As for the game, what did you expect? Its clear that the team has given up, especially on the pitching side. Kutter Crawford (3-6, 5.47 ERA) continued to prove he has no business in the majors as he got beat around and knocked out in the fifth inning by the Minnesota Twins. The sad part was the Sox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth in a rally against Chris Archer but it all crashed in the bottom of the frame. The Twins got the first two men on to chase Crawford and Ryan Brasier hit Jose Miranda before Nick Gordon hit a grand slam to put the Twins up for good. Minneosta beat around Jeurys Familia and Matt Barnes for three more runs as the fading Sox fell 10-5 to the Twins at Target Field.
Archer got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tommy Pham grounded out to second to start. Alex Verdugo walked but Xander Bogaerts forced him at second. Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning. The Twins wasted no time getting to Crawford in the bottom of the first as Luis Arraez struck out swinging to start. Carlos Correa popped up to second but Max Kepler walked. Jose Miranda walked and Nick Gordon doubled home both runners to put the Twins up. Gio Urshela popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning with the Twins up 2-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second as JD Martinez grounded out to short to start. Trevor Story lined out to left and Franchy Cordero struck out swinging to end the inning. The Twins struck again in the bottom of the second as Jake Cave hit a home run all the way to the moon to start. Gilberto Celestino grounded out to short, Gary Sanchez popped up to Cordero and Arraez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins up 3-0.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third as Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Reese McGuire also grounded out to short and Pham grounded out to third to end the inning. Correa flied out to center to start the bottom of the third and Kepler grounded out to first. Miranda doubled to center but Gordon struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the fourth as Verdugo singled to left to start. Bogaerts doubled down the left field line and Devers hit a sac fly to center to score Verdugo. Bogaerts moved to third on the play and Martinez walked to put runners at the corners. As usual Story banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox still down 3-1.
Urshella doubled to right to start the bottom of the fourth but was thrown out at third by Verdugo trying to stretch a triple. Cave walked but Celestino struck out swinging and Sanchez froze for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth although Cordero struck out swinging to start. Hernandez got a base hit to right before McGuire dropped a base hit to left. Pham got a seeing eye single to right to score Hernandez and chase Archer. Caleb Thielbar came in to pitch and Verdugo forced Pham at second to put runners at the corners. Bogaerts got a base hit to left to score McGuire and move Verdugo to third. Devers walked to chase Thielbar and Michael Fulmer came in to pitch. A wild pitch scored Verdugo to put the Sox on top and Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston up 4-3.
As usual once the Sox scored a run, they gave it right back in the bottom of the fifth. Arraes flied out to left but Verdugo dropped a routine pop up by Correa for an error. Kepler walked on five pitches not even close to chase Crawford. He got lit up again and was charged with 5 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Brasier came in to pour gas on the fire as Miranda was hit with a pitch to load the bases and Gordon annihilated a grand slam to put the Twins up for good. Urshela struck out swinging and Cave lined out to right to end the inning with the Twins up 7-4.
The Sox rolled over in the top of the sixth as Story grounded out to third to start. Cordero struck out swinging and Hernandez grounded out to first to end the inning. Jeurys Familia came in to take a beating in the bottom of the sixth as Celestino grounded out to short to start. Sanchez then hit a home run all the way to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota to increase the lead. Arraez grounded out to second but Correa walked. Kepler flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins up 8-4.
Trevor Megill came in to pitch the top of the seventh and McGuire struck out swinging to start. Pham walked and Verdugo doubled to center to score him. Bogaerts grounded out to second to move Verdugo to third as Devers struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 8-5.
Zack Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Miranda grounded out to second to start. Gordon grounded out to first and Urshela struck out swinging to end the inning.
Griffin Jax came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Martinez flied out to center to start. Story struck out swinging and Cordero lined out to short to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to get tagged in the bottom of the eighth as Cave flied out to center to start. Celestino walked, Sanchez singled to left and Arraez singled to center to score Celestino. Correa singled to left to score Sanchez but Kepler popped up to short. Miranda struck out swinging to end the inning with the Twins up 10-5.
Emilio Pagan came in to close out the top of the ninth and Hernandez walked to start. McGuire popped up to third and Pham took strike three before Hernandez took second on defensive indifference. Verdugo grounded out to first to end the game. The Twins at won it 10-5.
Jackass of the Night is Ryan Brasier. He allowed the go-ahead grand slam to Gordon to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Zack Kelly pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Trevor Story was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Franchy Cordero was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Kutter Crawford took the loss by being charged with 5 runs in just 4 1/3 innings allowing 4 hits and 4 walks.
Jeurys Familia allowed a run in the sixth inning.
Matt Barnes allowed a run in the eighth inning.
The Ugly:
Tommy Pham was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked and drove in a run.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drew a walk.
Reese McGuire was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
This season has been a disaster but thankfully there's only 32 games remaining. Its beyond ridiculous at this point how the offense doesn't drive in runs when they fall behind and every reliever they bring in gets pounded no matter the situation. Brasier, Barnes and Familia allowed 5 runs (and 2 inherited) to put the game out of reach. The Twins are a good team but the relief pitching has been atrocious for the Sox. Its been a terrible season and to a man the team looks like they've given up. Someone has to pay for this whether its Sox GM Chaim Bloom, Cora or both of them. Its a shame how the Sox seemed to have it turned around in June only to fall flat on their face the last two months. The only saving grace is the New York Yankees have fallen flat as well and their gigantic lead is shrinking. As for this game, another loss in a season full of them. The loss dropped the Sox to 62-68, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow night when Michael Wacha (9-1) takes on Joe Ryan of the Twins. The game begins at 7:40 PM at Target Field.
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