Kolby Allard got the ball for the Rangers in the top of the first and Andrew Benintendi led off by striking out swinging on a full count. Rafael Devers grounded out to first and Bogaerts lined out to short to end the inning. Porcello got roughed up in the bottom of the first inning as Shin-Soo Choo doubled to right and moved to third on the Elvis Andrus base hit. Willie Calhoun was plunked to load the bases and Rougned Odor pounded a double to right. Choo and Andrus scored easy and Calhoun tried for home. Gorkys Hernandez fired home....YER OUTTA THERE! Odor took third but Calhoun was out at the plate. Danny Santana hit a hard ground out to second but Ronald Guzman singled home Odor. Scott Heineman grounded into a force to end the inning but it was 3-0 Rangers.
The Sox wasted no time getting back in the game as JD Martinez led off the top of the second inning with a base hit to left. Martinez was erased on the Christian Vazquez force and Mitch Moreland singled Christian to third. Gorkys Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases and Jackie Bradley Jr scored JD with a ground out to put the Sox on the board. Chris Owings got a base hit to center, scoring Moreland and Hernandez to tie the game. Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 3-3.
Porcello was solid in the bottom of the second although Delino DeShields Jr singled to left to begin. Tim Federowicz went down swinging and Choo flied out to center, but DeShields stole second. Andrus was rung up for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the third although Devers grounded out to first to start. Bogaerts got a base hit to right but Martinez lined out to right. Vazquez then crushed his 23rd home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Hernandez lined out to center to end the inning but the Sox were on top 5-3.
All of a sudden Vazquez keeled over in the dugout clutching his leg. Christian had to be hauled off on a gurney and rushed to the local ICU as Sandy Leon came in to catch the bottom of the third with Nick Solak pinch hitting for Calhoun. Solak singled to center but Odor whiffed. Santana was plunked but Porcello froze both Guzman and Heineman for strike three to end the inning.
Former Sox manager John Farrell's son Luke came in to pitch the top of the fourth and he walked JBJ to start. Owings took strike three and JBJ was thrown out at second trying to steal. Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning. Porcello cruised in the bottom of the fourth as DeShields Jr popped up to second to start. Federowicz struck out swinging and Choo grounded out to second to end the inning.
Farrell cruised in the top of the fifth as Devers watched strike three go by to start. Bogaerts flied out to right and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning. Porcello matched Farrell as Andrus popped up to short to start before Solak grounded out to short. Odor was called out on strikes to end the inning.
The Sox got some insurance against new pitcher Brett Martin in the top of the sixth inning. Santana threw a routine grounder by Leon away and Moreland made Danny pay by crushing his 19th home run of the season to add to the lead. Hernandez and JBJ both whiffed but Owings singled to right. Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 7-3.
Porcello finished with a flurry in the bottom of the sixth as Santana lined out to second to start. Guzman took strike three and Heineman lined out to left to end the inning. If that was Porcello's last start in a Sox uniform, it was a good one. He had some trouble in the first but tossed zeroes the rest of the way, leaving after 6 innings of 3 run ball.
The Sox got another run in the top of the seventh when Devers greeted new pitcher Jonathan Hernandez with his 32nd home run of the year. Bogaerts whiffed, Martinez grounded out to second and Leon lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3.
Trevor Kelley came in for the bottom of the seventh and DeShields Jr grounded out to first to start. Federowicz grounded out to short and Sox manager Alex Cora did some situational practice for next year when he brought in lefty Josh Taylor to face the lefty Choo. Taylor got Choo to ground out to first on the first pitch to end the inning.
Moreland led off the top of the eighth with a base hit to third but Hernandez flied out to left. JBJ and Owings both went down hacking to end the inning. Ryan Brasier came on for the bottom of the eighth and Andrus flied out to right to start. Solak went down swinging but Odor walked and Santana doubled him to third. Guzman grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox had one last rally in the top of the ninth against Ian Gibaut as Benintendi walked to start. Devers doubled him to third and Bogaerts scored Andrew with a sac fly. Martinez got a base hit to right to score Devers to wrap up the scoring. Sam Travis pinch ran for Martinez and Leon drew a walk, but Moreland whiffed to chase Gibaut. Taylor Guerriri got Hernandez to strike out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-3.
Marco Hernandez came in for Bogaerts to play second with Owings moving to short and with Andrew Cashner on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Heineman whiffed, DeShields Jr grounded out to short and Federiwicz whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won their second straight against the Rangers with a 10-3 win.
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. His two run home run put the Sox up for good
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 total runs scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
Mitch Moreland was 4 for 5 with a 2 run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Chris Owings was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Rick Porcello got the win with 6 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 6 hits while striking out 8.
Trevor Kelley got the only two men he faced out.
Josh Taylor retired the only batter he faced.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Andrew Cashner pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 2 but walked and scored.
Gorkys Hernandez was 0 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Sam Travis pinch ran for Martinez in the top of the ninth.
Marco Hernandez played second in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Just 4 games left in this dreary season but at least the Sox have some positives to look forward to. Devers & Vazquez really stepped up in not only this game but this season as well and Josh Taylor could be a lefty specialist on next year's team. Porcello could leave in free agency so if this was the end, thanks for the 73 wins, Cy Young award and the ring. The season may be down the drain but at least the Sox offense is still out there fighting. As long as they don't trade Betts and keep relatively healthy, next year's offense is still going to be deadly. As for this game, least they won which is more than what other teams in September can say. The meaningless win improved the Sox to a ho-hum 83-75 record with 4 games left. Tomorrow its another one of those damn bullpen games as Travis Lakins gets the "start" as the Sox look to sweep the Rangers. Mike Minor goes for the Rangers with the game set to be played at 1:05 PM locally at Arlington Park.
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