As usual the Giants wasted no time taking the lead in the top of the first inning. Mauricio Dubon got the rally started with a base hit to left. Austin Slater took strike three but Kevin Pillar hit a routine grounder to second. Marco Hernandez threw himself on the ball and dryland swam on it for an error to put runners at the corners. Evan Longoria scored Dubon with a sac fly and Buster Posey whiffed to end the inning with the Giants up 1-0.
The Sox struck back immediately in the bottom of the first as Andrew Benintendi led off with a double to right. Christian Vazquez walked and Rafael Devers singled home Benintendi to tie the game. Xander Bogaerts singled home Vazquez to give the Sox the lead but the rally ended as Brock "The Hitman" Holt whiffed. Gorkys Hernandez took strike three and Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Rodriguez blew away Joey Rickard to start the top of the second inning but Jaylin Davis walked. Cristhian Adames whiffed and Davis was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the second although Chris Owings grounded out to short to start. Marco Hernandez whiffed but Benintendi singled to left. Vazquez singled to right and Benintendi beat the tag home on a single by Devers to increase the lead, Vazquez moving to third with Rafael moving to second. Bogaerts singled home both runners to increase the lead. Holt flied out to right to end the inning but it was 5-1 Sox. The Sox failed to score the remainder of the game.
Aramis Garcia struck out swinging to start the top of the third before Dubon walked. Slater lined out to right and Pillar popped up to second to end the inning. Gorkys Hernandez whiffed to start the bottom of the third before JBJ flied out to center. Owings doubled to center but Marco Hernandez grounded out to second to end the inning.
Rodriguez blew away Longoria to start the top of the fourth before Posey grounded out to third. Rickard singled to short but Davis whiffed to end the inning. Dubon threw a routine grounder away by Benintendi to put Andrew on due to the error to start the bottom of the fourth. Benintendi was erased on the force by Vazquez and Devers flied out to left. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning.
Rodriguez cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Adames grounded out to short to start. Garcia and Dubon both struck out swinging to end the inning. Holt tried to start a rally with a double to begin the bottom of the fifth but Gorkys Hernandez popped up to second. JBJ whiffed but Owings walked. Marco Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Rodriguez kept up the pace in the top of the sixth inning as Slater was frozen for strike three to start. Pillar grounded out to short and Longoria flied out to right to end the inning. That was it for Rodriguez who continued his strong season with 6 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 10.
The Sox failed to score against Wandy Peralta in the bottom of the sixth inning as Benintendi grounded out to first to start. Vazquez flied out to center and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning.
Ryan Brasier cruised in the top of the seventh as Posey whiffed to start. Rickard popped up to second and Davis struck out swinging to end the inning. Sam Coonrod came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Bogaerts flied out to right to begin. Holt grounded out to first and Gorkys Hernandez grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The Giants rallied against Marcus Walden in the top of the eighth although Adames whiffed to start. Chris Shaw pinch hit for Garcia and grounded out to second but Dubon walked. Mike Yazstremski pinch hit for Slater and lined a base hit to left before Pillar doubled both men home. That was it for Walden as Matt Barnes walked Longoria and Posey singled to third. Stephen Vogt pinch hit for Rickard but struck out swinging to end the inning with the Giants down 5-3.
The Sox blew their chance to ice the game in the bottom of the eighth with Andrew Suarez on the mound. JBJ took strike three and Owings whiffed, but Marco Hernandez reached on an error by Mike Yaz. Benintendi walked and Vazquez beat out an infield single to load the bases, but Devers hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came in to blow the save in the top of the ninth inning but he could thank Owings for helping. Brandon Belt pinch hit for Davis and Owings threw the routine grounder into the Monster seats for an error to start. Adames singled to right and Shaw walked as the paltry crowd booed Workman. Brandon Crawford pinch hit for Dubon but somehow Workman punched him out. The fans turned on the Sox and cheered Mike Yaz hoping to see a grand slam...but Workman somehow struck him out. Pillar walked home Belt to bring the tying run to third and the go-ahead run at second. On a full count...Workman struck out Longoria to end the game. Somehow the Sox held on to win 5-4.
Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He earned his 18th win by outdueling Madison Bumgarner. He tossed 6 innings of 1 run ball while striking out 10.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with 3 rbis.
Chris Owings was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes got the final out of the 8th inning.
The Bad:
Gorkys Hernandez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Marco Hernandez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Marcus Walden allowed 2 runs in just 2/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4.
Brandon Workman allowed a run in the ninth but earned his 15th save of the season.
Final Thoughts:
What a shame that Rodriguez had to have a breakout year in a miserable season like this one. Still, if he's ready to shoulder the workload at least they have one guy they can depend on next year with David Price, Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi regressing this season. Once again the Sox offense scored early but turtled late and the bullpen damn near blew another one. Even with Dombrowski gone, the stench of the horrid bullpen is still here with 10 games to play. The win improved the Sox to 80-72, nowhere near anything for a playoff spot. Tomorrow evening the Sox travel to Tampa Bay to play the Rays in which they'll most likely get swept. "Slick" Rick Porcello goes for the Sox up against Charlie Morton at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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