Red Sox Annihilate Padres (8/23/19)

Where was this against Philadelphia. After scoring 4 runs in two games against the Phillies, the Boston Red Sox took their frustrations out on the San Diego Padres. The Sox pounded on starter Chris Paddack and kept the attack going the whole game. JD Martinez pounded not one but two 3 run home runs, Eduardo Rodriguez (15-5, 3.92 ERA) took one step closer to 20 wins with 7 shutout innings and the Sox routed the Padres 11-0 at Petco Park.

                                                 Dr. Strange approves of the win

Paddack got the ball in the top of the first inning and the Sox pounded him. Mr. Mookie Betts started the game with a double to center before Rafael Devers singled him to third. Xander Bogaerts popped up to first but JD Martinez clubbed his 29th home run of the season to put the Sox on top.  Andrew Benintendi popped up to third before Christian Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                      Martinez goes yard

Rodriguez got the ball and faced former Red Sox prospect Manuel Margot (traded for Craig Kimbrel) to begin the bottom of the first inning. Margot singled to center but Fransisco Mejia banged into a double play. Manny Machado grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox poured it on in the top of the second inning as Mitch Moreland walked to start. Brock "The Hitman" Holt singled to right before Rodriguez himself dropped down a bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Mr. Mookie hit a sac fly to left to score Moreland before Devers doubled home Holt. Bogaerts doubled home Devers to increase the lead before Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-0.

                                                     The Sox pour it on

Rodriguez punched out Hunter Renfroe to start the bottom of the second before Eric Hosmer singled. Wil Myers banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox threatened in the top of the third inning and Benintendi singled to center to begin. Vazquez flied out to center and that was it for Paddack. Robbie Erlin came in and Moreland singled but Holt took strike three. Rodriguez grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Ty France watched strike three go by to start the bottom of the third before Luis Urias grounded back to the mound. Erlin grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

The Sox got another run in the top of the fourth inning although Mr. Mookie flied out to right to begin. Devers singled, Bogaerts walked and Erlin uncorked a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position. Martinez scored Devers with a sac fly before Benintendi grounded out to second to end the inning with Boston ahead 7-0.

                                                   Devers starts the rally

Rodriguez got some help again in the bottom of the fourth when Margot singled to start. Mejia walked but Machado banged into a double play. Renfroe whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the fifth as Vazquez grounded out to third to start. Moreland grounded out to first and Holt hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Rodriguez cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Hosmer grounded out to second to start. Myers lined out to center and France grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox put the exclamation point on in the top of the sixth when Hosmer dropped a routine transfer throw on a grounder by Rodriguez to start. Mr. Mookie singled and both runners moved into scoring position on the Devers ground out. The Padres pulled off a double switch when Eric Yardley took over for Myers in left with Josh Naylor coming in to pitch. Bogaerts singled home Rodriguez and Martinez hit his second 3 run homer of the game to ice the game. Benintendi flied out to center to end the inning but it was 11-0 Sox.

                                                JD is on fire

Rodriguez froze Urias for strike three to begin the bottom of the sixth but Naylor singled. Margot whiffed and Mejia lined out to right to end the inning.

Greg Garcia took over for Machado in the top of the seventh and Moreland grounded out to second to start. Holt grounded out to second and E-Rod grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Rodriguez returned for one more inning in the bottom of the seventh. Garcia whiffed but Renfroe singled to left. Hosmer banged into a double play to end the inning. In one of E-Rod's best starts of the year, he allowed no runs in 7 innings with just 5 hits and a walk.

 

                                                  E-Rod gets it done

Mr. Mookie flied out to left to start the top of the eighth before Devers grounded out to second. Marco Hernandez pinch hit for Bogaerts and beat out an infield single to third. Martinez concluded his day with a base hit and Chris Owings ran for him. Benintendi whiffed to end the inning. Sam Travis took Vazquez' spot in the lineup but went to left field with Benintendi moving to center. Betts went from center to right with Owings at third, Sandy Leon now behind the plate, Hernandez at second and Holt at short as Josh Smith took over on the mound. Austin Hedges pinch hit for Yardley and whiffed before France flied out to left. Urias lined back to the mound to end the inning.

Michael Baez came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Travis grounded out to second to begin. Naylor dropped a pop up by Moreland for an error but Holt forced Mitch at second. Leon flied out to center to end the inning. Smith came back to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth and Naylor grounded out to second to start. Margot flied out to center but Hernandez booted a ground ball by Mejia. Garcia grounded into a force to end the game, the Sox had won it easily 11-0.

                                                     Hey look they won


Hero of the Night is JD Martinez. He struck not one but two three run home runs to pace the offensive attack. He had 7 total rbis on the night.

                                                      JD Hero



The Good:

Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Rafael Devers was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 3 runs scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.

Eduardo Rodriguez was outstanding, tossing 7 shutout innings while allowing just 5 hits and a walk. He also scored a run as a batter.

Josh Smith tossed 2 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Sam Travis was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Sandy Leon was 0 for 1 at the plate.



The Ugly:

Marco Hernandez got a hit as a pinch hitter but committed an error.

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5.

Mitch Moreand was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Brock Holt was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.



Honorable Mention:

Chris Owings ran for Martinez and played third base in the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Technically the Sox have won 2 games in a row but the sour feeling against Philadelphia isn't going away. The Sox are running out of time to go on a run to make the playoffs and they simply may not be talented enough to do it on the pitching side. Ironically Rodriguez is their ace and his ERA is damn near 4. As for this game, at least they won easy for once. Wish they could have had that same tenacity against the Phillies and they'd be in better shape than they are now. The win improved the Sox to 69-61, 6.5 games behind the Oakland A's for the second wild card spot. The Sox look to make it two in a row against San Diego when they send Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 6.69 ERA) to the mound against Dinelson Lamet of the Padres. The game begins at a 8:40 PM Eastern start time at Petco Park.

Yankees Pound Sale, Win Game 1 (8/3/19)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox activated Brian Johnson to be the extra arm in today's doubleheader with the New York Yankees. God help us.

                                                                         IN

As for the game, that's it..that's it for the Boston Red Sox. If Chris Sale (5-11, 4.68) can't beat the Yankees then the Red Sox should just cancel the rest of the season. The Yankees pounded the ineffective Sale for 8 runs before knocking him out in the fourth inning. Meanwhile Domingo German has come out of nowhere to put himself in a position to win 20 games this year by shutting down Boston by allowing just 2 runs in 7 innings. Things fell apart in the fourth inning when both Sox manager Alex Cora and Chris Sale got tossed thinking the Yankees were getting favorable calls. Calls or not, the Sox have now lost six games in a row and are fading fast after dropping Game 1 of the doubleheader to the Yankees 9-2 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                   "When will the Sox win a game?" - EP

German got the ball in the top of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts lined out to short to start. Rafael Devers got a base hit to center and moved to second on the Xander Bogaerts grounder to third, but Martinez took strike three to end the inning. The Yankees wasted no time getting to Sale as DJ LeMahieu hit the fifth pitch of the game all the way to the old Polo Grounds to put the Yankees up. Aaron Judge was plunked but Edwin Encarnacion struck out swinging. Gleyber Torres flied out to right and Gio Urshela lined out to second to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

                                                    LeMahieu starts the Yankees off

The Sox did fight back in the top of the second inning as Andrew Benintendi swatted his 12th home run of the season to tie the game. Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to second, Mitch Moreland struck out swinging and Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                         Benintendi ties it up

Sale came back to strike out Cameron Maybin swinging to start the bottom of the second, then Kyle Higashioka took strike three. Breyvic Valera lined out to right to end the inning.

Sandy Leon popped up to third to start the top of the third before Mr. Mookie flied out to center. Devers flied out to center as well to end the inning. Gardner struck out swinging to open the bottom of the third but LeMahieu got a base hit to left. Judge banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Bogaerts grounded out to short to start. Martinez and Benintendi stroked back to back base hits but Holt struck out swinging. Moreland struck out swinging to end the inning. The Yankees knocked out Sale in the bottom of the fourth as Encarnacion singled to right to start. Torres flied out to right but Urshela singled to center. Maybin popped up to second but Higashioka singled in the hole at third to load the bases. Sox manager Alex Cora stormed out of the dugout and started cursing out home plate umpire Mike Estabrook before he was ejected and escorted out by armed security.

                                    "I'VE HAD IT UP TO HEREEEE WITH YOU!" - Cora

After Cora left the floodgates opened as Gardner singled home Urshela and Higashioka and LeMahieu hit a home run all the way to Jupiter to ice the game. Judge hit a ground rule double down the left field line and Sale started barking at Estabrook as well. Sale got tossed and his day was over after getting charges for 8 runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Colten Brewer came in and Encarnacion singled home Judge to close the book on Sale. Torres flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 8-1.

                                               "Estabrook you SUCK!" - Sale

The Sox did try to come back in the top of the fifth as JBJ clocked his 12th home run of the season to cut the lead, but Leon flied out to center. Mr. Mookie took strike three and Devers grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 8-2.

                                                             JBJ hits one out

Josh A Smith came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Urshela hit a ground rule double to center to start. Maybin popped up to short, Higashioka grounded out to shrot and Valera flied out to center to end the inning.

The Sox offense was done for the game in the top of the sixth as Bogaerts flied out to right, JD Martinez whiffed and Benintendi went down hacking to end the inning. The Yankees wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Gardner singled to right to begin. Gardner swiped second and moved to third on the LeMahieu fly out to center but Judge went down swinging. Encarnacion singled to left to score Gardner but Torres grounded out to second to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 9-2.

                                                   Encarnacion drives in a run

Holt grounded out to first to start the top of the seventh before Moreland popped up to second. JBJ grounded out to short to end the inning. Sam Travis, Marco Hernandez and Michael Chavis took over for Bogaerts, Betts and Devers in the bottom of the seventh. Urshela struck out swinging, Maybin popped up to short and Higashioka flied out to center to end the inning.

Mike Tauchman took over for Judge and Jonathan Holder came in for the top of the eighth. Leon struck out swinging, Hernandez flied out to left and Chavis struck out swinging to end the inning. The Yankees got some back luck in the bottom of the eighth although Valera flied out to center to start. Gardner singled to right but LeMahieu lined out to right. Tauchman walked but Encarnacion got his wrist broken on an HBP by Smith to load the bases. Torres grounded out to short to end the inning.

                                                             Ow

The Sox went quietly in the top of the ninth as Travis flied out to center to start. Martinez struck out swinging and Benintendi grounded out to short to end the game. The Yankees had won it 9-2.

                                                       Yankees Win

Jackass of the Night is Chris Sale. He got rocked for 8 runs in just 3 2/3 innings before he was ejected.

                                                       "What chu lookin at?" - Jackass Sale

The Good:

Rafael Devers was 1 for 3.

Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a solo home run.

The Bad:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Marco Hernandez was 0 for 1.

Michael Chavis struck out in his only plate appearance.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3.

Sam Travis was 0 for 1.

Brock Holt was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Josh Smith allowed just a run in 4 innings pitched.

The Ugly:

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Colten Brewer allowed an inherited runner to score in 1/3 of an inning.

Final Thoughts:

The Sox are frustrated, angry and things are spiraling down the drain. Sale just doesn't have it this year although Estabrook's random strike zone sure didn't help. Cora blowing his top was good to see in terms of emotion but the offense has been a joke for the past week. Its become very apparent once this team is down, they stay down. Even though they're down by 4 or 5 runs before they can blink, once they go to the seventh inning trailing, its game over. After Dombrowski left them to rot, maybe quitting on the season is sending a message to get him gone. There's still time to turn the ship but they'd have to make a stand in Game 2 and tomorrow with David Price on the mound. This is looking exactly like last August only with the roles reversed. The loss dropped the Sox to 59-53, 12.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox have no time to regret because Game 2 begins shortly. Brian Johnson gets the spot-start for the Sox against Chad Green of the Yankees in a bullpen game. Game 2 begins at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Jays Down Lifeless Sox (6/23/19)

Guess that winning streak was fool's gold and the real 2019 Boston Red Sox are back. After a tough loss yesterday to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Sox didn't even try against the Jays in today's game. "Slick" Rick Porcello (5-7, 4.52 ERA) got lit up for 5 runs in 6 innings of work. Josh Smith allowed a run of his own during the final innings and the Jays pounded out 10 total hits. The Sox offense went to sleep and was shutout for 6 innings by Marcus Stroman. The Sox barely scratched out a run in the ninth inning but the Jays cruised to an easy 6-1 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                              Sad Jerry

Porcello got the ball in the top of the first inning and Eric Sogard grounded out to short to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr grounded out to second but Lourdes Gurriel Jr singled to left. Cavan Biggio struck out swinging to end the inning. Stroman cruised in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center to start. Andrew Benintendi grounded out to short and Xander Bogaerts popped up to short to end the inning.

The Jays struck first in the top of the second as Freddy Galvis tried to bunt his way on but was snuffed out by Christian Vazquez. Randal Grichuk grounded out to short but Rowdy "Roddy" Tellez hit a ground rule double down the right field line. Brandon Drury singled him home to give the Jays the lead. Danny Jansen grounded into a force to end the inning with the Jays ahead 1-0.

                                                   Gonna be a long day, Rick

The Sox blew their only chance to get in the game in the bottom of the second although JD Martinez flied out to right to start. Brock "The Hitman" Holt singled to center and Christian Vazquez got a base hit to left. Jackie Bradley Jr singled to left and Holt tried for home. Gurriel Jr came up throwing and....YOU'RE OUT! Holt was out at home and Chavis grounded out to second to end the inning. What a waste!

                                                  YERRR OUT!

Naturally the Jays got another run in the top of the third although Sogard lined out to center to start. Guerrero Jr lined out to center as well but Gurriel Jr singled to center. Biggio doubled over the head of Bradley to score Gurriel Jr with another run. Galvis walked but Grichuk grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Jays up 2-0.

                                                  Bradley can't do it all himself

The Sox blew another rally in the bottom of the third as Marco Hernandez whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie singled to right and Benintendi walked, but Bogaerts could only move the runners over with a ground out. Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning.

All of a sudden Brock Holt keeled over in the dugout grabbing his leg and had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Addison Gilbert's ICU. Eduardo Nunez took over for Holt as Tellez began the top of the fourth with a base hit to center. Drury lined out to third and Jansen banged into a double play to end the inning. Nunez popped up to second to start the bottom of the fourth but Vazquez took strike three. JBJ also watched strike three go by to end the inning.

Porcello cruised in the top of the fifth as Sogard lined out to second to start. Guerrero Jr grounded back to the mound and Gurriel Jr lined out to left to end the inning. Chavis struck out swinging to open the bottom of the fifth before Hernandez grounded back to the mound. Mr. Mookie grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Jays iced the game in the top of the sixth as Biggio walked to start. Galvis hit a ground rule double down the right field line and Porcello balked home Biggio. moving Freddy to third. Grichuk grounded out to second and Tellez was intentionally walked. The gamble backfired as Drury walked and Jansen singled home Galvis and Tellez to ice the game. Sogard flied out to left and Guerrero Jr whiffed to end the inning with the Jays ahead 5-0. That was it for Porcello who allowed 5 runs in 6 innings of work, another stinker.

                                              Porcello can't get it done

Benintendi singled to center to start the bottom of the sixth but Bogaerts popped up to second. Martinez took strike three but a wild pitch moved Andrew to second. Nunez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Josh A Smith came out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh and Gurriel Jr doubled to left to begin. Gurriel Jr moved to third on the Biggio fly out to right but Galvis walked. Grichuk whiffed and Tellez grounded out to first to end the inning. Tim Mayza replaced Stroman for the bottom of the seventh and Vazquez whiffed to start. JBJ was plunked but Chavis whiffed. Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning.

Smith got tagged in the top of the eighth as Drury took strike three to start. Jansen grounded out to third but Sogard hit a home run all the way to LaGuardia Airport to increase the lead. Guerrero Jr took strike three to end the inning with the Jays up 6-0.

                                                Sogard go yard

David Phelps came in for the bottom of the eighth and Mr. Mookie got a hit to center to start. Benintendi popped up to third. Bogaerts flied out to right and Martinez grounded out to first to end the inning.

Smith returned for the top of the ninth and Gurriel Jr popped up to first to start. Biggio lined out to right and Galvis took strike three to end the inning. Smith wasn't perfect but his 3 innings saved the bullpen for better days. Joe Biagini took over for the bottom of the ninth with Teoscar Hernandez taking Tellez' spot in the lineup but in center. Nunez doubled to center but Vazquez whiffed. JBJ hit a routine grounder to Biagini who booted it to score Nunez. Chavis earned the hat trick with another swinging strikeout and Hernandez grounded out to second to end the game. The Jays had won it 6-1.

                                                           Jays win

Jackass of the Night is Rick Porcello. He took the loss by allowing 5 runs in 6 innings of work. Not what the Sox needed at all.

                                                Lonely Jackass

The Good:

Mookie Betts was 2 for 4.

Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Brock Holt was 1 for 1 before leaving the game.

Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch.

The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Marco Hernandez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Josh Smith tossed 3 innings and allowed a run.

Final Thoughts:

So much for that winning streak the Sox had. They had gotten to within 5 games of the New York Yankees to give the fans hope that things were turning around. Nope! Back to 8 games and mediocre baseball again. Porcello got lit up again but just like 2017, he could have given up 2 runs and still would have lost. Can't win games without run support, ask any pitcher ever. Martinez and Bogaerts going 0 for was the biggest culprit but they've been hitting so well lately, they were bound to have an off-day. Losing Holt to an injured leg hurt and hopefully he's not out for too long. As mentioned earlier, kudos to Josh Smith for eating 3 crucial innings to save the bullpen for later days. Unless Dave Dombrowski wakes up to make a trade for a starter, the bullpen is going to have to throw a lot of innings this season. As for this game, the less said of this disaster the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 42-37, 8 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now welcome the Chicago White Sox for a three game set before they shuffle off to London to play the Yankees. Eduardo Rodriguez (8-4, 4.71 ERA) goes for the Red Sox up against Lucas Giolito of the White Sox. The first game of the series begins tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Rays Pound Sox in Game 1 (6/8/19)

Before today's doubleheader it was announced Mitch Moreland reinjured his right quad and was placed back on the injured list. Marco Hernandez was called up from Pawtucket to take Mitch's place on the roster. Josh A Smith was also called up just to start Game 1.

                                                                OUT

                                                                       IN

As for the game, what an unmitigated disaster. The Tampa Bay Rays chewed up the Red Sox and spat them out in Game 1 of today's doubleheader. Josh A Smith (0-2, 6.35 ERA) got hammered for 4 runs in just 4 innings to take the loss. The Sox made it a three run game in the bottom of the eighth before the Rays iced it with 4 runs off reliever Josh Taylor. The Rays send the Sox further behind in the AL East race with a 9-2 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                          Sox fans share the same sentiment

Austin Meadows singled to center and swiped second to open the top of the first. Tommy Pham took strike three, Brandon Lowe flied out to right and Avisail Garcia whiffed to end the inning. Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough dominated the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to right to start. Michael Chavis whiffed and Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Rays pounced in the top of the second as Ji-Man Choi singled to right to start. Yandy Diaz flied out to right and Kevin Kiermaier lined out to right, but Wily Adames walked and Travis d'Arnaud smashed a home run all the way to Lake Eerie to ice the game early. Meadows singled to center, Pham was plunked and Lowe singled to right. Meadows scored but Pham was thrown out at third in a rundown to end the inning with the Rays up 4-0.

                                                        Rays strike first

The Sox did try to fight back in the bottom of the second although Rafael Devers grounded out to second to start. Christian Vazquez singled to center and Lowe booted a grounder by Eduardo Nunez for an error. Sam Travis got a base hit to center to score Vazquez. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to right and Sandy Leon whiffed to end the inning with the Sox down 1-0.

                                                        Travis drives in a run

Smith settled down in the top of the third inning as Garcia lined out to left to start. Choi whiffed but Diaz singled to center. Diaz tried to stretch a double but JBJ gunned him down to end the inning...but wait! Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call but it was upheld, inning over.

                                                          YERRR OUT!

Guillermo Heredia took over for Pham for the bottom of the third as Mr. Mookie grounded out to second to start. Chavis whiffed and Bogaerts took strike three to end the inning.

Kiermaier flied out to left to start the top of the fourth but Adames singled. Adames tried for second but was thrown out by Betts. d'Arnaud grounded out to short to end the inning. Smith lasted just 4 innings and allowed 4 runs, not good.

                                                      Not good enough

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Devers lined out to center to start. Vazquez whiffed and Nunez flied out to left to end the inning.

Colten Brewer came in for the top of the fifth and the Rays tagged him. Meadows and Heredia drew back to back walks before Lowe hit a routine grounder to Chavis who spiked the ball like a football and swam on it for an error to load the bases. Garcia whiffed but the ball got away from Vazquez and Meadows scored a run. Choi walked to load the bases but Diaz banged into a double play to end the inning with the Rays ahead 5-1.

                                                    "I CAUGHT THE BALL?" - RD

Travis grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth before JBJ grounded back to the mound. Leon took strike three to end the inning.

Mike Shawaryn came in for top of the sixth and Kiermaier whiffed to start. Adames lined out to right and d'Arnaud took strike three to end the inning. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to start the bottom of the sixth but Chavis dumoed a base hit to right. Bogaerts banged into a double play to end the inning.

Meadows flied out to right to start the top of the seventh but both Heredia and Lowe got plunked. Garcia flied out to right and Choi whiffed to end the inning. Devers reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh but Vazquez whiffed and Nunez hit into a double play to end the inning.

Ryan Brasier cruised in the top of the eighth as Diaz popped up to first to start. Kiemaier lined out to left and Adames grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox fought back in the bottom of the eighth although Travis grounded out to third to start. Somehow JBJ cracked his 5th home run of the season to cut the lead. Leon grounded out to first and that was it for Yarbrough who tossed 7 2/3 innings of 2 run ball. Emilio Pagan got Mr. Mookie to pop up to second to end the inning but the Sox were down 5-2.

                                                    JBJ hits one out

Just as soon as the Sox got within three, Josh Taylor got creamed in the top of the ninth. d'Arnaud singled to left but Meadows whiffed. Heredia singled d'Arnaud to third and Lowe caught the Sox asleep with a drag bunt single to score d'Arnaud. Garcia forced Lowe at second and Choi singled home Heredia. Diaz singled home Garcia and Kiermaier singled home Choi to ice it. Adames took strike three to end the inning but the Rays had wrapped it up 9-2.

                                                        Rays pour it on

Casey Sadler came in for the bottom of the ninth and Chavis got a base hit to left to start. Marco Hernandez made his season debut by pinch hitting for Bogaerts, getting a double to right. The rally ended as Devers grounded back to the mound, Vazquez flied out to left and Nunez whiffed to end the game. The Rays had won it 9-2.

                                                   Rays win


Jackass of the Night is Josh Taylor. Not that the Sox were touching Yarbrough but he turned a 5-2 game into 9-2 in the blink of an eye.

                                                   Taylor Jackass


The Good:

Michael Chavis was 2 for 4.

Marco Hernandez got a hit as a pinch hitter.

Sam Travis was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a solo home run.

Mike Shawaryn pitched 2 scoreless innings.

Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning.



The Bad:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 4.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4.

Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Sandy Leon was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Josh Smith allowed 4 runs in 4 innings of work.

Colten Brewer allowed a run in an inning of work.



The Ugly:

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

That sucked big time. You knew Josh Smith was gonna crap the bed but you would think the offense would have picked him up. Nope, Ryan Yarbrough had his way with the Sox for 7 innings. The good news we probably never have to see Smith again but the bad news was this was a loss the Sox can ill-afford with the New York Yankees beginning to pull away and the Rays showing they're just as good as New York is. The Sox need to get their act together and hopefully they can bounce back in game two. This game was an unmitigated disaster and it just kept getting worse with each and every passing second. The loss dropped the Sox to 33-31, 7 games behind the Rays in the AL East. Tonight the Sox look to take Game 2 when David Price (3-2) goes for the Sox up against Ryan Stanek at 6:10 PM at Fenway Park.

    

Astros Pound Sox (5/18/19)

The Houston Astros have won 10 straight games and have completely humiliated the Boston Red Sox in the process. The red hot Astros tore apart Boston starter Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez (1-3, 5.53 ERA) for 5 runs before adding two more runs off the incompetent Red Sox bullpen. The Sox offense tried to come back but once again they trailed by too many. When it was over the Sox were handed yet another loss and the Astros won their 10th straight with a 7-3 victory at Fenway Park.

The destruction began in the top of the first inning when Springer effortlessly tripled to begin the game. Alex Bregman walked and Michael Brantley ended the game early with a double that scored Springer to put the Astros up for good 3 batters into the game. Carlos Correa walked and Josh Reddick hit a sacrifice fly to score Bregman. Yuli Gurriel singled and Sox manager had seen enough of Velazquez. The incompetent starter got just one guy out and would be charged with 5 runs, yuck. Colten Brewer came in and poured gas on the fire as Tyler White doubled home both runners to ice the game. Max Strassi grounded out to third and Jake Marisnick whiffed to end the inning but it was 5-0 Astros.

                             "Gimmie that ball...and..AND GET OUTTA HERE!" - Cora

The Sox tried to answer in the bottom of the first against Astros starter Corbin Martin although Andrew Benintendi lined out to center to start. Mr. Mookie Betts popped up to first before JD Martinez, Mitch Moreland and Xander Bogaerts all walked to load the bases. A passed ball by Strassi scored Martinez but Rafael Devers flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox down 5-1.

The Astros got another run in the top of the second although Springer flied out to center to start. Bregman doubled and Brantley singled him to third before Correa scored him with a sac fly to increase the lead. Reddick grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 6-1 Astros.

                                                   Brewer gives up a run

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as Michael Chavis grounded out to short to start. Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr both grounded out to second to end the inning.

Gurriel walked and a wild pitch moved him to second to begin the top of the third but White grounded out to short. Strassi grounded out to second before Strassi whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third although Benintendi popped up to third to start. Mr. Mookie walked but Martinez flied out to right. Moreland doubled home Betts to cut the lead. Bogaerts grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.

                                                          Moreland drives in a run

Ryan Weber came in to pitch the top of the fourth and grounded out to third to start. Bregman walked before moving to second on the Brantley grounder. Correa grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Devers grounded out to third to begin. Chavis singled but was foolishly thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. That was a big out as Vazquez smashed his 6th home run of the season to cut the lead in half. JBJ flied out to center to end the inning but it was 6-3 Red Sox.

                                                        Vazquez goes yard

As soon as the Sox inched closer the Astros got the run right back in the top of the fifth inning. Reddick crushed a 950 foot home run off Weber to ice the game. Gurriel looked at strike three before White hit a routine grounder to Bogaerts. Bogaerts threw his glove at the ball and barked at it for an error before Strassi and Marisnick singled to load the bases. White was forced at home on the grounder by Springer and Bregman grounded into a force to end the inning with the Astros ahead 7-3.

                                                     Damn Reddick

The Sox had a chance in the bottom of the fifth inning when Andrew Benintendi and Mr. Mookie stroked back to back singles. The rally ended when Josh James relieved Martin and got Martinez to fly out to center although Benintendi took third. Mr. Mookie swiped second and Moreland walked to load the bases. Bogaerts whiffed and Devers grounded out to third to end the inning, what a waste.

Brantley grounded out to third to start the top of the sixth inning but Correa beat out a little roller to the mound. Reddick lined out to left and Gurriel flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the sixth as Chavis flied out to right to start. Vazquez grounded out to third and JBJ popped up to third to end the inning.

Tyler Thornburg made a mad dash from the bullpen to the mound in the top of the seventh inning and White immediately singled. Stassi walked but Marisnick beat out a double play ball. Springer walked to load the bases and Bregman hit a fly ball to JBJ. White went for home and JBJ fired....YER OUTTA THERE! White was out and Thornburg sprinted into the dugout. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the seventh as Benintendi flied out to center to begin. Mr. Mookie took strike three before Martinez grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Brantley singled to start the top of the eighth but Correa banged into a double play. Reddick flied out to left to end the inning. Will Harris came in for the bottom of the eighth and Moreland grounded out to first to start. Bogaerts flied out to center and Devers whiffed to end the inning.

Josh Smith had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Gurriel grounded out to short to start. White lined out to center but Strassi singled. Marisnick watched strike three go by to end the inning. Astros closer Roberto Osuna had the bottom of the ninth and Chavis lined out to center to start. Vazquez grounded out to third and JBJ grounded out to first to end the game. The Astros had won it 7-3.

                                                        Damn it


Jackass of the Night is Hector Velazquez. He got hammered for 5 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.

                                                     Jackass Velazquez


The Good:

Mookie Betts was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Tyler Thornburg tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Josh Smith pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Bad:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4.

Colten Brewer allowed two inherited runners to score and one of his own in 2 2/3 innings.



The Ugly:

Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error but walked.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run.

Ryan Weber gave up a run in 3 innings of work.




Final Thoughts:

Thanks a lot Dave Dombrowski. His refusal to get pitching help after the departures of Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel has led the Sox to this point. They're throwing out 5th starters that suck and the bullpen is overworked already and its only May. The bullpen had to toss 7 2/3 innings and admirably only allowed 2 runs. The offense is at fault too because they had plenty of chances to bop their way back into the game but failed almost every time. It would be nice to score more than 3 runs in a game wouldn't it? The less said of this disaster the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 23-22, 5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to avoid a sweep with Chris Sale on the mound opposite old friend Wade Miley at 2 PM at Fenway Park.

Villar Slams Sox, Price Hurt (5/6/19)

As if the Boston Red Sox needed anymore bad news on the injury front, they got it. David Price has been placed on the 10 day Injured list with elbow tendinitis. Price himself says he won't be out long and its nothing serious compared to the injuries he went through in 2017 but it still comes at a bad time. The Sox had finally shown some life over the last week that they were turning a corner but losing their only reliable starter since the beginning doesn't help. 28 year old journeyman Ryan Weber was called up to take Price's spot on the roster.

                                                                          OUT

                                                                           OUT

The bad news was the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of their second round NBA playoff series but the Boston Bruins eliminated the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 of their second round NHL playoff series. As for the baseball game, Price's absence weighs heavy now that the Sox are down two starters. Tonight's emergency starter Josh Smith (0-1, 8.31 ERA) served up a second inning grand slam while the offense was shut down by the immortal John Means. Means tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball as the Sox bats amassed just 1 run on THREE hits. All the good work the Sox did over the weekend evaporated as the Orioles beat the Sox 4-1 at Camden Yards.

                                                    "DAMN YOU OFFENSE!!!"

Means began his dominance in the top of the first inning as Mr. Mookie Betts flied out to center to start. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short before JD Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Josh Smith began his first start in 3 years by giving up a home run to Jonathan Villar....but wait! Martinez was interfered with by a fan and the umpires reversed the call to out on fan interference.  Trey Mancini walked but Dwight Smith Jr whiffed. Reynato Nunez popped up to second to end the inning.

Nothing doing in the top of the second as Michael Chavis grounded out to first to begin. Rafael Devers grounded out to short but Christian Vazquez singled. Steve Pearce grounded out to first to end the inning. The O's took the lead for good in the bottom of the second as Rio Ruiz singled to center to begin. Steve Wilkerson singled and Chris Davis walked to load the bases. Somehow Smith froze Pedro Severino for strike three before whiffing Richie Martin. Unfortunately Villar croaked the first curveball he saw 500,000 feet for a grand slam to ice the game. Mancini flied out to right to end the inning but it was all over, 4-0.

                                                     This sucks

Eduardo Nunez tried to start a rally in the top of the third inning with a base hit to left but Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to left. Nunez was erased on the force by Mr. Mookie before Bogaerts grounded into a force to end the inning. Smith bounced back in the bottom of the third inning as Smith Jr lined out to left to start. Nunez popped up to third and Ruiz grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fourth inning as Martinez grounded out to short to start. Chavis grounded back to the mound and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning. The O's looked to rally when Wilkerson singled to start the bottom of the fourth. Davis singled to right and JBJ had to make an amazing catch to rob Severino of a triple. That was it for Smith who made one bad pitch in an emergency start to trail 4-0 in just 3 1/3 innings.

                                              Nathan Eovaldi he is not

Heath Hembree came in and got Martin to pop up to first and Betts had to make a running grab on a Villar liner to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth when Vazquez stroked a leadoff double. Pearce flied out to right and Vazquez moved to third before he scored on the Nunez sac fly. JBJ whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were on the board 4-1.

                                                             Herculean Sac Fly

Ryan Weber was called up earlier today and now he was on in relief in the bottom of the fifth. Mancini grounded out to short before Smith Jr flied out to center. Nunez looked at strike three to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Mr. Mookie lined out to right to start. Bogaerts whiffed before Martinez flied out to center to end the inning. Weber cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Ruiz lined out to second to start. Wilkerson and Davis both froze for strike three to end the inning.

Means cruised in the top of the seventh as Chavis grounded out to short to start. Devers whiffed before Vazquez grounded out to short to end the inning. The O's looked to add to the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Severino doubled and was sacrificed to third by Martin. Weber somehow whiffed Villar and Mancini grounded out to third to end the inning.

Paul Fry came in for the O's in the top of the eighth inning and Pearce grounded out to short to start. Nunez reached on an error by Ruiz and advanced to second on a JBJ grounder. Mychal Givens came in to punch out Mr. Mookie to end the inning. Weber escaped a big jam in the bottom of the eighth as Smith Jr grounded out to second to begin. Nunez and Ruiz singled to put runners at the corners, but Pearce made a great play to cut down Nunez at the plate on a grounder by Wilkerson. Davis was plunked to load the bases but Severino popped up to short to end the inning. Hard to believe one swing of the bat by Villar was the difference in the game but the pitching of Weber kept them in the game.

                                                   YERRRR OUT!

Joey Rickard took over for Mancini for the top of the ninth as the Sox went quietly. Bogaerts grounded out to third, Martinez lined out to center and Chavis whiffed to end the game. The Sox amassed just 3 hits and all the good work they did the past week flushed down the toilet with a 4-1 loss.

Jackass of the Night is Josh Smith. He gave up the grand slam and lasted just 3 1/3 innings.

                                                     Dammit Smith



The Good:

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 2 with an rbi.

Heath Hembree retired the only two men he faced.

Ryan Weber tossed four scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Mookie Betts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Michael Chavis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Steve Pearce was 0 for 3.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

None.




Final Thoughts:

Talk about getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. After coming off beating up the Oakland A's and Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox are limping into Baltimore down Eovaldi and Price. Not only that but John Means pitched the game of his life and it all added up to a big night of bawful. The offense that feasted on the White Sox managed just 3 hits and a single run against Baltimore in total domination by the Orioles. What's worse is the Sox have to use another spot starter tomorrow against the Birds. The loss dropped the Sox to 17-19, 6 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look bounce back tomorrow night against the Orioles when Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez (0-2, 3.72 ERA) takes on David Hess at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards