Orioles Pound Seabold, Sox (9/26/22)

When the season ends in under two weeks there's going to be a lot of finger pointing as to why the season went as badly as it did. One of them is unquestionably the failure of the kids in the rotation. Connor Seabold (0-4, 11.29 ERA) was straight batting practice this year and a big part of why the Sox fell apart in July. He got rocked for 5 runs in just 2 innings by the relentless Baltimore Orioles in tonight's game. The Boston bullpen got rocked as well for NINE runs after Seabold was gone as the Orioles pounded out 14 hits and 14 runs. The sad part was the Boston offense plated 8 runs against Jordan Lyles and the Baltimore bullpen. If Kaleb Ort, Franklin German and Eduardo Bazardo didn't allow 6 runs in the final four innings, this game might have turned out different. As it was, the O's pounded the Sox 14-8 at Fenway Park.

                                                              Sox fans have had enough

Seabold got tagged immediately in the top of the first as Cedric Mullins hit the second pitch of the game out of the yard for a home run to put the Orioles up for good just like that. Adley Rutschman flied out to left and Anthony Santander flied out to right, but Ryan Mountcastle walked. Gunnar Henderson walked but Austin Hays forced Henderson at second to end the inning with the O's up 1-0.

                                                            Mullins jacks one out

Lyles got the ball in the bottom of the first and Enrique Hernandez lined out to third to start. Rafael Devers doubled to left but Xander Bogaerts lined out to center. Alex Verdugo also flied out to center to end the inning.

The O's finished off Seabold in the top of the second as Rougned Odor hit a ground rule double down the right field line. Kyle Stowers got a base hit to left and Jorge Mateo doubled to right to score Odor. Mullins tripled into the centerfield triangle to clear the bases but Rutschman popped up to center. Seabold had Mullins picked off....but threw the ball away for an error to score Cedric. Santander and Mountcastle both struck out swinging to end the inning with the O's up 5-0. Due to rain later, that was it for Seabold who got rocked for 5 run in just 2 innings off 5 hits and 2 walks.

                                                        "I sucked tonight" - Seabold

The Sox did fight back in the bottom of the second as JD Martinez smashed his 13th home run of the season to start. Triston Casas walked and Rob Refsnyder got a base hit to left, but Reese McGuire flied out to left. Abraham Almonte got a base hit to center to load the bases and Hernandez got a base hit to left to score Casas. With a chance to do damage....Devers grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.

                                                            Martinez gets one back

The rains came and when play resumed, Tyler Danish came in to pitch the top of the third. Henderson walked to start but Hays forced him at second. Odor lined out to left but Stowers tripled into the left field corner to score Henderson. Mateo struck out swinging to end the inning with the O's up 6-2.

                                                                 O's pull away

Spencer Watkins came in to pitch the bottom of the third and Bogaerts lined out to short to start. Verdugo got a base hit to right but Martinez grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Mullins popped up to third to start the top of the fourth but Rutschman got a base hit to left. Santander grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the fourth as Casas was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to start. Refsnyder singled to center and took second on a passed ball. McGuire walked and Almonte got a base hit to center to load the bases. Hernandez singled inside the bag at third to score Refsnyder and McGuire but Almonte was thrown out at third on the play. Hernandez took second and Devers blooped a base hit to left to score him. Bogaerts got a base hit to left and with the tying run at second....Verdugo flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox down 6-5.

                                                      Devers isn't ready to give up

Naturally the O's poured it on in the top of the fifth as Mountcastle and Henderson both walked to start. Hays beat out a grounder to third to load the bases with nobody out and Zack Kelly was summoned to stop the bleeding. Naturally he gave up back to back base hits to Odor and Stowers to drive in Mountcastle and Henderson. Mateo took strike three, Mullins popped up to left and Rutschman flied out to left to end the inning with the O's up 8-5.

                                                       O's pour it on

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth as Martinez struck out swinging to start. Casas got a base hit to right but Refsnyder forced Triston at second. McGuire walked but Almonte flied out to center to end the inning.

Kaleb Ort came in to take a beating in the top of the sixth as Santander hit a home run all the way to Sweden to start. Mountcastle walked and Henderson hit a home run all the way to Norway to put the game out of reach. Hays struck out swinging, Odor flied out to center and Stowers lined out to center to end the inning with the O's ahead 11-5.

                                                          Henderson watches it go

Hernandez lined out to third to start the bottom of the sixth and Devers lined out to left. Bogaerts popped up to second to end the inning.

Franklin German came in to get tagged in the top of the seventh as Mateo grounded out to short to start. Mullins also grounded out to short but Rutschman walked. Santander hit another home run as everyone in Boston threw their hands up. Mountcastle grounded out to short to end the inning with the O's up 13-5.

                                                            This sucks

The Sox answered in the bottom of the seventh as Verdugo took strike three to start. Martinez doubled to left and that was it for Watkins. Logan Gillaspie came in and Odor booted a grounder by Casas. Suddenly Refsnyder pounded his sixth home run of the year to cut the lead. McGuire flied out to center and Almonte struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 13-8.

                                                           Refsnyder doing his best

It was Eduardo Bazardo's turn to give up a run in the top of the eighth as Henderson struck out swinging to start. Hays launched Baltimore's fifth home run of the night to wrap up the scoring. Odor grounded out to second and Stowers popped up to second to end the inning with the O's up 14-8.

                                                           Bazardo knew it too

Ryan McKenna took over for Stowers in the bottom of the eighth and Hernandez flied out to right to start. Devers got a base hit to center but Bogaerts grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Mateo walked to start the top of the ninth but Mullins flied out to left. Rutschman struck out swinging. Santander grounded out to second to end the inning. Verdugo flied out to left to start the bottom of the ninth and Martinez grounded out to short. Casas took strike three right down the middle to end the game. The O's had won 14-8.

                                                                   O's win

Jackass of the Night is Connor Seabold. He put the Sox in a huge hole early by allowing 5 runs in just 2 innings.

                                                          Jackass Seabold

The Good:

Kike Hernandez was 2 for 5 with 3 rbis and a run scored.

Rafael Devers was 3 for 5 with an rbi.

JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Rob Refsnyder was 3 for 4 with a 3 run home run with 2 runs scored.

Abraham Almonte was 2 for 4.

Zack Kelly tossed a scoreless inning.

The Bad:

Tyler Danish allowed 3 runs in 2 innings.

Kaleb Ort allowed 3 runs in an inning.

Franklin German allowed 2 runs in an inning.

The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Triston Casas was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored 2 runs.

Reese McGuire was 0 for 2 with an error but walked twice and scored a run.

Eduardo Bazardo allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Final Thoughts:

Nine more games of torture left and its easy to see where this season went wrong. The Sox rotation all got hurt and the rookies were not ready for prime time. Not that most teams would survive if they had to use their AAA rotation in crucial June and July games, but they got nothing out of the quartet of Josh Winckowski, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Seabold. That's an indictment of Sox GM Chaim Bloom as Wink and Seabold were his 2020 trade deadline pickups. The worst part is the offense responded by putting up 8 runs which should have won the game. Another problem was bullpen overuse due to the bad starts which is why the Sox bullpen faltered in the end, just like last year. At least this year Sox manager Alex Cora can say he had no rotation but its still a shame of how things turned out. If the Sox had held the fort after Seabold left, they might have won this one. As it is, we're almost done with this lost season. The Sox have a lot of work to do in the off-season in terms of getting starting pitching depth and potentially replacing Bogaerts and Martinez. The loss dropped the Sox to 72-81, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night against the Orioles when Michael Wacha goes one on one with Kyle Bradish of Baltimore. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Anderson, Reds Shut Down Sox (9/21/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Jaxx Groshans was released from the Greenville Drive after hitting just .154 in 53 games. He was a fifth round pick back in 2019 and if he can't hit in High A, not much you can do with him. In the majors, the Red Sox placed Garrett Whitlock on the Injured List with a bad hip. To make today's start, the Sox are calling up Connor Seabold. So long Groshans and see you next year Whitlock.

                                                                  OUT

                                                                         IN

The 2022 Boston Red Sox season is just about over and hopefully next year they have better luck health wise. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock's season is over and Connor Seabold (0-3, 10.47 ERA) failed to win his first game as he was beaten by the Cincinnati Reds. Chase Anderson held the supposedly good Sox offense to just 3 measly hits and a run in 5 innings. All in all the Boston bats had just 6 hits in a total no-show against a Reds team playing out the string. The Reds got 4 runs off Seabold and another run off Franklin German to end the Sox win streak with a 5-1 victory at Great American Ballpark.

                                                               Sox season just about over

Anderson got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tommy Pham was plunked to start. Rafael Devers flied out to right, Xander Bogaerts flied out to left and Alex Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning. Seabold got the ball in the bottom of the first and TJ Friedl struck out swinging to start. Jonathan India struck out swinging but Kyle Farmer was hit with a pitch. Jake Fraley struck out swinging to end the inning.

JD Martinez grounded out to short to start the top of the second before Triston Casas did the same. Rob Refsnyder took strike three to end the inning. Donovan Solano popped up to first to start the bottom of the second before Aristides Aquino grounded out to third. Alejo Lopez popped up to short to end the inning.

Reese McGuire lined out to center to start the top of the third before Kike Hernandez lined out to left. Pham took strike three to end the inning. The Reds struck first in the bottom of the third as Stuart Fairchild got a base hit to right to start. Chuckie Robinson flied out to right and Friedl flied out to center, but a wild pitch moved Fairchild to second. India got a base hit to left and Fairchild scored when Pham threw the ball away. A wild pitch moved India to third but Farmer flied out to center to end the inning with the Reds up 1-0.

                                                             Nice throw Pham

The Sox responded in the top of the fourth as Devers beat out a roller to third to start. Bogaerts got a base hit to left to move Rafael to third, and Devers scored on the sac fly by Verdugo to center. Martinez struck out swinging and Bogaerts was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                           Devers is safe

Fraley got a base hit to center but was immediately thrown out in a rundown trying to stretch a double to begin the bottom of the fourth. Solano popped up to second and Aquino flied out to right to end the inning.

Casas flied out to right to start the top of the fifth but Refsnyder got a base hit to left. McGuire struck out swinging and Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning. The Reds broke Seabold in the bottom of the fifth as Lopez grounded out to first to start. Fairchild beat out a roller to third but Robinson struck out swinging. A wild pitch moved Fairchild to second but Friedl walked anyway. India got a base hit to center to score Fairchild and move Friedl to third. India swiped second and Farmer blooped a base hit to right to score both runners to ice the game. A wild pitch moved Farmer to second but Fraley grounded out to short to end the inning with the Reds up 4-1. That was it for Seabold who got rocked for 4 runs in 5 innings off 6 hits and a walk.

                                                        Seabold doesn't last long

Fernando Cruz came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Pham struck out swinging to start. Devers struck out swinging but Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. Eduard Bazardo came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Solano flied out to right to start. Aquino and Lopez both flied out to center to end the inning.

Reiver Sanmartin came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Verdugo got a base hit to right to start. Martinez lined out to center and Casas grounded into a double play to end the inning. Tyler Danish came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Fairchild struck out swinging to start. Robinson got a base hit to right but Friedl flied out to center. India forced Robinson at second to end the inning.

Derek Law came in to pitch the top of the eighth with Matt Reynolds in for Lopez. Refsnyder grounded out to first, McGuire lined out to right and Hernandez flied out to right to end the inning. Franklin German came in to crap his pants in the bottom of the eighth as Farmer grounded out to first to start. Fraley struck out swinging but Solano hit a home run all the way to Nebraska to wrap up the scoring. Aquino popped up to second to end the inning with the Reds up 5-1.

                                                             Home run Solano

Pham struck out swinging to start the top of the ninth but Devers got a base hit to left. Bogaerts also got a base hit to left and Alexis Diaz was brought in to face Verdugo. Naturally Verdugo grounded into a double play to end the game. The Reds had won it 5-1.

                                                                  Reds win

Jackass of the Night is Connor Seabold. He got lit up for 4 runs in just 5 innings of work to take the loss.

                                                        Jackass Seabold

The Good:

Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4.

Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Rob Refsnyder was 1 for 3.

Eduard Bazardo pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Tyler Danish pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bad:

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Triston Casas was 0 for 3.

Reese McGuire was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 3.

Franklin German allowed a run in the eighth inning.

The Ugly:

Tommy Pham was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but was hit with a pitch.

Final Thoughts:

Thankfully the season is just about over because this is flat out embarrassing. Its as if the Sox have totally checked out when they let guys like Chase Anderson and the Angels bullpen dominate them. Then again, starting guys like Connor Seabold doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Seabold was doing very well before falling apart in the fifth but that seems to be his M.O. This season went down the drain due to injuries but the offense falling flat down the stretch again and again with supposedly elite talent shouldn't be ignored. Devers, Martinez, Bogaerts and Verdugo should be killing the ball but instead they only get slap singles. Its fairly obvious that Martinez won't be coming back next year and Bogaerts might be gone as well. Its a shame how the season was supposed to be better than last year and fell completely apart. The loss dropped the Sox to 72-76, good for last place in the AL East with just 14 games left. The Sox look to get revenge on the New York Yankees tomorrow night when Michael Wacha (11-1, 2.61 ERA) takes on Jameson Taillon of New York. The game begins at 7:15 at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees Pound Seabold, Embarrass Sox (7/8/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Michael Wacha was once again placed on the Injured List with Connor Seabold being called up from Worcester to make tonight's start against the New York Yankees. Wacha is claiming he has a bad shoulder and it just shows how miserable this season has been that nobody can stay healthy when it counts.

                                                                       OUT

                                                               IN

As for the game, the Red Sox are finding new ways to embarrass themselves against the AL East this season. Not only did the Yankees beat the living daylights out of the Red Sox again, Christian Arroyo became in a meme by losing a ball in the lights in the top of the third inning. Connor Seabold (0-2, 11.91 ERA) got the emergency start with Michael Wacha out and got knocked out in the third inning. The Yankees poured it on by scoring 12 runs on 14 hits. The sad part was the Sox had 13 hits of his own but as usual couldn't hit in the clutch. The Sox lost yet another game against an AL East team, looked like clowns and got demolished 12-5 at Fenway Park.

                                                   Randy Quaid is angry again

The Yankees wasted no time getting to Seabold in the top of the first inning as DJ LeMahieu got a base hit to left to start. LeMahieu moved to second on a grounder to third by Aaron Judge and Matt Carpenter was hit with a pitch. Gleyber Torres got a base hit to left to score LeMahieu to put the Yankees up for good four batters into the game. Josh Donaldson then hit a home run all the way to Nashua, New Hampshire to ice the game early. Aaron Hicks doubled to right but Jose Trevino popped up to second. Marwin Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.

                                                     Donaldson puts New York up big

The Sox did fight back in the bottom of the first against Nestor Cortes as Rob Refsnyder singled to left to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging but JD Martinez got a base hit to left. Xander Bogaerts popped up to second but Christian Vazquez pounded a double to center to score Refsnyder and Martinez. Alex Verdugo popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox down 4-2.

                                                   Vazquez tries to rally the troops

The Yankees got another one in the top of the second as Joey Gallo flied out to right to start. LeMahieu singled to left but Judge was rung up for strike three. Carpenter doubled to center to score LeMahieu with another run to increase the lead. Torres singled in the hole at short to move Carpenter to third but Donaldson grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-2.

                                                    Carpenter drives in a run

Trevor Story took strike three to start the bottom of the second before Christian Arroyo grounded out to short. Bobby Dalbec walked and Refsnyder got a base hit to right to move Dalbec to third but Devers popped up to first to end the inning.

The Sox embarrassed themselves in the top of the third as Hicks walked to start. Trevino doubled to left but Gonzalez popped up to short. Gallo hit a routine pop up to right.....that Arroyo lost in the lights. The ball landed in the right field corner to score both runners. Gallo was cut down at the plate to prevent an inside the park home run but the damage was done.

                                                         A meme was born

All of a sudden Seabold started clutching his arm and crumpled to the ground. He had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Mass General's ICU. Michael Feliz came in to pitch and LeMahieu walked, but Judge struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 7-2.

                                                              So much for Seabold

Martinez got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the third but Bogaerts forced him at second. Vazquez lined out to center and Verdugo struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees got another run in the top of the fourth as Carpenter hit a home run all the way to the Mos Eisley Cantina to start. Torres grounded out to third but Donaldson walked. Hicks walked and the Yankees pulled off a double stealm but Vazquez threw the ball away for an error to score Donaldson. Trevino struck out swinging and Gonzalez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Yankees up 9-2.

                                                           Carpenter with a home run

The Sox fought back in the bottom of the fourth as Story belted his 15th home run of the season to cut the lead. Arroyo lined out to left and Dalbec smashed his sixth home run of the season as well. Refsnyder doubled to center but Devers struck out swinging. Martinez walked to chase Cortes from the game. Miguel Castro came in to face Bogaerts and Xander was plunked to load the bases. With a chance to get back in the game.....Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 9-4.

                                                          Dalbec gets a ride

Franchy Cordero came in for Devers for the top of the fifth and the Yankees beat the ball in the dirt. Gallo grounded out to first, LeMahieu grounded out to third and Judge also grounded out to third to end the inning. Verdugo struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth before Story grounded out to second. Arroyo singled to left but Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning.

Carpenter struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth before Torres also went down hacking. Donaldson lined out to second to end the inning. Albert Abreu came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Refsnyder singled to right to start. Cordero took strike three but Martinez also singled to right. A wild pitch moved both runners over and Refsnyder scored on the Bogaerts grounder to third. Vazquez singled to right to chase Abreu. Lucas Luetge came in to pitch and Verdugo walked to load the bases. With a chance to tie the game....Story popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox down 9-5.

                                                      Needed more from Bogaerts there

Austin Davis came in to crap his pants in the top of the seventh as Hicks singled to left to start. Hicks took second on the Trevino grounder to second then promptly stole third. Gonzalez caught the Sox asleep with a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score Hicks with another run. Gallo flied out to center and Gonzalez effortlessly stole second. LeMahieu grounded out to second to end the inning with the Yankees up 10-5.

                                                     Beating the Sox with long and small ball

Luetge dominated the bottom of the seventh as Arroyo struck out swinging to start. Dalbec also went down hacking and Refsnyder swung at air to end the inning.

Jarren Duran came in for Arroyo to start the top of the eighth and Judge struck out swinging to start. Carpenter got a base hit to right and Isiah Kiner-Falefa ran for him. Torres effortlessly doubled off the top of the Monster to score Kiner with another run but Donaldson lined out to second. Hicks popped up to second to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 11-5.

                                                      Torres thought it was gone

Cordero flied out to right to start the bottom of the eighth before Martinez lined out to left. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth with Jackie Bradley Jr himself on the mound. Trevino singled to left but Gonzalez walked. Gallo popped up to second and somehow LeMahieu struck out swinging. Judge walked to load the bases and Kiner walked to score Trevino. Torres forced Kiner at second to end the inning with the Yankees up 12-5.

                                                     Better ERA than Seabold

Vazquez singled to center to start the bottom of the ninth but Verdugo forced him at second. Story and Duran both struck out swinging to end the game. The Yankees had won it 12-5.

                                                               Yankees win

Jackass of the Night is Connor Seabold. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed 7 runs, putting the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.

                                                                Seabold The Jackass

The Good:

Rob Refsnyder was 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

JD Martinez was 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 3 for 5 with an rbi.

Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 3 with a walk including a home run.

The Bad:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Franchy Cordero was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Jarren Duran struck out in his only at-bat.

Austin Davis allowed 2 runs in 2 innings.

Jackie Bradley Jr allowed a run in the top of the ninth.

The Ugly:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.

Michael Feliz allowed just one earned run in 3 1/3 innings.

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Trevor Story was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a home run.

Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and lost a ball in the lights.

Final Thoughts:

Things are falling apart for the Red Sox. Seabold got hurt, Devers got hurt, Jackie Bradley had to pitch and Christian Arroyo became a meme. They absolutely cannot beat an AL East team no matter which one it is. The Yankees continued their dominance not only on the Sox but the whole league. They're having a season similar to the 2018 Sox and nobody can seem to slow them down. The Sox are in deep trouble with injuries and ineffectiveness and things are looking real bad, especially when this was their chance to put a dent in the AL East. Seabold looked terrible again and Sox GM Chaim Bloom is looking real bad since Jeter Downs and Connor Wong aren't lighting it up, Cordero is horrible, JBJ is washed, Seabold and Josh Winckowski disappointed and Story is hitting .224. There's still 2 months to turn it around but it doesn't look good right now. The loss dropped the Sox to 45-39, 16 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to rebound tomorrow night when they send Kutter Crawford to the mound against Jordan Montgomery of the Yankees. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Get Lucky Against Cubs in 11 Innings (7/3/22)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Phillips Valdez was sent back to Worcester in favor of today's starting pitcher, Connor Seabold. With Rich Hill out with a knee injury, the Sox are gonna need Seabold to step up in his absence whether its fair or not.

                                                                           OUT

                                                                     IN

As for the game, the Red Sox got lucky this time. Connor Seabold lasted just 4 innings while allowing a run thanks to Sox manager Alex Cora overthinking things again, forcing the bullpen to go the rest of the way. Naturally the 2-1 lead disappeared when Patrick Wisdom took Matt Strahm deep to tie the game. After the Sox did nothing after the fourth inning, New York Yankee fans gladhanded each other saying the game was in the bag for Chicago. Too bad they didn't count on the Cubs being just as bad. Trevor Story hit a routine grounder to Rowan Wick in the top of the eleventh who threw the ball away allowing the go-ahead runs to score. Somehow Jake Diekman slammed the door in the bottom of the frame to give the Sox the 4-2 victory over the Cubs in 11 innings at Wrigley Field.

                                                      Talulah approves of the win

Keegan Thompson got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran flied out to left to start. Rafael Devers caught the Cubs asleep with a bunt single to short and Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. Alex Verdugo lined out to right and Christian Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Cubs wasted no time getting to Seabold in the bottom of the first as Rafael Ortega doubled to left and Wilson Contreras singled to center to score Rafael just like that. Ian Happ popped up to first, Patrick Wisdom popped up to second and Nico Hoerner flied out to left to end the inning with the Cubs up 1-0.

                                                                     Cubs take the lead

Rob Refsnyder lined out to center to start the top of the second but Franchy Cordero beat out a roller to third. Bobby Dalbec grounded into a double play to end the inning. PJ Higgins struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second but Alfonso Rivas walked. Nelson Velazquez singled in the hole at second to move Rivas to third but Christopher Morel struck out swinging. Ortega flied out to center to end the inning.

Christian Arroyo walked to start the top of the third but Duran flied out to center. Devers beat out a roller to third but Bogaerts banged into a double play to end the inning. Contreras struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third before Happ singled to center. Wisdom struck out swinging and Hoerner lined out to center to end the inning.

Somehow the Sox did something in the top of the fourth as Verdugo singled in the hole at third to start. Vazquez beat out a roller to third and both runners moved over on the wild pitch by Thompson. Refsnyder struck out swinging and Cordero hit a routine grounder to Rivas...UNDER HIS GLOVE! Verdugo scored on the play and shockingly Dalbec got a base hit to left to load the bases but Arroyo lined out to right. Somehow Duran walked home Vazquez to put Boston on top but Devers struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.

                                                     Dalbec drives in a run

Seabold returned for one final inning in the bottom of the fourth and Higgins ripped a base hit to center to start. Rivas singled to left but Velazquez banged into a double play. Morel walked but Ortega popped up to second to end the inning. Seabold threw 74 pitches but Sox manager Alex Cora felt that was enough as he allowed 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks in just 4 innings.

                                                                Seabold doesn't last long

Matt Swarmer came in to pitch the top of the fifth and Bogaerts lined out to first to start. Verdugo walked and Vazquez singled to right...but Refsnyder struck out swinging and Cordero grounded out to second to end the inning. Hiro Sawamura came in to pitch the  bottom of the first and Contreras struck out swinging to start. Happ went down hacking and Wisdom popped up to second to end the inning.

Dalbec struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth but Arroyo got a base hit to right to chase Swarmer. Brandon Hughes came in to pitch and Duran singled in the hole at short. Once again with two men on Devers struck out swinging and Bogaerts popped up to second to end the inning. Hoerner got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the sixth but Higgins hit into a double play. Rivas got a singled to right but Velazquez popped up to Arroyo to end the inning.

Verdugo lined out to first to start the top of the seventh and Scott Effross came in to face Vazquez. Christian flied out to left and Refsnyder struck out swinging to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr took over in right with John Schreiber now on the mound for the bottom of the seventh. Morel took a questionable full count strike three but Ortega was hit with a pitch. Contreras walked but was thrown out at second trying to steal. Old pal Cubs manager David Ross challenged the call but it was a clear out call. Only problem was Bogaerts was cleaned out on the play and had to leave the game with an injury. Trevor Story replaced him and Happ struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox can't afford to lose Bogaerts before their death march through the AL East.

                                                         Bogaerts takes a cleat to the leg

Cordero took strike three to start the top of the eighth before Dalbec took a straight fastball right down the middle for strike three. Arroyo got a base hit to left but Duran grounded out to second to end the inning. The lead evaporated in the bottom of the eighth with Matt Strahm on the mound as Wisdom hit a home run all the way to Phoenix, Arizona to tie the game. Higgins struck out swinging and Yan Gomes pinch hit for Rivas. Gomes grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                       Cubs tie it up

Daveid Bote came in for Gomes with Chris Martin now on the mound for the top of the ninth. Devers lined out to first, Story flied out to right and Verdugo struck out swinging to end the inning. Tanner Houck came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Velazquez struck out swinging to start. Morel flied out to right but Ortega drew a walk. Contreras grounded out to short to end the inning.

Rowan Wick came in to pitch the top of the tenth with Verdugo starting at second. Vazquez moved Alex to third with a grounder to second and JBJ drew a walk....but Cordero got Verdugo thrown out at home on a grounder to third. Dalbec took a straight fastball right down the middle for strike three to end the inning. Jake Diekman came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth with Contreras now on the mound and he started by plunking Happ. Wisdom and Hoerner both flied out to left and Higgins struck out swinging to end the inning,

The Sox broke through on pure stupidity in the top of the eleventh with Dalbec starting at second base. Arroyo walked to start but Duran struck out swinging. Devers flied out to center and Story hit a tapper in front of the plate...THROWN AWAY BY WICK! Arroyo and Dalbec both scored to put Boston ahead and Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning with Boston up 4-2.

                                                        Sox take the lead

Diekman returned to close out the bottom of the eleventh with Higgins starting at second base. Bote took strike three but Velazquez walked. Morel took a questionable full count strike three and Narciso Crook pinch hit for Ortega. Crook struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-2 in 11 innings.

                                                            Sox win

Hero of the Night is Jake Diekman. He earned the win by not allowing a single run in two straight innings with phantom runners on second.

                                                       Vazquez salutes our Hero

The Good:

Rafael Devers was 2 for 6.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Christian Arroyo was 2 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Connor Seabold tossed 4 innings and allowed just 1 run while striking out 4.

Hiro Sawamura tossed 2 scoreless innings.

John Schreiber pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Tanner Houck pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Trevor Story was 0 for 2.

Rob Refsnyder was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Matt Strahm allowed a run in the eighth inning.

The Ugly:

Jarren Duran was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but walked and drove in a run.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 but walked before leaving with injury.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.

Franchy Cordero was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Bobby Dalbec was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but scored a run.

Honorable Mention:

Jackie Bradley Jr played right field in the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

If this series was just a tune-up for their upcoming death march through the AL-East from now until July 24th, they failed big time. Dropping two out of three to the Cubs and needing to get lucky just to win the one game is not a good sign moving forward. Getting Chris Sale back healthy would help but losing Rich Hill for a month certainly doesn't. The Sox are going to have to rely on Seabold, Josh Winckowski or Kutter Crawford in Hill's absence. Even when they win it feels like a loss because they didn't deserve it. Strahm giving up the run in the eighth was also disconcerting considering Garrett Whitlock is out and who knows when he's coming back. Still, a win is a win and they all count no matter what happens. The win improved the Sox to 44-35, 1/2 game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays for the first wild card spot. The Sox begin their AL East gauntlet tomorrow afternoon at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. Michael Wacha goes for the Sox against old friend Jalen "Twin Beeks". The special July 4th matinee begins at 1:30 PM at Fenway Park.