Velazquez started strong in the top of the first inning as Marcus Semien lined out to center to start. Robbie Grossman popped up to third and Matt Chapman whiffed to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the first as Andrew Benintendi flied out to left to start. Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to first and JD Martinez flied out to center to end the inning.
The A's struck first in the top of the second inning as Khris Davis singled to start. Stephen Piscotty was plunked but Kendrys Morales whiffed. Chad Pinder struck out swinging bit Ramon Laureano singled in Davis to put the A's on top. Josh Phegley popped up to third to end the inning with the A's leading 1-0.
The Sox blew a chance to break the game open early in the bottom of the second against Oakland starter Mike Fiers. Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis stroked back to back singles to put runners at the corners. Mitch Moreland scored Devers with a sac fly to tie the game. Vazquez walked and Jackie Bradley Jr singled to load the bases but Chavis was gunned down at home trying to score on a passed ball. Tzu-Wei Lin whiffed to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Marcus Walden came in to pitch the top of the third and he froze Semien to start. Grossman lined out to left but Chapman singled. Davis flied out to right to end the inning. Benintendi grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third but Mr. Mookie was plunked. Martinez lined out to left and Devers grounded out to second to end the inning.
Walden cruised in the top of the fourth as Piscotty grounded out to short to begin. Morales whiffed and Pinder popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the fourth although Chavis struck out swinging to start. Moreland smashed his 9th homer of the year to put Boston on top. Vazquez looked at strike three and JBJ lined out to first to end the inning but it was 2-1 Sox.
Walden returned for the top of the fifth and Laureano whiffed to start. Phegley popped up to first and Semien grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Lin doubled to start. Benintendi dropped down a bunt to moved Lin to third and he scored on the Betts sac fly. Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning but the small ball put the Sox up 3-1.
Brandon Workman came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Grossman grounded out to first to start. Chapman grounded out to third and Davis whiffed to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the sixth against former Sox prospect JB Wendelken. Devers started the rally with a single before Chavis drew a walk. Moreland flied out to left and Vazquez flied out to center but JBJ walked to load the bases. Lin singled home Devers to reload the bases and Benintendi broke out of his slump with a single that scored Chavis and JBJ. That was it for Wendelken as Lou Trivino was brought in to watch Benintendi swipe second. Mr. Mookie walked to reload the bases but Martinez popped up to second to end the inning with the game over 6-1.
Colten Brewer came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Piscotty was retired on a squibber in front of the mound. Morales grounded out to first but Pinder singled. Laureano popped up to third to end the inning. Yusmeiro Petit came in for the bottom of the seventh and Devers popped up to third to begin. Chavis and Moreland both whiffed to end the inning.
Heath Hembree came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Phegley lined out to left to start. Semien whiffed and Grossman lined out to first to end the inning. Ryan Dull came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Vazquez greeted him with his 5th home run of the year to wrap up the scoring for the Sox. JBJ was plunked but Lin popped up to third. Benintendi flied out to center but a wild pitch moved JBJ to second. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
Tyler Thornburg exploded out of the bullpen to crap his pants in the top of the ninth inning. Chapman and Davis stroked back to back doubles to start before Piscotty whiffed. Morales grounded out to short but Pinder doubled home Davis. Laureano grounded out to short to end the game with the Sox winning 7-3 to sweep the series.
Hero of the Night is Marcus Walden. His three shutout innings were instrumental in the Sox pulling off the win.
The Good:
Mookie Betts walked, was hit with a pitch and drove in a run.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Michael Chavis was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis including a solo home run.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 2 with a walk, hit by pitch and run scored.
Tzu-Wei Lin was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Colten Brewer pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
JD Martinez was 0 for 4.
Tyler Thornburg allowed 2 runs in the top of the ninth.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Hector Velazquez allowed a run in 2 innings of work.
Final Thoughts:
Hopefully the Sox are back on track as April is now in the rearview mirror. The Sox are very fortunate to only be 5 games out considering how miserable they started. Tampa Bay is going to be tough with their pitching and when the New York Yankees stop looking like a MASH unit, they're going to be tough as well. The Sox need to play about .650-700 ball the rest of the way if they have any shot of 4-peating as division champions. They're going to need their starters to come around and the offense to be more consistent. Today's win helped big time and hopefully a win streak is in the future. The win improves the Sox to 14-17, 5.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox go on the road to Chicago for a four game set with the White Sox. Chicago doesn't have a clue who's going for them while David Price (1-2, 3.60 ERA) goes for the Red Sox at 8:10 PM at Commiskey Park.
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