The Cleveland Guardians may be the team of the future in the American League but the youngest team in the league made too many mistakes against the Boston Red Sox. The Sox have now won seven straight games including this one on the back of bad defense, timely hitting and good pitching. Rich Hill (3-4, 4.09 ERA) held the young Guardians to just 1 run in 6 innings of work. Meanwhile the Guardians dropped catchable balls, threw balls away and bumbled around to give the Sox a 3-0 lead. Trevor Story drove in two big runs in the sixth inning but the Guardians rallied for a run against Ryan Brasier and another off Hansel Robles. The Sox broke it open late with 15 total hits and 11 walks as Tanner Houck closed it out in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox had won their seventh straight game and swept the Guardians out of Cleveland with a 8-3 victory at Progressive Field
Civale got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran worked a four pitch walk to start. Duran was promptly thrown out trying to steal second and Rafael Devers lined out to center. JD Martinez ripped a base hit up the middle and Xander Bogaerts was plunked, but Alex Verdugo grounded out to second to end the inning. Hill got the ball in the bottom of the first and Owen Miller walked to start. Amed Rosario hit into a double play and Jose Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the second as Trevor Story singled off the second base bag to start. Franchy Cordero walked but Christian Vazquez grounded into a double play. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning. Franmil Reyes doubled to the left field wall to start the bottom of the second but Oscar Gonzalez grounded out to short. Andres Giminez walked on four pitches not even close and Reyes moved to third on the force at second by Ernie Clement. Luke Maile lined out to left to end the inning.
Duran beat out a roller to second to start the top of the third and Devers ripped a base hit to center. Martinez hit a double play ball to third but Giminez threw the ball to first away for an error to score Duran. Bogaerts lined out to left but Verdugo got a base hit to left. Story forced Alex at second to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The Guardians wasted a chance of their own as Myles Straw doubled to center to start the bottom of the third. Miller walked on four pitches not even close but Rosario hit a bullet to Devers who doubled Straw off second. Ramirez got a base hit up the middle but Reyes struck out swinging to end the inning.
Cordero hustled out a double off the glove of Miller to start the top of the fourth and Gonzalez misplayed a double by Vazquez to score Franchy. JBJ struck out swinging but Gonzalez misplayed another double by Duran. Devers was intentionally walked to load the bases and Martinez hit a double play ball to short, but Miller dropped the throw to first to score Vazquez with another run. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0 on just plain bad defense.
Gonzalez took strike three to start the bottom of the fourth but Gimenez caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single. Clement banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox blew another rally in the top of the fifth with Anthony Gose now on the mound. Verdugo walked to start but Story flied out to right. Cordero took strike three but Vazquez drew a walk. JBJ struck out swinging to end the inning. Maile flied out to center to begin the bottom of the fifth before Straw lined out to left. Miller struck out swinging to end the inning.
Sam Hentges came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Duran grounded back to the mound to start. Devers grounded out to short but Martinez walked to start. Bogaerts walked and Verdugo got a base hit to center to load the bases. Story stepped up with a base hit to center to score Martinez and Bogaerts to ice the game. Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for Cordero and forced Story at second to end the inning with the Sox up 5-0.
Story drives in a pair
The Guardians finally got to Hill in the bottom of the sixth as Rosario walked to start. Ramirez doubled to left but Reyes struck out swinging. Gonzalez grounded out to third but Rosario scored to put the Guardians on the board. Gimenez flied out to center to end the inning with the Guardians down 5-1. That was it for Hill who battled to toss 6 solid inning and hold the Guardians to just 1 run.
The Sox got another run in the top of the seventh with Tanner Tully now on the mound. Vazquez doubled to right to start before moving to third on the JBJ flying out to center. Duran grounded out to short but Devers ripped a base hit to center to score Vazquez. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 6-1.
Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh but Devers threw a grounder by Clement into the centerfield bleachers for an error to start. Maile grounded out to short to move Clement to third but Straw hit a bullet to Dalbec. Miller singled to right to score Clement to cut the lead. Rosario struck out swinging to end the inning with the Guardians down 6-2.
Verdugo walked to start the top of the eighth but Story popped up to first. Dalbec banged into a double play to end the inning. The Guardians tagged Hansel Robles in the bottom of the eighth as Ramirez doubled to right to start. Reyes grounded out to third and Gonzalez lined out to first, but Gimenez singled to right to score Ramirez to cut the lead in half. Clement struck out swinging to end the inning with the Guardians down 6-3.
The Sox broke it open in the top of the ninth as Vazquez grounded out to third to start. JBJ walked but Duran lined out to left. Devers got a base hit to right and Martinez scored JBJ with a double to left. Bogaerts was intentionally walked to load the bases but a wild pitch scored Devers with another run. Verdugo walked to re-load the bases but Story popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3.
Since he won't be pitching in Toronto, Tanner Houck came in to close out the bottom of the ninth. Maile grounded out to second to start and Straw struck out swinging. Miller lined out to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-3.
Hero of the Night is a tough one with the entire offense producing so I'll go with Rich Hill. He held the young guns of Cleveland to just one run in 6 solid innings.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 5 with a walk and a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 3 for 5 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 3 for 5 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 3 with 3 walks.
Trevor Story was 2 for 6 with 2 rbis and a stolen base.
Franchy Cordero was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Tanner Houck tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 at the plate.
Hansel Robles allowed a run in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked twice and scored a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored.
Ryan Brasier allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox are rolling heading into Toronto after winning seven games in a row and 5 out of 6 against the Central leading teams. The Sox offense had 15 hits and 11 walks in the game and when they're firing on all cylinders, they are almost unstoppable. If Story were to ever get back over .250 with the way Bogaerts, Vazquez, Martinez and Devers are hitting, who could beat them? This was also one of Hill's gutsiest games of the season as he didn't look good at all in the early innings but still battled to give the Sox six solid innings. Apart from the usual Devers wild throw and Robles, there wasn't much to complain about in this one. That's where the good news ends as the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays both won their games today so the Sox only gained ground on the Toronto Blue Jays. Now the Sox have to go to Toronto without Duran and Houck who are both unvaccinated. The Sox can survive three games without Duran but not having their closer is going to be a problem against one of the better offenses in the American League. Not only that, because Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock are still out, the Sox are going to turn to 26 year old starter Connor Seabold to make his season debut tomorrow night. Former 2019 gold glover Yolmer Sanchez will also be called up from Worcester to take Duran's spot. As for this game, the Sox made a statement that they were for real and hopefully they can keep the momentum going in Toronto. The win improved the Sox to 42-31, 1.5 games ahead of the Rays for the first wild card. The Sox now travel to Toronto without Duran and Houck for a three game set with the Blue Jays. Connor Seabold will make his season debut against Kevin Gausman of the Jays. The game begins at 7:07 PM at the Skydome.
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