The Los Angeles Angels made a shocking move after last night's game when they fired Joe Maddon after LA's 12th straight loss and named Phil Nevin the manager for the rest of the season. The Angels responded by getting beat by the Boston Red Sox in some of the worst situational baseball in history. The Angels pounced on starter Garrett Whitlock for 4 runs in just 4 innings including a Mike Trout two run homer. They tacked on another run off Jake Diekman but Trout left the game with a groin injury whuke the Sox rallied to tie the game with runs in the sixth and seventh. With Tyler Wade on second with nobody out, rather than have Andrew Velazquez drop down a bunt, Nevin decided to pinch hit Matt Duffy who popped up to second. The Angels did not score and Boston managed to take the lead on a Christian Vazquez rbi single in the tenth to set the stage for the end. With Jo Adell at second base, Matt Strahm struck out both Jared Walsh and Max Stassi. With Duffy already used, Nevin decided to bring in the ancient Kurt Suzuki to pinch hit for Brandon Marsh. Suzuki grounded out to short to end the game and the Red Sox had won their sixth game in a row, handing LA their 13th loss in a row 6-5 in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.
Jose Suarez got the ball in the top of the first and Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Rafael Devers grounded out to third but JD Martinez doubled to right. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. The Angels immediately got to The Lock in the bottom of the first although Luis Rengifo led off by flying out to left. Shohei Ohtani doubled to left and Mike Trout hit a home run all the way to San Jose to put the Angels ahead. Jared Walsh grounded out to first and Max Stassi took strike three to end the inning but the Angels were up 2-0.
The Sox wasted no time getting back in the game in the top of the second as Trevor Story doubled to left to start. Alex Verdugo singled off the glove of Andrew Velazquez and Christian Vazquez walked to load the bases with nobody out. Christian Arroyo beat out a double play ball to score Story and Bobby Dalbec got a base hit to right to score Verdugo to tie the game. Hernandez singled to right to score Vazquez but Devers banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
The Angels wasted no time tying the game in the bottom of the third although Brandon Marsh flied out to center to begin. Juan Lagares got a base hit in the hole at second and Tyler Wade got a base hit to left to move Lagares to third. Velazquez hit a routine grounder to first...BOOTED BY DALBEC! Lagares scored on the error but Wade got picked off and Rengifo struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Martinez grounded out to third to start the top of the third but Bogaerts singled in the hole at short. Story flied out to left and Verdugo grounded out to second to end the inning. Ohtani flied out to center to start the bottom of the third but Trout doubled to center. Walsh flied out to center but Trout pulled up lame and had to leave the game with a pulled groin. Jo Adell ran for Trout and he scored on the Stassi ground rule double to put the Angels back on top. Marsh flied out to left to end the inning with the Angels up 4-3.
The Sox tried to rally in the top of the fourth as Vazquez doubled to center to start. Arroyo grounded out to second to move Vazquez to third only for Dalbec to fly out to right. Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning. Lagares struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Wade went down hacking as well. Velazquez struck out swinging to end the inning and that was it for Whitlock. For some reason Cora pulled Whitlock just as he was getting his wind back and it would cost him. The Lock did allow four runs in four innings and left trailing.
The Sox failed to pick up Whitlock in the top of the fifth although Devers walked to start. Martinez forced Devers at second, Bogaerts struck out swinging and Story was called out on strikes to end the inning. Jake Diekman came in to get tagged in the bottom of the fifth as Rengifo walked to start. Rengifo took second on a wild pitch but Ohtani struck out swinging. Trout's replacement Adell doubled to center to score Rengifo and increase the lead. Walsh struck out swinging but Stassi drew a walk, only for Marsh to force Stassi at second to end the inning with the Angels up 5-3.
Angels looked to have iced it
The Sox rallied in the top of the sixth with Oliver Ortega now on the mound. Verdugo got a base hit to right to start but Vazquez lined out to right. Verdugo moved to second on the grounder to short by Arroyo and scored on the Dalbec base hit to left. Dalbec swiped second but Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 5-4.
Dalbec drives in a run
Hiro Sawamura came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Lagares lined one off of Hiro but Bogaerts snuffed him out at first. Wade struck out swinging and Velazquez flied out to center to end the inning.
The Sox rallied against Ryan Tepera in the top of the seventh as Devers doubled to left to start. Adell dropped a pop up from Martinez that was ruled a "single" that allowed Rafael to go to third, but Bogaerts struck out swinging. Story broke his bat but his roller to third was enough to score Devers to tie the game. Verdugo flied out to center and Vazquez took strike three to end the inning but the game was tied 5-5.
Rengifo grounded out to first to start the bottom of the seventh and that was it for Sawamura. Austin Davis came in and Ohtani popped up to third. Adell walked but Walsh struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jose Quijada came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Arroyo grounded out to short to start. Dalbec struck out swinging and Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning. Tanner Houck came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth with Jackie Bradley Jr taking over for Arroyo in right. Stassi grounded out to short, Marsh lined out to third and Lagares went down hacking to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the ninth with Angels closer Raisel Iglesias now on the mound. Devers got a base hit to center and moved to second on the grounder to third by Martinez. Bogaerts was rumored to have hurt his shoulder so Franchy Cordero pinch hit for him only to to fly out to left. Story went down hacking to end the inning. The Angels looked to have the game in the bag in bottom of the ninth when Wade doubled to left to start. Matt Duffy pinch hit for Velazquez and popped up to second but Rengifo struck out swinging on a nasty slider. With Trout of the game, Ohtani was intentionally walked to get to Adell. Somehow Houck froze Adell for strike three on the outside corner to end the inning.
Story scores the go-ahead run
Sox win
Vazquez is the Hero
Jaime Barria came in to pitch the top of the tenth with Story starting at second but naturally Verdugo swung at a pitch over his head and lined out to left without moving Story over. Vazquez stepped up with an opposite field single to right to score Story to put Boston on top. JBJ singled in the hole at short but Dalbec banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-5.
Just three outs away from their sixth win in a row, instead with Adell starting at second base, Matt Strahm blew it in the bottom of the tenth. Walsh struck out swinging to start and Stassi was called out on strikes on a curveball on the outside corner, but 38 year old Kurt Suzuki pinch hit for Marsh. Suzuki grounded out to short to end the game, the Sox had won their sixth game in a row with a 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Angels.
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. His rbi single in the top of the tenth but the Sox on track to victory.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 5.
Trevor Story was 2 for 5 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr got a hit in his only at-bat.
Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 5 with a stolen base and 2 rbis.
Hiro Sawamura tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Austin Davis got the final two outs of the sixth inning.
Tanner Houck earned the win with 2 scoreless innings.
Matt Strahm earned the save with a scoreless tenth inning.
The Bad:
Franchy Cordero was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Garrett Whitlock allowed 4 runs in 4 innings of work.
Jake Diekman allowed a run in the fifth inning.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 4 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The bad news was Garett Whitlock looked like garbage, Jake Diekman gave up another run and Xander Bogaerts had to leave the game with a shoulder injury but the good news was that's six straight wins for the Sox. They needed this one not only with LA due for a win but the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays all won their games as well. Not only did the Sox win but this was a tough comeback win as they trailed 5-3 going into the sixth inning. A month ago this game was as good as over but the Sox showed a lot of heart to win, even if it was against a team circling the drain. Apart from Diekman the bullpen stepped up to keep the game close and slam the door in the tenth inning. If the Sox have truly turned the corner they are basically two moves away from catching the Yankees, one more starter and an experienced late inning reliever. They have plenty of options for that starter and they can get a reliever anywhere if they choose to do so. Either way there's still plenty of time to catch the Rays, Jays and Yankees. The win improved the Sox to 29-27, good for fourth place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it seven wins in a row and hand LA their 14th straight loss tomorrow night when Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 3.42 ERA) goes up against Reid Detmers of the Angels. The game begins at 9:38 PM at Angel Stadium.
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