Red Sox

The Red Sox Split Their Double Header With Baltimore and Score 19 Runs in Game 1 But All the Talk is About Chris Sale

Posted on by Patrick Whalen

By Patrick Whalen

The Red Sox had game 2 of their series against the Orioles rained out tuesday night, so the Sox got to play their second double header against the Orioles this season. In game 1 the Red Sox absolutly pumbled the Orioles in a 19-3 route. David Price got the start and went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. A very average start but Cora has been limiting his guys to around 5 or 6 inning starts in an attempt to keep his guys rested and fresh for the ALDS. But enough with the pitching lets get to the 19 runs.

The Sox were swinging early and often scoring 5 in the first inning. Bogaerts started it off by doubling home J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi. Later that inning with the bases load the red hot Rafael Devers hit a bases clearing double to score Bogaerts, Mitch Moreland, and Ian Kinsler. That would end up being it for Orioles starter Ryan Meisinger as he would only manage a third of an inning giving up 4 hits and 5 runs.

The Orioles got 3 runs back in the second thanks to a Trey Mancini solo homer and a Renato Nunez two run homer. But those were the only two mistakes Price made all day as he would proceed to quiet their bats for the rest of the day. Meanwhile the Red Sox would proceed to embaress the Orioles for the rest of the afternoon as many players would reach new career milestones. The milestones started when in the second inning Mookie Betts stole second base for his 30th of the season. Surprisingly becoming only the second Red Sox player to ever do it.

That would only be the begining of the afternoons highlights. The Sox opened the scoring again in the 4th thanks to a J.D. Martinez 3 run home run. That home run gave J.D. hist 42nd of the year and also raised his RBI total to 127. The homer tied Dick Stuart for most home runs in their first season with the Sox. J.D. also passed Manny Ramirez for 4th most RBI’s in their first Red Sox season. The homer also gave the Sox a 8-3 lead in the fourth inning.

In the 5th the Sox added two more runs thanks to Ian Kinsler doubling home Mitch and Devers then singling home Kinsler to make it 10-3. In the 6th the Sox added two more runs thanks to Xander Bogaerts setting two career milestones. With a homer to center Bogaerts set a new career high with 22 home runs and his first 100 RBI season. Most people when they look at the Red Sox always focus on the great success of Mookie and J.D. but Xander Bogaerts has had arguably the most improvement this season and has been a huge part of the Sox great success.

The Sox would continue the onslot in the 7th scoring another 3 runs. This time it was the young kids going deep as Devers and Blake Swihart both homered. Devers hit a solo shot to dead center for his 20th of the season and Blake then followed up by going back to back Devers for his 3rd of the season. That would also now give Devers a homer and 5 RBI’s on the day. Later in the inning Benintendi doubled home Tzu-Wei Lin with his 40th double of the season making it 15-3 in the 7th inning.

Did the scoring stop there, of course not. The Orioles, who are already terrible to start with, are trotting all these young guys out of the bullpen to get them experience and Buck Showalter could not even deal watching that anymore. So with a roster that has plenty of pitching thanks to September call ups and the expanded roster Buck Showalter brought in Jace Peterson, a second basemen, to pitch the 8th. The Sox got the 8th started right with Devers hitting anbsolute nuke that would have made Kim Jong-Un jealous. Devers second home run of the day was a 447 foot solo shot to right field to make it 16-3 and give Devers 2 homers and 6 RBI’s on the day.

Tzu-Wei Lin then doubled home doubled to center scoring Swihart and Sandy Leon making it 18-3. Benintendi later singled home Lin to finally get us to our final score of 19-3. The offense was the big focus of the afternoon but don’t forget about the bullpen as Steven Wright, Heath Hembree, and Brandon Workman combined for 4 innings of shut out ball. This game would also increase the Sox franchise season wins record to 107. Would this offense carry over to the night cap game,…uh no.

Yes, sadly the Sox would lose game two but its not as bad as it looks. The Sox wanted to make the night game more compdeitive, so Cora put out a line up of equal skill level with the Orioles that consited of Jackie Bradley Jr., Steve Pearce, and Devers being the three best hitters in the line up. With that line up and Chris Sale still on a pitch count/ innings limit it was pretty much a spring training game for the Sox. Sale threw 92 pitches over 4.2 innings giving up 4 hits, 3 runs, and striking out 8.

Most fans and analyst were very concered about Sale’s performance last night. He wasn’t throwing that high 90’s gas that we had seen him recently dominate with and with his next start being game 1 of the ALDS it is a concern that we didn’t see his dominate stuff in his tune up start. I believe Sale knows that when needed he can go to that gas and that he did not want to exert himself more than nessicary today. His slider was filthy and seemed like he wanted to make sure he had that ready for the postseason. Also, Sale probably thought that it was better to play it safe and not overexert his shoulder and not risk reinjuring his sholder in a meaningless game before the ALDS. I believe Sale will be fine being fully rested and charged up for game 1.

Now for the rest of the game the Sox was not good. The offense did struggle only scoring 3 runs, granted half the line up was in Pawtucket last month. The main concern in this game was the bullpen. After Sale came out Eduardo Rodriguez came in and threw 1.1 innings, giving up no runs. This was a very promising sign and preview for what E Rod’s postseason role could be.

But then the bullpen struggles can when Matt Barnes, who is recently back from injury, only threw a third of an inning giving up 4 hits and 3 runs. For a guy who is trying to secure his 8th inning role back this outing was not helpful for him. Hector Velazquez then got out of the 7th inning limiting the damage to 3 runs in the inning. Ryan Braiser then came in and thurled a perfect 8th inning, which really helped his case to be the 8th inning set up man in the postseason. Cora then brought on Kimbrel in the 9th to get him some work after not pitching in 5 days. The 5 days definetly showed as Craig just did not have it giving up 4 runs while walking 3. Kimbrel could only get through a third of an inning of work before he gave way to Robbie Scott who finished the 9th inning.

The Sox would fall by a score of 10-3. Putting the Sox at 107-52 for the season with 3 games remaining. If the Sox can sweep their 3 game series to end the season they could become the first Red Sox team to ever reach the 110 win milestone. Also if the boys out in Oakland can stay hot a sweep of the Yankees might mean a Wild Card game in Oakland. On a side note it was also great to see the Rem Dawg, Jerry Remy make a stop in the NESN booth during the night game as he recovers from another battle with cancer. We miss you Rem Dawg and are keep you in our prayers.

 

The 2018 Boston Red Sox are Now the Winningest Red Sox Team Ever

Posted on by Patrick Whalen

By Patrick Whalen

The 2018 Boston Red Sox just set the franchise record with 106 wins and how appropriate to do it in Fenway Park. This team is truly incredible. The Sox were finally able to clinch that honors against the Baltimore Orioles, some would argue the Norfolk Tides plus Adam Jones, by winning 6-2.

Nathan Eovaldi continued his campaign to make the postseason rotation with a dominant start going 5 innings 4 hits 1 run and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Plus the one run scored against Nate was on a wild pitch in the 5th. Eovaldi was bringing it all night touching 99-100 mph numerous times and just making the Orioles look like the triple a team they really are.

His teammates did not wait long to give Nate some run support in the 2nd. Brock Holt ], whose bat should literally be on fire at this point, doubled home Steve Pearce to open the scoring Vazquez proceded to drive in Holt with a single. To cap off the four-run 2nd inning, Mookie Betts might have just sealed up his MVP with home run number 32, launching it into the stratosphere onto the Green Monster. Mookie also stole his 29th base tonight leaving him one shy of a 30-30 season.

The Red Sox would tack on two more in the 4th inning. Benintendi hit a screaming line drive at the Orioles second basemen, Steve Wilkerson, that deflected off him which allowed Jackie Bradley Jr to score. Xander Bogaerts came up later that inning and drove in Mookie Betts for his 96th RBI.

Once Eovaldi left the Eduardo Rodriguez would pitch 2 innings of 1 hit ball out of the bullpen as Alex Cora is preparing E Rod for a potential postseason bullpen role. Joe Kelly struggled in his outing tonight and was charged with the only run given up by the bullpen tonight. Ryan Braiser would come in for the rest of the 8th and get out of Kelly’s jam, ending the inning by picking off Jonathan Villar at first base. Matt Barnes would then come in and close it out in the 9th to clinch the Red Sox franchise record 106th win and clinched the best record in baseball, giving the Red Sox home field advantage throughout the postseason.

It’s truly incredible to see that this young Red Sox team can set the franchise record for wins with all the injuries to key guys like Sale, Devers, Vazquez, Pedroia, and a shaky bullpen at times and dealing with all of it, a rookie manager in Alex Cora. People knew the Sox would be good. That they would be in a fight with the Yankees for the division and the loser would probably be the first wild card. That all happened, but no one saw the Sox beating the Yankees out by 9.5 games for the division and being the best team in baseball by 6.5 games over the reigning world series champion Houston Astros. It has been an incredible season so far for this team, but the work is not done yet for these guys as Cora has preached “we’ve got 11 games to win in October.”

The Red Sox Fall to the Indians in Extras Again in Game 3

Posted on by Patrick Whalen

By Patrick Whalen

The Sox fall again in a tough loss to the Indians in 11 innings. The Sox named Hector Velazquez the starter for game 3 going with the bullpen approach. Velazquez would end up going only 3.1 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 runs before giving way to the bullpen in a tie ball game. The Sox had scored earlier thanks to an Adam Plutko wild pitch that allowed Mookie Betts to score in the 1st and later Devers would drive in Vazquez in the 3rd.

Steven Wright would give up an unearned run after relieving Velazquez in the 4th to make it a 3-2 Indians lead. The Sox would not go quietly though as Mookie Betts would homer to dead center in the top of the 5th to tie the game back up at 3.

That would be the last run that Plutko would give up as he would go 6 innings giving up 5 hits and 3 runs. After the home run, it became a battle of the bullpens. Bobby Poyner came in and threw a shutout 5th inning and then William Cuevas would come on to throw the next 5.1 innings. For the Indians Dan Otero, Jon Edwards, Neil Ramirez, and Adam Cimber would keep the Sox bats quiet for the 7th 8th and 9th innings.

The teams then headed to extras for the second night in a row. The Indians brought in Josh Tomlin in the 10th and he kept the Sox bats quiet again during the 10th and 11th. But he was not able to silence Brock Holt’s incredible air drumming to the beat of the fans drums.

Cuevas was able to keep the Indians off the board in the 10th inning but ran into some trouble in the 11th and gave way to Robby Scott who ended up giving up the walk-off hit to Greg Allen to end the game. Another tough loss for the Sox as they could not set the clubs single-season record for wins for the second night in a row. Again we can’t be too disappointed because of the fact that maybe only one of the guys who pitched last night will probably be on the postseason roster in Steven Wright and yet the Sox only lost by 1 in extras again. Also seeing Mookie Betts getting back in the field and homering was a great sign for his health.

The Sox will now come home to finish up the season with 3 games against the Orioles and 3 against the Yankees. Tonight the Sox are going with Nate Eovaldi who is 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA on the season as he tries to make a push to make the postseason rotation. The Orioles will be sending out Dylan Bundy who has had a season to forget going 8-15 with an ERA of 5.37. Let’s hope tonight is the night the Sox set the franchise record of 106 regular season wins.

The Red Sox End Their 3 Game Series in the Bronx by Officially Clinching the A.L. East Title

Posted on by Patrick Whalen

By Patrick Whalen

Ladies and Gentleman the wait is finally over. The Red Sox are officially your 2018 American League East Division Champs! They couldn’t have done it in a better setting in the Bronx against the Yankees, finally putting the dagger in all Yankee fans hearts. The game was classic Red Sox. They jumped on the Yankees early, the Yankees then took the lead and for a while, it was not looking good but then the Red Sox ran the ole start hitting bombs and retake the lead play and finished the job winning 11-6 and champagne popping ensued. The Sox got some damage done early via the smoking hot bat of Brock Holt who hit a solo shot off Tanaka in the third to give the Sox an early 4-2 lead.

Eduardo Rodriguez struggled mightily earlier on in the game going 3.2 innings giving up 5 and walking 7. Heath Hembree then had to come in to try and clean up E-Rods mess, bases loaded, 2 outs and Giancarlo Stanton hit a classic Yankee Stadium pop fly grand slam that probably went about 250 feet. Steven Wright then came in and proceeded to throw 3 innings of shutout ball to quite the Yankees and give the Sox a chance. With the Sox down 1 in the seventh Jackie Bradley Jr came up and hit a game-tying bomb into the second deck off Chad Green.

Later that inning with the bases loaded Xander Bogarets hit a sac fly to center that would score 1 run and then Miguel Andujar couldn’t handle Aaron Hicks throw and it skipped into the stands and allowed Benintendi to score as well which made it 8-6. Then in the 8th inning, Mookie Betts might have just locked up his A.L. MVP with a 3 run dinger to left off Aroldis Chapman to make it 11-6 and pretty much seal the game.

The Sox just had to get 6 out to finally officially claim the A.L. East crown. Braiser came in and pitched a perfect 8th and then Kimbrel came in and shut the door in the 9th to end it and how appropriate that the last out be a strikeout of Giancarlo Stanton. Especially after the Sox lost out on getting him in the offseason and losing Stanton let them sign J.D. Martinez, who is a much better hitter and in any other season is probably the MVP over his teammate Mookie Betts, for a lot less than 300 million dollars.

After this, the gold bottle popping ensued in the visitors locker room in Yankees Stadium. The Red Sox got to clinch in their arch rival’s stadium in front of the enemy’s fans and that was one of the sweetest sights to watch. Plus with that loss now the Yankees are only 1.5 games up on the A’s for home field in the wild card game and also watch out for the Rays 8 back of the Yankees, but the Yankees have 3 with Baltimore, who the struggle with, 4 in Tampa, and 3 in Boston. Its a slim chance but very possible if the Rays can sweep that the Red Sox not only could clinch the division in New York but also knock the Yankees out of the playoffs. Oh, how sweet the next two weeks could be.

Looking ahead to the playoffs now the Red Sox pretty much have home field advantage locked up, just not officially but they lead Houston by 9.5 in that category so it will be clinched very soon. This, of course, means the Sox will be getting the wild card game winner which right now is the Yankees and A’s and potentially if all hell breaks loose the Rays could get in. I would easily prefer to get the Yankees out of that matchup. The Sox have played very well against their rivals this year and have pretty much owned them at Fenway. Granted both series were early in the season and both teams have changed and grown since then but the Sox struggled against Oakland. Also, the Oakland A’s are on fire as of late and everyone knows that some teams can catch fire going into October and make a deep run into the postseason. The Yankees do not scare me especially over the last month and a half since they’ve been playing .500 ball. Plus who can forget that 4 game sweep of the Yankees in Fenway in the first week of August. That series solidified, at least in my opinion, that the Sox can easily knock out the Yankees in October because the Yankees came in looking to try and shrink the Sox division lead and get back into the division chase and instead left Fenway losing 4 straight 9.5 games gout of first place and that pretty much sealed up the division for the Sox with 2 months to go. The Sox are not afraid of the Yankees and A’s are just a straight up better ball club right now. Can the Sox still beat the A’s, yes, but I believe that series will be harder for the Sox to win. The easiest way for the Sox to get to at least the ALCS is through the Yankees.

I Just Tip My Cap, and Call the Yankees my Daddy

Posted on by Patrick Whalen

By Patrick Whalen

Well with another chance to officially clinch the A.L. East tonight the Red Sox blew it again. This time in embarrassing fashion against the Yankee by a score of 10-1. David Price got another chance to silence his doubters in Yankees stadium but they were loud and clear tonight as Price gave up 5 hits 6 runs and 4 earned over 5.1 innings. What killed Price tonight was that 3 of the 5 hits were home runs and he also walked 4 men. After this performance tonight which is one of many horrid outings in the Bronx for Price maybe it’s about time he utters the famous quote that Pedro did back in 2004, “I just tip my cap, and call the Yankees my daddy” because after that Pedro could actually pitch successfully in the Bronx. Now despite Price giving up 3 homers they were a complete product of the ballpark. Of the three home runs given up the longest was 343 ft (via Rob Bradford) which is only a home run in Yankees stadium.

Its even shown in this Fenway graphic from Red Sox Stats that all three homers would be at least 20 feet short of the wall in Fenway and end up being routine fly outs.

Yes, Price did still give them up but its hard to pitch in a place where a routine fly ends up in the third row. Price now falls to 15-7 on the season and his ERA is back up to 3.53. He’s been brilliant in the second half of the season but the Yankees are still his daddy, mostly because of the home run ball. He’s given up 8 in 14.1 innings against the Yankees while giving up 14 in 155.1 innings to all other teams.

But Price was not the only one to blame, the offense was poor again scoring only 1 run tonight off the bat of Sandy Leon who broke his 0-30 streak. Yet the rest of the offense seemed to forget how to hit and made Severino look dominate. It was the same story as last night as the Sox left 9 men on and went 1-5 with men in scoring position. The bullpen also didn’t help the cause as Joe Kelly and William Cuevas each gave up 2 runs in a combined 1.1 innings of work.

I believe Price will be fine in the postseason, he was due for a bad start after going on such a tear lately. My real concerns are the sputtering offense that is going cold at the completely wrong time of the year and more importantly the issue of who can actually get outs and get the ball to Kimbrel at the end of the game seeing how no one has stepped up over the last 2-3 weeks. Hopefully when Matt Barnes returns he could be that guy or if Joe Kelly or Ryan Braiser could find their dominate stuff again or if Workman can just regain his consistency but someone, I do not care who it is, needs to step up and be that 8th inning guy for a potential postseason run to the world series.

David-Price

So don’t overreact to the first bad Price outing in a month, especially because he’ll probably be pitching at Fenway in game 2 if the Yankees are our opponent and in that case, Price would have given up maybe 1-2 runs tonight and given the Sox a chance to win. Cora knows Price doesn’t pitch well in the Bronx so he’s not gonna put him in that position where that Yankees can look like his daddy. But if the bullpen doesn’t clean itself up real soon it doesn’t matter how Price or Sale or any of the starters do because at this rate the bullpen won’t be able to hold a lead smaller than 3.

As for game 3 tomorrow the Sox are gonna look to avoid the sweep and start popping some gold bottles to celebrate clinching the division. The Sox are gonna send out the 12-4 Eduardo Rodriguez while the Yankees are going with 12-5 Masahiro Tanaka. But also just to remind Yankees fans that win has cut the Red Sox lead in the division to 9.5 games.