As for the game, congratulations to Kenley Jansen for earning career save number 400. The Sox knocked off the Atlanta Braves in a hard fought game that saw Brayan Bello (2-1, 5.01 ERA) hold a powerful Braves lineup to just two runs in six innings of work. The Sox scratched out two runs in the top of the fourth before the Braves tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Raimel Tapia knocked in the go-ahead run in the seventh and Triston Casas iced the game with a backbreaking home run in the top of the ninth. Jansen then earned save number 400 on his career as the Sox got back in the win column with a 5-2 victory over the Braves at Truist Park.
Dylan Lee got the ball in the top of the first inning and Rob Refsnyder grounded out to short to start. Alex Verdugo flied out to center but Justin Turner walked. Masataka Yoshida grounded out to first to end the inning. Bello got the ball in the bottom of the first and the Braves beat the ball in the dirt. Ronald Acuna Jr grounded out to short, Matt Olson also grounded out to short and Austin Riley completed the trifecta by grounding out to short to end the inning.
Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start the top of the second before Jarren Duran struck out swinging. Triston Casas also went down hacking to end the inning. Sean Murphy grounded out to third to start the bottom of the second and Eddie Rosario struck out swinging. Ozzie Albies struck out swinging to end the inning.
Connor Wong grounded out to third to start the top of the third before Enmanuel Valdez took strike three. Colin McHugh replaced Lee and Refsnyder grounded out to second to end the inning. The Braves threatened in the bottom of the third as Travis d'Arnaud walked to start. Michael Harris singled to right but somehow Orlando Arcia struck out swinging. Ronald Acuna Jr flied out to right but Harris stole second. Olson grounded out to short to end the inning.
Verdugo walked to start the top of the fourth before Turner got a base hit to left. Yoshida popped up to third but Hernandez got a base hit to left to score Verdugo. Duran got a single to center to score Turner but Casas grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Riley singled to center to start the bottom of the fourth but Murphy struck out swinging. Rosario forced Riley at second but Albies flied out to left to end the inning.
Danny Young came in to pitch the top of the fifth and plunked Valdez to start. Refsnyder struck out swinging and Valdez was thrown out at second trying to steal. Verdugo lined out to short to end the inning. d'Arnaud got a base hit to third to start the bottom of the fifth before Harris struck out swinging. Arcia grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Jesse Chavez came in to pitch the top of the sixth as Turner struck out swinging to start. Yoshida struck out swinging and Hernandez popped up to third to end the inning. The Braves struck back in the bottom of the sixth as Acuna hit a home run all the way to Alabama to cut the lead. Olson grounded out to second but Riley singled to center. Riley moved to second on the grounder to third by Murphy and scored on the base hit to right by Rosario. Rosario was thrown out at second by Wong trying to stretch a double to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2. Not the best way to end his outing but Bello still held the high powered Braves to just 2 runs in 6 solid innings. He allowed 6 hits and a walk while striking out 5.
The Sox took command in the top of the seventh with AJ Minter now on the mound. Duran walked and promptly stole second leading to Casas drawing a walk. Wong struck out swinging and Bobby Dalbec was sent in to pinch hit for Valdez. Braves manager Brian Snitker countered by bringing in Nick Anderson to pitch to Dalbec. Sox manager Alex Cora countered by having Rafael Devers pinch hit for Dalbec. Devers struck out swinging and Raimel Tapia was sent in to pinch hit for Refsnyder. This time it worked as Tapia doubled to right to score Duran. Verdugo flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox now led 3-2.
THAT'S the way to pinch hit
Josh Winckowski came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh with Turner at second and Devers at third. Albies grounded out to third, d'Arnaud struck out swinging and Harris lined out to right to end the inning.
Turner walked to start the top of the eighth but Yoshida struck out swinging. Hernandez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Chris Martin came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Arcia struck out swinging to start. Acuna beat out a roller to third but Olson went down hacking. Riley took strike three to end the inning.
Raisel Iglesias came in to pitch the top of the ninth and the Sox iced the game. Duran smacked a double to left and Casas smashed his 5th home run way out of here to increase the lead. Wong struck out swinging but Devers got a base hit to right. Tapia struck out swinging and Joe Jimenez took over for Iglesias. Verdugo popped up to third to end the inning but the Sox now led 5-2.
Tonight's hero Kenley Jansen took the mound to begin the bottom of the ninth and Murphy flied out to center to start. Rosario doubled to right but Albies flied out to center. d'Arnaud struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-2.
Sox win
Our Hero is Number 1
Hero of the Night is Kenley Jansen for reaching career save number 400 with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Good:
Raimel Tapia was 1 for 2 with an rbi double.
Justin Turner was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.
Jarren Duran was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi, stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Triston Casas was 1 for 3 with a walk including a 2 run home run.
Enmanuel Valdez was hit with a pitch in two plate appearances.
Rafael Devers was 1 for 2.
Brayan Bello earned the win by tossing 6 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and a walk while striking out 5.
Josh Winckowski pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Rob Refsnyder was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Connor Wong was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Bobby Dalbec was supposed to pinch hit in the top of the seventh.
Final Thoughts:
That was a damn good win against a damn good team. Bello pitched his ass off for 6 innings and even though the Braves tied it, its amazing how good he looks when his fingernail isn't falling off. If he can keep his fingernails in check, he'll be just fine moving forward. The best surprise was the trio of Duran, Casas and Winckowski. Duran is becoming the player they thought they were getting when he made his debut in 2021 and Casas has started to hit some balls out of the yard. Winckowski has become almost unhittable and its a great sign to see these guys carrying the load when guys like Yoshida, Verdugo and Devers are out or slumping. Congrats to Jansen for 400 career saves as well. As bad as the Sox started after being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, they're right in the thick of things right now. If the rotation figures itself out and the Sox get some bats that are out injured, they could actually make a run for October if things align right.....if they align right. The win improved the Sox to 22-16, 7 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back home Friday night at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. James Paxton makes his long-awaited Red Sox debut against Cards ace Adam Wainwright. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment