Before the game the Boston Red Sox sent Chris Murphy back to Worcester after the doubleheader. They'll see him again soon.
As for the game, suddenly the Boston Red Sox got hot. After sweeping the New York Yankees in Fenway Park the Sox took their hot streak on the road and laid waste to the bungholes of the Minnesota Twins. The Sox beat up Pablo Lopez of the Twins for 5 runs and knocked him out in the sixth inning. They then scored four runs off Jovani Moran and Jose De Leon to put the game away. Meanwhile James Paxton (3-1, 3.29 ERA) started to look more himself as he tossed 6 1/3 gutty innings allowing 3 runs to keep the Sox on it. The tag team of Josh Winckowski and Justin Garza finished off the Twins as the Sox took this one 9-3 at Target Field.
Jagar Tharn approves of the win
Lopez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran doubled to left to start. Alex Verdugo lined out to right to move Duran to third and Rafael Devers struck out swinging. Adam Duvall grounded out to short to end the inning. Paxton got the ball in the bottom of the first and Verdugo made a great diving catch to rob Donovan Solano of a hit to start. Edouard Julien grounded out to short and Byron Buxton struck out swinging to end the inning.
Masataka Yoshida popped up to third to start the top of the second and Christian Arroyo lined out to right. Triston Casas popped up to third to end the inning. Carlos Correa flied out to right to start the bottom of the second and Alex Kirilloff grounded out to first. Will Castro grounded out to short to end the inning.
Connor Wong flied out to center to start the top of the third but Pablo Reyes walked. Duran doubled to center and Verdugo was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Devers struck out swinging but Duvall walked to score Reyees. Yoshida struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Sox strike first
Kyle Farmer struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Joey Gallo got a base hit to right. Old friend Christian Vazquez lined out to third and Solano struck out swinging to end the inning.
Arroyo took strike three to start the top of the fourth and Casas grounded out to second. Wong walked and Julien threw a grounder away by Reyes for an error. Duran made him pay by ripping a double to right to score both runners. Verdugo struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Julien grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth and Buxton walked. Correa grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Devers grounded out to first to start the top of the fifth and Duvall struck out swinging. Yoshida also went down hacking to end the inning. The Twins fought back in the bottom of the fifth as Kirilloff struck out swinging to start. Castro got a base hit to right and Farmer was hit with a pitch, but Gallo flied out to center. Who else but Vazquez hit a home run all the way to Milwaukee to tie the game. Solano popped up to second to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
The Sox took command in the top of the sixth as Arroyo struck out swinging to start. Casas got a base hit to right and Wong doubled to center, but Reyes struck out swinging. Jovani Moran came in to pitch to Duran but Sox manager Alex Cora countered by sending in Rob Refsnyder to pinch hit. Refsnyder walked to load the bases and Verdugo tripled into the right field corner to clear them. Devers grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.
Julien struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Buxton watched strike three go by. Correa grounded out to third to end the inning.
Jose De Leon came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Duvall flied out to center to start. Yoshida also flied out to center but Arroyo walked. Casas pounded his 8th home run of the season to ice the game but Wong grounded out short to end the inning with the Sox up 7-3.
Paxton came back briefly in the bottom of the second just to strike out Kirilloff swinging. He was pulled after allowing 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings off 3 hits and a walk. Josh Winckowski came in and Castro got a base hit to left followed by a Farmer base hit to right. Gallo popped up to third and Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the eighth as Reyes got a base hit to left. Refsnyder grounded back to the mound to move Rob to second and Verdugo got a base hit off the glove of Julien to score Reyes. Emilio Pagan came in to pitch and Devers walked. Duvall walked to load the bases but Yoshida grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 9-3.
Justin Garza came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Solano got a base hit to right to start. Julien struck out swinging and Buxton forced Solano at second. Correa got a base hit to left but Kirilloff grounded out to short to end the inning.
Griffin Jax came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Arroyo grounded out to second to start. Casas flied out to center and Wong grounded out to third to end the inning. Castro struck out swinging to start the bottom of the ninth but Farmer walked. Gallo took strike three but Vazquez walked. Solano forced Christian at second to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-3.
Sox win
Hero Verdugo
Hero of The Night is Alex Verdugo. His 2 run triple put the Sox up for good.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 3 for 3 with 2 rbis.
Rob Refsnyder walked and scored a run.
Triston Casas was 2 for 5 with a 2 run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Pablo Reyes was 2 for 3 with a walk and 3 runs scored.
James Paxton got the win by firing 6 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs off 3 hits and a walk.
Josh Winckowski got the final 2 outs of the seventh inning.
Justin Garza pitched the final two scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Adam Duvall was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice and scored a run.
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored.
Connor Wong was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored 2 runs.
Final Thoughts:
Looks like not only is Paxton coming around but the Sox bats as well. Casas, Duran and Verdugo were the stars of this one and are supposed to be the future of the team. It was good to see the trio perform well and better to see Paxton start to find his form. It would be unfair to expect him to pitch like he did in his prime but something close might be what the Sox need this season to get over the hump. A healthy Sale, Paxton and one of the younger starters developing would start to draw some interest. Still, the Sox need to take a game at a time and after knocking off the Yankees, taking out the Twins would be nice. The Sox are a month and change away from the trade deadline and the picture will be more clearer on team needs once we get closer. As for now, good win and hopefully they can keep this momentum going. The win improved the Sox to 38-35, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it five wins in a row and second straight against the Twins tomorrow night when Kutter Crawford (1-3) takes on Bailey Ober of Minnesota. The game begins at 7:40 PM eastern time at Target Field.
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