Sox Win Game, Lose Sale (6/1/23)

Worst case scenario for the Boston Red Sox reared its ugly head as once again Chris Sale has been injured and forced to leave a game. The MRI will be tomorrow but the news doesn't appear to be good. If the Sox are without Sale for a long period of time, the season is essentially over already. Sale left today's game against the Cincinnati Reds trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth. The Sox tied it in the bottom of the fourth and the game was 2-2 going into the bottom of the eighth. The Sox then exploded for six runs, capped off by a Connor Wong home run to put the Sox up for good. Kenley Jansen slammed the door in the ninth and the Sox lost Sale but won the game 8-2 over the Reds at Great American Ballpark.

                                       Sale goes into The Barber of Seville before leaving

Sale got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kevin Newman singled to right to start. Matt McLain struck out swinging before Jonathan India also went down hacking. Spencer Steer struck out swinging to end the inning. Hunter Greene got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Alex Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging and Justin Turner also went down hacking to end the inning.

Tyler Stephenson flied out to right to start the top of the second before Stuart Fairchild struck out swinging. Nick Senzel struck out swinging to end the inning. Masataka Yoshida walked to begin the bottom of the second but Jarren Duran swung at air. Enrique Hernandez struck out swinging and Triston Casas flied out to left to end the inning.

Jose Barrero struck out swinging to begin the top of the third but Curt Casali doubled to left. Newman doubled to center to score Casali but McLain grounded out to third. India lined out to left to end the inning with the Reds up 1-0.

                                                                Reds strike first

Connor Wong struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Enmanuel Valdez was rung up for strike three. Verdugo flied out to to center to end the inning. 

Tragedy struck in the top of the fourth as Steer doubled to center to start. Stephenson doubled to center as well and the play of the game occured. Fairchild flied out to right and Verdugo fired home. Steer bowled over Wong at the plate but was ruled out. Senzel walked and then Sale keeled over on the mound. He had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Brigham & Women's ICU. Justin Garza came in to pitch and Barrero popped up to first to end the inning. Not good!

                                                          Sale leaves in the fourth inning

The Sox tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Devers doubled to center to start. Turner singled off the glove of Steer to score Rafael to tie the game. Yoshida flied out to left but Duran walked. Hernandez popped up to second and Casas flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                          Turner ties it up

Casali struck out swinging to open the top of the fifth before Newman grounded out to second. McLAin lined out to center to end the inning. Wong flied out to left to start the bottom of the fifth before Valdez flied out to center. Verdugo grounded out to third to end the inning.

Josh Winckowski came in to pitch the top of the sixth and India struck out swinging to start. Steer walked but Stephenson flied out to right. Jake Fraley pinch hit for Fairchild and Fraley grounded out to second to end the inning. Devers walked to start the bottom of the sixth but Turner struck out swinging. Yoshida flied out to left and Duran flied out to center to end the inning.

Nick Pivetta came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Senzel took strike three to start. Barrero struck out swinging and Casali was frozen for strike three to end the inning. Ian Gibaut came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Hernandez belted his 5th home run of the year to put the Sox on top. Casas popped up to short, Wong flied out to right and Valdez grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.

                                                              Sox take the lead

Chris Martin came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Newman doubled to right to start. A wild pitch moved Newman to third and he scored on the McLain single to center. India grounded into a double play and Steer flied out to center to end the inning, but the game was tied 2-2.

                                                                Reds tie it up

Kevin Herget came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Verdugo walked to start. Devers ripped a double to center to score Verdugo from first to put the Sox back on top. Turner singled to left and Devers was foolishly thrown out at home on a grounder to second by Yoshida. Raimel Tapia pinch ran for Turner and Duran was intentionally walked. A balk was called on Herget to score Tapia and Hernandez drove in both Yoshida & Duran with a base hit to right. Casas grounded out to first but Wong belted his sixth home run of the season to increase the lead. Valdez singled to right but Verdugo grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 8-2.

                                                         Devers puts Boston on top

Kenley Jansen came in to close out the top of the ninth and Stephenson flied out to right to start. Fraley grounded out to short but Senzel walked. Senzel took second on defensive indifference but Barrero hit one up the elevator shaft to end the game. The Sox had won 8-2.

                                                               Sox win

Hero of The Night is Rafael Devers. His rbi double in the eighth inning was the decisive blow in the game.

                                                                 Devers Hero                               

The Good:

Justin Turner was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Raimel Tapia scored a run as a pinch runner.

Jarren Duran walked twice in four plate appearances and scored a run.

Kike Hernandez was 2 for 4 with 3 total rbis, a home run and 2 total runs scored.

Chris Sale allowed just a run in 3 2/3 innings before leaving with injury.

Justin Garza tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Josh Winckowski pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Nick Pivetta pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Triston Casas was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, threw a runner out and scored a run.

Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.

Connor Wong was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but hit a 2 run home run.

Enmanuel Valdez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Chris Martin vultured the win by allowing a run in the eighth inning.

Final Thoughts:

Just when you thought the season couldn't get any worse, this happens. With Trevor Story and Adam Duvall out, the Sox are already challenged offensively but taking away their ace again could put this team headed to last place again. It was a good win but very costly considering they need Sale if they have any hope of escaping the basement after last year's disaster. The team showed heart to win this one after Sale went down, especially the bullpen. Kudos to the eighth inning rally to put the game away with Devers and Wong leading the charge. Still, they're going to need more out of the other starters now moving forward depending how long Sale is out. They JUST get Paxton back 3 weeks ago and bye bye Sale. This team can't catch a break. The win improved the Sox to 29-27, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox now welcome in the Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow for a four game set beginning tomorrow night. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock takes on old friend Jalen "Twin" Beeks. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.