Okay who saw THAT coming? One day after the Houston Astros played home run derby with the Boston Red Sox, Jose Altuve hit the 10th pitch of tonight's game out of the yard as Fenway Park groaned. That would be the last time any Astro would make it past second base as Nick Pivetta (2-4, 4.22 ERA) tossed a complete game two hitter against the defending American League champions. The trio of Rafael Devers, JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts gave the Sox the lead in the bottom of the first they would not relinquish. Devers, Christian Vazquez and Kike Hernandez drove in more runs to put the game on ice. Pivetta threw 112 pitched, allowed 2 hits and the Sox took two of three from Houston with a 5-1 win at Fenway Park.
Pivetta got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jose Altuve picked up where the Astros left off last night by hitting a home run to Houston to put the Astros up for good 10 pitches into the game. Michael Brantley lined out to short, Aledmys Diaz struck out swinging and Yordan Alvarez flied out to center to end the inning with the Astros ahead 1-0.
The Sox struck back against Luis Garcia in the bottom of the first although Kike Hernandez popped up to first to start. Rafael Devers tripled into the right field corner and scored on the sac fly by JD Martinez to tie the game. Xander Bogaerts then pounded his fourth home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Alex Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Pivetta cruised in the top of the second as Yuli Gurriel hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Kyle Tucker flied out to left and Chas McCormick grounded out to short to end the inning. Trevor Story took strike three to start the bottom of the second before Franchy Cordero struck out swinging. Bobby Dalbec walked but Christian Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jeremy Pena grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Martin Maldonado grounded out to second. Altuve struck out swinging to end the inning. Pena threw a routine grounder by Hernandez away for an error to start the bottom of the third and Devers made Pena pay with a double off the Monster to score Kike. Martinez struck out swinging, Bogaerts lined out to center and Verdugo grounded out to second to end the inning with just the 1 run scored. Still, the Sox led 3-1.
Pivetta got the Astros to beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fourth as Brantley grounded out to first to start. Diaz and Alvarez both grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the fourth as Story walked to start. Altuve bobbled a grounder by Cordero for an error and Story moved to third on the fly ball to center by Dalbec. Vazquez stepped up with a base hit to center to score Story and Hernandez ripped a base hit to left to score Cordero. Devers walked to load the bases but Martinez banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Pivetta cruised in the top of the fifth as Gurriel struck out swinging to start. Tucker grounded out to first and McCormick grounded out to short to end the inning. Bryan Abreu came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Bogaerts lined out to right to start. Verdugo grounded out to short and Story took strike three to end the inning.
Pena struck out swinging to open the top of the sixth before Maldonado popped up to third. Altuve struck out swinging to end the inning with Pivetta at just 66 pitches. Cordero struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Dalbec grounded back to the mound. Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Pivetta came back for the top of the seventh and Brantley pounded a ground rule double to right to start. Diaz lined out to third and Alvarez lined out to center to bring up Gurriel. On a 3-2 count, Gurriel struck out swinging to end the inning with Pivetta at just 85 pitches. He retired 21 out of 22 batters after Altuve hit the home run and was outstanding.
Hernandez popped up to Pena with Altuve looking at Jeremy funny to start the bottom of the seventh with Ryan Stanek now on the mound. Devers popped up to second and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Miraculously Pivetta returned for the top of the eighth and dominated. Tucker grounded out to first, McCormick struck out swinging and Pena was frozen for strike three to end the inning. Pivetta got a standing ovation after tossing 8 innings of 2 hit ball.
Rafael Montero came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Bogaerts flied out to center to start. Verdugo flied out to left and Story lined out to short to end the inning.
In a total shocker, Sox manager Alex Cora said to hell with analytics and let Pivetta finish what he started in the top of the ninth. Maurici Dubon pinch hit for Maldonado and flied out to right while Altuve lined out to first. Brantley grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1 with Pivetta going the distance.
Hero of the Night is easy. Nick Pivetta pitched a complete game 2 hitter allowing just the leadoff homer to Altuve. He struck out 8 batters too.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run score.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
The Bad:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored a run.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Trevor Story was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Franchy Cordero was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Say what you will but the Sox just took two out of three from the Houston Astros. Monday night they got some timely hitting they've rarely gotten this season and tonight Cora tossed aside analytics and let Pivetta complete the game to save his rag-tag bullpen. The Sox got the lead right back after the Altuve home run and the Astros were never in the game after that. More good news is guys like Hernandez and Vazquez stepped up to drive in some runs. The Sox still had trouble scoring more than that and the duo of Verdugo and Story are vastly underperforming, but it was a much needed series win against a good team. The Sox still have a lot of work to do but reinforcements could be on the way if and when Jarren Duran and Connor Seabold are brought up. The Sox desperately nerd Whitlock in the bullpen and more outfield production and giving those two a chance will see if the Sox can cure some of their ailments before its too late. The New York Yankees are red hot right now but the 2002 Red Sox started 27-9 and didnt make the playoffs. A lot can happen in the next couple of months. The win improved the Sox to 15-22, good for 4th place in the AL East. The Sox look to keep momentum going in the next series with the Seattle Mariners. Rich Hill (1-1, 2.89 ERA) gets the start against George Kirby of Seattle. The game begins tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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