Before the game the Boston Red Sox organization said goodbye to two long-term prospects. The Worcester Red Sox sent Cameron Cannon down to the Portland Sea Dogs while 26 year old infielder Grant Williams and 26 year old catcher Roldani Baldwin was released. Williams was former Sox GM Dave Dombrowski's 10th round pick back in 2018 and has been mediocre in every level he's been in from Lowell all the way to Worcester. He was solid but not spectacular for Portland last year but was hitting .216 in Worcester this season. The Sox have a ton of infield prospects coming up like Nick Yorke, Marcello Mayer, David Hamilton and Niko Kavadas that could all probably hit better than Williams at this point, chalk him up as another 10th round pick that didn't make it. Baldwin was an 18 year old Dominican teenager signed by Ben Cherrington in 2014 but was hitting just .167 as a backup catcher this year. With Ronaldo Hernandez outhitting him, it was time to give someone else a chance. Portland catcher Kole Cottam was called up to replace Baldwin.
If the Sox have any hope to make it to the playoffs this year, they're going to have to rely on Josh Winckowski (5-5, 4.68 ERA) to help get them there. It may be unfair but with the Sox season unraveling in July, strong starts by Josh like today against the Kansas City Royals is what it will take to get to the wild card. Winckowski beat the lowly Royals by tossing 5 strong innings and escaping a big jam in the process. Offensively Eric Hosmer drove in a run in his Sox debut, JD Martinez drove in a few runs and Jarren Duran knocked in a pair as well. Austin Davis crapped his pants in the eighth inning to make the score closer than what the game really was. John Schreiber slammed the door and the Sox beat Kansas City 7-4 at Kauffman Stadium.
Greinke got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran grounded out weakly to third to start. Tommy Pham also grounded out weakly to third and Rafael Devers hit a weak pop up to left to end the inning. Winckowski got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and MJ Melendez walked on four straight pitches not even close. Michael Massey hit an absolute rocket to Pham at the left field wall before somehow Salvador Perez struck out swinging. Vinnie Pasquantino hit an absolute laser to left for a base hit but shockingly Hunter Dozier struck out swinging to end the inning.
Shockingly the Sox struck first in the top of the second although Xander Bogaerts flied out weakly to right to start. Alex Verdugo got a lucky double to left but JD Martinez grounded out weakly to third. Eric Hosmer got his first hit in a Sox uniform with a double into the right field corner to score Verdugo to give the Sox the lead. Reese McGuire popped up weakly to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Royals almost tied it in the bottom of the second although Nick Pratto grounded out to first to start. Nick Eaton took strike three but Kyle Isabel effortlessly tripled to center. Somehow Nicky Lopez grounded out to first to end the inning.
Yolmer Sanchez took a straight fastballs down the middle first strike three to start the top of the third. Duran grounded out weakly to second and Pham struck out swinging on a pitch way over his head to end the inning. Everyone expected the Royals to tie it in the bottom of the third but Melendez hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Massey flied out to center and Perez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning.
The Sox somehow struck again in the top of the fourth although Devers popped up weakly to first to start. Bogaerts got a lucky single to left and Verdugo ripped a double to left. Martinez shocked the world with a double to center to clear the bases but Hosmer grounded out to third. McGuire flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
The Royals almost rallied in the bottom of the fourth as Pasquantino ripped a base hit to left. Dozier forced Vinnie at second but Pratto effortlessly singled to right. Eaton walked to load the bases but Isabel forced Dozier at home on a grounder to the mound. Somehow Lopez struck out swinging to end the inning. Good poise by Winckowski to get out of that.
Sanchez broke an 0 for 27 slump by beating out a roller to third to start the top of the fifth. Sanchez had second base swiped but got thrown out at third. Duran grounded out to second but Pham drew a walk. Devers drew a walk and Bogaerts singled to left to score Pham to increase the lead. That was it for Grienke as Amir Garrett came in to pitch to Verdugo. Alex flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.
The Royald began the comeback in the bottom of the fifth although Melendez lined out to Duran to start. Massey grounded out to first but Salvador hit a bomb into the Gulf of Mexico to cut the lead. Pasquantino grounded out to second to end the inning with the Royals down 4-1. That was it for Winckowski as Sox manager Alex Cora decided 5 innings was enough for a starter although Josh had allowed just one run.
Martinez took strike three to start the top of the sixth but Melendez dropped a pop up by Hosmer for an error. McGuire ripped a base hit to center to score Hosmer with another run. Sanchez got a base hit to right and Duran beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Wyatt Mills came in to pitch to Pham and Tommy flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Dozier effortlessly singled to left. The ball went under Verdugo's glove for an error to put Hunter at second but somehow Pratto flied out to left. Eaton popped up to second and Isabel took strike three to end the inning.
Devers popped up to first to start the top of the seventh but Bogaerts got a base hit to right. Verdugo got a base hit to left but Martinez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Hiro Sawamura came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Lopez struck out swinging to start. Melendez walked on four pitches not even close but Massey struck out swinging. A wild pitch moved Melendez to second but Perez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Josh Staumont came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Hosmer walked on four pitches to start. McGuire walked on 5 pitches and Sanchez dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Duran broke his slump with a double to left to clear the bases and chase Staumont Joel Payamps came in to pitch and Pham took strike three. Devers lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
Austin Davis came in to crap his pants in the bottom of the eighth as Pasquantino got a base hit to center to start. Dozier and Pratto drew back to back walks to load the bases with nobody out. Eaton hit a sac fly to left to score Pasquantino and Michael Taylor pinch hit for Isabel. Sox manager Alex Cora woke up from his nap to finally bring in John Schreiber but it was too late. Taylor ripped a base hit to center to reload the bases although Lopez struck out swinging. Melendez effortlessly doubled to left to score Dozier and Pratto but Massey flied out to the left field wall to end the inning with the Royals back in it 7-4.
Bogaerts got a base hit to center to start the top of the ninth and Verdugo drew a walk. The rally ended as Martinez struck out swinging, Hosmer flied out to center to move Bogaerts to third and McGuire grounded out to short to end the inning. Schreiber returned to close out the bottom of the ninth and Perez struck out swinging to start. Pasquantino grounded out to first and Dozier flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-4.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He was 4 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Yolmer Sanchez was 2 for 3.
Josh Winckowski got the win tossing 5 innings of 1 run ball allowing just 5 hits and striking out 4.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
Hiro Sawamua pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Austin Davis got tagged for 3 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 5 but drove in 2 runs.
Tommy Pham was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 but walked.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but drove in 2 runs.
Eric Hosmer was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored two runs.
Reese McGuire was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.
John Schreiber allowed 2 inherited runners to score but none of his own in 1 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
The year may have gone down the drain but at least the Sox may have some semblance of an offense now. Not that Pham, McGuire and Hosmer are going to be all-stars but at least they won't be automatic outs like Franchy Cordero, Bobby Dalbec and Jackie Bradley Jr, Kike Hernandez may return at some point to get Duran out of there as well. The pitching is still a mess with so many injuries but at least the offense looks to be an improvement. If it wasn't for Austin Davis this would have been an easy win for the first time in weeks. The sad part is there's still two months left in the season to turn it around but the Sox would have to pull a Major League and gel together this band of rag-tags Bloom just put together. That ain't happening. Winckowski doing well was a good sign and hopefully he can build on that performance. Too bad its too late to catch the Tampa Bay Rays or Toronto Blue Jays for any kind of playoff spot with the team currently constructed. The win improved the Sox to 54-54, 4 games behind the Rays for the third wild card. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Royals tomorrow night as Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 4.11 ERA) takes on Daniel Lynch of Kansas City. The game begins at 7:10 PM Eastern time at Kauffman Stadium.
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