Red Sox - 004 000 300 - 7 9 0 Royals - 020 010 101 - 5 14 0Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers each knocked in two runs in the third inning, and Christian Vázquez's triple in the seventh gave the Red Sox two necessary insurance runs. Alex Cora used seven pitches, none of whom faced more than nine batters, recorded more than six outs, or threw more than 33 pitches.
The Red Sox did what they were supposed to do against the Royals, who began the day at 19-42, tied with the Orioles for MLB's worst record: sweep three games. Boston has won its last four games, scoring 8, 8, 8, and 7 runs. The team heads home for four games against the Rays (two on Saturday) and four against the Rangers.
Boston starter Ryan Weber (1.1-5-2-0-1, 33) recorded the first out in the second and then gave up a home run, single, single, and a double. Colten Brewer got out of trouble with a strikeout and a fly to center.
Jackie Bradley was hit by Danny Duffy's first pitch of the third. Betts tied the game with his 10th home run of the year (thanks to his (now) wide-awake bat). Andrew Benintendi singled and J.D. Martinez doubled, and Devers knocked in both runners with a full-count single to center.
The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the fourth before Marcus Walden got Whit Merrifield on a fly to right and fanned Adalberto Mondesi. Jorge Soler cut Boston's lead to one run with a solo dong in the fifth.
Scott Barlow, who had stranded Red Sox runners at first and second in the sixth, walked Xander Bogaerts with one out in the seventh and then, after Sam Travis struck out and Bogaerts stole second, intentionally walked Devers. Barlow got ahead on Vázquez 0-2, but SN lined the ball into the gap in right-center. Right fielder Merrifield and center fielder Billy Hamilton ran towards it as though each was gong to make the play, and Hamilton dove, but the ball skipped by him and because neither outfielder was backing up the play, two runs scored and Vázquez got his first triple since July 2017. Vázquez then crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Heath Hembree came into the eighth inning with a man on second and no outs, but left the runner where he was, retiring Kansas City's 8-9-1 hitters on a fly to right, a foul pop to third and a strikeout. Matt Barnes allowed a run in the ninth as Alex Gordon singled and Soler doubled, but "Barnesy" struck out the next two batters to clinch the sweep. As was the case last night, the game ended with Vázquez throwing to first on a strikeout. I missed it: Was NESN able to show this play today?
I don't like saying it, but ... Go, Blue Jays!
Betts, RFAL East: Rays/Tigers, 1 PM. MFY/Blue Jays, 7 PM.
Benintendi, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Martinez, DH
Devers, 3B
Vázquez, C
Chavis, 1B
Núñez, 2B
Bradley, CF
"As was the case last night, the game ended with Vázquez throwing to first on a strikeout. I missed it: Was NESN able to show this play today?"
ReplyDeleteYup. (Vazquez tried to tag the guy and thought he had him, ump said no, so he had to throw. At this point I was sure they wouldn't know to switch cams, but they did!)
You've probably already noticed this, but on Saturday there's 2 games with the Rays, one at 1 and a make-up game at 6. Would be nice to trounce the buggers all weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou've probably already noticed this
ReplyDeleteNope. Thanks for the note!