Through the first four games its apparent that the Boston Red Sox have some developing talent on the team. Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.80 ERA) tossed 5 solid innings to earn his first win of the season but the big story was the offense. Trevor Story broke out of his slump with a few hits, Tyler O'Neill went deep and Enmanuel Valdez hit a backbreaking three run home run to put the Sox up for good. This time the bullpen held up as the trio of Greg Weissert, Joely Rodriguez and Justin Slaten held the fort for the final four innings after Whitlock was gone. Slaten earned his first career save as the Sox evened the series with a 5-1 victory at T-Mobile Park.
Miller got the ball in the top of the first and Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers lashed a base hit to right but Trevor Story struck out swinging. Triston Casas also struck out swinging to end the inning. "The Lock" got the ball in the bottom of the first and struck out JP Crawford swinging on a splitter. Julio Rodriguez struck out swinging on a changeup in the dirt. Jorge Polanco missed a home run down the right field line by inches but took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Masataka Yoshida grounded out to second to start. Tyler O'Neill belted his second home run of the season to put the Sox on top and Wilyer Abreu walked. Enmanuel Valdez popped up to right but Reese McGuire dumped a base hit to right. Abreu got promptly picked off to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Mariners wasted no time scoring in the top of the second as Mitch Haniger doubled to center to begin. Ty France lashed a base hit to right to put runners at the corners but Dominic Canzone struck out swinging. Luke Raley took a cutter right down the middle for strike three but Josh Rojas grounded a seeing eye single through the hole at second to score Haniger, tying the game. Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey ran to the mound and told Whitlock the story of Israel Bissell. Seby Zavala flied out to a running O'Neill to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Duran flied out to center to start the top of the third before Devers hit a bullet right to France. Story struck out swinging on a splitter to end the inning. The Mariners took command in the bottom of the third as Crawford was hit in the knee to start. Crawford moved to second on the grounder to Whitlock by Rodriguez and to third on another comebacker to Whitlock by Polanco. Haniger watched strike three go by to end the inning.
The Sox went on top in the top of the fourth as Casas walked to start. Yoshida popped up to right but O'Neill dumped a base hit to right to move Casas to third. Abreu struck out swinging but Valdez crushed his first home run of the season to take the lead. McGuire flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
France struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Canzone grounded back to the mound. Raley grounded out to Devers to end the inning.
Duran led off the top of the fifth with a pop up to Rodriguez to start. Devers struck out swinging on a 94 mph fastball down the middle but Story hit a seeing eye single into left. Casas grounded out to second to end the inning. Rojas popped up to Devers in foul territory to start the bottom of the fifth before an irate Zavala took a questionable strike three call. Crawford grounded out to second to end the inning. Once again Cora pulled a starter early as that was it for Whitlock after just 81 pitches through five innings. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 8.
Yoshida ate up Crawford on a grounder for a single to start the top of the sixth with Cody Bolton now on the mound. O'Neill drew a walk and Abreu lashed a base hit to right to load the bases. This time Valdez struck out swinging but McGuire grounded back to the mound to score Yoshida. Duran grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Greg Weissert came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Rodriguez hit a bullet right to Valdez. Polanco lined out to a running Duran and Haniger struck out swinging to end the inning.
Collin Snider came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Devers popped up to first to start. Story dumped a base hit to left but Casas struck out swinging. Story got thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning. Weissert came back for the bottom of the seventh and France immediately got a base hit to center to chase him. Dylan Moore pinch hit for Canzone and Sox manager Alex Cora countered with Joely Rodriguez. Moore and Raley both flied out to left but Luis Urias pinch hit for Rojas. Urias walked on a clear strike three and Sox manager Alex Cora pulled Rodriguez. Justin Slaten came in and Zavala flied out to the centerfield wall to end the inning.
Yoshida popped up to second to start the top of the eighth and O'Neill grounded out to third. Abreu flied out to left to end the inning. Slaten returned for the bottom of the eighth and Crawford lined out to right to start. Rodriguez popped up to a running Abreu and Polanco grounded out to second to end the inning.
Trent Thornton came in for the top of the ninth and Valdez grounded out to second to start. McGuire dropped an opposite field base hit to left but Duran forced him at second. Devers grounded out to second to end the inning. Slaten returned for the bottom of the ninth and Haniger grounded out to short to start. Duran and Abreu almost collided to catch a pop-up by France but Duran caught it. Moore struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of the Night is Enmanuel Valdez. His 3 run home run was the difference in the game.
The Good:
Trevor Story was 2 for 4.
Tyler O'Neill was 2 for 3 with a walk, a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Wilyer Abreu was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Reese McGuire was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Garrett Whitlock got the win by tossing 5 innings of 1 run ball. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 8 batters.
Greg Weissert tossed a full scoreless inning.
Joely Rodriguez got the first two outs of the seventh inning.
Justin Slaten got the save by tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Triston Casas was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Masataka Yoshida was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That was a big win and also a gut check for a lot of guys. Sox manager Alex Cora sent Joely Rodriguez, Wilyer Abreu and Justin Slaten right back into the fire after last night's disaster and they all responded. Garrett Whitlock went 5 strong innings and Greg Weissert looked good in this one. Offensively Valdez got his first of the season and O'Neill went yard again. Story finally got some hits and Devers returned from his shoulder problem to get a hit. Its only four games but the Sox went toe to toe with one of the better rotations in baseball and was a 10th inning meltdown away from taking three of four. The New York Yankees wiped out the Houston Astros four straight so at least the Sox are doing better than Houston. The Sox now travel to Oakland for a three game set with the hapless A's. Tanner Houck makes his season debut against Joe Boyle of Oakland. The game begins at 9:40 PM Eastern time at Oakland Coliseum.
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