Before the game the Boston Red Sox outright released Jeurys Familia. With Worcester's season ending in two weeks, he didn't want to stick around to see it through to the end. Oh well, better luck next year.
As for the game, just as long as the Red Sox aren't facing the AL East, they're a good team. Tonight the Sox locked into a pitcher's duel with the Kansas City Royals. Jonathan Heasley held the Sox scoreless for 6 2/3 innings while Michael Wacha held the Royals to just 1 run in 7 strong innings. Things looked bleak until the bottom of the eighth when Alex Verdugo worked a two out bases loaded walk against Scott Barlow. JD Martinez followed with a base hit to score Abraham Almonte with the go-ahead run. Matt Strahm slammed the door in the top of the ninth and the Sox had stolen a 2-1 victory over the Royals at Fenway Park.
Wacha got the ball in the top of the first inning and MJ Melendez popped up to right to start. Bobby Witt Jr grounded out to third and Salvador Perez grounded out to second to end the inning. Heasley got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Tommy Pham grounded out to third to start. Rafael Devers got a base hit to center but was doubled off first on a bullet to short hit by Xander Bogaerts to end the inning.
Vinnie Pasquantino struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Michael Taylor popped up to first. Michael Massey struck out swinging to end the inning. Alex Verdugo grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second and JD Martinez struck out swinging. Triston Casas also went down hacking to end the inning.
Hunter Dozier got a base hit to left to start the top of the third but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Nicky Lopez grounded back to the mound but Nate Eaton got a base hit to center. Eaton stole second but Melendez grounded out to short to end the inning. Christian Arroyo grounded out to third to start the bottom of the third before Kike Hernandez did the same. Kevin Plawecki grounded out to short to end the inning.
Witt Jr flied out to center to begin the top of the fourth before Perez grounded out to second. Pasquantino got a base hit to center and took second on a wild pitch, but Taylor grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Pham struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Devers grounded out to second. Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning.
Massey got a base hit to right to start the top of the fifth but Dozier popped up to second. Lopez grounded out to short to move Massey to second but Eaton flied out to center to end the inning. Verdugo walked to start the bottom of the fifth but Martinez struck out swinging. Casas walked and Arroyo singled to left to load the bases, but Arroyo banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Royals struck first in the top of the sixth as Melendez tripled into the left field corner to start. Witt struck out swinging but Perez poked a base hit to right to score Melendez. Pasquantino grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Royals up 1-0.
Plawecki flied out to center to begin the bottom of the sixth and Pham did the same. Devers grounded out to second to end the inning.
Wacha returned for one last inning in the top of the seventh and Taylor beat out a roller to third to start. Massey grounded out to second to move Taylor to second but Dozier struck out swinging. Lopez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Wacha was outstanding by holding the Royals to just 1 run in 7 innings off 7 hits.
The Sox failed to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh as Bogaerts popped up to left to start. Verdugo struck out swinging but Martinez walked to chase Heasley. Amir Garrett came in and promptly walked Casas. Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning.
Garrett Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Eaton took strike three to start. Melendez grounded out to short but Witt Jr singled to center. Perez grounded out to short to end the inning. Suddenly the Sox sprang to life in the bottom of the eighth with Dylan Coleman now on the mound. Hernandez walked and Abraham Almonte pinch hit for Plawecki. Almonte walked but Pham popped up to second. Scott Barlow came in to pitch to Devers and Rafael walked to load the bases. Bogaerts struck out swinging but Verdugo walked to score Hernandez to tie the game. Martinez ripped a base hit to left to score Almonte to give the Sox the lead. Casas struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Matt Strahm came in to close out the top of the ninth with Connor Wong behind the plate. Pasquantino popped up to short and Taylor watched strike three go by, but Massey walked. Dozier flied out to left to end the game. The Sox had stolen the game 2-1.
Hero of The Night is JD Martinez. His rbi single in the eighth put the Sox up for good.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Alex Verdugo walked twice in four plate appearances and drove in the tying run.
Triston Casas walked twice in four plate appearances.
Christian Arroyo was 1 for 3.
Abraham Almonte walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter.
Michael Wacha tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball allowing 7 hits while striking out 4.
Garrett Whitlock earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning.
Matt Strahm earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Tommy Pham was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 2.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 2 but walked and scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Connor Wong caught the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Once again the supposedly good Red Sox offense was held to almost nothing the entire game. Not only that, it cost Wacha a potential 17 win season since he didn't get the decision. In lost seasons like this you go for moral victories like that and the Sox couldn't even get THAT right. Trevor Story didn't play but still, needing a last second hit by Martinez to win against the Royals is pathetic. Still, a win is a win even if its not impressive. A shame that Wacha didn't get the win but kudos to Strahm and Whitlock for locking it down. With how bad the pitching was during the summer, better late than never to turn it around. The win improved the Sox to 70-74, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two wins in a row against the Royals tomorrow afternoon when Rich Hill (7-6) takes on Brady Singer of Kansas City. The game begins at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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