Rodriguez Returns, Sox Beat Orioles (4/8/21)

Welcome back Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 5.40 ERA) to the Boston Red Sox. After missing an entire season due to a COVID related heart condition, Rodriguez came back to win his first game since September 2019. Rodriguez tossed 5 gutty innings and allowed 3 runs to put the Sox in position to win. The balanced offense continued their surge as they pounded out 12 hits as a team. Kike Hernandez and Rafael Devers both hit their first home runs of the season, JD Martinez continued his hot streak and the team as a whole scored 7 runs against the Baltimore Orioles.. The Sox bullpen combined to toss 4 shutout innings to win the game 7-3 at Camden Yards.

                                                      Ali MacGraw approves of the win

 The Sox wasted no time getting to Harvey in the top of the first inning. Kike Hernandez grounded out to short to start but Alex Verdugo ripped a double down the left field line. JD Martinez went down swinging but Rafael Devers clobbered his first home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Christian Vazquez also doubled to left before stealing third base. Marwin Gonzalez walked but Christian Arroyo took a questionable strike three on the outside corner to end the inning. The Sox made Harvey throw 25 pitches and led 2-0.

                                                    Devers first home run of 2021

Rodriguez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Cedric Mullins picked up where he left off last week with a base hit to right. Trey Mancini got a standing O at the plate for his first atbat at Camden since beating colon cancer and forced Mullins at second. Anthony Santander struck out swinging but Ryan Mountcastle hit a home run all the way to the Lincoln Monument to tie the game. Maikel Franco hit a routine grounder to Gonzalez who dove on the ball and swam on it for an error before Pedro Severino crushed a base hit up the middle. Freddy Galvis struck out swinging but Erod had thrown 26 pitches and the game was tied 2-2. 

                                                             Mountcastle ties it u[

The Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the second inning as Franchy Cordero grounded out to first to start. Bobby Dalbec grounded out to second and Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning. Rodriguez regained his touch in the bottom of the second as Rio Ruiz struck out swinging to start. Pat Valaika grounded out to second and Mullins grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the third inning as Verdugo grounded out to short to start. Martinez singled in the hole at short but Devers struck out swinging. Vazquez doubled to left but Gonzalez grounded out to first to end the inning. Mancini whiffed to start the bottom of the third and Santander also went down swinging. Mountcastle grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Arroyo grounded out to second to start. Cordero took strike three and Dalbec flied out to center to end the inning. The O's took the lead in the bottom of the fourth although Franco flied out to left to start. Severino hit a home run all the way to the Gulf of Mexico to give the O's the lead. Galvis popped up to second but Ruiz was hit with a pitch.....or wasn't. Apparently home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak ruled it was NOT an HBP and O's manager Brandon Hyde stormed out of the dugout screaming like a banshee. Brandon started tearing his clothes off and had to be escorted out of the building by armed security. When play resumed, Ruiz took stirke three to end the inning with the O's up 3-2.

                                    "I'VE HAD IT UP TO HEREEEEEE WITH YOU REHAK!"

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fifth as Mullins robbed Hernandez of a hit with a great diving catch to start. Verdugo grounded out to short and Martinez went down hacking to end the inning. Rodriguez got Valaika to line out to center to start the bottom of the fifth and Mullins went down swinging. Maninci grounded out to short to end the inning. That was it for Rodriguez who tossed 5 innings of 3 run ball in his first pro start in 19 months.

                                                      Good work E-Rod

The Sox fought back in the top of the sixth as Devers and Vazquez stroked back to back singles to start. Paul Fry came in to replace Harvey and Gonzalez walked to load the bases with nobody out. Arroyo grounded back to the mound but Devers scored to tie the game. Cordero lined a base hit to left to score Vazquez and Mountcastle threw the ball away allowing the other runners to advance on the error. Dillon Tate replaced Fry and Dalbec struck out swinging. Gonzalez then got picked off to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-3.

                                              "Look at me! I gave us the lead!" - Cordero
                    

Garrett Whitlock came on to pitch the bottom of the sixth and he cruised. Santander grounded out to first, Mountcastle went down hacking and Franco flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox got some insurance runs in the top of the seventh although Hernandez grounded out to third to start. Verdugo doubled to right to chase Tate and Shawn Armstrong came in to pitch. Martinez ripped a doubled to center to score Verdugo and increase the lead. Devers walked but Vazquez popped up to second. Gonzalez dropped a base hit to left to score Martinez with another run. Tyler Wells replaced Armstrong and Arroyo flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.

                                                   Gonzalez has TWO WORDS FOR YA!

Whitlock cruised in the bottom of the seventh inning as Severino took strike three to start. Galvis went down hacking and Ruiz lined out to left to end the inning.

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the top of the eighth although Cordero struck out swinging to start. Dalbec went down hacking but Hernandez pounded his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Verdugo took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.

                                                  Hernandez hits his first home run

Matt Andriese came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Valaika walked to start. Mullins flied out to center but Mancini singled to left. Santander forced Mancini at second and Mountcastle struck out swinging to end the inning.

Wade LeBlanc came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Martinez grounded back to the mound to start. Devers was plunked and a wild pitch moved him to second, but Vazquez flied out to left. Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and dominated. Franco, Severino and Galvis all struck out swinging on 10 pitches to end the game. The Sox had won their fourth straight game 7-3.

                                                         All smiles in this one

Hero of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He won his first game in over a year and a half by tossing 5 innings of 3 run ball.

                                                         Rodriguez The Hero

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with a walk, hit by pitch, 2 runs scored and a 2 run homer.

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

Christian Vazquez was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Marwin Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Matt Andriese pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Matt Barnes struck out the side on 10 pitches in the bottom of the ninth.

The Bad:

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

The Ugly:

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a solo home run.

Christian Arroyo was 0 for 4 with a strkeout but drove in a run.

Franchy Cordero was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Final Thoughts:

What a difference a week makes. After the Red Sox started 0-3 everyone was digging their graves but as soon as the weather heated up, so did the Sox. This was their fourth straight victory and it was mostly the same balanced attack with timely pitching. Rodriguez was pulled after 5 for precautionary reasons and the bullpen was lights out after that. If Garrett Whitlock and Hiro Sawamura can become the modern day Manny Delcarmen/Hideki Okajima combo that the Sox had in 2007, with Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino as potential closers, the Sox would be very hard to beat with a lead after 6 innings. That's wishful thinking but positive thinking is better than the negativity surrounding the team from media and fans after the 0-3 start. JD Martinez fixed himself and if Xander Bogaerts and Devers can get hot, this team has the potential to have a good April to win rapport back from the fans. They still have a long way to go but a win is a win. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox look to make it five wins in a row Saturday night against the Orioles when they send Garrett Richards (0-1, 27.00 ERA) to the mound against Bruce Zimmermann of the O's. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.

Sox Sweep Rays (4/7/21)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made an unfortunate roster move. Since Nick Pivetta is out of options and Garrett Richards is on the hook for $10 million this season, Tanner Houck had to be sent to the Alternate Training Site in order for Eduardo Rodriguez to make his comeback tomorrow. Houck is too talented to be gone for too long. As soon as someone gets hurt....and they will.....he'll be back.

                                                                          OUT

                                                             IN

As for the game, how about those Red Sox now? After Boston fans and media pronounced them dead in the water after Sunday's disaster against the Baltimore Orioles, the Sox came back to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays out of Fenway Park. Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 1.46 ERA) was outstanding, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball in his best start since Opening Day last season. The Sox offense pounced on Ryan Yarbrough for 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth and 6 in the bottom of the fifth. For some reason Rays manager Kevin Cash left Ryan out to dry and the Sox ended the game with a flurry of runs. When the dust settled the Sox avenged their opening week sweep by sweeping the Rays with a 9-2 win at Fenway Park.

                                                     Aja Kong approves of the win

Eovaldi got the ball in the top of the first and Yoshi Tsutsugo grounded out to first to start. Austin Meadows popped up to third in foul territory ans Randy Arozarena grounded out to second to end the inning. Yarbrough got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez led off by grounding out to short. Rafael Devers struck out swinging on a pitch down and away and Randy Arozarena reached into the stands to snare a JD Martinez liner by the Pesky Pole to end the inning.....but wait! Apparently one of the fans knocked it into the glove of Arozarena which was technically a foul ball. Martinez grounded out to third to officially end the inning.

Eovaldi cruised in the top of the second as Brandon Lowe took strike three to start. Yandy Diaz lined out to right and Wendle lined out to center to end the inning. Xander Bogaerts got the first hit of the game with a little roller to third to start. Christian Vazquez beat out a double play ball but Hunter Renfroe didn't, the Rays turned that one to end the inning.

The Rays struck first in the top of the third as Manny Margot grounded out to short to start. Francisco Mejia doubled to left but Willy Adames grounded out to third. Tsutsugo put the Rays on top with a base hit to center to score Mejia. Meadows lined out to right to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0.

                                                                Rays take the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third inning as Christian Arroyo lined out to second to start. Bobby Dalbec dropped a base hit to center but Kevin Plawecki popped up to second. Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Eovaldi rebounded in the top of the fourth as Arozarena grounded out to third to start. Lowe walked but Diaz and Wendle both struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox roared back in the bottom of the fourth as Devers walked to start. Devers moved to second on the grounder by Martinez and Bogaerts lined a base hit to center to score Devers to tie the game. Vazquez then crushed his second home run in as many days to put the Sox on top. Renfroe lined out to center and Arroyo lined out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.

                                                             Vazquez puts the Sox on top

Eovaldi kept up the pace in the top of the fifth as Margot grounded out to short to start. Mejia grounded out to first and Adames struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the fifth although Dalbec lined out to third to start. Plawecki was plunked and Hernandez singled to left, but Devers flied out to center. Martinez doubled home Plawecki and Hernandez to ice the game. Bogaerts singled Martinez to third and Vazquez singled to left to score Martinez. Kevin Cash stayed in the dugout and Renfroe reached on a throwing error by Adames, scoring Vazquez. Arroyo doubled home Renfroe to wrap up the scoring and Dalbec grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-1.

                                                            Sox are all smiles today

Eovaldi stayed tough in the top of the sixth as Tsutsugo struck out swinging to start. Meadows doubled toc enter but Arozarena struck out swinging. Lowe walked but Diaz struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rays emptied the bench in the bottom of the sixth as Kevin Padlo took over for Wendle, Mike Brosseau took over for Margot and Collin McHugh came in to pitch. Plawecki flied out to left to start but Hernandez singled to left. Devers banged into a double play to end the inning.

Eovaldi returned for one more inning in the top of the seventh and Padlo walked to start. Brosseau banged into a double play and Mejia grounded out to second to end the inning. Eovaldi was outstanding, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while allowing just 3 hits.

                                                         Great start by Eovaldi

\

Joseph Odom came in to catch the bottom of the seventh and Martinez struck out swinging to start. Cordero singled to right but Vazquez struck out swinging. Renfroe grounded out to first to end the inning.

Josh Taylor came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Adames flied out to right to start. Tsutsugo grounded out to first and Meadows grounded out to first to end the inning. Arroyo flied out to left to start the bottom of the eighth but Dalbec singled to center. Plawecki singled to center but Hernandez banged into a double play to end the inning.

Taylor returned for the top of the ninth and got tagged. Arozarena doubled to center to start but Lowe popped up to third. Diaz grounded out to short but Padlo walked. Brosseau scored Arozarena with a base hit to left, moving Padlo to third. Odom was rung up on a check swing strike three to end the game. The Sox had swept the Rays with a 9-2 win.

                                                     Sox win!

Hero of the Night is Nathan Eovaldi. He was outstanding tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball while allowing just 3 hits.

                                                         Hero Eovaldi

The Good:

Kike Hernandez was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 3 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Franchy Cordero singled as a pinch hitter.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run and 3 total rbis.

Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 4.

Kevin Plawecki was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.

The Bad:

None

The Ugly:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored.

JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but knocked in 2 runs and scored a run.

Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 4 but scored a run.

Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Josh Taylor allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Final Thoughts:

THIS is what the Sox were supposed to look like last week. JD Martinez, Christian Vazquez and others supplying the offense while the good starters shut down the other team. Eovaldi has pitched two good starts in a row and this time the bats were there to help him. Bogaerts finally had a good day and Vazquez has bene on fire lately. This is what the Sox need over the course of the season if they want to finish respectable. Its unfair to expect Eovaldi to make 30 starts because he never does, but he's been good so far. The Sox will only go as far as their pitching takes them and apart from one guy in the rotation and one guy in the bullpen, things look good so far. The bullpen is well rested for the next series when the Sox look for revenge against the Baltimore Orioles. Eduardo Rodriguez makes his first start since September 2019 tomorrow afternoon against the Orioles who haven't named their starter yet. The game begins at 3:05 PM at Camden Yards.

Sox Walkoff Rays in 12 Innings (4/6/21)

It was a good game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tonight and the Sox came out on the right end of it. Tyler Glasnow of the Rays came out throwing smoke and held the Sox to just 1 run in 6 innings. Martin Perez allowed 3 runs in just 5 plus innings to put the Sox in a hole. The Sox chipped away with a run in the eigth and a home run by Christian Vazquez in the ninth to tie it up. The Rays scored in the top of the eleventh but the Sox answered in the bottom of the frame. The Rays took the lead again in the top of the 12th but Alex Verdugo was plunked on an 0-2 count and JD Martinez doubled over the head of Randy Arozarena to score both runners. The Sox had come from behind to win it 6-5 in 12 innings.

                                                         Sox Walk It Off!

Perez got the ball in the top of the first and Yandy Diaz flied out to center on the first pitch. Randy Arozarena went down hacking but Mike Brosseau hit a ground rule double into the right field stands. Manny Margot flied out to left to end the inning. 

The Sox looked to get to Glasnow early when Christian Arroyo led the bottom of the first off with a double down the third base line. Unfortunately Alex Verdugo went down swinging and JD Martinez could only advance Arroyo to third on a grounder. Luckily Glasnow spiked a curveball in the dirt and Arroyo made a mad dash home to give the Sox the lead. Xander Bogaerts took strike three to end the inning but it was 1-0 Boston.

                                                       Arroyo scores the first run

Brandon Lowe grounded out to first to start the top of the second before Willy Adames flied out to center. Francisco Mejia grounded out to short to end the inning. The Red Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second inning as Rafael Devers grounded out to first to start. Christian Vazquez grounded out to third and Marwin Gonzalez took strike three to end the inning.

The Rays struck back in the top of the third although Kevin Padlo struck out swinging to start. Mike Zunino singled to left, Diaz walked and Arozarena singled to left to load the bases. Somehow Brosseau lined out to short but Margot beat the shift with a base hit to right to score both Zunino and Diaz to put the Rays ahead. Lowe was hit with a pitch to reload the bases but Adames took strike three on the inside corner to end the inning with the Rays up 2-1.

                                                Margot puts the Rays on top

The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the third although Hunter Renfroe flied out to right to start. Franchy Cordero doubled off the Monster but Arroyo almost broke his back on a check swing strike three down and away. Verdugo grounded out to short to end the inning.

Mejia lined one off Perez for a base hit to open the top of the fourth but Padlo flied out to left. Zunino popped up to third and Diaz took strike three to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Martinez flied out to right to start. Bogaerts lashed a base hit to center but Devers went down hacking. Vazquez worked a walk and both runners pulled off a double steal, but Gonzalez took strike three to end the inning.

Perez returned for the top of the fifth and Arozarena was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to start. Brosseau flied out to center and Margot took strike three to end the inning. Glasnow dominated the bottom of the fifth as Renfroe popped up to first to start. Cordero and Arroyo both went down hacking to end the inning. 83 pitches through 5 for Glasnow.

Perez was chased early in the top of the sixth as Lowe walked to start. That was it for Perez as he allowed 3 runs in 5 innings of work. 

                                                  Game but not good enough

Austin Brice came in and Adames singled to center. Lowe made it to third but Adames was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Mejia popped up to second but Joey Wendle pinch hit for Padlo and naturally hit a roller up the middle to score Lowe with the insurance run. Zunino flied out to right to end the inning but it was 3-1 Rays.

                                                Wendle looked to have iced it

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo lined out to left to start. Martinez hit one up the elevator shaft but Bogaerts walked. Devers lined a base hit to right to move Bogaerts to third but Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Hiro Sawamura came in for the top of the seventh and Diaz popped up to first to start. Arozarena was plunked and Austin Meadows pinch hit for Brosseau, drawing a walk. Cordero then made a great jumping catch up against the Monster to rob Margot and double off Arozarena to end the inning.

                                                   What a catch by Cordero

Cody Reed came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Gonzalez grounded out to second to start. Renfroe doubled to right and Kike Hernandez pinch hit for Cordero. Hernandez struck out swinging and that was it for Reed. Pete Fairbanks came in and struck out Arroyo swinging to end the inning.

Darwinzon Hernandez came in for the top of the eighth and walked Lowe to start. Devers dropped a line drive by Adames but nailed at second and Adames was thrown out trying to steal. Mejia walked but Wendle struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the eighth as Verdugo doubled over the head of Arozarena to start. Martinez also doubled past Arozarena to score Verdugo. The rally ended as Bogaerts struck out swinging and Martinez forgot how many outs there were when he was doubled off second on a line drive to center by Devers to end the inning. The Sox were still down 3-2.

                                                                  YOU IDIOT!

Matt Barnes came in for the top of the ninth and Zunino went down hacking to start. Diaz grounded out to third and Arozarena struck out swinging to end the inning. Diego Castillo came in for the bottom of the ninth and Vazquez extended the game with a solo home run to tie up the game. Gonzalez grounded out to second, Renfroe struck out swinging and Hernandez went down hacking to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

                                                      Vazquez ties it up

Barnes returned for the top of the tenth and Arozarena started the inning at second base. Meadows popped up to third to start and Margot struck out swinging. Lowe struck out to end the inning. The Sox had a chance to win in the bottom of the tenth with Andrew Kittredge now on the mound and Hernandez starting at second. Arroyo screwed up the bunt twice but did manage to get Hernandez to third with a grounder to second. Verdugo was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners but all Martinez could do was ground out to second, moving Verdugo to second. Once again with the game on the line, Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Rays took the lead in the top of the eleventh with Tanner Houck on the mound. Lowe started the inning at second and Adames effortlessly doubled him home to put the Rays up. Mejia moved Adames over to third with a sacrifice bunt but Wendle struck out swinging. Zunino struck out swinging to end the inning but it was 4-3 Rays.

                                                            Adames gives the Rays the lead

Jeffrey Springs came on to close out the game with Bogaerts starting at second base. Devers wasted no time and drove Bogaerts home with a base hit to left to tie the game. Vazquez flied out to center and Gonzalez lined out to right to chase Springs. Ryan Thompson came in and got Renfroe to force Devers at second to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.

                                                       Bogaerts scores the tying run

The Rays struck again  in the top of the 12th inning with Phillips Valdez on the mound and Zunino at second. Diaz lined out to right but a wild pitch moved Zunino to third. Zunino scored on the groundout by Arozarena to give the Rays the lead. Meadows grounded out to short to end the inning but the Rays were up 5-4.

                                                                    Rays lead again

Thompson came back to close out the bottom of the 12th with Renfroe at second to start. Hernandez grounded out to third and Arroyo lined out to left, but Verdugo was drilled in the hip to give Martinez a chance. A wild pitch moved both runners over and JD hit one over the head of Arozarena to score both runners, THE RED SOX WIN 6-5 IN 12 INNINGS!!!

                                                     WALKOFF WIN!

Hero of the Night is JD Martinez. His 2 out, 2 run double won the game in the bottom of the 12th inning.

                                                   Martinez the Hero

The Good:

Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Franchy Cordero was 1 for 2.

Darwinzon Hernandez pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Hiro Sawamura pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Matt Barnes pitched two scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Marwin Gonzalez was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Tanner Houck gave up a run in the top of the eleventh inning.

The Ugly:

Christian Arroyo was just 1 for 6 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but scored a run.

Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but was hit with a pitch, walked and scored 2 runs.

Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and hit the game tying home run.

Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Martin Perez lasted just 5 innings and was charged with 3 runs.

Austin Brice allowed an inherited runner to score in an inning of work.

Phillips Valdez vultured the win by allowing a run in the top of the 12th inning.

Final Thoughts:

In the immortal words of Mr. America, "What a game!". This game was even more impressive for the Red Sox than last night's game. This one they were down but refused to quit again and again. They were down 3-1 but managed to tie it up. They were down again twice in extra innings and came back to win it. This is the kind of balls that hasn't been seen much in the last two years. Martinez has his "in-game video" back and sure enough, he's morphed back into the player he was in 2018-19. Kudos to Verdugo for taking one for the team to set up Martinez' game winner. Perez didn't look that bad in his outing and its not really Houck or Valdez' fault that have to start the inning with a runner on second. Barnes and Sawamura looked damn good and if Garrett Whitlock is anything special, this could turn into a reliable bullpen to shorten games considerably. As bad as the Sox looked against Baltimore, they've looked that much better against the Rays. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look for the series sweep when they send Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 1.69 ERA) out against Ryan Yarbrough of the Rays. The game begins on Youtube at 1:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Pound Rays For First Win (4/5/21)

Many Boston Red Sox fans panicked after they got swept by the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend. Who knew it would be the defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays that the Sox needed to get their first win. The Sox beat up the Rays for 16 hits and 11 runs in a one sided rout. JD Martinez hit a 3 run home run, Xander Bogaerts hit a little league home run and Franchy Cordero drove in 2 runs. Nick Pivetta (1-0, 0.00) remained undefeated as a member of the Red Sox as he notched 5 shutout innings to preserve the win. The Sox bullpen got tagged in the top of the eighth but Adam Ottavino got out of a huge bases loaded jam with the score 7-2 at the time. The Sox poured it on from there and ran away with their first win 11-2 at Fenway Park..

                                                         Agent 99 approves of the win

Pivetta got the ball in the top of the first and Yoshi Tsutsugo grounded out to short to start. Austin Meadows grounded out to second but Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe drew back to back walks. Old pal Manny Margot struck out swinging to end the inning. Wacha got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kike Hernandez struck out swinging to start. Alex Verdugo also went down hacking but JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts stroked back to back singles. Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning.

Pivetta cruised in the top of the second as Joey Wendle flied out to right to start. Willy Adames walked but Kevin Kiermaier banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Christian Vazquez dumped a base hit to right to start. Vazquez moved to second on the Marwin Gonzalez grounder to short but Hunter Renfroe flied out to center. Franchy Cordero notched his first rbi with a double off the centerfield wall to give the Sox the lead. Hernandez took strike three to end the inning with Boston's first lead of the season 1-0.

                                                              Cordero's first rbi

Pivetta kept the lead in the top of the third as Mike Zunino popped up to third to begin. Tsutsugo flied out to left and Meadows struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the third with Mike Brosseau in for Kiermaier who apparently hurt his leg. Verdugo doubled off the Monster to start and Martinez drew a walk, but Bogaerts banged into a double play. Devers grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Rays almost struck back in the top of the fourth as Arozarena singled to right to start. Lowe flied out to right but a wild pitch moved Arozarena to second. Margot took strike three and Wendle flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the fourth when Vazquez singled to left to start. Gonzalez singled to center and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Renfroe then hit a rocket that Arozarena made one of the best catches ever to grab, but Vazquez scored to increase the lead. Gonzalez took third on the out and scored on the Cordero ground out to increase the lead. Hernandez earned the hat trick with a swinging strikeout to end the inning but the Sox led 3-0.

                                                     Great play by Arozarena

The Rays tried to rally in the top of the fifth as Adames doubled off the Monster to start. Brosseau flied out to left but Zunino walked. Pivetta struck out Tsutsugo swinging but a passed ball moved both runners over. With a full count and the pressure on, Pivetta got Meadows to fly out to center to end the inning. Good work by Pivetta to work his way out of trouble in 5 shutout innings.

                                                     Pivetta shines in his first start

The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fifth although Verdugo flied out to left to start. Martinez walked and Bogaerts hit a rocket into right field. Martinez came around third and the ball skipped to Zunino. Martinez was safe and Zunino airmailed the throw to third and Bogaerts came around to score an unofficial inside the park home run (double and an error). Devers struck out swinging and Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.

                                                     Sox ice the game

Matt Andriese came in for the top of the sixth and Arozarena struck out swinging to start. Lowe and Margot struck back to back singles but Wendle banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox got some more runs in the bottom of the sixth against old buddy Chris Mazza. Gonzalez walked and Renfroe singled to center, but Cordero took strike three. Rather than earn the golden sombrero, Hernandez stepped in with an rbi double to score Gonzalez. Verdugo scored Renfroe with a sac fly but Martinez flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-0.

                                                    Hernandez scores a run

Andriese cruised in the top of the seventh as Adames grounded out to short to start. Brosseau lined out to center and Zunino grounded out to short to end the inning. Bogaerts singled to right to start the bottom of the seventh but Devers flied out to left. Vazquez banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Rays rallied in the top of the seventh as Tsutsugo singled to left. Meadows went down hacking but Arozarena singled to center. Lowe singled to left to load the bases and that was it for Andriese. Darwinzon Hernandez poured gas on the fire as he walked Margot to score Tsutsugo. Yandy Diaz pinch hit for Wendle and walked home Arozarena with another run. Thankfully Darwinzon struck out Adames swinging and Sox manager Alex Cora couldn't pull him fast enough. Adam Ottavino came in and froze Brosseau for strike three to end the inning with the Rays still down 7-2.

                                                            Tsutsugo starts the rally

The Sox left no doubt in the bottom of the eighth although Gonzalez took strike three to start. Renfroe blooped a single to shallow right and Cordero lined a base hit to left, but Hernandez flied out to right. Verdugo joined the fun with an rbi double to score Renfroe and the rejuvenated Martinez crushed a 3 run bomb to wrap up the scoring. Old friend Jeffrey Springs came in and Bogaerts singled to center but Devers flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-2.

                                                   Home run Martinez

Phillips Valdez came in to close out the top of the ninth and Joseph Odom pinch hit for Zunino. Odom grounded back to the mound, Tsutsugo grounded out to third and Meadows grounded out to first to end the game. The Sox had won their first game of the season 11-2.

                                                         Sox win

Hero of the Night is Nick Pivetta. With everyone contributing on offense, his 5 shutout innings were badly needed after the last three days.

                                                     Hero Pivetta

The Good:

Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

JD Martinez was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a 3 run homer and 2 runs scored.

Xander Bogaerts was 4 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

Marwin Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Hunter Renfroe was 2 for 3 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Franchy Cordero was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Adam Ottavino struck out the only man he faced.

Phillips Valdez tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Rafael Devers was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Matt Andriese was charged with 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Darwinzon Hernandez walked 2 of the 3 men he faced.

The Ugly:

Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but the hit was an rbi double.

Final Thoughts:

Reports of the Red Sox demise have been greatly exaggerated. Now that the Sox have shown what its like to score runs, there should be no excuse for games like this to be more frequent. JD Martinez has his precious in game video back so he's back to where he was in 2019. Everyone pitched in for this one except Devers but he may turn it around at some point as well. For one day at least, Cordero made Sox fans forget about Andrew Benintendi although there's nothing Verdugo, Hernandez or Gonzalez can do to replace Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. Pivetta looked good in his 5 innings and the best part was him fighting out of trouble instead of crumbling. All in all if it wasn't for the cruddy offense, everyone but Garrett Richards has looked good so far. Get Tanner Houck and Nathan Eovaldi better run support and the Sox could easily be 3-1 instead of 1-3. What were the Rays thinking by trading for Mazza and Springs? Hopefully the Sox can ride this momentum tomorrow night when Martin Perez makes his season debut against Tampa's best pitcher, Tyler Glasnow. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

O's Blast, Sweep Sox (4/4/21)

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is extremely lucky Covid-19 has Fenway Park capacity at only a few thousand people a game. Otherwise he would have 35,000 people raining boo's down on his team after their horrendous start to the 2021 season. The first two games were close but today the Baltimore Orioles completely smacked around the Red Sox to earn a series sweep. Garrett Richards (0-1, 27.00 ERA) and the Boston bullpen got tagged for 11 runs as the O's swept the Red Sox with an 11-3 win at Fenway Park.

Richards got the ball in the top of the first and Cedric Mullins effortlessly doubled off the Monster to start and Trey Mancini laughed as he easily lined a base hit over the head of Xander Bogaerts to put runners at the corners. Anthony Santander hit a chopper exactly where the fielders weren't in a shift for a base hit to score Mullins to put the O's up for good 3 batters into the game. Somehow Richards struck out Ryan Mountcastle swinging on a curveball and Rio Ruiz on a pitch in the dirt. Maikel Franco lined a 3-0 pitch into the left field corner for a bases clearing double to ice the game. Freddy Galvis grounded out to second to end the inning with the O's up 3-0.

                                                      Franco puts the O's up for good

Bruce Zimmermann easily dominated the Sox in the bottom of the first as Kike Hernandez grounded out weakly to short to start. Alex Verdugo swung at strike three headed to the backstop and JD Martinez popped up to Mancini in foul territory to end the inning.

The O's smacked around Richards in the top of the second although Austin Hays flied out to center to start. Chance Sisco beat the shift with a base hit to left and Mullins effortlessly doubled off the wall. Mancini hit a grounder to short and Bogaerts nailed Sisco at home for the out. Verdugo almost fell down catching a routine pop up from Santander to end the inning. Zimmermann effortlessly punched out Xander Bogaerts on three pitches to start the bottom of the second. Marwin Gonzalez grounded out weakly to third and Hunter Renfroe grounded out weakly to short to end the inning.

Richards returned for another beating in the top of the third as Mountcastle walked on pitches not even close to start. Ruiz easily sliced an opposite field single to left and Franco walked on more pitches not even close. Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough and pulled the incompetent Richards from the game. The Sox $10 million dollar investment was hammered for 6 runs in just 2 plus innings.

                                                             Richards can't get it done

Josh Taylor came in to pour gas on the fire as he walked Galvis on four pitches not even close to score Mountcastle. Hays effortlessly doubled into the left field corner to score Ruiz and Franco to increase the lead. Somehow Taylor punched out Sisco swinging and Hernandez made a great diving attempt at a catch that was called a trap, base hit for Mullins to load the bases. Hays apparently hurt himself diving back to second and had to be carried out on a stretcher, loaded onto an ambulance and driven to Brigham & Women's ICU. Pat Valaika pinch ran for Hays and Mancini doubled off the Monster to score Galvis and Valaika. Vazquez muffed a passed ball to score Mullins but Taylor somehow punched out Santander swinging. Mountcastle dumped a base hit to right to score Mancini and Ruiz chopped a base hit up the middle and that was finally it for Taylor. 24 year old Garrett Whitlock made his ML debut by getting Franco to pop up to center to end the inning but it was now 10-0 Orioles.

                                                 No relief from Taylor

The Sox got their first hit when Christian Vazquez hit a leadoff double off the Monster but Bobby Dalbec popped up to center. Christian Arroyo made his season debut by lining a base hit off the foot of Zimmermann to put runners at the corners. Hernandez somehow scored Vazquez with a sac fly to put the Sox on the board but Verdugo popped up weakly to center to end the inning with the Sox down 10-1.

                                               "WE SCORED! ITS A MIRACLE!!!" - CV

The O's almost struck again in the top of the fourth although Galvis grounded out to short to start. Valaika easily singled up the middle but Whitlock punched out Sisco swinging for his first career strikeout. Naturally Mullins hit a single in the hole at short and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Somehow Whitlock punched out Mancini swinging to end the inning. The Sox got their first home run of the season as Martinez clobbered one to dead center to start the bottom of the fourth. Bogaerts popped up to center, Gonzalez grounded out to short and Renfroe popped up to center to end the inning with the Sox down 10-2.

                                                  Martinez with the lone spark

The hits kept coming as Santander led off the top of the fifth with a base hit up the middle to beat the shift. Whitlock blew away Mountcastle but a wild pitch moved Santander to second. Ruiz struck out swinging and Franco popped up to first to end the inning. The miserable Sox offense continued to do nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Vazquez swung at a pitch that bounced in the dirt to start. Mancini  made a great jumping catch to rob Dalbec of a hit and Arroyo took strike three down the middle to end the inning. Say what you want about Richards and Taylor, but the Sox offense had scored 4 runs on the season to this point.

Whitlock returned for the top of the sixth and Galvis grounded out to second to start. Renfroe crashed against the right field fence to snare a Valaika line drive and Sisco whiffed to end the inning. As bad as Taylor and Richards were, Whitlock was that damn good in his debut.

                                                       Whitlock shuts them down

The Sox finally did something in the bottom of the sixth as Hernandez walked to start. Verdugo lined out to center but Martinez dropped a double into the left field corner to score Hernandez. Martinez moved to third on the grounder by Bogaerts and Gonzalez whiffed to end the inning with the Sox down 10-3.

                                                              Martinez drives in another run

Hiro Sawamura came in for the top of the seventh and Franchy Cordero took over for Verdugo in left. Mullins walked to start but Mancini went down swinging. Santander walked but Mountcastle went down swinging and Ruiz popped up to short to end the inning. Cole Suser came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Renfroe grounded out to first to start. Vazquez singled to center but Dalbec went down hacking. Arroyo grounded into a force to end the inning.

Matt Barnes made his season debut in the top of the eighth and Franco grounded out to third to start. Galvis walked but Barnes blew away Valaika and Sisco to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Hernandez flied out to center to start. Cordero struck out swinging and Martinez also went down hacking to end the inning.

Adam Ottavino made his season debut in the top of the ninth and the O's tagged him. Mullins put the exclamation point on his perfect day with a double down the right field line to start. Mullins moved to third on the Mancini grounder and scored on the Santander base hit to right. Mountcastle walked but Ruiz went down swinging. Franco walked but Galvis went down hacking to end the inning. The O's as a team pounded out 17 hits, 8 walks and 11 runs to take an 11-3 lead.

                                                       Ottavino's face says it all

Tyler Wells came in for the bottom of the ninth and Bogaerts flied out to left to start. Gonzalez walked but Renfroe popped up to second. Vazquez dropped a base hit to right to move Gonzalez to third but Dalbec grounded into a force to end the game. The O's smashed the Sox into submission with an 11-3 series sweeping win.

                                                      Another loss for Cora

Jackass of the Night is Garrett Richards. The $10 million dollar investment got knocked out in the third inning after allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.

                                                    10 million dollar Jackass

The Good:

JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 total rbis.

Christian Vazquez was 3 for 4 with a run scored.

Christian Arroyo was 1 for 3.

Garrett Whitlock tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his ML debut while striking out 5.

Hiro Sawamura tossed a scoreless seventh inning.

Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bad:

Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Franchy Cordero struck out in his only plate appearance.

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 4.

Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Josh Taylor allowed 3 inherited runners to score and 4 of his own in 2/3 of an inning.

Adam Ottavino allowed a run in the top of the ninth.

The Ugly:

Kike Hernandez was 0 for 2 but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.

Marwin Gonzalez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Final Thoughts:

Not since 1948 have the Sox started the season 0-3 at home but I doubt the Sox are going to be 1 game away from being American League champions by the end like the 48 Sox were. The first two games were annoying but this was flat out embarrassing. Richards and Taylor put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of but they weren't going to climb out of it anyway. The Sox offense has been horrible the first three games of the season and it doesn't look like its going to get any better. Mullins almost outhit the Sox as a whole by himself and the Os scored more runs in the third inning than the Sox scored this SEASON to this point. Even if Josh Taylor didn't suck in the third inning, the Sox would have lost anyway since they can't generate any offense. Its not going to get better either because the pitching machine, American League champion Tampa Bay Rays come to town next. Tomorrow night Nick Pivetta makes his season debut for the Sox against former Cardinals ace Michael Wacha. The defeat begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.