Pivetta got the ball in the top of the first and MJ Melendez walked to start. Melendez took second on a wild pitch but Bobby Witt Jr popped up to center. Salvador Perez flied out to center but Vinnie Pasquantino doubled to right to score Melendez. Edward Olivares grounded out to short to end the inning with the Royals up 1-0.
The Sox answered in the bottom of the first against Kris Bubic as Tommy Pham got a base hit to left to start. Rafael Devers got a base hit to right and Xander Bogaerts doubled to left to score Pham. JD Martinez and Rob Refsnyder both struck out swinging and Christian Arroyo lined out to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Bogaerts ties it up
The Royals got another run in the top of the second as Michael Massey struck out swinging to start. Nate Eaton walked and Drew Walters doubled to right to score him. Kyle Isbel struck out swinging and Melendez grounded out to first to end the inning with the Royals up 2-1.
The Sox answered again in the bottom of the second as Kike Hernandez walked to start. Yu Chang singled to center and Reese McGuire dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. The gamble worked as Pham hit a sac fly to center to score Hernandez. Devers grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Pham drives in a run
Witt Jr grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Perez singled to center. Pasquantino got a base hit to right but Olivares flied out to center. Massey took strike three to end the inning. The Sox blew it open in the bottom of the third as Bogaerts singled in the hole at second to start. Martinez doubled to center and Refsnyder hit a sac fly to right to score Bogaerts. Arroyo hit a sac fly to center to score Martinez before Hernandez walked. Chang walked and McGuire singled to center to score Hernandez, chasing Bubic. Jose Cuas came in to pitch and Pham struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.
McGuire drives in a run
Eaton took strike three to start the top of the fourth before Waters singled to left. Isbel forced Waters and second and took second on a wild pitch. Melendez struck out swinging to end the inning. Devers doubled to left to begin the bottom of the fourth before Bogaerts grounded out to third. Martinez grounded back to the mound to move Devers to third but Refsnyder flied out to left to end the inning.
The Royals got another run in the top of the fifth as Witt Jr struck out swinging to start. Perez then hit a home run all the way to Brazil to cut the lead. Pasquantino grounded out to short but Olivares doubled to right. Massey struck out swinging to end the inning with the Royals down 5-3. That was it for Pivetta who lasted just 5 innings and allowed 3 runs off 7 hits and 2 walks.
Not great but it'll do
Carlos Hernandez came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Arroyo got a base hit to center to start. Hernandez popped up to first and Chang lined out to third, but McGuire got a base hit to left. Pham walked to load the bases and chase Hernandez. Anthony Misiewicz came in to face Devers and Rafael singled to right to score Arroyo and McGuire. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.
Devers drives in another run
Kaleb Ort came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Eaton walked to start. Waters flied out to left but Eaton stole second. Isbel walked but both Melendez and Witt Jr struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the sixth as Martinez doubled to center to start against Collin Snider. Refsnyder flied out to right to move Martinez to third and Arroyo grounded out to short. Hernandez singled to center to score Martinez while Chang doubled to center, scoring Enrique. McGuire doubled to right to score Chang and Pham got a base hit to center to score Reese. Devers took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-3.
John Schreiber came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Perez popped up to first to start. Pasquanatino walked but Olivares struck out swinging. Devers grounded out to first to end the inning. Luke Weaver came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh with Sebastian Rivero now behind the plate. Triston Casas pinch hit for Bogaerts and struck out swinging and Abraham Almonte pinch hit for Martinez. Almonte took strike three but Refsnyder doubled to center. Arroyo lined out to second to end the inning.
Matt Straham came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Eaton took strike three to start. Waters struck out swinging and Isbel took strike three to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Hernandez doubled to left to start. Chang walked but McGuire grounded into a double play. Pham hit a ground rule double into the bullpen to score Hernandez and Devers ripped a base hit to left to score Tommy. Casas struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 13-3.
Matt Barnes came in to close out the top of the ninth and Rivero flied out to right to start. Witt Jr singled to center and Ryan O'Hearn pinch hit for Perez. O'Hearn flied out to center and Pasquanatino lined out to left to end the game. The Sox had won it 13-3.
Sox win
Tommy Hero
Hero of The Night is Tommy Pham. He matched the Royals production all by himself by going
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 4 for 6 with 3 rbis.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Kike Hernandez was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and 4 runs scored.
Yu Chang was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and a run scored.
Reese McGuire was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Nick Pivetta got the win by tossing 5 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7.
Kaleb Ort tossed a scoreless sixth inning.
John Schreiber pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Triston Casas was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Abraham Almonte struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Rob Refsnyder was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Nothing like a good ass kicking to get back on track. The season is a wash but games like this give the hardcore fans something to cheer about. With only 16 games left in the season you look to next year to see what you have and McGuire & Pham are definitely worth taking a look at. Unless they think Jarren Duran can get his head out of his ass, Pham might be your leadoff man next year. Obviously the contract statuses of Bogaerts and Martinez are the big topics but you look at who's contributing now and if they can do it again. Pivetta wasn't great but the bullpen responded with four scoreless. Too bad they couldn't do that more often but can't expect miracles with a decimated rotation for half the season. Still, a win is a win and they all count. The win improved the Sox to 71-75, good for last place in the AL East with 16 games left to play. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action on the road in Cincinnati on Tuesday night against the Reds. Brayan Bello (1-6) takes on Nick Lodolo of the Reds at 7:40 PM Eastern time at Great American Ballpark.
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