Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Perennial punching bag Ryan Weber was rewarded for taking one for the team last night by being designated for assignment. In his place the Sox called up Michael Chavis for an extra bat off the bench. The Sox have been thin at bench all season and finally came to their senses by bringing someone up to help. Also the Red Sox sent bags of cash to the Seattle Mariners for 27 year old bum Yacksel Rios. He has a 6.47 career ERA....perfect for Worcester.
In a game that went from a sucker punch to the gonads to jubilation in Boston, the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays engaged in a game for the ages. Nathan Eovaldi and Alek Manoah had a rare pitchers duel that saw the Red Sox lead 1-0 for most of the game. Eovaldi tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings before Josh Taylor pitched in with 1 1/3 of his own. The only run of the game to that point was Alex Verdugo knocking in Kike Hernandez in the bottom of the third. With 2 outs in the top of the ninth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered off Matt Barnes (3-1, 2,86 ERA) to tie the game. Against the slowest closer in the league, Rafael Dolis, the Sox managed to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Rafael Devers knocked in Verdugo to win the game 2-1 at Fenway Park.
Eovaldi got the ball in the top of the first inning and Marcus Semien popped up to second to start. Bo Bichette grounded out to short and Vladimir Guerrero Jr grounded out to third to end the inning. Manoah cruised in the bottom of the first as Kike Hernandez popped up to first to start. Alex Verdugo flied out to left and JD Martinez flied out to right to end the inning.
Teoscar Hernandez lined out to left to open the top of the second inning before Randal Grichuk struck out swinging. Rowdy "Roddy" Tellez flied out to left to end the inning. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to begin the bottom of the second but Rafael Devers got a base hit to right. Christian Vazquez forced Devers at second and Christian Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr grounded out to short to start the top of the third but Cavan Biggio flied out to left. Reese McGuire flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the third as Marwin Gonzalez singled in the hole at second to start. Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging but Hernandez forced Gonzalez at second. Verdugo doubled to left to score Hernandez to put Boston on top but Martinez lined out to center to end the inning. Somehow the Sox led 1-0.
Semien popped up to second to start the top of the fourth but Bichette lashed a base hit to center. Bichette stole third but Guerrero Jr was frozen for strike three. Hernandez walked but Grichuk flied out to right to end the inning. Bogaerts walked to begin the bottom of the fourth but Devers banged into a double play. Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning.
Tellez flied out to center to start the top of the fifth before Gurriel Jr grounded out to short. Biggio flied out to center to end the inning. Arroyo flied out to center to start the bottom of the fifth but Gonzalez singled to left. Dalbec flied out to right and Hernandez popped up to first to end the inning.
Eovaldi cruised in the top of the sixth as McGuire struck out swinging to start. Semien took strike three and Bichette grounded out to first to end the inning. Manoah matched Eovaldi in the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo, Martinez and Bogaerts all went down hacking in short order.
The Jays threatened in the top of the seventh as Guerrero Jr and Hernandez stroked back to back singles to start. Grichuk banged into a double play but that was it for Eovaldi. Josh Taylor came in and struck out Tellez swinging to end the inning. Eovaldi had tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings, outstanding.
The Sox failed to add insurance in the bottom of the seventh as Joel Payamps took over on the mound. Devers grounded out to short, Vazquez struck out swinging and Arroyo hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
Taylor cruised in the top of the eighth as Gurriel Jr grounded out to third to start. Biggio and McGuire both struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Gonzalez struck out swinging to start. Dalbec grounded out to third and Hernandez flied out to left to end the inning.
Matt Barnes came in to close out the top of the ninth and Semien waived at a pitch in the dirt to start. Bichette took strike three and with two strikes away from victory....Guerrero Jr hit a home run all the way to Neptune to tie the game. Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Sox ended up rallying in the bottom of the ninth against Rafael Dolis as both Verdugo and Martinez stroked back to back singles to start. Bogaerts flied out to left but Devers ripped a base hit to center. Verdugo made a mad dash home to win the game, the Sox had walked it off 2-1!
Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. He drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 3.
Nathan Eovaldi tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings allowing just 3 hits and a walk.
Josh Taylor struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced.
The Bad:
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Matt Barnes vultured the win by allowing the game tying homer in the top of the ninth.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Once again the Sox as a team were held to just 7 hits and 2 runs but this time it happened to be enough. That was a wonderful pitcher's duel and kudos to both Eovaldi and Taylor for holding the high powered Jays to nothing through 8 innings. The Jays could have blindfolded themselves and still hit home runs the last three days so for the Sox to shut them down in this one was much needed. The Sox offense apart from 4 guys is in shambles, especially with Vazquez and Arroyo both stuck in horrible slumps. Even more concerning is Matt Barnes' inability to get elite hitters out. Last month Shohei Ohtani took him deep and last week Gleyber Torres drove in Aaron Judge to tie a game against the New York Yankees. Tonight Guerrero took him deep two strikes away from victory. Everyone including Mariano Rivera blew saves, it happens, but it becomes a problem when its more frequent. Hopefully this isn't a preview of things to come because with the Sox back in contention, Barnes HAS to get the great hitters out if the Sox want to have a shot at October. Its a good thing the Sox won because Tampa Bay won AGAIN, this time over the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox. The Rays have won 24 of their last 29 games although their ace Tyler Glasnow left with an injury. You never want to wish injury on someone but if he's out for a period of time, that could be the Sox chance to gain some ground. The win improved the Sox to 40-27, 3 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Atlanta for a two game set with the Braves. Tomorrow night Eduardo Rodriguez (5-4, 6.03 ERA) tries not to stink against Tucker Davidson of the Braves. The game begins at 7:20 PM at Truist Park.
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