Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Tanner Houck was sent back to the Alternate Training Site after the doubleheader. Its only a matter of time before an injury or inconsistency takes one of the starters out and we'll see Houck again.
As for the game, welcome back Boston Red Sox offense. After looking completely lifeless in yesterday's doubleheader sweep, the Sox sent a message by making mincemeat of the Chicago White Sox' best pitcher. After the White Sox took a quick 1-0 lead off Nathan Eovaldi (3-1, 2.70 ERA) but the BoSox hammered Lucas Giolito in the bottom of the first for six runs. Kike Hernandez set the tone with a leadoff homer and the Sox bats never let up. JD Martinez and Alex Verdugo both homered as well as the BoSox pounded out 17 hits and 11 runs. Eovaldi pitched into the seventh inning and Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock slammed the door afterwards to get the win. The BoSox bounced back from yesterday to beat the White Sox on Patriots Day 11-4 at Fenway Park.
Eovaldi got the ball in the top of the first and naturally Tim Anderson hit the first pitch of the game up the middle for a base hit to start. Adam Eaton struck out swinging and Sox catcher Christian Vazquez' throw beat Anderson on a stolen base attempt but Rafael Devers was out of position. Naturally Luis Robert doubled off the Monster to score Anderson to put Chicago up 3 batters into the game. Jose Abreu was retired on a grounder back to the mound and Yasmani Grandal popped up to Franchy Cordero to end the inning with Chicago up 1-0.
The Sox wasted no time getting to Giolito in the bottom of the first as Kike Hernandez hit a home run off the padding of the Monster Seats to tie the game instantly. Alex Verdugo hit a seeing eye single into left and moved to third on the seeing eye single to right by JD Martinez. Rafael Devers dropped a base hit to right to score Verdugo to give the Sox the lead. Christian Vazquez caught the White Sox asleep with a bunt single to third to load the bases. Marwin Gonzalez lined a base hit to right to score Martinez and Hunter Renfroe grounded out to third but scored Devers with another run. Franchy Cordero dumped a base hit to left that got under the glove of Leury Garcia, both runners scored and Cordero beat the throw to second. Bobby Dalbec walked after a 14 pitch at-bat but Hernandez popped up to second. Verdugo popped up to left to end the inning but the BoSox were up 6-1.
Eovaldi recovered in the top of the second as Yermin Mercedes struck out swinging to start. Jake Lamb nearly beat out a throw to first on a strikeout muffed by Vazquez. Garcia struck out swinging to end the inning. The BoSox struck again immediately in the bottom of the second as Martinez smashed his 6th home run of the season into the Monster Seats to start. Devers walked and White Sox manager Tony La Russa finally pulled the plug on Giolito. Zack Burdi came in and Vazquez lined a base hit to center to move Devers to third but Gonzalez struck out swinging. Renfroe scored Devers with a sac fly to center but Cordero swung at three bad pitches to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 8-1.
The White Sox struck back in the top of the third as Nick Madrigal tripled into the right field corner to start. Eovaldi did manage to strike out Anderson swinging but Eaton slapped a double down the third base line to score Madrigal. Robert hit a bullet right to Dalbec and Abreu went down hacking to end the inning with the Red Sox ahead 8-2.
Dalbec struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third before Hernandez popped up to first. Verdugo then hit a 417 foot home run to right to increase the lead. Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 9-2.
Eovaldi began the top of the fourth by freezing Grandal for strike three to start. Mercedes grounded out to third and Gonzalex made a GREAT play to rob Lamb of a base hit to end the inning. Devers grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth but Vazquez singled up the middle. Gonzalez walked and both runners moved over on the grounder to third by Renfroe. Cordero beat out a grounder to second that scored Vazquez but Gonzalez was thrown out in a rundown to end the inning with Boston ahead 10-2.
The White Sox struck back in the top of the fifth although Garcia grounded out to second to start. Eovaldi snuffed out a bunt by Madrigal but Anderson doubled to the left field wall. Cordero misplayed a fly ball by Eaton for a "double" that scored Anderson. An angry Eovaldi blew away Robert to end the inning with the White Sox down 10-3.
Jose Ruiz came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Dalbec whiffed to start. Hernandez took strike three but Verdugo walked. Martinez struck out swinging on a pitch in the other batter's box to end the inning.
Abreu took strike three to start the top of the sixth and Grandal lined out to right. Mercedes slapped a base hit to right but Hernandez dove for a bullet hit by Lamb to end the inning. Devers dropped a base hit to right to start the bottom of the sixth but was forced at second by Vazquez. Christian moved to second on a balk and to third on a Gonzalez grounder to first. Renfroe took strike three right down the middle to end the inning.
The White Sox knocked out Eovaldi in the top of the seventh as Garcia beat out a bobbled ball by Devers to start. Madrigal struck out swinging but Anderson singled Garcia to third with a base hit to left. That was it for Eovaldi who was charged with 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Garrett Whitlock came in and Anderson promptly stole second. Eaton scored Garcia with a groundout to short but Robert grounded out to second to end the inning with the White Sox down 10-4.
The White Sox made a weird move as Zack Collins came into catch with catcher Yermin Mercedes coming in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Cordero walked and took second on defensive indifference but was doubled off second on a bullet to short hit by Dalbec. Hernandez doubled to center, Verdugo singled to right and Martinez singled to left to score Hernandez with another run. Devers walked to load the bases but Vazquez flied out to right to end the inning with Boston ahead 11-4.
The Lock came back for the top of the eighth and Abreu struck out swinging to start. Collins also went down hacking and Mercedes grounded out to short to end the inning. Another position player, Danny Mendick came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and drilled Gonzalez in retaliation for Cordero "stealing" second the previous inning. Renfroe singled to left but somehow Cordero went down swinging. Dalbec flied out to right and Hernandez grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Lock returned to finish off the top of the ninth and Lamb grounded out to second to start. Garcia grounded out to third and Madrigal grounded out to short to end the game. The Red Sox had beaten the White Sox on Patriots Day 11-4.
Hero of the Night is a tough choice but I'll go with Kike Hernandez. The Red Sox were reeling after yesterday and his leadoff homer set the tone for the day.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 4 with a home run, walk and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with with a home run, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Christian Vazquez was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Marwin Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with a walk, hit by pitch, rbi and a run scored.
Franchy Cordero was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs batted in.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
The Ugly:
Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Nathan Eovaldi got the win but allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed 9 hits but struck out 10.
Final Thoughts:
That was a great bounceback win by the Red Sox after looking helpless in yesterday's doubleheader. Not only did they win, they beat Chicago's best pitcher. Giolito had nothing and the Sox made him pay in the first couple of innings, especially when Hernandez set the tone. Eovaldi looked pretty good but he (like everyone) couldn't get Tim Anderson out. Whitlock continues to be devastating with a 97 mph fastball and 95 mph sinker, like Mike Timlin in the "Idiots" days. The entire offense pitched in to win this one and it was much needed after the stinkers yesterday. Its too early to say whether or not the Sox will be good this season but if they can get consistent pitching, at least the games will be interesting to watch again. Better than the production line of bums that was thrown out to pitch last year, that's for sure. The only downers is are Renfroe and Dalbec are really struggling. At least the Red Sox have Jarren Duran waiting in Worcester to be the next outfielder, Dalbec was supposed to be the one to replace Mitch Moreland as a power hitting first basemen. Still, its too early to throw banana peels at Dalbec so let's see how he looks by the end of May. Tomorrow night the Toronto Blue Jays come to town for a brief two game set. Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.60 ERA) looks to keep momentum going against Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Jays. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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