Baz got the ball in the top of the first inning and the Sox pounced on him right from the get go. Kyle Schwarber walked to start and Kike Hernandez doubled him to third. Rafael Devers struck out swinging but Xander Bogaerts singled home Schwarber to put the Sox on top. Alex Verdugo singled home Hernandez to add to the lead and JD Martinez ripped a base hit to right to load the bases. The rally ended as Hunter Renfroe banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Verdugo drives in a run
The Rays roared back in the bottom of the first against the inept Chris Sale as Randy Arozarena singled to left to start. Wander Franco ripped a base hit to right but Brandon Lowe struck out swinging. Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases and Yandy Diaz singled to right to score Arozarena and reload the bases. Jordon Luplow then cleared the bases with a grand slam all the way to Santo Domingo to put the Rays on top. Manny Margot flied out to right and Mike Zunino struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 5-2.
Christian Vazquez led off the top of the second with a base hit to right and Christian Arroyo moved him to second with a grounder to third, but Schwarber went down hacking. A passed ball moved Vazquez to third but Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning. Sale was finished after just one inning and Tanner Houck came in to pitch the bottom of the second. Kevin Kiermaier flied out to center, Arozarena struck out swinging and Franco lined out to left to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third inning although Devers lined out to center to start. Bogaerts then cracked his first home run of the playoffs to chase Baz from the game. Collin McHugh came in to pitch and Verdugo went back to back with his own home run to cut the lead. Martinez flied out to right and Renfroe flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox were back in the game 5-4.
Houck dominated the bottom of the third as he struck out Lowe looking to start. Cruz and Diaz both went down swinging to end the inning.
Ji-Man Choi came in to play first to start the top of the fourth and Vazquez struck out swinging to begin. Arroyo struck out swinging and Schwarber grounded out to short to end the inning. Houck cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Choi grounded out to short to start. Margot struck out swinging and Zunino grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the top of the fifth as Hernandez blasted a solo home run to tie the game instantly. Devers walked to chase McHugh from the game and Matt Wisler came in to pitch. Bogaerts singled to left but Verdugo lined out to right to move Devers to third. Martinez then smashed a 3 run bomb as the crowd exploded to give the Sox the lead. Renfroe struck out swinging and Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-5.
Houck returned for the bottom of the fifth as Kiermaier flied out to left to start. Arozarena grounded out to third but Franco singled to center. Lowe grounded out to second to end the inning.
David Robertson came in for the top of the sixth and Arroyo flied out to right to start. Schwarber struck out swinging but Hernandez doubled to center. Devers walked but Bogaerts popped up to first. The Rays struck back in the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo had to dive into the left field stands to steal a home run away from Cruz to start. Diaz flied out to right but Choi hit a home run all the way to Sarasota to inch the Rays closer. Margot flied out to center to end the inning with the Rays down 8-6. Houck stepped up with 5 strong innings only giving up the one mistake to Choi.
The Sox got another run against Michael Wacha in the top of the seventh as Verdugo beat out an infield single to short to start. Martinez dropped a base hit to right but Renfroe banged into a double play. Vazquez delivered with a base hit to right to score Verdugo but Arroyo's surprise bunt attempt was popped up to Zunino to end the inning with Boston ahead 9-6.
Ryan Brasier came in to dominate the bottom of the seventh as Zunino struck out swinging to start. Kiermaier also went down hacking and Arozarena completed the tri-fecta with a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the eighth although Schwarber struck out swinging to start. Hernandez pounded a ground rule double down the left field line and Devers blasted a 2 run home run to put the Rays further behind. Bogaerts struck out swinging and Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-6.
Bobby Dalbec took over at first for defense to start the bottom of the eighth with Hansel Robles now on the mound. Franco and Lowe both struck out swinging but Cruz singled in the hole at second. Diaz flied out to center to end the inning.
Hernandez drives in another
Barnes gets it done to lock down Game 2
The Sox poured it on in the top of the ninth as Martinez doubled to left to start. Danny Santana pinch ran for JD and Renfroe singled to right. Vazquez hit a roller to short that scored Santana with another run but Arroyo struck out swinging. A wild pitch moved Vazquez to second but Dalbec went down swinging. The red hot Hernandez got a base hit to center to score Renfroe and Vazquez to wrap up the scoring. JT Chargois came in to get Devers to line out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 14-6.
Matt Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Choi ripped a base hit to right to start. Austin Meadows pinch hit for Margot and struck out swinging before Francisco Mejia pinch hit for Zunino. Mejia walked but Kiermaier beat out a double play to extend the game. Arozarena walked to load the bases but Franco grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had won Game 2 by a score of 14-6.
We have Co-Heroes of the night for this one. Hero number 1 is Tanner Houck. He held the Rays to just 1 run in 5 innings after Sale melted down, keeping the Sox in the game.
Hero number 2 is JD Martinez. His 3 run homer gave the Sox the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 5 for 6 with 3 total rbis, 3 total runs scored and a home run.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.
Danny Santana scored a run as a pinch runner.
Christian Vazquez was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Hansel Robles pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec struck out in his only plate appearance.
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Chris Sale allowed 5 runs in just 1 inning of work.
The Ugly:
Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, hit a 2 run homer and scored two runs.
Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That's how you get back in the series and shut up the critics. After the Red Sox beat the New York Yankees, their fans were saying "DA SUX R GON GET SWEPT LMAO CRYIN" and after Luplow hit the grand slam off Sale, it sure looked like that was on the table/ Thankfully the offense woke up at the right time and came back with a vengeance. This was a straight demolition of the Rays and now the scene will shift back to Fenway Park for Game 3. All the talks of a Rays sweep are dead and now the Sox are back in the series. Sale only going one inning was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect night. Tanner Houck was supposed to be the next great stud for the Sox and tonight he was. He was tough as nails with essentially a 0-2 deficit facing the Sox in the face and allowed just one home run. Its unlikely the Sox bats will be that prolific again but now that they've proven they're not intimidating by Rays pitching, this could be a different series going home. Kike Hernandez was on fire today and his post-season success is going to pay dividends now that they're in it. Nathan Eovaldi has been named the starter for the Sox this Sunday in Game 3 and he'll be taking on Drew Rasmussen of the Rays. The game begins at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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