Sox Blow Lead, Walkoff Indians (9/4/21)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Connor Wong was sent back to Worcester and Taylor Motter was activated to take his place. Also the Sox signed 27 year old right handed pitcher Geoff Hartlieb from the New York Mets. He allowed 7 runs in 4 innings for the Mets and was designated for assignment. Worcester's season doesn't end for a few weeks so that's just a depth move for them. Motter will give Boston some depth as well.

                                                                           OUT

                                                                       IN

As for the game, that game took a big turn at the end didn't it? For six innings the Sox and the Cleveland Indians battled to a 0-0 tie. Eli Morgan of Cleveland and Tanner Houck of the Red Sox were both gone going into the seventh inning. With Blake Parker on the mound, Rafael Devers clobbered a three run shot to put the Sox ahead. In the top of the ninth down 3-1 with Adam Ottavino (5-3, 3.79 ERA) on the mound and down to their last strike, Franmil Reyes hit a pinch hit two run homer to tie the game. Then with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with Alex Young on the mound, Alex Verdugo ripped a base hit to right to score new addition Taylor Motter to win the game. The Sox had walked off the Indians 4-3.

                                                    Jenette Goldstein approves of the win

Houck got the ball in the top of the first inning and Daniel Johnson singled to center to start. Amed Rosario banged into a double play and Jose Ramirez took strike three to end the inning. Morgan got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Kyle Schwarber hit a ground rule double into the right field stands to start. Rafael Devers and JD Martinez both struck out swinging but Alex Verdugo walked. Hunter Renfroe popped up to second to end the inning.

Bobby Bradley struck out swinging to start the top of the second but Harold Ramirez singled to center. Bradley Zimmer flied out to left and Yu Chang struck out swinging to end the inning. Bobby Dalbec walked to start the bottom of the second but Christian Vazquez hit into a double play. Jack Lopez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Old pal Ryan Lavarnway doubled to left to start the top of the third but Andres Gimenez popped up to short. Johnson and Rosario both struck out swinging to end the inning. Jonathan Arauz fied out to left to start the bottom of the third before Schwarber flied out to center. Devers struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ramirez grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth before Bradley did the same. Ramirez flied out to right to end the inning. Martinez walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Verdugo struck out swinging. Renfroe hit one up the elevator shaft and Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning.

Zimmer popped up a bunt to Dalbec to start the top of the fifth before Chang watched strike three go by. Lavarnway struck out swinging to end the inning. Sox manager Alex Cora once again pulled a starter early after Houck had tossed 5 shutout innings and allowed just 3 hits and a walk on 68 pitches. After what happened with Cleveland last week, Cora wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

                                                             Houck shuts down the Indians

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Vazquez beat out a roller to third to start. Lopez walked and Arauz dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. The gamble failed as Schwarber popped up to first and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning.

Austin Davis came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Gimenez doubled to left to start. Johnson popped up to third but Gimenez stole third. Rosario grounded out to first and Davis wisely intentionally walked Ramirez. Ramirez stole second but Bradley walked to load the bases. Hansel Robles came in for Davis and Ramirez grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Martinez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth before Verdugo doubled to left. Renfroe grounded out to third and Nick Wittgren came in to pitch. Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning.

Phillips Valdez came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Zimmer grounded out to first to start. Chang popped up to second and Lavarnway grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox sprang to life in the bottom of the seventh as Vazquez singled to center to start. Lopez dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Vazquez to second and Christian moved to third on the Arauz grounder to second. Blake Parker came in to pitch and Schwarber walked. Devers then smashed his 33rd homer of the season to put the Sox on top. Martinez lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                             Sox take the lead

Gimenez lined out to third to start the top of the eighth but Johnson flied out to left. Rosario grounded out to short to end the inning. Bryan Shaw came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Verdugo grounded out to second to start. Renfroe walked but Dalbec popped up to second. Vazquez lined out to third to end the inning.

Adam Ottavino came in for the save and got lit up in the top of the ninth. Ramirez singled to right and Bradley doubled him home to start. Bradley moved to third on the Ramirez grounder to second and Zimmer struck out swinging. Franmil Reyes pinch hit for Chang and Ottavino worked the count to 2-2. One strike away from victory.....Reyes hit a home run all the way to Delaware to tie the game. Lavarnway popped up to second to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

                                                       Reyes ties it up

Owen Miller took over at third to start the bottom of the ninth with Travis Shaw pinch hitting for Lopez. Shaw beat out a roller to third and Taylor Motter made his Sox debut by running for him. Arauz dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Motter to second and Alex Young was brought in to face Schwarber. Kyle flied out to center but Devers drew a walk. Martinez was intentionally walked to get to Verdugo with the bases loaded. Alex made the Indians pay by lashing a base hit over the head of Johnson to win the game. The Sox had walked off the Indians 4-3.

                                                             Sox win

Hero of the Night is Alex Verdugo. His walkoff base hit won the game for the Sox.

                                                               Verdugo The Hero

The Good:

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Jack Lopez walked in two plate appearances.

Travis Shaw walked as a pinch hitter.

Taylor Motter scored the winning run as a pinch runner.

Tanner Houck tossed 5 shutout innings allowing just 3 hits while striking out 7.

Austin Davis tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.

Hansel Robles retired the only man he faced.

Phillips Valdez tossed 2 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Jonathan Arauz was 0 for 2.

One of the rare times the winning pitcher ends up on the bad list but Adam Ottavino gave up 3 runs to tie the game in the ninth.

The Ugly:

Kyle Schwarber was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and the one hit was a 3 run home run.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked twice.

Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 3 but walked.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Final Thoughts:

Another big win even if it was like pulling teeth. Ottavino blowing the game didn't help but at least the Sox showed some balls by rallying in the ninth. The Sox have 24 games left and still maintain a lead over the Oakland A's and are percentage points behind the New York Yankees for the wild card. Beating the mediocre Indians is something the Sox have to do to keep pace and winning 5 in a row kept them in contention. The warts are still there with a lineup struggling to hit in the clutch and an exhausted pitching staff (thanks Cora) but they're still in it for now. The win improved the Sox to 79-59, 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to sweep the Indians and make it six wins in a row tomorrow afternoon when Nick Pivetta takes the mound against Zach Plesac of the Indians. The game begins at 1:10 PM at Fenway Park.