As for the game, for the second game in a row an Atlanta Braves player hit 3 home runs in one game. Last night it was Marcell Ozuna, tonight it was Adam Duvall. The Sox actually led 5-3 before their horrendous bullpen coughed up the lead. For a team that's not trying to win, the Red Sox are experts at it. The Sox started a guy no one has ever heard of and brought in a pitcher who hadn't pitched in 6 years. Then they brought in another castoff and there you go. What else can be said other than the Braves swept the Red Sox with a 7-5 victory at Fenway Park.
Robinson Leyer got the start in the top of the first inning and Dansby Swanson whiffed to start. Freddie Freeman singled to right and Marcell Ozuna walked, but Nick Markakis flied out to center. Travis d'Arnaud whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Braves starter Robbie Erlin in the bottom of the first as Alex Verdugo walked to start. Rafael Devers doubled him to third and Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases. JD Martinez doubled home Devers and Verdugo to give the Sox the lead. Kevin Plawecki popped up to second but Michael Chavis scored Bogaerts with a sac fly to increase the lead. Jackie Bradley Jr struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Tonight's originally scheduled starter Mike Kickham, who hadn't pitched in 6 years, took the mound in the top of the second and naturally got hammered. Austin Riley doubled to right and Adam Duvall hit a home run all the way to the Gulf of Mexico to cut the lead. John Carmago singled to left but Ender Inciarte flied out to left. Swanson flied out to center but Freedman singled Carmago to third. Ozuna singled home Carmago to tie the game. Markakis lined out to Kickham to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Bobby Dalbec whiffed to start the bottom of the second before Jose Peraza also went down hacking. Verdugo doubled to center but Devers grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Kickham settled down in the top of the third as d'Arnaud lined out to right to start. Riley grounded out to third and Duvall flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Bogaerts popped up to second to start. Martinez lined out to center and Plawecki flied out to right to end the inning.
Carmago grounded out to third to start the top of the fourth before Inciarte grounded out to second. Swanson flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Chavis grounded back to the mound to start. JBJ then swatted his third home run of the season to give the Sox the lead back. Dalbec grounded back to the mound and Peraza flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-3.
Andrew Triggs made his season debut in the top of the fifth and cruised. Freeman took strike three, Ozuna lined out to short and Markakis took strike three to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the fifth as Verdugo singled to right to start. Devers singled to right to chase Erlin. Darren O'Day came in and Bogaerts lined out to left, but Martinez singled home Verdugo to increase the lead. Plawecki and Chavis both whiffed to end the inning but the Sox led 5-3.
The Braves effortlessly tied the game in the top of the sixth as d'Arnaud singled to left to start. Riley lined out to left but Duvall hit a home run all the way to Montana to tie the game. Carmago flied out to left and Inciarte grounded out to first to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.
Tyler Matzek had the bottom of the sixth and JBJ walked to start. Dalbec popped up to second but JBJ swiped second. Peraza and Verdugo both struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Braves took the lead in the top of the seventh although Swanson struck out swinging to start. Freeman flied out to center but Ozuna hit his fourth home run in two days to give the Braves the lead. Markakis grounded out to second but the Braves were up for good 6-5.
Devers struck out swinging to start the bottom of the seventh and Shane Greene took over for Matzek. Bogaerts and Martinez both grounded out to third to end the inning.
Ryan Brasier came in for the top of the eighth and guess what happened? d'Arnaud flied out to center and Riley took strike three, but Duvall smashed his third home run of the game to complete the embarrassment. Carmago walked and Inciarte flied out to right to end the inning with the Braves ahead 7-5.
Christ Martin laughed at the Sox in the bottom of the eighth as Plawecki grounded out to second to start. Chavis whiffed and JBJ grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Matt Barnes came in for the top of the ninth and Swanson flied out to right to begin. Freeman git a routine grounder to third but Devers threw his glove at the ball and dropped an elbow on it for an error. Freeman moved to second on the grounder by Ozuna and Markakis whiffed to end the inning. Mark Melancon came in and effortlessly shut down the Sox in the bottom of the ninth. Dalbec whiffed, Peraza took strike three and Verdugo whiffed to end the game. The Braves completed the sweep with a 7-5 win.
Jackass of the Night is Andrew Triggs. He was staked to a 5-3 lead and coughed up 3 runs to take the loss.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 fort 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and a home run.
Robinson Leyer pitched a scoreless first inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jose Peraza was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Mike Kickham allowed 3 runs in 3 innings.
Ryan Brasier allowed a run in the 8th inning.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
The worst about apart this season is they're not even trying. At least the 2015 Red Sox when they were in last place were exciting to watch in August and September. Blake Swihart, Mookie Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Joe Kelly, Rick Porcello and Travis Shaw rallied under Torey Luvollo to end the season on a high note. This year there's nothing like that. The team on the field is there to lose on purpose and its been proven quite clearly the last few months. Why else would the team release Brian Johnson and start guys that have no business being on a major league roster? Why didn't Chaim Bloom pick up some relief pitching last winter even before the crap hit the fan with Betts and Covid? The Sox are not only the real life version of the movie Major League, they make the 1997 Boston Celtics look like the 86 team in comparison. Still, this year is a sham but at least there's a plan for the future. Eduardo Rodriguez and Chris Sale come back next year and all the trades Bloom made was to re-stock the farm system with future trade chips or guys that will be given a chance to see what they have. Until then the Sox and their fans have 23 games left to suffer through. The loss dropped the Sox to 12-25, last place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Toronto Blue Jays come to town to bash the Sox into submission. Martin Perez (2-4, 4.58 ERA) takes the beating while Taijuan Walker shuts down the Boston bats for the Blue Jays. The massacre begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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