As for the game, the Chicago White Sox drew first blood in today's doubleheader by squeaking by with a close win over the Boston Red Sox. Tanner Houck (0-24.35 ERA) was game but received no run support or help from his defense. Tim Anderson set the tone with a leadoff home run and the White Sox took advantage of bad defense to add to the lead. The BoSox heads weren't into it as they made mental errors and hit into double plays. Dallas Keuchel held the BoSox in check for 5 innings and the bullpen slammed the door in the final two to win the game 3-2 at Fenway Park.
The White Sox wasted no time getting to Houck in the top of the first when Tim Anderson hit the first pitch of the game all the way to Mount Rushmore to put Chicago in the lead. Adam Eaton popped up to third, Yoan Moncada lined out to third and Jose Abreu flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning with Chicago up 1-0.
Keuchel got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez grounded out to short on the first pitch. Alex Verdugo swung and missed for strike three and JD Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Yermin Mercedes began the top of the second by hitting a routine grounder to Devers who threw the ball into the centerfield bleachers for an error. Yasmani Grandal grounded into a double play and Luis Robert grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to start. Rafael Devers grounded back to the mound and Hunter Renfroe grounded out to third to end the inning.
Jake Lamb grounded out to second to start the top of the third and Garcia lined out to a jumping Renfroe. Anderson singled in the hole at short but Eaton grounded out to second on the first pitch to end the inning. Christian Arroyo fouled a ball off his leg and limped down to first on a grounder to third but Bobby Dalbec hit a 420 foot double off the top of the centerfield wall. Kevin Plawecki lined out to Eaton who forgot how many outs there were but Dalbec didn't take advantage. Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Houck struck out Moncada swinging on a breaking ball to start the top of the fourth but Abreu beat out a bad throw by Bogaerts for a "hit". Although Mercedes struck out swinging, Grandal doubled home Abreu to ice the game. Robert hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but it was 2-0 White Sox.
The BoSox blew a rally in the bottom of the fourth as Verdugo hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Martinez got a base hit to center and moved to second on the Bogaerts grounder to third. Devers slashed a base hit to left to put runners at the corners and Renfroe hit a Baltimore chop for a base hit to score Martinez, sending Rafael to third. Renfroe then foolishly got picked off to end the inning with the BoSox down 2-1.
The ChiSox knocked out Houck in the top of the fifth as Lamb singled to right to start. Garcia blew the bunt by popping up to third but Anderson sent Lamb to third with a base hit to center. That was it for Houck who would be charged with 3 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Josh Taylor somehow managed to strike out Eaton swinging but naturally Moncada hit a rocket to center to score Lamb. Somehow Taylor got Abreu to ground out to third but it was 3-1 Chicago.
Keuchel cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Arroyo popped up to first to start. Dalbec singled to center but Plawecki banged into a double play to end the inning.
Phillips Valdez came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Mercedes grounded out to second to start. Grandal grounded out to first and Robert struck out swinging to end the inning. Danny Mendick took over for Lamb in the bottom of the sixth and Boston got a run back when Hernandez sliced a 300 foot home run just around the Pesky Pole to cut the lead. That was it for Keuchel as Aaron Bummer came in and Verdugo greeted him with a base hit to center. Naturally Martinez banged into a double play to kill the rally. Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning but the BoSox cut the lead 3-2.
Valdez returned for the top of the seventh and Mendick lined out to first to start. Garcia took strike three and Anderson swung at a 3-0 pitch and grounded out to third to end the inning. ChiSox closer Liam Hendriks came in for the bottom of the seventh and Devers popped up to short to start. Renfroe grounded out to first but Arroyo got a base hit to left. Dalbec looked at strike three right down the middle to end the game. The White Sox had won it 3-2.
Jackass of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and his uncalled error led to the second run to score.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a solo home run.
Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Christian Arroyo was 1 for 3.
Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 3.
Phillips Valdez tossed 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 2.
Tanner Houck took the loss by getting charged with 3 runs in 4 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 but committed an error.
Hunter Renfroe was 1 for 3 with an rbi but got picked off as a crucial runner.
Josh Taylor allowed an inherited runner to score in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
Not the best played game of the year by the Red Sox. The bad defense, Renfroe getting picked off and Taylor not getting Moncada all hurt. Its possible if this were a nine inning game the Sox would have pulled it out but what are you going to do? The game was frustrating but there's no time no bitch too much because there's still Game 2 to be played. The Sox are going to be down Taylor and Valdez and the status of Matt Barnes is up in the air. Cora pulling Houck too early cost them again and how many more times is he going to use "analytics" before it bites him on a consistent basis. Houck didn't pitch that bad but made a rookie mistake and got let down by Taylor. He's going to be a good pitcher in this league, just needs to pull it all together. As mentioned earlier, there's no time to dwell on the loss because Game 2 is soon. The BoSox look to rebound when they send Martin Perez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) against old Sox prospect Michael Kopech in Game 2. The game begins at 5:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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