As for the game, the Sox want to end the 2022 season on a high note ant they took a step in the right direction by rallying past the Tampa Bay Rays. Rich Hill tossed 6 solid innings in his final start for the Red Sox allowing 3 runs. Tyler Glasnow was pulled in the fourth inning to get ready for his playoff start and the Sox pounced on Kevin Herget in relief. In the bottom of the sixth Christian Arroyo hit a two run double and Kike Hernandez tied it later in the inning. Rafael Devers hit a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh and the soon to be departing Matt Barnes locked down the top of the ninth. The Sox had beaten the Rays 4-3 at Fenway Park.
Hill got the ball in the top of the first inning and Vidal Brujan popped up to second to start. Randy Arozarena grounded out to short but Wander Franco hit a home run all the way to the Klingon Homeworld to put Tampa on top right away. Harold Ramirez grounded out to short to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0.
Tommy Pham walked to start the bottom of the first and Rafael Devers got a base hit to left. JD Martinez took strike three and Alex Verdugo beat out a double play ball. Christian Arroyo lined out to center to end the inning.
Manny Margot grounded out to short to start the top of the second but Christian Bethancourt walked. Isaac Paredes grounded into a double play to end the inning. Triston Casas flied out to center to start the bottom of the second and Kike Hernandez struck out swinging. Abraham Almonte struck out swinging to end the inning.
Francisco Mejia flied out to right to start the top of the third and Jose Siri struck out swinging. Brujan popped up to second to end the inning. Reese McGuire struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Pham lined out to right. Devers got a base hit to center and Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Rays struck again in the top of the fourth as Arozarena grounded to short to start. Franco popped up to third but Devers threw a grounder by Ramirez away for an error. Given new life, Margot blasted a home run all the way to New Hampshire to increase the lead. Bethancourt popped up to second to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.
Verdugo flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth and Arroyo struck out swinging. Casas struck out swinging but the pitch got away to allow Triston to reach first. That was it for Glasnow and Kevin Herget came in to pitch to Hernandez. Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Parades took strike three to start the top of the fifth and Mejia flied out to center. Siri struck out swinging to end the inning. Almonte flied out to right to start the bottom of the fifth and McGuire grounded out to second. Pham grounded out to third to end the inning.
Brujan struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth and Arozarena did the same. Franco singled in the hole at second and Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox finally rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Devers doubled to center to start. Martinez struck out swinging but Verdugo got a base hit to center to move Devers to third. Arroyo doubled to left to score both runners but Casas grounded back to the mound to move Christian to third. Hernandez doubled to center to score Arroyo to tie the game. Almonte struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
John Schreiber came in for the top of the seventh and Margot struck out swinging to start. Bethancourt singled to center but Paredes grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the seventh as McGuire hit a ground rule double down the right field line to start. Pham grounded out to first to move McGuire to third and Reese scored on the sac fly to left by Devers to put Boston on top. Martinez got a base hit to left but Verdugo flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 4-3.
Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Mejia popped up to first to start. Siri struck out swinging and Brujan flied out to right to end the inning. Arroyo grounded out to third to start the bottom of the eighth and Casas flied out to right. Hernandez got a base hit to left but Almonte struck out swinging to end the inning.
Matt Barnes came in to close out the top of the ninth with Yu Chang in for Almonte. Arozarena grounded out to second to start but Franco tripled to right. Ramirez then hit a grounder to third and Devers caught Franco in a run down for the second out. Ramirez moved to second on the play but Margot grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-3.
Hero of The Night is Rafael Devers. His sac fly in the seventh put the Sox up for good and he went 3 for 3 with a run scored.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Reese McGuire was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Rich Hill tossed 6 solid innings allowing 3 runs off 3 hits and a walk.
John Schreiber got the win with a scoreless seventh inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Matt Barnes earned his seventh save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Triston Casas was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Abraham Almonte was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Tommy Pham was 0 for 3 but walked.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in 2 runs and scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Yu Chang played short in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Just two games left in the season and the only thing left to do is say goodbye to everyone. Rumors are swirling Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez, Matt Barnes, Rich Hill, Tommy Pham, Abraham Almonte and Nathan Eovaldi are as good as gone. The season went to hell in a handbasket because Sox GM Chaim Bloom signed Michael Wacha, Hill and James Paxton to replace Eduardo Rodriguez and all three of them got hurt. Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi also got hurt and the Sox couldn't beat the AL East. Today the Sox looked like a team that could have beaten anyone in the AL East with Hill pitching well and the offense rallying late. Its about time they steal one from an opponent after they've been rallying agains them all season. The sad part the runs were driven in by guys expected to be back like Devers, Hernandez and Arroyo. Maybe in the final two games the ones leaving will do something special. The win improved the Sox to 76-84, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox play their second to last game of the season tomorrow night when Nathan Eovaldi (5-3) makes possibly his final start for Boston against old friend Jeffrey Springs of the Rays. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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