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XANDER BOGAERTS |
"THE FUTURE AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE"
The Sox seven-run eighth
inning
brings them from behind
June 7, 2015 ... If
the Red Sox are playing meaningful games a few months from now, today
will be one of the days they remember. The Sox were trudging through
another wasted afternoon, a rookie pitcher with a high earned run
average setting them down with unerring efficiency for seven innings.
The sellout crowd at Fenway Park was largely intact, enjoying the
weather far more than the play of their team to that point.
Then Rusney Castillo
belted a home run, his first of the season. The Athletics went to their bullpen
and by the time the inning was over the Sox had sent 11 batters to the plate
against five pitchers and scored seven runs. It was just the second time all
season the Red Sox won a game they trailed after seven innings.
Castillo’s home run
snapped a string of 13 retired in a row by Kendall Graveman, a right-hander who
came into the game with a 5.56 ERA. Facing Evan Scribner, Pedroia and Holt
followed with singles. Pedroia scored when Hanley Ramirez singled to left field,
the ball glancing off the glove of shortstop Marcus Semien. That allowed Holt to
take third. David Ortiz, facing Drew Pomeranz, delivered a sacrifice fly to left
field. It was only his fourth run batted in against a lefthander this season.
Oakland went to another
reliever, right-hander Tyler Clippard. He struck out Mike Napoli before Pablo
Sandoval hit a line drive to left field. The ball should have been caught to end
the inning but was misplayed by Mark Canha and landed at the base of the wall.
Ramirez went to third base. With Xander Bogaerts up, pinch runner Mookie Betts
stole second. Ramirez and Betts scored when Bogaerts doubled off the Green
Monster and the Sox had the lead. Bogaerts fouled off three fastballs and took a
splitter in the dirt before Clippard threw him the changeup he was waiting for.
The ball was low and inside and he drilled it.
Bogaerts is evolving into
one of the best shortstops in the American League. He is hitting .296 with a
.742 OPS and showing marked improvement on defense, particularly with his
throws. At 22, he is playing to the capabilities the Sox long have believed in.
Pinch hitter Alejando De
Aza followed with an RBI single. De Aza took second on the throw to the plate
and scored on a single by Castillo.
Knuckleballer Steven
Wright (3-2) went 3⅓
scoreless innings for the victory. He relieved Clay Buchholz, who allowed four
runs on 10 hits over 4⅔
innings. Tommy Layne pitched the ninth inning for his first save.
In all, the Sox had eight
hits in the inning and nine players made some kind of contribution to the rally.
It was the kind of game the Red Sox have been waiting for all season. The Sox
have won three straight for the first time since April 9-11. They also have won
five of the last seven games. The Red Sox were a happy bunch as they packed up
for the road trip. Maybe this season, one stuck in neutral for so long, will get
moving. |
