis grounded out to short to start. Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr both grounded out to second to end the inning.

Gurriel walked and a wild pitch moved him to second to begin the top of the third but White grounded out to short. Strassi grounded out to second before Strassi whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third although Benintendi popped up to third to start. Mr. Mookie walked but Martinez flied out to right. Moreland doubled home Betts to cut the lead. Bogaerts grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.
                                                          Moreland drives in a run

Ryan Weber came in to pitch the top of the fourth and grounded out to third to start. Bregman walked before moving to second on the Brantley grounder. Correa grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Devers grounded out to third to begin. Chavis singled but was foolishly thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. That was a big out as Vazquez smashed his 6th home run of the season to cut the lead in half. JBJ flied out to center to end the inning but it was 6-3 Red Sox.
                                                        Vazquez goes yard

As soon as the Sox inched closer the Astros got the run right back in the top of the fifth inning. Reddick crushed a 950 foot home run off Weber to ice the game. Gurriel looked at strike three before White hit a routine grounder to Bogaerts. Bogaerts threw his glove at the ball and barked at it for an error before Strassi and Marisnick singled to load the bases. White was forced at home on the grounder by Springer and Bregman grounded into a force to end the inning with the Astros ahead 7-3.
                                                     Damn Reddick

The Sox had a chance in the bottom of the fifth inning when Andrew Benintendi and Mr. Mookie stroked back to back singles. The rally ended when Josh James relieved Martin and got Martinez to fly out to center although Benintendi took third. Mr. Mookie swiped second and Moreland walked to load the bases. Bogaerts whiffed and Devers grounded out to third to end the inning, what a waste.

Brantley grounded out to third to start the top of the sixth inning but Correa beat out a little roller to the mound. Reddick lined out to left and Gurriel flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the sixth as Chavis flied out to right to start. Vazquez grounded out to third and JBJ popped up to third to end the inning.

Tyler Thornburg made a mad dash from the bullpen to the mound in the top of the seventh inning and White immediately singled. Stassi walked but Marisnick beat out a double play ball. Springer walked to load the bases and Bregman hit a fly ball to JBJ. White went for home and JBJ fired....YER OUTTA THERE! White was out and Thornburg sprinted into the dugout. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the seventh as Benintendi flied out to center to begin. Mr. Mookie took strike three before Martinez grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Brantley singled to start the top of the eighth but Correa banged into a double play. Reddick flied out to left to end the inning. Will Harris came in for the bottom of the eighth and Moreland grounded out to first to start. Bogaerts flied out to center and Devers whiffed to end the inning.

Josh Smith had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Gurriel grounded out to short to start. White lined out to center but Strassi singled. Marisnick watched strike three go by to end the inning. Astros closer Roberto Osuna had the bottom of the ninth and Chavis lined out to center to start. Vazquez grounded out to third and JBJ grounded out to first to end the game. The Astros had won it 7-3.
                                                        Damn it


Jackass of the Night is Hector Velazquez. He got hammered for 5 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.
                                                     Jackass Velazquez


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Tyler Thornburg tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Josh Smith pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Bad:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4.

Colten Brewer allowed two inherited runners to score and one of his own in 2 2/3 innings.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error but walked.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run.

Ryan Weber gave up a run in 3 innings of work.




Final Thoughts:

Thanks a lot Dave Dombrowski. His refusal to get pitching help after the departures of Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel has led the Sox to this point. They're throwing out 5th starters that suck and the bullpen is overworked already and its only May. The bullpen had to toss 7 2/3 innings and admirably only allowed 2 runs. The offense is at fault too because they had plenty of chances to bop their way back into the game but failed almost every time. It would be nice to score more than 3 runs in a game wouldn't it? The less said of this disaster the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 23-22, 5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to avoid a sweep with Chris Sale on the mound opposite old friend Wade Miley at 2 PM at Fenway Park.

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