The bad news was once again the Boston Red Sox failed to produce much offense. With the 8-9-1 hitters combining to go 0 for 9 with 7 strikeouts the Sox scored just 3 runs off 8 hits. The good news was Sonny Gray (4-1, 3.18 ERA) held the high powered Philadelphia Phillies to just 2 hits and a run in six solid innings. The Sox got an early home run courtesy of Trevor Story against Andrew Painter and Ceddanne Rafaela hit a pinch hit 2 run home run off Orion Kerkering. The trio of Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman slammed the door to preserve the lead. The Sox had won the game 3-1 at Fenway Park.
Gray got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kyle Schwarber grounded out to short to start. Bryce Harper struck out swinging and Adolis Garcia also swung at air to end the inning. Painter got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran flied out to right to start. Mickey Gasper flied out to center but Wilyer Abreu got a base hit to left. Willson Contreras flied out to left to end the inning.
Brandon Marsh lined out to second to start the top of the second and Alec Bohm did the same. Bryson Stott lined out to left to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Masataka Yoshida grounded out to first to start. Somehow Trevor Story launched his third home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Marcelo Mayer got a base hit to right and Connor Wong dropped down a bunt to move him to second. Naturally with a man in scoring position, Caleb Durbin struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The lead didn't last in the top of the third as JT Realmuto struck out swinging to start. Justin Crawford hit a home run all the way to Ecuador to tie the game but Edmundo Sosa struck out swinging. Schwarber walked but Harper grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Duran grounded out to first to start the bottom of the third but Gasper was hit with a pitch. Abreu got a base hit to right and naturally with a runner in scoring position Contreras...hit into a double play to end the inning.
Garcia took strike three to start the top of the fourth and Marsh grounded out to short. Bohm lined out to right to end the inning. Yoshida flied out to center to start the bottom of the fourth and Story grounded out to short. Mayer grounded out to first to end the inning.
Stott grounded out to first to open the top of the fifth and Realmuto lined out to left. Crawford grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox got booed in the bottom of the fifth when Wong, Durbin and Duran all struck out swinging in short order.
Sosa got a base hit to right to start the top of the sixth but Schwarber struck out swinging. Harper hit a bullet right to Contreras who doubled off Sosa to end the inning. For some idiotic reason that was it for Sonny Gray after 6 innings of 1 run ball where he allowed 2 hits and a walk on just 78 pitches.
Tanner Banks came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Gasper lined out to right to start. Abreu got a base hit to center but Contreras struck out swinging. Ceddanne Rafaela pinch hit for Yoshida and Phillies manager Don Mattingly brought in Orion Kerkering to face him. The gamble for Philly backfired as Rafaela launched his fourth home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Story singled in the hole at second but Mayer grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 3-1.
Defying all logic, Sox manager Chad Tracy brought in Justin "Incinerator" Slaten to pitch the top of the seventh. Garcia grounded out to short to start and Marsh flied out to center. Bohm got a base hit to center but Stott grounded out to second to end the inning. Old pal Brad Keller came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Wong struck out swinging to start. Durbin took strike three and Duran struck out swinging as the crowd booed.
Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Realmuto grounded out to short to start. Crawford struck out swinging and Sosa popped up to Whitlock to end the inning. Tim Mayza came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Gasper got a base hit to center to start. Isiah Kiner-Falefa pinch ran for Gasper only to get forced at second by Abreu. Once again Contreras hit into a double play to end the inning.
Carlos Narvaez came in to catch the bottom of the ninth with Aroldis Chapman in to close out the game. Schwarber walked to start and a wild pitch moved Kyle to second. Harper and Garcia both struck out swinging and Trea Turner pinch hit for Marsh. Turner walked and both runners pulled off a double steal to put the tying run at second. Chapman got Bohm swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 3-1.
Hero of The Night is Ceddanne Rafaela. His pinch hit home run won the game.
The Good:
Mickey Gasper was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch.
Wilyer Abreu was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Trevor Story was 2 for 3 with a home run.
Marcelo Mayer was 1 for 3.
Sonny Gray got the win by tossing 6 innings of one run ball allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out six.
Justin Slaten pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Aroldis Chapman earned his 9th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Willson Contreras was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 2.
Connor Wong was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Caleb Durbin was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
None
Honorable Mention:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa ran for Gasper in the bottom of the eighth.
Carlos Narvaez caught the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
That was a much needed win by the Sox but they still suck offensively. If the Sox allowed more than 2 runs they would have lost one way or another. Its a good thing Gray pitched great because apart from a lucky home run from Rafaela, they once again accomplished almost nothing. Duran is hitting .184, Story .211, Durbin .165, Narvaez .210, Mayer .234 and Kiner .205. You can't win with that many guys hitting under .235, especially with almost no home runs. Its one thing for Dave Kingman to hit .230 with 40 home runs, its another to hit that bad or worse with no power. The Sox just aren't going to get it done this season unless they go through drastic changes. The win improved the Sox to 18-24, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to take the series tomorrow night when Ranger Suarez goes one on one with Jesus Luzardo of Philadelphia. The game begins tomorrow night at 6:40 PM at Fenway Park.
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