Yankees Pound Sox Again (8/15/20)

The good news was the Boston Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of their first round NHL playoff series, the bad news was the New York Yankees smacked around the Boston Red Sox. The 2020 Red Sox are reaching ineptitude not seen in 90 years. As the season spirals down the drain this team is fast becoming this generation's 1932 Red Sox, considered the worst in team history. While the 2020 team isn't as despised off the field like the 1989 and 2012 teams, their incompetence on it can't be overlooked. The New York Yankees once again hung double digits on the pathetic Red Sox pitching staff. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.93 ERA) is clearly not an ace after the Yankees smacked him around for 8 runs in less than 6 innings. Matt Barnes took a beating as well and when the dust settled, the Yankees had dominated the Sox again 11-5 at Yankee Stadium.

                                            Sox fans have had enough

Yankees starter James Paxton laughed as Kevin Pillar flied out to center to start the top of the first. Rafael Devers and JD Martinez got lucky hits but naturally Xander Bogaerts lined out to right and Christian Vazquez grounded into a force to end the inning. The Yankees wasted no time getting to Eovaldi in the bottom of the first as DJ LeMahieu grounded out to first to start. Luke Voit singled to center but Mike Ford struck out swinging. Gio Urshela put the Yankees up when he smashed a 700,000 foot home run. Gleyber Torres grounded out to short to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-0.

                                                   Yankees take the lead

Paxton yawned as Alex Verdugo grounded out weakly to second to start. Michael Chavis whiffed badly and Jackie Bradley Jr hit a weak liner to Paxton to end the inning. Somehow Mike Tauchman flied out to left to start the bottom of the second before Gary Sanchez popped up to first. Clint Frazier walked but Brett Gardner flied out to left to end the inning.

Somehow the Sox took the lead in the top of the third as Jose Peraza walked to start. Pillar flied out to right but Devers doubled to left. Martinez singled off the glove of Urshela to score Peraza and Devers but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. That lost run was big as Bogaerts crushed his 4th home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Vazquez lined out to short to end the inning but the Sox now led 3-2.

                                                    Bogaerts hits one out

Eovaldi cruised in the bottom of the third as LeMahieu grounded out to third to start. Voit took strike three and Ford lined out to right to end the inning.

Verdugo grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth before Chavis flied out to right. JBJ singled to short but Peraza flied out to center to end the inning. The Yankees struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Urshela flied out to right to start. Torres singled to center but was erased on the Tauchman force. Sanchez then hit a ball completely out of Earth's atmosphere to give the Yankees the lead. Frazier doubled and took third on a wild pitch before Gardner walked. LeMahieu grounded into a force to end the inning but the Yankees were ahead 4-3.

                                                Yankees take the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fifth as Pillar whiffed to start. Devers grounded out to short and Martinez lined out to center to end the inning. The Yankees beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fifth as Voit grounded out to third to start. Ford grounded out to second and Urshela grounded out to first to end the inning.

Tyler Wade took over for LeMahieu with Jonathan Loaisiga now on the mound to begin the top of the sixth. Bogaerts flied out to left before Vazquez whiffed. Verdugo singled to center but Chavis grounded out to third to end the inning. The Yankees iced the game in the bottom of the sixth as Torres singled to left to start. Tauchman doubled but Sanchez whiffed. Frazier laughed as he effortlessly launched a 3 run home run to effectively end the game. Gardner doubled to left and that was it for Eovaldi. He'd been fine his first couple of starts but the Yankees feasted on him for 8 runs in 5 1/3 innings. Heath Hembree was brought in and Gardner stole second before scoring on the Wade double. Voit took strike three and Ford flied out to center to end the inning but the Yankees were up 8-3.

                                                There goes the "ace"

Luis Avilan came in for the top of the seventh and JBJ singled to center to start. Peraza flied out to center and Pillar forced JBJ at second. Devers grounded out to first to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to take a beating in the bottom of the seventh as Urshela took advantage of a passed ball on strike three to reach first. Torres flied out to left but Tauchman walked and Sanchez was plunked to load the bases. Frazier singled to left but Verdugo booted the ball allowing Urshela and Tauchman to score. Gardner scored Sanchez with a sac fly to wrap up the scoring for the Yankees. Wade whiffed to end the inning but the Yankees were up 11-3.

                                                   Frazier is unstoppable

Erik Kratz took over behind the plate with Luis Cessa now on the mound for the top of the eighth. Martinez whiffed before Bogaerts grounded out to third. Vazquez whiffed to end the inning. Phillips Valdez came in for the bottom of the eighth and Voit took strike three to start. Ford whiffed and Thairo Estrada pinch hit for Urshela only to line out to third to end the inning.

Naturally with the game out of reach, the Sox rallied in the top of the ninth. Verdugo crushed his 5th home run of the season before Chavis got a base hit to left. JBJ flied out to left and Chavez was forced at second by Peraza. Pillar tripled home Peraza but Devers grounded out to short to end the game. The Yankees had won it 11-5.

                                                          Another loss for the Sox


Jackass of the Night is Nathan Eovaldi. The supposed "ace" of the Sox got pounded for 8 runs in just 5 1/3 innings.

                                                         Eovaldi the Jackass



The Good:

Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4.

Phillips Valdez pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Bad:

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Matt Barnes allowed 3 runs in just 1 inning.



The Ugly:

Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jose Peraza was 0 for 3 but scored 2 runs and drove in one.

Heath Hembree allowed an inherited runner to score in 2/3 of an inning.




Final Thoughts:

Good lord can this season end yet? Its bad enough to watch the Sox lose night in and night out but its another thing to not even be competitive. Every game is almost exactly the same and at what point can something be done about it? If John Henry gave a strict gag order not to spend money, you would think Chaim Bloom could at least pick up SOMEONE who can go 6 innings. Doesn't matter if they allow 4 runs like an Aaron Sanchez, SOMEBODY has to be out there that can eat innings. The Sox are trying to get by on 2 starters and 3 openers and it clearly isn't working. The Sox got their brains beat in for the 6th straight day, second by the Yankees. Its a good thing there are no fans in the stands because Sox fans would either not show up or boo the living daylights out of what they are seeing. The loss dropped the Sox to 6-15, dead last in the AL East. Tomorrow night Chris Mazza gets the start for the Sox against JA Happ at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees Annihilate Red Sox (8/14/20)

Talk about separating the men from the boys. The New York Yankees put a cigarette out on the heads of the Boston Red Sox and kicked them out the door to prove who the top team in the American League East is. Gerrit Cole held the Sox to one measly run in seven innings as the Yankees hung 10 runs on the awful Sox pitching. Colten Brewer, Ryan Brasier, Dylan Covey and even Sox closer Brandon Workman took a beating as the Yankees pounded out 14 hits and 10 runs. When the dust settled the Yankees had smashed the Sox 10-3 at Yankee Stadium.

                                               "This team sucks"

Cole cruised in the top of the first inning as Alex Verdugo popped up to third to start. Rafael Devers flied out to center and JD Martinez went down swinging to end the inning. Sox manager Ron Roenicke pulled Colten Brewer's name out of a hat to start the bottom of the first. DJ LeMahieu singled to right but Luke Voit lined out to center. Aaron Hicks took strike three but Gio Urshela walked and Gleyber Torres singled to second to load the bases. Mike Tauchman struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the second inning as Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Mitch Moreland took strike three and Christian Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning. Gary Sanchez flied out to center to start the bottom of the second before Clint Frazier grounded out to third. Brett Gardner walked but LeMahieu grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Kevin Pillar beat out an infield single to start the top of the third but Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to right. Pillar was caught stealing second and Jonathan Arauz grounded out to second to end the inning. The Yankees finally finished off Brewer in the bottom of the third as Voit singled to left to start. Hicks walked and both runners moved over on the Urshela ground out. Torres put the Yankees up for good with a double that scored both runners. A wild pitch moved Torres to third and Tauchman popped up to chase Brewer. As usual a Sox "starter" failed to go three innings without giving up runs. Austin Brice came in and Sanchez grounded out to second to end the inning but the Yankees were up 2-0.

                                                Nice "start" Brewer

The Sox tried to fight back when Verdugo belted his fourth home run of the year to right to cut the lead in the top of the fourth. Devers grounded out to first, Martinez whiffed and Bogaerts went down swinging to end the inning but the Sox cut the lead 2-1.

                                                    Verdugo goes yard

Brice returned for the bottom of the fourth and punched out Frazier to start. Gardner walked and stole second on the LeMahieu strikeout. Voit whiffed to end the inning.

The Sox blew their chance to tie the game in the top of the fifth as Moreland flied out to right to start. Vazquez singled to right but Pillar went down swinging. JBJ doubled to center but Arauz grounded out to third to end the inning. The Yankees feasted on Ryan Brasier in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hicks flied out to center and Urshela lined out to right, but Torres singled to left. Tauchman doubled him home and Sanchez got revenge for the 2018 ALDS by hitting a 8,000 foot home run to ice the game. Frazier whiffed to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-1.

                                                Yankees pour it on

Verdugo flied out to center to open the top of the sixth before Devers flied out to right. Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Dylan Covey came in for the bottom of the sixth and cruised. Gardner whiffed, LeMahieu flied out to right and Voit flied out to right to end the inning.

Cole cruised in the top of the seventh as Bogaerts whiffed to start. Moreland lined out to center and Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning. Covey returned for the bottom of the seventh and got lit up. Hicks popped up to first but Urshela singled to short. Torres singled to center and Tauchman singled home Urshela. A wild pitch moved the runners but Sanchez was rung up for strike three. Frazier doubled home both runners to increase the lead before Gardner grounded out to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 8-1.

                                                      What a disaster

Suddenly the Sox sprang to life against Jonathan Holder in the top of the eighth inning with Tyler Wade now at short. Pillar and JBJ drew back to back walks before Arauz singled to right to load the bases. Verdugo beat out a double play ball to score Pillar and Devers singled home JBJ. Adam Ottavino came in and froze Martinez for strike three before Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning with the Sox down 8-3.

                                                 Devers drives in a run

Sox closer Brandon Workman got beat up in the bottom of the eighth as LeMahieu singled to left to start. Voit walked but Hicks and Urshela both flied out to right. Wade singled to right to load the bases and Tauchman hit a ball to left. Verdugo picked the ball up and spiked it like a football before doing the macarena for an error. LeMahieu and Voit both scored and that was it for Workman. Marcus Walden came in and Sanchez flied out to left to end the inning with the Yankees up 10-3.

                                               Not even Workman could stop the Yankees

Ben Heller had mop up duty in the top of the ninth with Thairo Estrada at second. Moreland singled to center but Vazquez popped up to center. Pillar whiffed and JBJ went down hacking to end the game. The Yankees opened the salvo with an easy 10-3 win.

                                                     Another loss for the Sox


Jackass of the Night is Ryan Brasier. He gave up 3 crucial runs to put the game out of reach when the Sox were still in the game.

                                                     Brasier Jackass



The Good:

Kevin Pillar was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jonathan Arauz was 1 for 3.

Austin Brice tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Marcus Walden retired the only man he faced.



The Bad:

JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Colten Brewer allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings as the "opener".

Dylan Covey allowed 3 runs in 2 innings.

Brandon Workman allowed 2 runs in just 2/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 but drove in two total runs ans homered.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.




Final Thoughts:

If Sox fans had hopes for a promising season, they sure are dead now. E-Rod's gone, Sale is gone, the offense quit and the pitching sucks. Losing to the Yankees is one thing but to not even be competitive is a crime against humanity. When the Sox tanked September 2012 and lost every game to the Yankees, they quit on Bobby V. Is it too early to suggest they're quitting on Ron Roenicke? They fall behind by multiple runs every game and it only seems to get worse. Meanwhile the Sox offense haven't put up 8 runs since Opening Day. Its all adding up to a miserable, lost season and Sox fans can't wait for it to end. The loss dropped the Sox to 6-14, dead last in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox have a glimmer of home when they send Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) to the mound up against James Paxton at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Rays Pound Sox, Complete Sweep (8/13/20)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Robert Stock was optioned to the Alternate Training Site and Kyle Hart was brought up to make his major league debut. Kyle was the 568th pick of the 2016 draft meaning MLB baseball (the Sox included) thought 567 high school and college players were better than him. God help us.....

                                                                   OUT

                                                          IN

It was a bad night all around for Boston sports. The Boston Bruins were beaten by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their first round NHL playoff series and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox. That was one of the worst beatdowns the Tampa Bay Rays have ever laid on the Boston Red Sox. They averaged 8 runs a game in the past four games including the absolute crush job in tonight's game. The Rays pulverized Kyle Hart (0-1, 22.50 ERA) and a host of horrible believers for 19 hits and 17 runs. The Rays were one of the worst offensive teams in the American League going into this series and they couldn't miss. The Sox managed to make 4 errors on defense and get Jose Peraza hurt while he PITCHED. It all added up to a 17-5 blowout loss at Fenway Park.

                                                     We surrender!

Hart got lit up immediately in the top of the first as Mike Brosseau walked to start. Jose Martinez hit a routine grounder to Jonathan Arauz who threw himself on the ball and screamed for an error. Yandy Diaz singled home Brosseau to put the Rays up early. Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe whiffed but Willy Adames singled home Martinez to increase the lead. Manny Margot flied out to center to end the inning but it was 2-0 Rays.

                                                The carnage begins

The Sox fought back in the bottom of the first against Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. Alex Verdugo led off with a double to left and scored on the base hit by Rafael Devers. JD Martinez walked but Mitch Moreland and Kevin Pillar both struck out swinging. Kevin Plawecki doubled to center to score both runners and give the Sox the lead. Arauz atoned for his error with a base hit to left but Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.

                                                 Sox take the lead.

Hart got Yoshi Tsutsugo to strike out swinging to begin the top of the second before Mike Zunino hit one up the elevator shaft. Brosseau walked and took second on a balk, but Martinez took strike three to end the inning. Jose Peraza popped up to first to start the bottom of the second before Verdugo grounded out to first. Devers whiffed to end the inning.

The Rays figured out Hart in the top of the third as Diaz walked to start. Renfroe hit a 90 mph meatball right down the middle all the way to Lake Michigan to give the Rays the lead. Lowe followed with a 400,000 foot home run of his own and Adames doubled to left. Margot singled Adames to third and Tsutsugo singled him home. That was it for Hart who showed why 567 prospects were chosen before him, getting pounded for 7 runs in just 2 plus innings. Phillips Valdez came in and Zunino beat out a double play ball to score Margot. Brosseau singled to center but Martinez banged into a double play to end the inning with the Rays ahead 7-3.

                                                         Welcome to the big leagues

The Sox did fight back in the bottom of the third as Martinez walked to start. Moreland singled to right but both Pillar and Plawecki took strike three. Arauz doubled to right to score Martinez. The human rally killer JBJ grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were down 7-3.

                                                 Arauz drives in a run

The Rays iced the game in the top of the fourth with some really bad defense by Devers. Diaz singled to right and Devers threw a double play ball by Renfroe away. Lowe singled home Diaz but Diaz went down hacking. Devers threw a ball by Margot away which scored Renfroe and advanced Lowe to third. Tsutsugo scored Lowe with a sac fly to increase the lead. Zunino lined out to center to end the inning with the Rays up 10-4.

The Sox wouldn't go quietly in the bottom of the fourth as Peraza doubled to left to begin. Verdugo and Devers whiffed but Martinez doubled home Peraza to cut the lead. Moreland whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were down 10-5.

                                                Peraza scores

Valdez cruised in the top of the fifth as Brosseau grounded out to third to start. Martinez whiffed and Diaz grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Old pal Jalen "Twin" Beeks took the mound in the bottom of the fifth and cruised. Pillar grounded out to third, Plawecki grounded out to short and Arauz whiffed to end the inning.

Marcus Walden came in for the top of the sixth and immediately crapped his pants. Renfroe smashed a home run into the Atlantic Ocean and Lowe walked to start. Adames tripled into the right field corner and Margot singled him home. Tsutsugo singled to center and Zunino effortlessly crushed a three run bomb to chase Walden. If there were fans in the stands they'd be booing as Josh Osich came in and somehow struck out Brosseau swinging. Martinez grounded out to third and Diaz whiffed to end the inning with the Rays ahead 16-5. The Rays have scored a total of 41 runs in 4 games and there's still three innings left.

                                                         "This sucks" - RR

JBJ grounded out to second to start the bottom of the sixth but Peraza doubled to center. Verdugo grounded out to first and Devers flied out to left to end the inning.

Michael Chavis took over at first in the top of the seventh and Devers made his third error of the gamer when he threw a ground ball by Renfroe away. Lowe and Adames whiffed but Margot singled to left.  Tsutsugo whiffed to end the inning. Anthony Banda came in for the bottom of the seventh and Martinez grounded out to third to start. Chavis tripled to right and Pillar was plunked...but Plawecki banged into a double play to end the inning.

Heath Hembree came in for the top of the eighth and Zunino took strike three to start. Brosseau whiffed and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Arauz lined out to center ton start. JBJ whiffed and Peraza flied out to left to end the inning.

In a case of Murphy's Law, Sox manager Ron Roenicke decided to have Peraza come from second base to pitch the top of the ninth with Tzu-Wei Lin now at short. Diaz singled and Renfroe doubled, then Lowe smashed a line drive off the leg of Peraza that went to Chavis for the out. Peraza's leg was shattered and Diaz scored to wrap up the scoring. Plawecki was brought from the catcher's spot to pitch, Lin moved to the catcher's spot and Christian Vazquez was brought in to play second base as Sox fans wondered if Roenicke had Alzheimer's. Adames walked but Margot lined out to left and Tsutsugo flied out to right to end the inning. The Rays scored a total of 42 runs in this four game sweep....pathetic.

                                                            Can it get any worse?

The Sox rallied for no reason in the bottom of the ninth as Verdugo walked to start. Alex was forced at second by Devers and Lin popped up to third. Chavis singled to center and Pillar doubled home both runners off the Monster. Plawecki the pitcher singled home Pillar to give the Sox 8 runs for the first time since Opening Day. Arauz took strike three to end the game, the Rays had completed the embarrassing sweep 17-8.

                                                        Rays win

Jackass of the Night is Marcus Walden. Hart looked shell-shocked in his ML debut and Valdez was let down by his defense, there's no excuse for Walden to allow 6 damn runs without making an out.

                                                           Walden Jackass


The Good:

JD Martinez was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Mitch Moreland was 1 for 3.

Michael Chavis was 2 for 2 with a run scored.

Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 5 with 3 rbis and got the final two outs of the ninth inning.

Jonathan Arauz was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Jose Peraza was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Josh Osich struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced.

Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless eighth inning.



The Bad:

Tzu-Wei Lin was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Kyle Hart got shelled in his ML debut, allowing 7 runs in just 2 plus innings.



The Ugly:

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and 3 errors but drove in a run and scored twice.

Kevin Pillar was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch, drove in 2 runs and scored a run.

Phillips Valdez allowed 3 unearned runs in 3 innings.



Honorable Mention:

Christian Vazquez played second base in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Murphy's Law was in effect tonight. Not only did one of the worst offenses in baseball pulverize the Sox horrible pitching staff, Rafael Devers managed to look worse than ever and Jose Peraza may be out for the season after taking a line drive off the leg as the PITCHER. Anything that went wrong could and did go wrong. There's really nothing left to say as the whole franchise has sent up the white flag. A lot of Sox fans have said management punted this season, no way. This franchise took a knee on fourth down, forget punting. Every game is a complete embarrassment and its getting worse with each passing day. They're unwatchable at this point and there's still 41 games left of this torture to go. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Not only did the Sox get their brains beat in by Tampa, guess who they get to go get slaughtered by next? That's right, they go to New York to play the Yankees. If the Rays looked like worldbeaters what are the Yankees going to do to them? As per norm, Sox manager Ron Roenicke will pick someone's name out of a hat to start for the Sox against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Rays Pound Godley, Sox (8/12/20)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox apparently have had enough of Andrew Benintendi. After not hitting the first 16 games of the season and his baserunning blunder, the Sox have put him on the Injured List with a "Rib cage strain." The play of Kevin Pillar and emergence of Alex Verdugo pretty much made Benintendi expendable the way he's been swinging the bat, so he'll take two weeks to get a girlfriend and rediscover himself. The Sox recalled our favorite soft tossing right handed pitcher that can't get anyone out, Ryan Weber. Yay!

                                                                           OUT

                                                                  IN

The good news was the Boston Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in double overtime of Game 1 of their first round NHL playoff series, the bad news was the Boston Red Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays. Talk about hitting rock bottom. Ryan Weber tossed 6 innings of one run ball and JD Martinez hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.....too bad Zack Godley (0-2, 8.16 ERA) actually started the game and allowed 8 runs in just 3 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Martinez grand slam was when the Sox were already down 8 runs and the Rays held on to beat the Sox. It was the Rays 7th consecutive victory in Boston and the Rays scored eight runs for the third game in a row to beat the Sox 9-5 at Fenway Park.

                          At this point Derpy Clay Buchholz could pitch better for the Sox

The Rays wasted zero time getting to Godley in the top of the first inning. Austin Meadows flied out to center but Brandon Lowe singled to right, Yandy Diaz singled off the glove of Michael Chavis and Ji-Man Choi walked to load the bases. Joey Wendle grounded out to first but Lowe scored to put the Rays up for good 6 batters into the game. Yoshi Tsutsugo flied out to center to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0.

                                                          Tsutsugo

The Sox did the exact opposite against Tampa starter Blake Snell in the bottom of the first. Kevin Pillar got a base hit to left but naturally Rafael Devers banged into a double play. JD Martinez grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Rays iced the game in the top of the second as Willy Adames hit a 7,000 foot home run to increase the lead to start. Kevin Kiermaier and Michael Perez both struck out swinging and Meadows hit a routine pop up to right....that Pillar lost in the lights and it dropped for a hit. Naturally Lowe pounded a 100,000 foot home run to ice the game. Diaz lined out to right to end the inning. If fans were there, they'd be booing as the Sox trailed 4-0.

                                                           Game over

Naturally the Sox rolled over and died in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Christian Vazquez whiffed but Chavis singled and stole second. Naturally with a man on second, Alex Verdugo whiffed to end the inning.

The Rays poured it on in the top of the third as Choi doubled to right but Wendle whiffed. Tsutsugo then effortlessly hit a home run into the Merrimack River to add to the lead. Adames hit one up the elevator shaft but Kiermaier singled to left. Perez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but it was 6-0 Rays.

                                                 Rays having all the fun

Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed to open the bottom of the third and Jose Peraza lined out to left. Pillar singled to left but was foolishly thrown out trying to stretch a double to end the inning.

The Rays finished off Godley in the top of the fourth as Meadows walked to start. Lowe doubled him to third and Diaz singled him home to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Godley allowed 10 hits and was charged with 8 runs, Brian Johnson must be laughing his ass off. Ryan Weber came in and got Choi to bang into a double play which scored Lowe. Wendle took strike three to end the inning and the Rays were up 8-0.

                                                   Zack's face says it all

The Sox tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth although Devers lined out to left to start. Martinez struck out but the ball got away from the catcher so JD took first. Bogaerts got a base hit to left but Vazquez popped up to third and Chavis took strike three to end the inning.

Tzu-Wei Lin took over for Bogaerts to begin the top of the fifth and Tsutsugo took strike three to start. Adames grounded out to short and Kiermaier singled to right, but Perez grounded out to first to end the inning.  The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the fifth as Verdugo flied out to center, JBJ grounded out to second and Peraza whiffed to end the inning.

Weber cruised in the top of the sixth as Meadows grounded out to second to start. Lowe took strike three and Diaz lined out to right to end the inning. Aaron Siegers took over for Snell to begin the bottom of the sixth and Pillar singled to left to start. Devers whiffed, Pillar moved to second on the Martinez grounder and Lin grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Anyone else sick and tired of the Sox getting a man on and doing nothing while the Rays get a man on and hit shots all over Fenway?

Jonathan Arauz gave Devers the rest of the night off in the top of the seventh as Choi grounded out to first to start. Wednle singled to right but Tsutsugo banged into a double play to end the inning.  The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Vazquez flied out to center to start. Chavis grounded out to second and Verdugo grounded out to short to end the inning.

Adames whiffed to begin the top of the eighth but Kiermaier singled to right. Perez banged into a double play to end the inning. Somehow the Sox exploded in the bottom of the eighth as JBJ beat out an infield single to second to begin. Peraza singled to left and Pillar singled to right to load the bases. Arauz singled to left to score JBJ and Martinez pounded a grand slam to dead center to somehow put the Sox back in the game. Lin singled to second to chase Siegers as Nick Anderson came in. Vazquez and Chavis whiffed but Verdugo got a base hit to right to shockingly get the tying run to the plate after being down 8-0 since the fourth inning. Naturally JBJ grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox showed some life to trail 8-5.

                                                     Martinez clears the bases

Naturally the only run allowed by Weber in his outing would come when the Sox desperately needed a shutdown inning. Meadows hit the third pitch of the top of the ninth all the way to Neptune to increase the lead. Lowe flied out to left but Diaz singled to right. Manny Margot pinch ran for Diaz and he moved to second on a grounder to first by Choi. Wendle flied out to center to end the inning with the Rays ahead 9-5. If you were to tell me before the game Weber would throw 6 innings of 1 run ball, why else would I expect the one run to come in the one inning they needed a clean frame?

                                                   Hell of an effort by Weber

Hunter Renfroe came in for Tsutsugo with Pete Fairbanks now on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. The Sox went quietly as Peraza grounded out to short, Pillar whiffed and Arauz grounded out to first to end the game. The Rays had won it 9-5.

                                                     Rays win again


Jackass of the Night is Zack Godley. The incompetent starter allowed 8 runs off TEN hits in 3 plus innings.

                                               Spit that gum out, Jackass


The Good:

Kevin Pillar was 4 for 5 with a run scored.

Jonathan Arauz was 1 for 2 with an rbi and a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 2.

Tzu-Wei Lin was 1 for 2.



The Bad:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Christian Vazquez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a grand slam.

Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but stole a base.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Jose Peraza was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

As the season continues to spiral down the drain what is there left to say? The pitching sucks, the offense sucks and this whole situation sucks. Unless another Covid outbreak happens, we still have 42 games to go. The only positive is the Luxury Tax resets after August 31st so if the season can hang on, the Sox will finally rid themselves of Pablo Sandoval, Rusney Castillo and Hanley Ramirez' contracts. They still have another year of David Price and Dustin Pedroia but Dustin could make things easier by retiring. Its very clear the Sox need starting pitching and they'll have the money for it next year. As for this year, once again we have 42 games left of this nonsense. The positives were Ryan Weber tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball in relief and JD Martinez clocking a grand slam. That's about it. The news gets even better as Tampa Bay goes for the sweep tomorrow afternoon. Tyler Glasnow goes for the Sox against 2016 19th round draft pick Kyle Hart making his MLB debut. The carnage begins at 4:30 PM at Fenway Park.

Rays Pound Sox Terrible Bullpen (8/11/20)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move when they sent Jeffrey Springs to their Alternate Training Site. The Sox picked Robert Stock's name out of a hat and brought him up. Stock is career minor leaguer with a whopping career record of 2-1. The move was just to get Springs out of there but replacing one bum with another doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

                                                                        OUT

                                                                       IN


As for the game, what's left to say about how bad the Boston Red Sox pitching and offense is? For the second day in a row the Tampa Bay Rays feasted on the pathetic bullpen of the Boston Red Sox. After Martin Perez (2-2, 3.45 ERA) left in the sixth inning, the Rays pounced on Austin Brice and Robert Stock for six runs in the top of the seventh. For the second day in a row the Rays scored 8 runs, the Red Sox haven't scored 8 runs since Opening Day. After losing starter Andrew Kittredge two batters into the first inning, the Rays bullpen tossed 8 2/3 innings of 2 run ball. The pathetic offense and equally pathetic bullpen led to an easy 8-2 victory for the Rays.

                                              Randy Quaid is angry again

The Rays wasted no time getting to Perez in the top of the first inning. Mike Brosseau hit the sixth pitch of the game into the Charles River to give the Rays the lead instantly. Yandy Diaz flied out to left, Austin Meadows took strike three and Jose Martinez flied out to center to end the inning but the Rays were ahead 1-0.

                                                           Brosseau starts the torture

Andrew Kittredge got the start for the Rays but didn't last long in the top of the first. Andrew Benintendi singled but Alex Verdugo popped up to center. Kittredge then started clutching his arm and keeled over. Andrew had to be hauled off on a gurney and rushed to Brigham & Women's ICU and John Curtiss came in to pitch. JD Martinez whiffed and Benintendi was thrown out trying to steal to end the inning.

                                                     Bye bye Kittredge

Hunter Renfroe grounded out on a squibber in front of the plate to start the top of the second and Ji-Man Choi took strike three. Willy Adames walked but Manny Margot flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second although Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to start. Mitch Moreland grounded out to first but Christian Vazquez doubled to right. Michael Chavis scored Vazquez with a base hit to center and Jackie Bradley Jr singled off the glove of Choi., Jonathan Arauz grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox tied it 1-1.

                                                    Vazquez scores a run

The Rays immediately took the lead back in the top of the third although Mike Zunino took strike three to begin. Brosseau put himself halfway to the cycle with a double to left and Diaz singled him home. Meadows popped up to short and Martinez lined out to short to end the inning but it was 2-1 Rays.

                                                         Diaz drives in a run

Benintendi tried to start a rally with a base hit off the glove of Choi to start the bottom of the third and moved to second on the Verdugo grounder. Martinez flied out to center and Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning.

Perez settled down in the top of the fourth as Renfroe lined out to center to start. Choi flied out to right and Adames grounded out to third to end the inning. Jose Alvarado came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth and Moreland was hit with a pitch to start. Vazquez flied out to right and Chavis banged into a double play to end the inning.

Margot flied out to center to start the top of the fifth before Zunino grounded out to second. Brosseau grounded out to third to end the inning. JBJ whiffed to start the bottom of the fifth but Arauz singled to left. Benintendi whiffed and Verdugo popped up to short to end the inning.

Diaz took strike three to start the top of the sixth before Meadows whiffed. Martinez walked and Sox manager Ron Roenicke bounded out of the dugout. For some reason Roenicke pulled Perez after just 94 pitches. Someone want to tell Roenicke that this isn't April and there's only 43 games left in the season? Perez did well for 5 2/3 innings by allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks. Austin Brice came in and got Renfroe to ground back to the mound to end the inning.

                                                      Perez goes 5 2/3 strong innings

Ryan Thompson came in for the bottom of the sixth and Martinez walked to start. Bogaerts banged into a double play and Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning.

The wheels fell off in the top of the seventh although Choi whiffed to start. Adames singled to center and Margot doubled him home. Zunino walked and Brandon Lowe pinch hit for Brosseau, pounding a ground rule double to right to score Margot. Diaz beat out an infield single to second to score Zunino. Finally...FINALLY, Roenicke pulled Brice. The incompetent reliever was charged with 5 runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Robert Stock made his season debut by walking Meadows. Yoshi Tsutsugo pinch hit for Martinez and popped up to third but a passed ball by Vazquez scored Lowe and moved the runners over. Renfroe doubled home both runners to wrap up the scoring. Choi took strike three to end the innings but the Rays put six runs on the board and iced the game 8-1. Absolutely bawful.

                                                 Their expressions say it all

Diego Castillo came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Sox went quietly. Vazquez and Chavis whiffed before JBJ flied out to right to end the inning.

Stock returned for the top of the eighth and Adames took strike three to start. Margo singled to right but Zunino whiffed. Lowe and Diaz walked to load the bases to chase Stock. Dylan Covey came in and got Meadows to ground out to second to end the inning. Aaron Loup came in for the bottom of the eighth and only the Sox could screw this rally up. Arauz singled to right and Benintendi was hit with a pitch to put runners on. Verdugo singled in the hole at short and Arauz scored easily, but Benintendi fell down rounding second and was tagged out. Naturally Martinez flied out to center and Bogaerts whiffed again to end the inning with the Sox down 8-2.

                                                        A microcosm of the season

Tzu-Wei Lin took over for Moreland but played short as Kevin Plawecki took Bogaerts spot but went to first for the top of the ninth. Tsutsugo grounded out to short, Renfroe popped up to first and Choi lined out to center to end the inning. Nick Anderson came in for the bottom of the ninth and Lin struck out swinging to start. Vazquez went down hacking but Chavis tripled into the gap in center. JBJ went down swinging to end the game. The Rays had won it 8-2.

                                                       Rays win again


Jackass of the Night is Austin Brice. He was charged with 5 runs in just 2/3 of an inning to put the game out of reach.

                                        "Yeah you're Jackass, Brice. Now scram!" - RR



The Good:

Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch.

Michael Chavis was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Jonathan Arauz was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Dylan Covey tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Tzu-Wei Lin struck out in his only at-bat.

Robert Stock allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 1 of his own in 1 1/3 inning.



The Ugly:

Mitch Moreland was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch.

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

JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked.

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

Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Martin Perez was the hard luck loser as he tossed 5 2/3 innings of 2 run ball.



Honorable Mention:

Kevin Plawecki played first base in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Ready to drink Drano yet Sox fans? If the terrible pitching isn't enough to want to take a swan dive off the Tobin Bridge, the offense is. The Rays scored 8 runs in back to back games and the Sox haven't scored more than 7 since Opening Day. The Sox bullpen has allowed 14 runs in the past two games and it just doesn't get any better from here. The Sox can call up one bum after another but its not going to make a difference without any starting pitching. Eduardo Rodriguez suffering from Covid related heart disease, Chris Sale needing Tommy John and Colin McHugh opting out due to Covid sapped the team of 3 starters but the worst part is not replacing them. Oh it gets better, Sox prospect Kyle Hart makes his Major League debut on Thursday. What's the catch? He was the 568th overall pick in the 2016 draft. That means MLB thought 567 high school and college players were better than he was. Now for the positives, Michael Chavis and Jonathan Arauz hit pretty well and Martin Perez pitched well....that's about it. The loss drops the Sox to 6-11, 5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox send Zack Godley (0-1, 3.97 ERA) to the mound up against Rays ace Blake Snell at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.