With the Boston Red Sox reeling after another bad loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Sox needed a big lift in tonight's game. They got it from Lucas Giolito (2-1, 5.45 ERA). After getting lit up in his last start, Lucas stepped it up by allowing an unearned run in six solid innings. The offense finally crashed down to earth after scoring 34 runs in four games but it was just enough. Roman Anthony struck a two run double in the first inning off Tampa starter Ryan Pepiot for his first major league hit. The Rays got a run back in the fifth but Trevor Story belted a home run in the bottom of the sixth for an insurance run. Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert held down the fort and the Sox picked up a much needed 3-1 win over the Rays at Fenway Park.
Giolito got the ball in the top of the first inning and Yandy Diaz grounded out to short to start. Brandon Lowe walked but Junior Caminero flied out to right. Jonathan Aranda lined out to left to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first although Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Rafael Devers stroked a base hit to center but Abraham "El" Toro struck out swinging. Carlos Narvaez doubled to left and Roman Anthony got his first big league hit with a 2 run double to left to put the Sox on top. Trevor Story popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
First knock for Anthony
Christopher Morel flied out to right to start the top of the second before Josh Lowe grounded out to third. Jose Caballero singled to left before promptly stealing second. Jake Mangum grounded out to short to end the inning. Marcelo Mayer flied out to left to start the bottom of the second before Kristian Campbell popped up to second. Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning.
Old pal Danny Jansen singled to right to start the top of the third but Diaz grounded into a double play. Brandon Lowe struck out swinging to end the inning. Duran walked to start the bottom of the third then took off for second. Caballero dropped the ball, allowing Duran to take third. Toro walked...and as usual with a runner in scoring position, Narvaez struck out swinging. Anthony struck out swinging to end the inning. 0 for 2 with RISP so far.
Caminero grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth before Aranda took strike three. Morel struck out swinging to end the inning. Story got a base hit to left to start the bottom of the fourth and Morel threw the ball away, allowing Trevor to take second. Naturally with a runner in scoring position, Mayer grounded back to the mound, Campbell grounded out to third and Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning. 0 for 5 with RISP now.
The Rays struck back in the top of the fifth as Josh Lowe grounded out to first to start. Caballero walked and stole second before Mangum walked. Giolito threw the pickoff throw away but Jansen struck out swinging. Diaz got a base hit off of Campbell to score Caballero. Brandon Lowe flied out to center to end the inning but the Rays were down 2-1.
Duran struck out swinging to open the bottom of the fifth before Devers popped up to third. Toro also popped up to third to end the inning.
Giolito returned for one final inning in the top of the sixth and Caminero grounded out to third to start. Anthony made a great diving catch to rob Aranda of a hit and Morel flied out to center to end the inning. Giolito had a nice bounce back start, allowing just the unearned run, 3 hits and 3 walks in six innings.
Giolito with the good start
The Sox got some insurance in the bottom of the sixth although Narvaez took strike three to begin. Anthony grounded out to first but Story smashed his 9th home run of the season to increase the lead. That was it for Pepiot as Mason Englert came in to face Mayer. Mayer struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Kiss that one goodbye
Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Josh Lowe lined out to second to start. Caballero struck out swinging and Mangum took strike three to end the inning. Campbell struck out swinging to start the bottom of the seventh but Rafaela got a base hit past the second baseman. Duran singled to right but once again with runners in scoring position, Devers struck out swinging and El Toro flied out to right to end the inning. That's 0 for 7 with RISP.
David Hamilton took over for Campbell for the top of the eighth and Jansen struck out swinging to start. Diaz grounded out to second and Brandon Lowe flied out to right to end the inning. Narvaez flied out to right to start the bottom of the eighth before Anthony flied out to left. Story struck out swinging to end the inning.
With Aroldis Chapman gassed, Greg Weissert came in to close out the top of the ninth. Caminero grounded out to short to start and Aranda flied out to left. Morel flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had won it 3-1.
Sox win
Hero of The Night is Roman Anthony. His two run double was his first career hit and it put the Sox up for good.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Trevor Story was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Ceddanne Rafaels was just 1 for 3.
Lucas Giolito got the win by allowing just an unearned run, 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4 in six innings of work.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 scoreless innings.
Greg Weissert earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Marcelo Mayer was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Kristian Campbell was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Abraham Toro was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Carlos Narvaez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
David Hamilton played second base in the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
That was one of their best wins of the season despite the bad pickoff and the continuing woes with runners in scoring position. The Sox have a ton of heart but very little brains. For whatever reason when there's a man on second suddenly the entire team forgets how to hit. Still, the defense didn't boot the ball around and the pitching held up. The Sox were bound to come back to earth after scoring 34 runs in four games but Giolito, Whitlock and Weissert stepped up. Good for Anthony to get his first hit out of the way and it basically won the game the way Lucas pitched. Good wins have been few and far between this year but that's a good win against a good team. The problem this season is the Sox just can't string wins together for whatever reason. Maybe the influx of the kids will help them out as the season goes on. The win improved the Sox to 33-36, 9 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to take the series with the Rays tomorrow night when Walker Buehler (4-4, 5.18 ERA) of the War Pigs takes on old friend Zack Littell. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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