Astros Blank Sox, Win Pennant (10/22/21)

As expected, the 2021 season has come to an end for the Boston Red Sox in emphatic fashion. The Houston Astros held the Red Sox to 3 runs in the last 3 games including none tonight in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Luis Garcia Jr tossed 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball while the red hot Houston bullpen didn't allow a run the rest of the way. Meanwhile Red Sox manager Alex Cora fufilled his own prophecy when he yanked Nathan Eovaldi in the fifth inning only down 1-0. The Astros got a run against Josh Taylor & Tanner Houck in the sixth and Kyle Tucker hit the exclamation point with a three run home run off Adam Ottavino. Ryan Pessly slammed the door in the ninth and the Astros won the American League Pennant with their 5-0 victory in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park.

                                                         Astros win the pennant

Garcia Jr got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kyle Schwarber swung and missed for strike three but took first on a passed ball. Kike Hernandez grounded out to second to move Schwarber to second and Kyle moved to third on the fly ball to center by Rafael Devers. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to end the inning. The Astros wasted no time getting to Eovaldi in the bottom of the first although Jose Altruve grounded out to second to start. Michael Brantley popped up to second before Alex Bregman poked a base hit to left. Yordan Alvarez hit a fly ball that Alex Verdugo slid and missed for a double to score Bregman. Carlos Correa flied out to left to end the inning but the game was over already with the Sox down 1-0.

                                                         Alvarez gets it done

JD Martinez struck out swinging to start the top of the second and Verdugo walked. Christian Arroyo and Hunter Renfroe both popped up to Altuve to end the inning. Eovaldi recovered in the bottom of the second as Kyle Tucker grounded out to short to start. Yuli Gurriel flied out to center and Verdugo made a diving catch to rob Chas McCormick of a double to end the inning.

Kevin Plawecki grounded out to third to begin the top of the third before Schwarber struck out swinging. Hernandez flied out to center to end the inning. Martin Maldonado grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third before Altuve flied out to center. Brantley flied out to right to end the inning.

Devers popped up to short to start the top of the fourth and Bogaerts grounded out to third. Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Astros threatened in the bottom of the fourth as Bregman got a base hit to right to start. Alvarez doubled to left but Correa struck out swinging. Tucker struck out swinging but Gurriel was intentionally walked. McCormick struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox failed to pick up Eovaldi in the top of the fifth as Verdugo lined out to third to start. Arroyo and Renfroe both struck out swinging to end the inning. Maldonado got a base hit to left to start the bottom of the fifth but Altuve struck out swinging. All of a sudden Sox manager Alex Cora came to take the ball from Eovaldi. In a do or die game, he pulled his starter after 13 outs. Eovaldi allowed just 1 run in 4 1/3 innings off 5 hits and a walk. Josh Taylor came in and Brantley forced Maldonado at second before Bregman forced Brantley at second to end the inning.

                                                       Bye bye Eovaldi

Danny Santana pinch hit for Plawecki to start the top of the sixth and struck out swinging. Schwarber flied out to left but Hernandez hit a triple off the top of the left field wall to chase Garcia Jr. Phil Maton came in to pitch to Devers and Rafael popped up to Corea to end the inning. The Astros struck again in the bottom of the sixth with Christian Vazquez behind the plate as Alvarez tripled into the right field corner to start. Sox manager Alex Cora panicked and brought in Tanner Houck to pitch to Correa and he plunked him. Tucker grounded into a double play but Alvarez scored to ice the game. Gurriel grounded out to second to end the inning with the Astros up 2-0.

                                                          ALCS MVP Alvarez

Kendall Graveman came in to pitch the top of the seventh as Bogaerts took strike three to start. Martinez walked and Verdugo got a base hit to right. Once again Sox manager Alex Cora panicked by bringing in Travis Shaw to pinch hit for Arroyo. Shaw struck out swinging and Verdugo was gunned down at second trying to steal to end the inning. The crowd exploded and it was very clear the Red Sox were done. McCormick lined out to short to start the bottom of the seventh before Maldonado struck out swinging. Altuve flied out to center to end the inning.

Defying all logic, Cora pinch hit Bobby Dalbec for Renfroe to start the top of the eighth with Ryan Stanek on the mound and he flied out to center to start. Vazquez popped up to first and Schwarber popped up to short to end the inning. The Sox had just two hits in a do or die situation, pathetic. The Astros got the exclamation point in the bottom of the eighth as Brantley got a base hit to center but Bregman popped up to first. Alvarez got a base hit to center meaning he had more hits by himself than the entire Sox team. Like everything else, Alex Cora made the wrong decision by bringing in Adam Ottavino to pitch. Correa forced Brantley at third but Tucker clobbered a three run homer to effectively end the series. Gurriel got a base hit to left and stole second, but McCormick flied out to right to end the inning with the Astros up 5-0.

                                                             That'll do it

Ryan Pressly came in to close out the top of the ninth and Hernandez flied out to center to start. Devers struck out swinging and Bogaerts flied out to left to end the game. The Astros had won the AL pennant with a 5-0 win.

                                                            Congrats to the Astros

Jackass of The Night should be Alex Cora for his AWFUL managing decisions but I'll go with Adam Ottavino. Not that the Sox bats were going to do much, but he turned a 2-0 game into 5-0 with one home run.

                                                                 Jackass Ottavino

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 1 for 2 with a walk.

The Bad:

Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Christian Arroyo was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Travis Shaw struck out as a pinch hitter.

Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 1.

Danny Santana struck out as a pinch hitter

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 1.

Josh Taylor allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning.

Tanner Houck was charged with 2 runs in 2 innings.

The Ugly:

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4.

JD Martinez was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Nathan Eovaldi took the loss after allowing just 1 run in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out four.

Final Thoughts:

What a way for the season to end. I suppose its less heartbreaking to be utterly dominated in three straight games than to lose a backbreaking Game 7 like in 2003. The Red Sox as a TEAM had 7 hits in the last two games and ALCS MVP Yordan Alvarez had 7 by himself. The pitching ran out of gas and now its clear to see why. Finally, FINALLY Alex Cora pulling the starters early all season long came back to haunt them. The bullpen had nothing left and it showed in the last few games. Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Josh Taylor, etc had been used all season and it caught up to them. The bats totally evaporated in the final three games and they scored exactly 1 run after Bogaerts' home run off Zack Greinke in Game 4. The Astros earned this win big time, they wanted it more. So now the question becomes, how do they come back from this? Its clear they need another stud pitcher to go with Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi because Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck and Martin Perez aren't going to get it done. The offense needs to find a way to keep Kyle Schwarber because he injected a lot of life into the team and sign Xander Bogaerts to an extension. The Sox had a hell of a bounce back season after finishing in last place in 2020 and have prospects for the future. To go from a laughingstock to two wins away from the world series is quite the turnaround. Hopefully 2022 will be a better end result with some good moves here and there. The only thing the Sox need to take a look at is Alex Cora's managerial style. What he did all season and in the playoffs CANNOT happen again, especially if they're in the exact same position next year. Here's to 2022 and goodbye to 2021.

Sox Drop Frustrating Game 4 Late (10/19/21)

It took 9 games into the post-season but Alex Cora's reliance on analytics FINALLY bit the Boston Red Sox big time in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first inning thanks to a Xander Bogaerts home run and Nick Pivetta cruised, holding the Astros to just the one run in 5 innings. Sox manager Alex Cora inexplicably pulled Pivetta after just 65 pitches and three innings later, Jose Altuve made Cora pay with a game tying home run off Garett "The Lock" Whitlock. In the ninth inning Cora insanely put Nathan Eovaldi on 1 day's rest in the game and the Astros pounced on him and later Martin Perez for SEVEN runs. If that wasn't bad enough, the Sox knocked Astros starter Zack Greinke out in the second inning only for the Astros bullpen to throw 7 2/3 scoreless innings while giving up just three hits. It all added up to a maddening, never should have happened 9-2 defeat in Game 4 at Fenway Park.

                                                                   Tie series

The Astros set the tone against Pivetta in the top of the first although Jose Altuve popped up to left to start. Michael Brantley swung and missed at a strike three fastball up in his eyes but Alex Bregman hit a home run all the way to Sri Lanka to put the Astros up three batters into the game. Yordan Alvarez popped up to a running Christian Arroyo to end the inning but the Astros drew first blood and led 1-0.

                                                                 Bregman with a home run

The Sox of the first as Kyle Schwarber popped up to center to start. Kike Hernandez grounded out to short but Rafael Devers walked. Xander Bogaerts then blasted a two run home run completely out of Fenway to put the Sox on top. Alex Verdugo hit a routine grounder to third but Bregman's throw pulled the first basemen off the bag for an error. JD Martinez walked but Renfroe hit a bullet right to Bregman who flipped to second for the out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.

                                                         Bogaerts puts Boston on top

Pivetta got in trouble in the top of the second although Carlos Correa grounded out to short to start. Kyle Tucker struck out swinging but Devers threw a grounder by Yuli Gurriel away for an error. Chas McCormick walked and a wild pitch moved both runners over but Martin Maldonado flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the second as Christian Vazquez walked to start. Vazquez moved to second on the grounder to first by Christian Arroyo and that was it for Grienke after just 1 1/3 innings. Brooks Raley came in to pitch and walked Schwarber but Hernandez struck out swinging. Devers flied out to right to end the inning, what a waste.

Pivetta cruised in the top of the third as Altuve popped up to third to start. Brantley grounded out to second and Bregman flied out to left to end the inning. Cristian Javier came in to pitch the bottom of the third and Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Verdugo walked and stole second on the Martinez swinging strikeout but the ice cold Renfroe struck out swinging to end the inning. 

Alvarez walked to start the top of the fourth but Correa hit a bullet to Verdugo in left. Tucker popped up to third and Gurriel popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox blew ANOTHER chance in the bottom of the fourth as Vazquez flied out to right to start. Arroyo hit a scintillating triple into the right field corner but Schwarber hit a pathetic grounder to short and Hernandez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. 

Pivetta cruised in the top of the fifth as McCormick took strike three to start. Maldonado flied out to right and Altuve grounded out to third to end the inning. Even though he was through five innings at just 65 pitches, Sox manager went with the analytics and pulled Pivetta. It would prove fatal a few innings.

                                                            Pivetta gets it done

The Sox blew another rally in the bottom of the fifth as Devers flied out to left to start. Bogaerts doubled to right but Verdugo flied out to left. Martinez went down hacking to end the inning.

Josh Taylor came in to pitch the top of the sixth as Brantley grounded out to second to start. Bregman flied out to right but Alvarez singled to right to chase Taylor. Adam Ottavino came in to get Correa looking to end the inning. Renfroe drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the sixth and chase Javier from the game. Phil Maton came in and Vazquez popped up to second. Arroyo struck out swinging and Schwarber flied out to center to end the inning.

Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Tucker flied out to center to start. Gurriel grounded out to short but McCormick singled to right. Jason Castro pinch hit for Maldonado and lined out to first to end the inning. Kendall Graveman came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Devers flied out to right and Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox were getting shut completely down by the Astros bullpen they feasted on for two straight days.

The Astros didn't wait around to tie the game in the top of the eighth as Altuve hit a home run to the Klingon Homeworld on the first pitch of the inning to tie the game. Brantley singled to center but Bregman banged into a double play. Alvarez flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                              Altuve does it again

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the eighth as Verdugo grounded out to third to start. Martinez struck out swinging but Renfroe walked. Vazquez flied out to left to end the inning. Say what you will about what happened in the 9th, but the fact the Sox were shut out by the Astros bullpen was the key to the game. For some ungodly reason, Cora decided to bring Nathan Eovaldi on 1 day's rest to pitch the top of the ninth and Correa laughed as he smashed a double to right. Tucker struck out swinging and Gurriel was intentionally walked to set up the double play. Aledmys Diaz pinch hit for McCormick struck out swinging to set the stage for Castro. On a 1-2 count, Eovaldi threw a perfect curveball on the outside corner.....called a ball. Castro took advantage by opening the floodgates with with a base hit to center to score Correa to put the Astros ahead. Altuve walked and that was it for Eovaldi. Martin Perez came in and Brantley cleared the bases with a double before Bregman was intentionally walked. Alvarez singled to left to score Brantley and Perez threw a routine grounder by Correa away to score Bregman. Tucker singled home Alvarez as boo's rained down at Fenway. Gurriel flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox inability to make plays cost them seven runs to put the game out of reach 9-2.

                                                       The scoreboard says it all

Jose Siri came in to play center with Ryan Pressly on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. To add insult to injury, the Sox blew one final rally. Travis Shaw pinch hit for Arroyo and took strike three before Schwarber struck out swinging. Hernandez and Devers stroked back to back singles before both runners moved over on a passed ball. Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox got embarrassed and lost the game 9-2.

                                                              Astros win

Jackass of the Night is Nathan Eovaldi. He shouldn't have been brought in but he was one strike away from getting out of the inning and instead gave up the winning run.

                                                     Jackass Eovaldi

The Good:

Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with a home run.

Hunter Renfroe waked twice in four plate appearances.

Christian Arroyo was 1 for 3.

Nick Pivetta tossed 5 innings of 1 run ball.

Josh Taylor got the first two outs of the sixth inning.

Adam Ottavino got the final out of the sixth inning.

The Bad:

Travis Shaw struck out as a pinch hitter.

Martin Perez allowed 3 inherited runners to score and 3 of his own.

The Ugly:

Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a walk but scored a run.

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 but walked.

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 but walked.

Garrett Whitlock allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Final Thoughts:

This game was an unmitigated disaster and I called it all the way back in April. Cora was pulling starters all year long in the middle of no-hitters, perfect games and after just 60-70 pitches and it FINALLY bit him in the ass. Pivetta could have easily gone seven innings and then you could mix and match in the eighth inning. Still, it shouldn't have come to trying to hang on to a one run lead if the bats didn't hibernate after Greinke left the game. The Astros bullpen pitched a 7 2/3 inning shutout and that was was after the Sox scored 21 runs the previous two games combined. I don't want to hear that Eovaldi got robbed, one more pitch and he was out of the inning anyway. Still, he should have never been brought in to begin with. If Cora didn't burn the A-Team out from April to July, a healthy functioning Matt Barnes would have slammed the door. Its been proven for decades you don't trust a rookie in the playoffs and that's twice now Altuve has taken Whitlock deep in the eighth inning. All in all the downside of Cora reared its ugly head and it was bound to happen. The Sox aren't playing the Tampa Bay Rays anymore, the Astros know what it takes to get to the World Series. You're not going to beat them by putting Martin Perez in to clean up a mess or putting an exhausted starter in the ninth inning of a tied game. The only silver lining is the Astros have had to go to the bullpen early in three straight games, the Sox need to strike tomorrow early and build a lead. As for this game, this could be the momentum shifter for Houston. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon in pivotal Game 5 when Chris Sale takes the mound against Framber Valdez. The game begins at 5:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Walkoff Rays Again in Game 4, Advance to ALCS (10/11/21)

For five innings it looked like the Boston Red Sox were going to cruise to the American League Championship Series in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Eduardo Rodriguez had held the 100 win Rays to 1 run while the Red Sox offense pounded out 5 runs, 3 of which on a Rafael Devers home run. Then the Sox committed one of the biggest post-season chokes since Game 7 against the New York Yankees. Tanner Houck allowed a two run jack to Wander Franco in the sixth and Ryan Brasier allowed three straight hits to tie the game. Then the momentum shifted as Garrett Whitlock dominated the Rays the final two innings to send the stage for the bottom of the ninth. Christian Vazquez drew a leadoff walk and Christian Arroyo dropped down a bunt to move him over. Pinch hitter Travis Shaw hit a roller to Yandy Diaz who threw low to Ji-Man Choi to put runners at the corners. Kike Hernandez did the honors with a sac fly to left to score pinch runner Danny Santana to send the underdog Red Sox to the American League Championship Series with a 6-5 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                     WE'RE GOING TO THE ALCS!!

Eduardo Rodriguez got the ball to start the top of the first inning and got some help from his defense when Hunter Renfroe snared a line drive by Randy Arozarena to start. Wander Franco was frozen for strike three and the ice cold Brandon Lowe struck out swinging to end the inning. Collin McHugh got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Kyle Schwarber grounded out to short to start. Arozarena made a great running catch on a Kike Hernandez line drive but Rafael Devers dropped a base hit to right. Xander Bogaerts looked to have beat out a ground ball to short but Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call to overturn it for the third out to end the inning.

Rodriguez cruised in the top of the second as Nelson Cruz took strike three to start. Jordan Luplow struck out swinging and Yandy Diaz grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox just missed in the bottom of the second as Alex Verdugo flied out to the centerfield wall to start. Kevin Kiermaier made a great diving catch to rob JD Martinez of a hit before Hunter Renfroe also flied out to the centerfield wall to end the inning.

Austin Meadows went down hacking to begin the top of the third before Mike Zunino popped up to second. Kiermaier grounded out to third to end the inning. Rays manager Kevin Cash made a fatal error by taking McHugh out and bringing in rookie Shane McClanahan to pitch the bottom of the third inning. Christian Vazquez got a base hit to center although Christian Arroyo flied out to right. Schwarber drew a walk but Hernandez flied out to left. Devers got the party started with a no doubt 3 run blast to center to put Boston on top. Bogaerts ripped a base hit to left and Verdugo belted a double off the Monster to score Xander. Martinez singled to left to score Verdugo and that was it for McClanahan. JT Chargois came in and Renfroe greeted him with a double to center. The game turned when Vazquez struck out to end the inning. The Sox led 5-0 but one more hit would have broke the Rays.

                                                             Devers hits a big bomb

Rodriguez did his part in the top of the fourth although Arozarena singled to right to start. Franco popped up to first, Lowe struck out swinging and Cruz popped up to second to end the inning. Andrew Kittredge came in for the bottom of the fourth and Arroyo grounded out to short to start. Schwarber popped up to second and Hernandez grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Rays struck back in the top of the fifth inning as Luplow doubled to left to start. Diaz moved Luplow to third with a flyout to center and Jordan scored on the grounder to first by Meadows. Zunino grounded out to first to end the inning but the Rays were down 5-1.

                                                   Rodriguez looked good after 5

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Devers flied out to left to start. Bogaerts flied out to right and Verdugo flied out to left to end the inning.

Rodriguez returned to start the top of the sixth but Kiermaier led off with a double to left to chase him. He did his job but Tanner Houck did not when he came in. Arozarena flied out to center but Franco hit a ball all the way to Metlife Stadium in New Jersey to inch Tampa closer. Lowe struck out swinging again and Cruz flied out to right to end the inning but Tampa was down 5-3.

                                                         Arozarena with a bomb

Luis Patino came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Martinez dropped a base hit to left to start. Renfroe and Vazquez both struck out swinging before Arroyo grounded out to third to end the inning.

Ji-Man Choi was sent in to pinch hit for Luplow but Sox manager Alex Cora countered by bringing in lefty Josh Taylor. Taylor struck Choi out swinging before Diaz flied out to center. Meadows grounded out to second to end the inning. Josh Fleming came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Sox gagged. Schwarber grounded out to first to start before Hernandez singled to left. Devers ripped a base hit to center to put runners at the corners and chase Fleming. Pete Fairbanks came in and Bogaerts gagged by hitting into a double play to end the inning.

Cora then made the wrong move by sending in Ryan Brasier to pitch the top of the eighth. Bobby Dalbec came in to play first but Zunino doubled to right to start. Kiermaier got revenge for last night by doubling to right to score Zunino and Arozarena dumped a base hit to right. Renfroe threw home but missed Kiermaier scoring by a mile and Arozarena took second. That was it for Brasier as Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock was summoned to stop the bleeding with the game tied and a man on second with nobody out. Franco flied out to right but Renfroe's throw to third missed both Bogaerts and Devers, luckily Whitlock backed up the throw. Lowe grounded back to the mound and Cruz grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.

                                                            Rays tie it

Once again the Sox failed to score in the bottom of the eighth as Franco threw a ball hit by Verdugo away to start. Verdugo took second on the play but Martinez failed to advance him with a fly out to right. Renfroe then hit a ball to Kiermaier who gunned down Verdugo to end the inning....BUT WAIT! Sox manager Alex Cora challenged that Verdugo beat the tag. He did....but his hand came off the base and the call was upheld.

                                                     Yerrrrrr out!

Whitlock returned for the top of the ninth and Choi grounded out to first to start. Diaz grounded out to second and Meadows flied out to left to end the inning. JP Feyereisen came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Vazquez lined a base hit up the middle to start. Arroyo dropped down a perfect bunt to move Vazquez to second and Travis Shaw pinch hit for Dalbec. Shaw hit a little roller to third and Diaz threw low to Choi and both runners were safe. Danny Santana was sent in to run for Vazquez and Hernandez drove him in with a sac fly to left to win the game. The Sox had knocked out the Rays 3 games to 1 to head to the ALCS with a 6-5 Game 4 win.

                                                       RED SOX WIN!!!

Hero of the Night is Garrett Whitlock. It was a team effort to score the winning run but Whitlock getting out of the eighth inning without allowing the go-ahead run kept the Sox in the driver's seat. Not bad for a Rule 5 pick the Yankees gave up on.

                                               The Lock is your Game 4 Hero

The Good:

Travis Shaw got credited with a single as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.

Rafael Devers was 3 for 4 with a 3 run home run.

JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Danny Santana scored the winning run as a pinch runner.

Eduardo Rodriguez allowed just 2 runs in 5 plus innings of work. He struck out 6 and walked nobody.

Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bad:

Tanner Houck allowed a 2 run home run in the sixth inning.

Ryan Brasier allowed 2 runs in the top of the eighth on 3 hits.

The Ugly:

Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 but drove in the winning run with a sac fly.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.

Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Christian Arroyo was 0 for 3 but dropped down a key bunt in the ninth inning.

Honorable Mention:

Bobby Dalbec played first base in the last two innings.

Final Thoughts:

Say whatever you want about the faults and negatives of the Red Sox but they have balls of steel. Finishing the season 30-31 after July turned a lot of fans off and losing 5 of 6 to the Yankees and the 110 loss Baltimore Orioles to end September made things look bleak. Even after the Sox knocked the Yankees out of the Wild Card game, they got steamrolled in Game 1 in Tampa and were down 5-2 in the second inning of Game 2 with Chris Sale finished. Its been all Red Sox ever since and they showed poise and balls to win the series. This game had great and bad defense from both teams and it came down to who wanted it more. Chaim Bloom looks like a genius after trading for Nick Pivetta who saved their bacon in Game 3 and stealing Whitlock from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft. Not to mention getting Schwarber for a low level prospect and Shaw for free bolstered this team's bench considerably. Before the season Cora was excited the Sox signed Hernandez and he was the difference maker in this series. The criticism of Cora was pulling starters too early all season and it ruined the bullpen by July, but now in the playoffs even the starters are in the bullpen. Cora can mix and match all he wants and he's been burned by that only once tonight. Hats off to Rodriguez, Taylor and Whitlock for pitching well, especially E-Rod after his Game 1 disaster. You can say all you want about how Chris Sale is broken, the other starters are bums and the bullpen is on fumes...but one thing you can't say is they don't have heart. The last three games were all gutsy wins by the Sox and this one sent them to the American League Championship series. The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox game got postponed to tomorrow due to rain so the Sox don't know who they'll be facing yet. Still, the Sox weren't expected to do anything this season after they tanked last year, they weren't supposed to beat the Yankees in a one game playoff and they sure as hell weren't expected to steamroll the Rays. Alex Cora deserves a lot of flack for essentially collapsing down the stretch but he's now 4-0 in playoff series for the Red Sox as manager. No matter what happens against Houston or Chicago, you can't deny how great this season has been. The Sox are going from last place at the end of 2020 to being four wins away from the World Series. Game 1 either in Chicago or Houston starts this Friday and nobody knows who's pitching yet. Until then its time to enjoy the ALDS victory.

On to the ALCS

Vazquez, Sox Walkoff Rays in 13, Take Game 3 (10/10/21)

In a game eerily similar to Game 3 of the 2003 American League Division Series against the Oakland A's, eighteen years later the Sox got a lot of luck and timely extra inning home runs to knock off the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of this year's ALDS. The Red Sox broke out to a 4-2 lead going into the eighth inning thanks to the pitching of Nathan Eovaldi and thanks to the bats, notably Kyle Schwarber and the red hot Kike Hernandez. Hansel Robles gagged the game away in the top of the eighth and the Rays bullpen allowed just 1 run between the third and 13th inning. Shades of some lucky breaks in Game 3 in 2003 and a major flashback to Tony Clark in Game 5 in 2004 ALCS, in the top of the 13th inning Kevin Kiemaier hit a line drive off the wall, off of Hunter Renfroe and into the bullpen. Thanks to a hidden rule in the rule book, that was considered a ground rule double and Yandy Diaz had to stay at first. Nick Pivetta, in the process of tossing 4 shutout innings to earn the win, struck out Mike Zunino to end the threat and keep the game tied. In the bottom of the 13th, Christian Vazquez pulled the Trot Nixon by swatting a 2 run home run into the Monster Seats to take the game 6-4 at Fenway Park to move the Sox one game closer to the next round.

                                                           SOX WIN!

The Rays tagged Eovaldi right out of the gate in the top of the first inning although Brandon Lowe struck out swinging to start. Wander Franco singled to right but Austin Meadows hit a home run all the way to Neptune to put the Rays on top three batters into the game. Eovaldi responded by striking out both Nelson Cruz and Ji-Man Choi swinging to end the inning but the Rays were on top 2-0.

                                                              Meadows hits one out

The Sox wasted no time getting back in the game as Kyle Schwarber took rookie Rays starter Drew Rasmussen deep two pitches into the bottom of the second. Kike Hernandez continued his hot streak with a base hit to left but Rafael Devers took strike three. Xander Bogaerts popped up to second and Alex Verdugo grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                Schwarber with a leadoff home run

Eovaldi recovered in the top of the second inning to get Randy Arozarena swinging to start. Kevin Kiermaier walked but Mike Zunino struck out swinging. Joey Wendle also went down hacking to end the inning. JD Martinez tried to start a rally with a base hit to left to begin the bottom of the second but Hunter Renfroe flied out to left. Kevin Plawecki banged into a double play to end the inning.

Things didn't look good when Schwarber airmailed a throw to first on a routine grounder by Lowe for an error to start the top of the third. The Sox recovered as Franco forced Lowe at second, Meadows flied out to right and Cruz struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the third as Christian Arroyo led off with a base hit to center to begin. Schwarber atoned for his error with a base hit to right and Hernandez drove home Arroyo with a base hit to center to tie the game and chase Rasmussen, Josh Fleming came in to pitch and Devers got a base hit to center to score Schwarber to give the Sox the lead. The game's direction turned as Bogaerts struck out swinging and Verdugo grounded out to first to chase Fleming. Andrew Kittredge came in to strike out Martinez swinging to end the inning. The Sox took the lead 3-2 but stranded 2 on with nobody out. The Sox would score just 1 run the next ten innings.

                                                     Hernandez puts the Sox on top

Eovaldi cruised in the top of the fourth with a little comedic value from Schwarber. Choi grounded out to first to start and Schwarber celebrated making the routine play much to the crowd's delight. Arozarena struck out swinging and Kiermaier lined out to center to end the inning. 

                                                              "Yeahhhh I did it!" - KS

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fourth as Renfroe lined a base hit to left to begin. Plawecki grounded into another double play but Arroyo got a single in the hole at short. Schwarber took strike three to end the inning.

Eovaldi returned for one last inning in the top of the fifth as Zunino lined out to left to start. Wendle doubled to left but Lowe lined out to center. Franco grounded out to first to end the inning. Eovaldi was done after just 85 pitches and taking him out of the game was the first bad move Sox manager Alex Cora made this game.

                                                              Eovaldi goes 5 strong

Pete Fairbanks came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Hernandez greeted him with a solo blast for Kike's seventh consecutive hit. Devers struck out swinging but Bogaerts walked. Verdugo swung and missed at strike three but the ball got away to allow Bogaerts to take second. Martinez lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                          Hernandez is red hot

Josh Taylor was first up out of the bullpen in the top of the sixth inning as Meadows grounded out to short to start. Cruz singled to left but Yandy Diaz pinch hit for Ji-Man Choi only to pop up to second. That was it for Taylor as Ryan Brasier came in to get Arozarena to ground back to the mound to end the inning. J.P. Feyereisen came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning and Renfroe singled to right to start. Christian Vazquez pinch hit for Plawecki and dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Renfroe to second. The rally failed as Arroyo grounded out to third and Schwarber grounded out to second to end the inning.

Brasier returned for the top of the seventh and Kiermaier struck out swinging to start. Zunino grounded out to short and Sox manager Alex Cora brought in lefty Austin Davis to face pinch hitter Jordan Luplow. Luplow walked and Lowe lined out to a running Hernandez to end the inning. The Sox were just 6 outs from going to Game 4 with a lead in the series. Matt Wisler came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Hernandez lined out to third to start. Devers flied out to center and Meadows made a nice running grab of a Bogaerts liner to end the inning.

Hansel Robles was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth and he crapped his pants. Franco hit a home run all the way to Neptune and Meadows followed with a double to center. Cruz was retired on a swinging bunt in front of the plate but Meadows moved to third on the play. Old Sox farmhand Manny Margot came in to run for Meadows but somehow Robles struck out Diaz swinging. Arozarena doubled to left to score Margot with the tying run and that was it for Robles. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to intentionally walk Kiermaier to get to the struggling Zunino. The Lock struck out Zunino looking to end the inning but the Rays had tied the game 4-4.

                                                         Arozarena ties it up

Verdugo lined out to center to start the bottom of the eighth but JT Chargois came in to pitch to Martinez. JD was retired on a swinging bunt in front of the plate but Renfroe walked. Vazquez popped up to second to end the inning.

The Lock returned for the top of the ninth and Luplow went down swinging to start. Lowe also went down hacking and Franco grounded out to first to end the inning. Boston had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth although Arroyo grounded out to third to start. Schwarber got a base hit to center and Bobby Dalbec was sent in to run for him. Unfortunately Hernandez struck out swinging and Devers grounded out to second to end the inning.

Nick Pivetta came in to pitch the top of the tenth and Margot greeted him with a base hit to left to start. Cruz flied out to center, Diaz flied out to left and Margot was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. David Robertson came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth and the Sox blew another chance to win the game. Bogaerts grounded out to short but Verdugo singled to left. Martinez flied out to center and Renfroe popped up to first to end the inning.

Arozarena walked to start the top of the 11th inning and stole second on the Kiermaier strike out. Zunino struck out swinging and Luplow took strike three to end the inning. Once again the Sox got a man on in the bottom of the 11th although Vazquez lined out to center to start. Arroyo doubled to left to put the winning run at second but Dalbec went down hacking and Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning.

Pivetta cruised in the top of the 12th inning as the ice cold Lowe struck out swinging to start. Franco flied out to center and Margot struck out swinging to end the inning. Luis Patino came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th and Devers grounded back to the mound to start. Bogaerts hit one up the elevator shaft and Verdugo flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox had scored just 1 run since the third inning off the Rays bullpen.

The Sox got extremely lucky in the top of the 13th inning although Cruz struck out swinging to start. Diaz got a base hit to right but Arozarena lined out to left to set the stage for Kiermaier. Kevin hit a rocket that caromed off the wall, off of Renfroe and into the bullpen. The Rays argued that should be a triple and a run scored but it was ruled a ground rule double and the run did not score. Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call but according to little known Rule 5.06 "any fair ball deflected by the fielder into the stands leads to the batter advancing two bases." In other words, its in the rule book as a ground rule double. Given new life, Pivetta struck out the ice cold Zunino swinging to end the inning. Gotta be lucky and good sometimes.

                                                          Controversy at Fenway

The Sox finally ended the festivities in the bottom of the 13th although Martinez flied out to center to start. Renfroe walked and Vazquez sent the first pitch he saw into the Monster Seats to end the game. The Sox had taken a 2 to 1 series lead with a 6-4 walkoff victory in Game 3.

                                                              RED SOX WIN!!

We have Co-Heroes of the Night for this one. Hero number 1 is the unsung one, Nick Pivetta. Pivetta kept the Sox in the game with 4 shutout innings to earn the win.

                                                       Hero 1: Pivetta

Hero number 2 is a no-brainer, Christian Vazquez. Vazquez' walkoff home run won the game and put the Sox one game away from the ALCS.

                                                         Hero 2: Vazquez

The Good:

Kyle Schwarber was 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 total runs scored.

Kike Hernandez was 3 for 6 with a home run and 2 total rbis.

Hunter Renfroe was 2 for 4 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Christian Arroyo was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Nathan Eovaldi tossed 5 innings of 2 run ball to put the Sox in front.

Josh Taylor retired 2 of the 3 men he faced.

Ryan Brasier pitched a full scoreless inning,.

Austin Davis got the final out of the seventh inning.

Garrett Whitlock tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Bobby Dalbec struck out in his only plate appearance.

Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 3 including 2 double plays.

Hansel Robles allowed 2 runs in the top of the eighth.

The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 6 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5 with a strikeout but walked.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout.

JD Martinez was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout.

Final Thoughts:

This was a game for the ages and it was a flashback to three separate games all rolled into one. It reminded us of Game 3 in 2003 against Oakland including the extra inning walkoff home run at Fenway. It reminded us of the Tony Clark ground rule double in Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS and the controversy from the Mookie Betts interference call in Houston. Even with all the drama, the Sox showed some serious balls to win this game. Tampa had been coming from behind to beat teams all year so to withstand their onslaught and still come out on top shows this team will run through a brick wall for Cora, despite his downright abuse of the bullpen. Eventually its going to bite Cora and it almost did in the regular season but so far so good as the Sox are now one win away from the ALCS. Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom is looking like a genius for trading washed up Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman for Pivetta (and Connor Seabold), stealing Whitlock from the Yankees and getting Schwarber for a Salem Red Sox prospect (Aldo Ramirez). It seems amazing that a team that wasn't expected to compete back in April could collapse in the second half and STILL get this far. Win or lose in the next two games, its been a hell of a season. Vazquez came off the bench to deliver the biggest hit of the season so far. The season could extend even longer if the Sox are able to take Game 4 tomorrow. Eduardo Rodriguez goes for the Sox looking to rebound from his Game 1 disaster against Collin McHugh of Tampa at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Rays Blank Sox, Take Game 1 (10/7/21)

Well this sucks. After the emotional victory over the New York Yankees in the Wild Card one game playoff it seemed like the Boston Red Sox were heading to the playoffs with momentum. Instead they fell flat on their face as the 100 win Tampa Bay Rays showed why they dominated the Red Sox to win the AL East crown. Shane McClanahan tossed 5 shutout innings for the Rays and their vaunted bullpen held the Red Sox scoreless the rest of the way. Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 1 2/3 innings while allowing 2 runs to put the Sox in a hole. Nick Pivetta was rocked for 3 runs in 4 2/3 innings as the Rays cruised. The Sox offense outhit the Rays 9 to 6 but not one of them in the clutch when it was desperately needed. Prognosticators and irate Yankee fans predict the Rays will win in three games and it looks like that may happen after the Sox dropped Game 1 by a score of 5-0 at Tropicana Field. How many runs did the Sox score Dean Wormer?

                                                         

McClanahan got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kike Hernandez struck out swinging to start. Kyle Schwarber got a base hit in the hole at second then took second on the strikeout swinging by Xander Bogaerts. Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rays wasted no time getting to Rodriguez in the bottom of the first inning as Randy Arozarena walked to start. Wander Franco doubled home Arozarena to put the Rays up for good two batters into the game. Brandon Lowe flied out to right but Franco moved to third on the fly out to left by Nelson Cruz. Yandy Diaz singled home Franco but Jordan Luplow grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 2-0.

                                                            Rays take the lead

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the second as Hunter Renfroe singled to left to start. Lowe bobbled a routine grounder by Alex Verdugo and everyone was safe. The rally ended as Bobby Dalbec banged into a double play and Christian Vazquez lined out to center to end the inning. Old Sox prospect Manny Margot walked to start the bottom of the second but Mike Zunino flied out to center. Kevin Kiermaier struck out swinging and Sox manager Alex Cora decided that Rodriguez just didn't have it tonight. Rodriguez was falling behind on every batter and Cora felt Garrett Richards was a better option. Richards got Arozarena to ground out to short to end the inning.

                                                          Rodriguez doesn't last long

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third inning as Christian Arroyo grounded out to third to start. Hernandez grounded out to second and Schwarber also grounded out to second to end the inning. Nick Pivetta came in to get tagged in the bottom of the third although Franco struck out swinging to start. Lowe grounded out to second but Cruz hit a home run all the way to Jupiter to increase the lead. Diaz walked but Luplow struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.

                                                         Cruz adds to the lead

Bogaerts grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth but Devers got a hit to left. Renfroe popped up to first but Verdugo singled to center. Needing a clutch hit...Dalbec grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Margot grounded back to the mound to start the top of the fourth but Zunino singled to right. Kiermaier grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Vazquez flied out to right to start. Arroyo singled to left but Hernandez popped up to first. Schwarber grounded into a force to end the inning. The Yankees struck back in the bottom of the fifth when Arozarena hit a home run all the way to Brazil to increase the lead. Franco flied out to left, Lowe grounded out to second and Cruz flied out to right to end the inning with the Rays up 4-0.

                                                        Arozarena hits one out

JT Chargois came in for the top of the sixth with Joey Wendle taking the place of Luplow to start. Bogaerts singled to center but Devers flied out to center and Renfroe banged into a double play to end the inning. Pivetta cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Diaz lined out to right to start. Wendle struck out swinging and Margo also went down hacking to end the inning.

David Robertson came in to pitch the the top of the seventh as Verdugo grounded out to third to start. Dalbec flied out to right and Vazquez grounded out to short to end the inning. The Rays embarrassed the Sox in the bottom of the seventh as Zunino flied out to left to start. Kiermaier flied out to center but Arozarena walked. Franco doubled to left to chase Pivetta from the mound. Josh Taylor came in and paid so little attention to Arozarena that Randy stole home to light up the crowd. popped up to second to end the inning but the Sox looked silly letting Arozarena steal home, trailing 5-0.

                                                          Arozarena steals home

J.P. Feyereisen came in to pitch the top of the eighth and the Sox blew another rally. Arroyo got a base hit to right but Hernandez flied out to right. Schwarber and Bogaerts ripped back to back singles to load the bases but Devers struck out swinging. Renfroe popped up to first to end the inning and Boston's final rally. Adam Ottavino came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Cruz grounded out to second to start. Diaz grounded out to short and Wendle lined out to left to end the inning.

Feyereisen came back for the top of the ninth and Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Dalbec hit one up the elevator shaft and Vazquez flied out to right to end the game. The Rays had shut out the Sox and took Game 1 by a score of 5-0.

                                                              Sad Devers

Jackass of the Night is Nick Pivetta. Not that the Sox were going to do anything offensively anyway, but Pivetta turning a 2-0 game into 5-0 put the Sox in a hole they couldn't get out of

                                         "Yeah you're out, Jackass. Now beat it!" - Cora

The Good:

Kyle Schwarber was 2 for 4.

Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4.

Christian Arroyo was 2 for 3.

Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bad:

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4.

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4.

Eduardo Rodriguez allowed 2 runs in just 1 2/3 innings.

Josh Taylor allowed Arozarena to steal home.

The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Final Thoughts:

Not the start the Red Sox were looking for, that's for sure. After their beat down of the Yankees, the Sox weren't given much of a chance in this series and this game proved why. The Sox couldn't even get one run off the Rays vaunted pitching and their offense made Eduardo Rodriguez look silly. Not only that but Arozarena stealing home made the Sox look like they don't belong out there with the 100 win Rays. This has been a season of redemption for the Sox after they fell from grace in 2019 and crashed last year. Still, if the bats don't wake up this season is going to end sooner rather than later. Still, this isn't a one game playoff so the Sox still have at least two more games to right the ship before its too late. The Sox need to make a statement in Game 2 and Chris Sale will be starting for them. If the Sox have any hope of extending this series, Sale needs to bring his A game. The Rays will counter with Shane Baz and Game 2 begins tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Tropicana Field.

Sox Explode in 10th, Beat Mariners (9/15/21)

Well that was interesting. The Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners battled to a 3-3 tie from the third inning all the way to the end of the ninth. Hunter Renfroe hit a first inning home run against Marco Gonzalez and the Sox got two more runs in the top of the second. The Mariners rallied for three runs against Sox starter Tanner Houck in the bottom of the third and then it became a slog the rest of the game. Then in the tenth inning the Sox bats rallied for six runs against the Mariners bullpen highlighted by a two run Kyle Schwarber single and a two run Christian Vazquez double. Adam Ottavino (7-3, 3.68) continued his march to 10 relief wins and Martin Perez finished off the Mariners in the bottom of the tenth. The Sox needed a win to keep pace in the wild card race and they knocked off the Mariners 9-4 in 10 innings at T-Mobile Park.

                                                  Julia Styles approves of the win

Gonzalez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start. Hunter Renfroe launched his 28th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Xander Bogaerts flied out to left and Rafael Devers grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                     28th jack for Renfroe

Houck got the ball in the bottom of the first and JP Crawford grounded out to second to start. Mitch Haniger lined out to right and Kyle Seager grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the second as JD Martinez flied out to right to start. Kyle Schwarber walked and Bobby Dalbec pounded a ground rule double into the stands. Kevin Plawecki grounded out to first to score Schwarber and Jose Iglesias smacked a double to center to score Dalbec. Hernandez lined out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                          Iglesias drives in a run

Ty France struck out swinging to open the bottom of the second before Abraham Toro grounded back to Houck. Jake Fraley grounded out to second to end the inning.

Gonzalez turned up the heat for the top of the third as Renfroe struck out swinging to start. Bogaerts and Devers also went down hacking to end the inning. The Mariners fought back in the bottom of the third as Luke Torrens struck out swinging to start. Jarred Kelenic got a base hit to center and Tom Murphy got a base hit to right. Kelenic tried for third and Renfroe threw the ball away for an error to score Jarred. Crawford walked and a wild pitch moved the runners over. Haniger lined out to short but Seager doubled to left to score both runners and tie the game. France whiffed to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

                                                               Mariners tie it up

Martinez flied out to right to start the top of the fourth and Schwarber struck out swinging. Dalbec also went down hacking to end the inning. Toro struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth before Fraley watched strike three go by. Torrens swung at air to end the inning.

Plawecki grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth but Iglesias drew a walk. Hernandez flied out to left and Renfroe flied out to right to end the inning. Dr. Quick Hook struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Kelenic got a base hit to center to start. Kelenic stole second but Murphy was rung up for strike three. Rather than let Houck finish the inning, Sox manager Alex Cora pulled him after just 4 1/3 innings forcing the bullpen to throw more than four innings AGAIN. Houck allowed 3 runs before getting the hook. Josh Taylor got Crawford to ground out to second but Kelenic moved to third. Haniger was intentionally walked and Seager grounded out to short to end the inning.

                                                    Another short outing for Houck

Bogaerts took strike three to start the top of the sixth before Devers grounded out to second. Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Garrett Richards came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and France lined a ball off of him for a single. Toro grounded into a double play and Fraley struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally against Casey Sadler to start the top of the seventh as Schwarber flied out to right to start. Dalbec walked but Plawecki took strike three. Dalbec stole second and Iglesias beat out a roller to first to put runners at the corners. Paul Sewald came in to face Hernandez but Alex Verdugo pinch hit for him. Verdugo lined out to left to end the inning. Torrens singled in the hole at short to start the bottom of the seventh but Kelenic flied out to center. Dylan More pinch ran for Torrens and Murphy grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Renfroe grounded back to the mound to start the top of the eighth before Bogaerts took strike three. Devers walked and Martinez reached on catcher's interference. Schwarber flied out to center to end the inning. Austin Davis came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Crawford flied out to right to start. Devers threw a grounder by Haniger away for an error but Seager popped up to first. Sox manager Alex Cora wanted Adam Ottavino to face France and Adam struck him out swinging to end the inning.

Diego Castillo came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Dalbec went down hacking to start. Christian Vazquez pinch hit for Plawecki and struck out swinging as well. Travis Shaw pinch hit for Iglesias and popped up to short to end the inning. Jack Lopez took over for Shaw at second to start the bottom of the ninth and Toro popped up to short to start. Fraley lined out to short and Jake Bauers pinch hit for Moore. Bauers was hit with a pitch and stole second, but Kelenic struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox exploded in the top of the tenth with Erik Swanson on the mound and Lopez starting at second base. Verdugo got a base hit to left and Lopez scored on a passed ball, moving Verdugo to second. Renfroe walked and Bogaerts got a base hit to center to load the bases. Justus Sheffield came in to pitch to Devers and Rafael forced Verdugo at home. Martinez singled in the hole at short to score Renfroe and Schwarber got a base hit to right to score Bogaerts and Devers. Yohan Ramirez came in and Dalbec walked to once again re-load the bases. Vazquez doubled to right to Martinez and Schwarber to ice the game. Lopez struck out swinging and Verdugo flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-3.

                                                             Sox take the lead

Martin Perez came in to close out the bottom of the tenth with Kelenic on second to start. Murphy struck out swinging but Kelenic took third on a balk. Crawford grounded out to short but Kelenic scored to cut the lead. Haniger struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-4 in 10 innings.

                                                           Sox win

Hero of The Night is Kyle Schwarber. His two run single put the game out of reach for Seattle.

                                                                Hero Schwarber

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3.

Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 1 for 2 with 2 rbis.

Jose Iglesias was 2 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.

Josh Taylor got the final two outs of the fifth inning.

Garrett Richards tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Austin Davis got the first two outs of the eighth inning.

Adam Ottavino got the win with 1 1/3 scoreles innings.

The Bad:

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 3.

Travis Shaw was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Tanner Houck allowed 3 runs in 4 1/3 innings off 4 hits and a walk.

Martin Perez allowed a run in an inning of work.

The Ugly:

Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but walked, hit a home run and scored two runs.

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

Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but walked and scored a run.

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run and scored a run.

Kevin Plawecki was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drove in a run.

Jack Lopez was 0 for 1 at the plate but scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

That was a huge win for the Sox to keep pace in the wild card chase with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The Sox have just 14 games remaining and they need to win every game they can to make the playoffs. Its very unlikely they win the AL East but they're right in the thick of things in the wild card hunt. This win pushed the Mariners to four games behind them so they might be out of it. The Sox blew the game open in the 10th but hats off to the bullpen to keep the game tied to get to that point after Houck left the game. Once again Alex Cora pulled a starter too early but it worked out this time. The bullpen is going to have nothing left for October but they have to get there first. Its too bad Jose Iglesias is ineligible for the post-season roster because he's been a godsend since they got him back after eight years away. The Sox need to go on a win streak if they want to lock up October or else they may be on the outside looking in. The win improved the Sox to 83-65, 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Friday night when they return home to face the Baltimore Orioles. Chris Sale (3-0) goes for the Sox against Keegan Akin of Baltimore. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.