As for the game, Sox manager Alex Cora knew he wouldn't have much of a bullpen for today's doubleheader after last night's disaster and starting a rookie in Game 2 so he turned to Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 3.77 ERA) to give him a long start in Game 1 . That's what Eovaldi did as he went the distance, firing a complete game 7 hitter to save the bullpen for Game 2. Eovaldi allowed an unearned run in the first inning and a two run home run in the fifth inning, but he kept going...and going...and going. Meanwhile the Sox jumped out to a 3-1 lead only for the O's to tie it. Bobby Dalbec hit a pinch hit home run in the sixth inninng and Christian Arroyo added an insurance run in the seventh. Things got hairy in the ninth when Austin Hays reached to lead off but a strikeout and a double play ended the game as the Sox took Game 1 5-3 at Fenway Park.
The O's wasted no time ambushing Eovaldi in the top of the first inning as Cedric Mullins drilled a base hit in the hole at short to start. Trey Mancini hit a routine grounder to Devers who threw himself on the ball and screamed loudly for an error and Anthony Santander ripped a base hit to left to score Mullins and put the O's up three batters into the game. Austin Hays popped up to first but Ryan Mountcastle beat out a double play ball....BUT WAIT! The Sox challenged Mountcastle was out at first and replays showed he was to end the inning with the O's up 1-0.
Jordan Lyles got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez lined out to left to start. Rafael Devers atoned for his error with a base hit to center but JD Martinez flied out to center. Xander Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.
The O's beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the second inning as Rougned Odor grounded out to first to start. Ramon Urias grounded out to third and Robinson Chirinos grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second as Alex Verdugo got a base hit to center to begin. Verdugo was foolishly thrown out at home on a double by Christian Arroyo and Christian moved to third on a grounder to third by Franchy Cordero. Kevin Plawecki drew a walk and Jackie Bradley Jr doubled home Arroyo. Hernandez lined a base hit off the glove of Urias to score Plawecki and JBJ to give Boston the lead. Devers doubled to right to move Hernandez to third but Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Old friend Chris Owings took strike three to start the top of the third and Mullins popped up to third. Mancini got a base hit to right but Santander flied out to center to end the inning. Bogaerts grounded out to short to start the bottom of the third before Verdugo flied out to center. Arroyo flied out to right to end the inning.
Hays grounded out to short to start the top of the fourth before Mountcastle struck out swinging. Odor struck out swinging to end the inning. Cordero got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the fourth but was forced at second on a missed pop up by Plawecki. JBJ popped up to first and Hernandez lined out to left to end the inning.
The O's fought back in the top of the fifth as Urias doubled off the top of the Monster to begin and Chirinos hit a home run all the way to Washington DC to tie the game. Owings walked but Mullins forced him at second. Mullins stole second but Mancini struck out swinging. Santander grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Devers got a base hit in the hole at second to begin. Martinez got a base hit to center to move Devers to third but Bogaerts struck out swinging. Keegan Akin came in to pitch to Verdugo and Alex popped up to short. Arroyo lined out to second to end the inning.
Hays lined out to right to start the top of the sixth but Mountcastle got a base hit to right. Odor banged into a double play to end the inning. Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for Cordero to start the bottom of the sixth and somehow hit a home run to put the Sox back on top. Plawecki grounded out to third, JBJ grounded out to first and Hernandez flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 4-3.
Urias struck out swinging to start the top of the seventh and Chirinos grounded out to second. Owings grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox got a big insurance run in the bottom of the seventh although Devers was rung up for strike three to start. Martinez drew a walk and Bogaerts doubled to center, but Xander was thrown out getting back to the back on a grounder to second by Verdugo. Bryan Baker was brought in to pitch to Arroyo but Christian beat out a roller to third to score Martinez. Dalbec lined out to Baker to end the inning with the Sox up 5-3.
Shockingly Eovaldi was sent out to start the top of the eighth and he got the O's to beat the ball in the dirt. Mullins grounded out to first, Mancini grounded out to second and Santander grounded out to short to end the inning. Plawecki walked to start the bottom of the eighth but JBJ lined out to right. Hernandez flied out to left but Devers got a single to center. Martinez took strike three to end the inning.
Rather than have the bullpen squander the lead away, Eovaldi was asked to finish the job in the top of the ninth. Things looked bad when Hays got a base hit to center to start, but Nathan came back to freeze Mountcastle for strike three. Odor then banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won behind Eovaldi's first career complete game 5-3.
Eovaldi goes the distance
Hero of the Night is obviously Nathan Eovaldi. He pitched a complete game 7 hitter allowed just 3 runs (2 earned) while striking out 6 batters
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 4 for 5.
Franchy Cordero was 1 for 2.
Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 2 with a home run.
Kevin Plawecki walked twice and scored two runs in four plate appearances.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 but drove in 2 runs.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Well this was a complete 180 from last night. Cora pulled Garrett Whitlock after 84 pitches and the bullpen imploded for 10 runs allowed in 3 innings. Eovaldi going the distance at least saves the tired arms for Game 2 and the Sox got the win. It wasn't just they won it was how they won. They only got 3 runs off Jordan Lyles but Dalbec had the biggest hit of his own season with his home run and Arroyo tacked on an insurance run with two outs. With Trevor Story and Christian Vazquez resting for the nightcap, Arroyo and Kevin Plawecki stepped up big time. The key to the Sox offense is getting the guys on base for Devers, Martinez and Bogaerts to drive in and it would be nice if the guys behind them would drive in runs too. Apart from Devers making an error there's not much to squawk about in this one. The win improved the Sox to 22-24 and forget the standings until the nightcap. The Sox now turn to 23 year old rookie Josh Winckowski to make his major league debut in Game 2 taking on Denyi Reyes of Baltimore. The nightcap begins at 6:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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