Well, at least Opening Day 2023 was entertaining. The Boston Red Sox fell just short of an amazing comeback against the Baltimore Orioles but their achillies heel reared its ugly head; the bullpen. It didn't help that new Sox starter Corey Kluber (0-1, 13.50 ERA) got hammered in his debut, allowing 5 total runs and getting knocked out in the fourth inning. The real issue was the Sox bullpen which Sox GM Chaim Bloom failed to address outside of a closer allowed 2 inherited runs and 5 of their own to put the game seemingly out of reach. Zack Kelly, Ryan Brasier and Kaleb Ort all contributed to the disaster to put the Sox in a 10-4 hole. The Sox offense refused to give up as they scored 3 runs in the eighth and plated two in the ninth. It wasn't enough as the Orioles held off the Sox 10-9 on Opening Day at Fenway Park.
Kluber got the ball, making his Sox debut, in the top of the first inning and set the tone early by giving up a run. Cedric Mullins led off by striking out swinging to begin. Adley Rutschman started the massacre with a home run all the way to Neptune to put the O's on top. Anthony Santander struck out swinging but Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson drew back to back walks. Ramon Urias grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox were already down 1-0.
Somehow the Sox responded in the bottom of the first against old nemesis Kyle Gibson. Alex Verdugo led off with a triple into the left field corner and was driven home by a Rafael Devers ground out to first. Justin Turner made his inauspicious debut by looking at a full count strike three right down the middle and Masataka Yoshida made his debut by grounding out weakly to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Austin Hays took strike three to start the top of the second before Adam Frazier was also rung up for strike three. Jorge Mateo flied out to right to end the inning. Adam Duvall made his Sox debut by popping up weakly to third before Triston Casas took strike three right down the middle. Christian Arroyo grounded out to short to end the inning.
Mullins popped up to short to start the top of the third but Rutschman looked to have doubled over the head of Devers....only for Devers to throw him out at second. Its a good thing he did because Santander doubled to right. Mountcastle lined out to first to end the inning. Reese McGuire flied out to left to start the bottom of the third before Kike Hernandez struck out swinging. Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning.
Kluber fell apart in the top of the fourth as Henderson walked to start. Urias then blasted a home run all the way to Paris, France to put the O's up for good. Hays lined out to first but Frazier doubled to left and Mateo got a base hit to left to move Frazier to third. Mateo swiped second and Mullins walked to chase Kluber. As expected, the only starter Sox GM Chaim Bloom signed got knocked out after 3 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 4 walks and 5 runs allowed. Zack Kelly came in and immediately threw a wild pitch to score Mateo. Rutschman walked to reload the bases but Santander took strike three. Mountcastle walked home Mullns. Henderson struck out swinging to end the inning but it was 5-1 O's.
The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the fourth as Devers pounded a ground rule double into the right field stands to begin. Turner grounded out to short to move Devers to third and Yoshida was hit with a pitch. Duvall got his first hit as a member of the Sox with a base hit to left to score Devers. Casas walked to load the bases and with a chance to tie the game or better......Arroyo banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.
Ryan Brasier came in to pour gas on the fire in the top of the fifth as Urias was hit with a pitch to start. Hays banged into a double play but Frazier walked. Frazier stole second and Mateo got a base hit to right to score him. Mateo also swiped second as it was obvious the O's had Brasier's motion down with the new pitch clock. A wild pitch moved Mateo to third and Mullins walked. Mullins also swiped second as the boo's rained down on Brasier. Rutschman singled home both runners to put the game out of reach as Santander lined out to center to end the inning. The game was all but over as the O's led 8-2.
McGuire tried to rally by getting a base hit to center to begin the bottom of the fifth but Hernandez forced him at second. Verdugo banged into a double play to end the inning.
Kaleb Ort came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Mountcastle grounded out to second to start. Henderson struck out swinging but Urias singled to center. Hays forced Urias at second to end the inning. The Sox did rally in the bottom of the sixth as Devers singled to left to start. Turner singled to left to chase Gibson and Keegan Akin came in. Yoshida helped the cause with a base hit to center to score Devers for his first rbi in the United States. Duvall took strike three but Casas scored Turner with a grounder to first. With a chance to cut the lead even further....Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 8-4.
The Sox putrid bullpen once again reared its ugly head as Frazier doubled to center to start. Mateo dropped down a bunt to move Frazier to third and Mullins ripped a base hit up the middle to score Frazier. Mullins stole second for yet another stolen base on McGuire and he scored on the Rutschman single to left. Yoshida did nab Rutschman trying to stretch a double at second and Santander hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but it was 10-4 Baltimore. The bullpen had now allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 5 of their own.....great job Bloom.
Cionel Perez came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Connor Wong pinch hit for McGuire only to ground out to second. Hernandez popped up to second and Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning.
Josh Winckowski made his season debut in the top of the eighth and Mountcastle greeted him with a double down the first base line. Henderson flied out to left and Hernandez threw a routine grounder completely out of Fenway to advance both runners on the error. Hays took strike three and Frazier grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox rallied against Bryan Baker in the bottom of the eighth although Devers was called out on strikes for failing to step in the batters box. Turner walked, Yoshida singled to right and Duvall was plunked to load the bases.....but all Casas could do was hit a sac fly to center to score Turner. Arroyo stepped up with a double to left to score both runners and chase Baker. Logan Gillaspie came in and Wong went down hacking to end the inning with the Sox down 10-7.
Former Sox prospect Chris Martin finally made his Sox debut and promptly walked Mateo. Mullins hit a bullet....right to Arroyo who doubled off Mateo. Rutschman and Santander hit back to back singles as Ryan McKenna pinch ran for Santander but Mountcastle lined out to right to end the inning. Felix Bautista came in to close out the bottom of the ninth as Raimel Tapia made his Sox debut by pinch hitting for Hernandez. Tapia walked and Verdugo hit a base hit to center...booted by Mullins to advance both runners. Devers struck out swinging but Turner beat out a roller to third to score Tapia. Rob Refsnyder pinch ran for Turner as Yoshida hit a routine grounder to Mateo...booted for an error. Somehow Refsnyder was still out at second but Verdugo scored. With the tying run at first.....Duvall struck out swinging to end the game. The O's had won it 10-9.
Jackass of the Night could be anyone but Kaleb Ort takes the honors. His two runs allowed proved to be the difference in the game.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Justin Turner was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Masataka Yoshida was 2 for 4 with an rbi, hit by pitch and a run scored.
Reese McGuire was 1 for 2.
Raimel Tapia walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter.
Josh Winckowski pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error.
Connor Wong was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Corey Kluber got hammered in his Sox debut, allowing 5 runs in just 3 1/3 innings while walking 4 batters.
Ryan Brasier allowed 3 runs in the fifth inning.
The Ugly:
Adam Duvall was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but was hit with a pitch, drove in a run and scored a run.
Triston Casas was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked and drove in 2 runs.
Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Zack Kelly allowed two inherited runners to score in 2/3 of an inning.
Honorable Mention:
Rob Refsnyder pinch ran in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Well, its exactly like we thought it was going to go. Chaim Bloom thought that an all-star rotation from 2017 and a patchwork bullpen was going to get the job done this season. Well, that gamble certainly didn't work today. Kluber, Ort, Kelly and Brasier allowed 10 runs and 8 walks. Maybe the 35 degree weather didn't help but 8 walks is inexcusable. The flip side is the offense delivered most of the game. Yoshida and Turner did well and Duvall even drove in a run. Once Trevor Story comes back in June, their top of the order will be as good as anyone and it'll free Hernandez up to be their 6th man off the bench. Once again, Bloom had all off-season to address the pitching and he really didn't. Kenley Jansen was a good signing but you have to get to the ninth inning with the lead in order to use him. Injuries to Garrett Whitlock and Joely Rodriguez in spring training hurt but Whitlock will be back in a few weeks. Just gotta tip your cap to Baltimore and move on. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox are back in action Saturday afternoon against the O's. Chris Sale makes his season debut against Dean Kremer of Baltimore. The game begins at 4:10 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment