Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Jake Faria accepted his demotion to Worcester while Yu Chang was placed on Paternity Leave, congrats to Yu. In his place the Sox called up none other than their power hitting prospect Enmanuel Valdez. The 24 year old hit 28 home runs in AA and AAA last year and is expected to play the infield at some point with Christian Arroyo dealing with nagging injuries. The sky is the limit for Valdez, but Jarren Duran last year is what happens if he falters.
It was bad news all around as the Boston Bruins lost Game 2 of their first round NHL playoff series to the Florida Panthers and the Boston Red Sox got manhandled by the Minnesota Twins. Corey Kluber (0-4, 8.50 ERA) has shown to be pretty much washed up as he was knocked around again, this time by the Minnesota Twins. The Twins bolted out to a 3-0 lead before the Sox could even bat and a four run rally in the top of the third pretty much ended the game right there. Kluber did manage to gut it out for five innings but Ryan Brasier ended any hope for a comeback by allowed three runs in the top of the sixth. Offensively the only bright spots were rookie Enmanuel Valdez getting 2 hits in his major league debut, Jarren Duran driving in a run and Kike Hernandez coming out of his slump with a home run. That was it for any good news as the Twins decimated the Red Sox 10-4 at Fenway Park.
Kluber got demolished in the top of the first inning as Max Kepler walked to start. Carlos Correa flied out to right but Byron Buxton doubled to center. Trevor Larnach grounded out to first to score Kepler to put Minnesota up for good four batters into the game. Edouard Julien then hit a homer all the way to Finland to ice the game early. Jose Miranda lined out to right to end the inning with the Twins up 4-0.
That didn't take long
Joey Gallo got a base hit to right to start the top of the second but Ryan Jeffers struck out swinging. Michael A Taylor grounded out to third to move Gallo to second but Kepler was hit with a pitch. Correa forced Kepler at second to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Rafael Devers grounded out to third to start. Kike Hernandez struck out swinging and Reese McGuire's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Ryan to end the inning.
The Twins pounded Kluber in the top of the third as Buxton flied out to left to start. Larnach walked, Julien was plunked and Miranda got a base hit to center to score Larnach. Gallo then pounded a home run all the way to Brazil to turn the game into a rout. Jeffers grounded back to the mound and Taylor struck out swinging but the Twins led 7-0.
The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the third as Triston Casas drew a walk to start. Jarren Duran struck out swinging but Enmanuel Valdez got his first Major League hit with a single to left. Verdugo was plunked to load the bases but all Tapia could do was score Casas with a grounder to short. Not only are the Sox dead last in starter ERA but they're also dead last in hitting with the bases loaded. Turner lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 7-1.
Kepler lined out to right to start the top of the fourth before Correa struck out swinging. Buxton grounded out to third to end the inning. Devers grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth but Hernandez ripped a base hit to center. McGuire struck out swinging and Casas lined out to center to end the inning.
Kluber did return for the top of the fifth and Larnach grounded out to second to start. Julien ate up Valdez at second but it was ruled a "hit" before Miranda forced Edouard at second. Gallo hit a routine grounder to Valdez who did a backflip onto the ball for another error. Jeffers struck out swinging to end the inning. Kluber sucked again but did manage to go five innings. He allowed 7 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Duran doubled to center to start. Valdez got a base hit to left to move Duran to third, but all Verdugo did was bang into a double play to score Duran. Tapia grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 7-2.
Ryan Brasier poured gas on the fire in the top of the sixth as Taylor struck out swinging to start. Kepler pounded a ground rule double down the right field line but Correa flied out to right. Buxton walked and Larnach hit a home run all the way to Norway to put the game out of reach. Julien got a base hit to right but Miranda flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins up 10-2.
The Sox did get a run back in the bottom of the sixth although Turner popped up to first to start. Devers grounded out to second but Hernandez clocked his third home run of the season to cut the lead. McGuire doubled to left but Casas grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 10-3.
Richard Bleier came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Gallo took strike three to start. Jeffers lined out to center and Taylor grounded out to second to end the inning. Brent Headrick came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Duran popped up to third to start. Valdez struck out swinging and Verdugo popped up to second to end the inning.
Kepler flied out to center to start the top of the eighth before Correa grounded out to third. Buxton grounded out to third to end the inning. Tapia grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the eighth before Turner struck out swinging. Devers also went down hacking to end the inning.
Kaleb Ort came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Nick Gordon pinch hit for Larnach, flying out to center. Julien flied out to center as well but Miranda drew a walk. Gallo flied out to right to end the inning. Willi Castro came in to play short in the bottom of the ninth and Hernandez walked to start. McGuire got a base hit to right and Casas walked to load the bases. All Duran could do was hit a sac fly to center then Valdez lined out to third. Verdugo flied out to center to end the game. The Twins had won it 10-4.
Jackass of the Night is Corey Kluber. He got hammered by allowing 7 runs in just 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 walks including two big home runs.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 2 for 3 with a walk, a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Reese McGuire was 2 for 4.
Triston Casas walked twice in four at bats and scored a run.
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Enmanuel Valdez was 2 for 4.
Richard Bleier pitched two scoreless innings.
Kaleb Ort pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4.
Justin Turner was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ryan Brasier allowed 3 runs in the sixth inning.
The Ugly:
Raimel Tapia was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
You know what the worst part about Kluber is? He and James Paxton cost the Sox 20 million dollars combined the last two years. If Brayan Bello starts pitching better, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Garrett Whitlock continue to pitch well and Chris Sale is back to normal....they really don't need Kluber, Paxton or Nick Pivetta. Talk about a waste of money. The offense was taken out of the game early but there were definitely some positives, mainly Duran, Valdez, McGuire and Hernandez. Those four need to show that they can play and they definitely did tonight despite the score. The good news is the more Brasier and Kluber stink it means the less time they'll have on the team. The Sox have plenty of pitchers in Worcester that can do Brasier's job and Crawford at least has promise, Kluber doesn't. Things are looking up slowly but surely for the Sox compared to the start of the season even if tonight didn't go their way. The less said of this disaster, the better. The Sox look to take the rubber game of this series tomorrow afternoon against the Twins. Tanner Houck (1-0) gets the start for the Sox against Kenta Maeda of the Twins. The game begins at 1:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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