Parker Messick got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran struck out swinging to start. Ceddanne Rafaela walked and Wilyer Abreu doubled to left, but Willson Contreras struck out swinging. Nick Sogard popped up to first to end the inning. The Guardians struck first against Gray in the bottom of the first as Travis Bazzana doubled to right to start. Jose Ramirez doubled to right off the glove off Contreras to put the Guardians up instantly. Chase DeLauter flied out to left, Kyle Manzardo struck out swinging and Angel Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning with Cleveland up 1-0.
Andruw Monasterio flied out to right to start the top of the second and Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined out to left. Connor Wong lined out to center to end the inning. Daniel Schneeman lined out to third to start the bottom of the second and Petey Halpin got a base hit to right. Austin Hedges grounded out to short but Brayan Rocchio walked. Bazzana grounded out to first to end the inning.
Caleb Durbin flied out to right to start the top of the third but Duran got a base hit to right. Rafaela doubled to right but Abreu struck out swinging. Contreras was intentionally walked to get to Sogard and the gamble worked as Nick grounded out to third to end the inning. Ramirez walked to start the bottom of the third but DeLauter hit a bullet to Contreras who doubled off Jose. Manzardo grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fourth as Monasterio doubled to left to start. Kiner got a base hit in the hole at short and Wong dropped down a bunt to move the runners over. Durbin hit a sac fly to left to score Monasterio to tie the game. Duran struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Martinez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth and Schneeman also went down hacking. Halpin doubled to left and Hedges walked, but Rocchio forced Austin at second to end the inning.
Stuart Fairchild came in for Martinez to start the top of the fifth and Rafaela flied out to left to start. Abreu grounded out to second and Contreras lined out to right to end the inning. Bazzana grounded out to first to start the bottom of the fifth and Ramirez flied out to right. DeLauter flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the sixth against Matt Festa with Marcelo Mayer pinch hitting for Sogard. Mayer walked but Monasterio took strike three. Kiner struck out swinging and it looked like Wong had jacked a two run home run....but Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt challenged it was just a double. Sure enough, replays overturned the call but it was still an rbi double since Mayer scored. Codi Heuer came in to pitch and Durbin got a base hit in the hole at third to put runners at the corners. Duran struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.
Gray returned for one last inning in the bottom of the sixth as Manzardo struck out swinging to start. Fairchild went down hacking and Schneeman swung at air to end the inning. Gray had traffic all game but held the Guardians to 1 run in 6 solid innings allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7.
Rocchio threw a routine grounder away by Rafaela away to start the top of the seventh but Abreu flied out to left. Rafaela swiped second but Contreras grounded out to third. Rafaela swiped third and Mayer was plunked to put runners at the corners. Masataka Yoshida pinch hit for Monasterio and flied out to left to end the inning. Tyron Guerrero came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Halpin struck out swinging to start. Hedges got a base hit to left but was forced at second by Rocchio. Justin "Incinerator" Slaten was brought in to face Bazzana and Travis doubeld to right. Ramirez grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox got a big run in the top of the eighth with Shawn Armstrong on the mound as Kiner got a base hit to left to start. Wong grounded out to third but Durbin doubled to right to score Kiner. Duran lined out to center and Rafaela struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 3-1.
DeLauter lined out to center to start the bottom of the eighth and Rhys Hoskins pinch hit for Manzardo. Hoskins walked but Fairchild struck out swinging. David Fry pinch hit for Schneeeman and struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the top of the ninth with Will Dion now on the mound. Abreu walked to start and Contreras was hit with a pitch. Dion threw to third on a grounder by Mayer but Ramirez muffed it for an error to load the bases. Yoshida walked to score Abreu but Kiner struck out swinging. Wong got a base hit to left and Fairchild threw the ball away. Two runs scored and both remaining runners were in scoring position. Durbin grounded out to short but Duran smashed his 9th home run of the year to ice the game. Rafaela struck out swinging to en the inning with the Sox ahead 9-1.
Danny Coulombe came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Halpin struck out swinging to start. Hedges grounded back to the mound and Rocchio grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-1.
Hero of The Night is Connor Wong. His rbi double in the 6th put the Sox up for good and he drove in 3 total runs.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 6 with 3 rbis and a run scored.
Marcelo Mayer walked, was hit with a pitch and scored two runs.
Andruw Monasterio was 1 for 3 with a run.
Masataka Yoshida walked, drove in a run and scored a run.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Caleb Durbin was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Sonny Gray got the win by tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7
Tyron Guerrero tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Justin Slaten tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Danny Coulombe pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Nick Sogard was 0 for 2.
The Ugly:
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but walked and stole 2 bases.
Wilyer Abreu was just 10 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored.
Willson Contreras was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked, was hit with a pitch and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The fact the Boston Red Sox offense may have fixed itself is sad considering May is just about over. Its a shame it took this long since the Sox season is teetering on the brink. If someone told you in late March Sonny Gray would be the team leader in wins, you'd think the season went to hell. Gray has been a rock all year and today he was solid against the Guardians. Seeing Duran and Durbin start hitting might be too little too late, but at least its happening. If the two of them continue to hit better, now you got something. The fact the Sox turned a 2-1 game into 9-1 in the final innings is also encouraging. They weren't doing that a month ago. Hopefully the pitching can hold up, the Sox get a few key guys back, and go on a tear in June. That's a lot to ask for though. The win improved the Sox to 24-33, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to take the series tomorrow afternoon against the Guardians when Ranger Suarez takes on Tanner Bibee of Cleveland. The game begins at 1:40 PM at Progressive Field.
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