As for the game, you'd think after playing their hearts out against the Chicago White Sox to avoid losing 3 of 4 and an off-day would rejuvenate the Red Sox. WELL YOU'RE WRONG! HA HA HA! The Sox slept walked in tonight's game against Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies. Wheeler held the Sox to 3 measly hits and a walk in 7 innings. Meanwhile old pal Kyle Schwarber added to his old team's misery with two home runs off Kutter Crawford (2-6, 3.47 ERA). Crawford himself was charged with 4 runs but the incompetent Red Sox defense contributed to 2 of them being unearned. The bullpen hung tough but the offense gave up as the Phillies took the game 4-1 at Fenway Park.
The Phillies tagged Crawford immediately in the top of the first as old pal Kyle Schwarber hit the first pitch of the game out of the yard for a home run. Nick Castellanos flied out to right, Bryce Harper lined out to left and Alex Bohm popped up to short to end the inning with the Phillies ahead 1-0.
The Sox answered against Wheeler in the bottom of the first as Jarren Duran got a base hit to left to start. David Hamilton doubled to center and Rob Refsnyder hit a sac fly to score Duran, moving David to third. Rafael Devers popped up to first and Masataka Yoshida grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1. The Sox would have just two hits the rest of the game.
Bryson Stott singled to right and Refsnyder booted the ball for an error to move Stott to second to start the top of the second. Edmundo Sosa popped up to third, David Dahl struck out swinging and Garrett Stubbs went down hacking to end the inning. Connor Wong singled to center before Dominic Smith flied out to center. It looked like Wong stole second on the Enmanuel Valdez swinging strikeout, but the Phillies challenged the call. Sure enough, replays showed Wong was out to end the inning.
Johan Rojas grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Schwarber struck out swinging. Devers made a hell of a play to rob Castellanos of a hit to end the inning. Rafaela popped up to short to start the bottom of the third before Duran popped up to third. Hamilton lined out to first to end the inning.
Bad defense cost the Sox in the top of the fourth as Harper walked to start. Bohm struck out swinging but Stott doubled to center. Sosa took strike three and Dahl hit a routine grounder to second. Valdez threw to first and Smith dropped the ball for an error to score both runners. Stubbs singled to right to move Dahl to third but Rojas grounded out to second to end the inning with the Phillies up 3-1.
Phillies score on an error
Refsnyder struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Devers also went down hacking. Yoshida walked but Wong grounded out to second to end the inning.
Schwarber struck again with another home run to begin the top of the fifth. Castellanos struck out swinging and Harper grounded out to first, but Bohm got a base hit to center. Stott flied out to left to enf the inning with Philly up 4-1.
That's two for Tazawa
Smith grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fifth before Valdez flied out to left. Rafaela grounded out to third to end the inning.
Crawford returned for one final inning in the top of the sixth and Sosa struck out swinging to start. Dahl lined out to left and Stubbs took strike three to end the inning. Kutter was game but was charged with 4 runs in 6 innings although only 2 were earned.
Crawford deserved better
Duran lined out to second to start the bottom of the sixth before Hamilton watched strike three go by. Refsnyder grounded out to second to end the inning.
Greg Weissert came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Rojas took strike three to start, Schwarber struck out swinging and Castellanos grounded out to third to end the inning. Dahl made a great running catch to rob Devers of a double to start the bottom of the seventh and Yoshida flied out to right. Wong grounded out to short to end the inning.
Cam Booser came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Harper got a base hit to right to start. Bohm grounded into a double play and Stott grounded out to first to end the inning. Old pal Matt Strahm came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Jamie Westbrook pinch hit for Smith. Westbrook struck out swinging and Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for Valdez. Dalbec struck out swinging and Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning.
Chase Anderson came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Sosa walked to start. Dahl flied out to center and Stubbs forced Sosa at second. Stubbs stole second but Rojas grounded out to second to end the inning. Cristian Pache came in to play left with Jose Alvarado in to close out the bottom of the ninth. Duran grounded out to short but Hamilton got a base hit to center. Refsnyder popped up to first and Devers struck out swinging to end the game. The Phillies had won the game 4-1.
Jackass of the Night is Dominic Smith. He was 0 for 2 at the plate and his error cost the team two crucial runs.
The Good:
David Hamilton was 2 for 4.
Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Cam Booser pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Chase Anderson pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jamie Westbrook struck out as a pinch hitter.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Rob Refsnyder was 0 for 3 with an error but drove in a run.
Masataka Yoshida was o for 2 with a hit by pitch.
Connor Wong was 1 for 3 but was thrown out trying to steal.
Kutter Crawford took the loss by allowing 4 runs in 6 innings, but only 2 of the runs were earned. He allowed 6 hits and a walk while striking out 8.
Final Thoughts:
Watching Kyle Schwarber hit home runs left and right is another reason Chaim Bloom should be fired. He banked on Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec being the answer and not re-signing Schwarber killed them ever since. Having Schwarber in 2022 and especially this season might be the difference in the playoffs and last place. I'd say Matt Strahm had a middle finger game as well but bullpen arms are a lot more common to replace. The bullpen was a strength in this one as they didn't allow a run after Crawford left the game. The offense just didn't have it in this one, give credit to Wheeler for pitching a hell of a game. Just have to tip your cap and come back tomorrow. The loss dropped the Sox to 33-34, 14 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night against the Phillies when Nick Pivetta takes on Cristopher Sanchez of Philadelphia. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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