Red Sox - 001 050 020 - 8 9 0 Rays - 000 002 000 - 2 4 2The Red Sox won their eighth straight game, as Rick Porcello (6-4-2-2-7, 82) was untouchable for six innings. The Red Sox had only three RBI, however, as the Rays helped Boston by committing two errors (they should have had three), throwing two wild pitches, and committing a passed ball. They also foolishly issued two intentional walks, both of which extended the fifth inning.
Porcello allowed a double and a walk with one out in the first, but pitched out of trouble, stranding a runner at third with a strikeout of Steven Souza. That began a string of 13 straight outs. Along the way, Porcello struck out the side in the fifth on nine pitches (foul, swinging, swinging, foul, foul, swinging, called, foul, called).
The Red Sox also stranded two runners in the first inning, but got on the board in the third, with a lot of assistance from the Rays. Andrew Benintendi (3-for-5) hit a fly ball to deep left that took Corey Dickerson to the wall. The ball went in and out of his glove - and on a play that was obviously an error, Benintendi was awarded a double. With two outs, Mitch Moreland hit a grounder down the first base line. Trevor Plouffe bobbled the ball and then made a throw to pitcher Jake Odorizzi that was a bit off-target. Odorizzi couldn't catch it and his error allowed Benintendi to score.
Tampa Bay would really lend a helping hand in the fifth. Eduardo Nunez began the inning by lining a 2-2 pitch off Odorizzi's foot. The pitcher dropped to the dirt and lay motionless on his stomach. The trainer came out and there was no discussion. He was helped off the field immediately. I assumed that he must have heard bones breaking, but x-rays were reportedly negative. Dan Jennings came in from the bullpen and gave up a single to Benintendi. Mookie Betts's hard single to center scored Nunez; Mallex Smith threw to third, too late to get Benintendi, and Betts took second.
After Jennings threw three balls to Hanley Ramirez, he was put on intentionally, loading the bases. Jennings's first pitch to Moreland was a passed ball that scored Benintendi. After Moreland grounded out, the Rays walked Xander Bogaerts intentionally, re-loading the bases. And (again) on Jennings's first pitch to Brock Holt, he threw a wild pitch, bringing in Betts. Holt grounded to the second baseman. Ramirez had started running home, but he paused. That hesitation allowed Brad Miller to sprint across the infield and tag Ramirez on the back before he could get to the plate. With runners at second and third, Sandy Leon lined a two-run single to left, giving Boston a 6-0 lead.
Porcello allowed two home runs (#s 27 and 28 against him this season) in the sixth and Tampa Bay began the seventh against him with a single and a walk. Matt Barnes got a double play on his first pitch and ended the frame with a comebacker to the mound.
The Red Sox re-established their six-run lead in the eighth. Holt doubled down the left field line and scored on Plouffe's throwing error on Leon's grounder. The wild throw to the bag-covering pitcher allowed Leon to go to second. He went to third on Jackie Bradley's groundout and scored on Sergio Romo's wild pitch.
The bullpen was superb yet again, not allowing a baserunner. Barnes quickly ended the seventh, Brandon Workman pitched a clean eighth, and Joe Kelly did the same in the ninth.
AL East: The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 11-5 to stay 4 GB. The Rays dropped to 7.5 GB.
Nunez, 3BThe Red Sox are rolling. They are on a season-high seven-game winning streak. They are batting .304 over their last nine games, while averaging six runs per game.
Benintendi, LF
Betts, RF
Ramirez, DH
Moreland, 1B
Bogaerts, SS
Holt, 2B
Leon, C
Bradley, CF
Meanwhile:
AL East: The Yankees are 4 GB and the Rays are 6.5 GB. ... NYY/TOR.
3 comments:
ESPN is having a difficult time figuring out where their Yankee fanboyism ends, and where journalism begins.
How MLB has caught up to Aaron Judge
The story on the ESPN frontpage has this blurb.......
"The Yankees phenom hasn't come close to matching his first-half production. Opponents have gotten smarter. Now it's time for him to adjust. "
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96917/inside-the-struggle-how-mlb-has-caught-up-to-aaron-judge
Between 1913 and 2017, there have been only 27 games in which a pitcher threw eight innings or less and had a game score of 90 or higher. Chris Sale has now done it twice after dominating the Tampa Bay lineup last night.
An immaculate inning for Porcello in the fifth, followed by two dongs in the sixth. Not to entirely minimize R.P.'s effort, but it seems like immaculate innings are more about who's at the plate and less about who's on the mound.
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