 |
|
XANDER BOGAERTS |
ONE LAST RUN FOR A
RED SOX LEGEND -
FROM SEASON CHAMPS TO PLAYOFF CHUMPS
The Sox rally to
defeat the Yankees again
September 17, 2016 ...
Xander Bogaerts drove in three runs and scored three runs as the Red
Sox came back to beat the Yankees, 6-5. He was 3 for 4 with two
doubles and a home run.
For weeks now there have been too many popups and ground
balls off the bat of Bogaerts. The All-Star shortstop of the Red Sox was still
an effective player but not the elite one he had been for much of the season.
His batting average, a healthy .329 at the end of July, dropped to .295 in six
weeks. His on-base and slugging percentages also plummeted. For the Sox, getting
Bogaerts going has been a priority and his big day came as a relief.
The Yankees could not hold a 5-2 lead as the
Sox scored the final four runs. They took the lead in the seventh inning on, of
all things, a wild pitch.
The improved Sox bullpen worked three
scoreless innings. Matt Barnes (4-3) was the winner and Craig Kimbrel got four
outs for his 27th save, striking out all four batters he faced.
The Sox were down, 5-2, after four innings as David Price
was hit hard early. They cut the deficit to 5-4 in the fifth inning. Jackie
Bradley Jr. drew a walk and scored when Bogaerts homered to left field.
Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell threw a
fastball about 8 inches inside. But Bogaerts was somehow able to keep his hands
inside the ball and line it over the Green Monster. That he kept the ball fair
was astonishing. It was the 20th home run for Bogaerts, 13 more than last
season.
Price completed six innings, keeping the Sox
in the game. He allowed a leadoff single by Didi Gregorius in the sixth inning
but struck out Austin Romine and Rob Refsynder to end the inning.
After leaving the bases loaded in the sixth
inning, the Sox finally took a lead in the seventh. Facing Luis Severino,
Bogaerts led off with a double to center field. The ball nearly reached the Sox
bullpen but landed at the base of the wall. Had he not watched the ball, he
might have made third base. He got there a batter later when David Ortiz flied
to center facing Tommy Layne.
Adam Warren was next out of the Yankees’
bullpen. Betts singled to left field to drive in Bogaerts. Hanley Ramirez (3 for
4) also singled. The runners moved up on a ground out. With Sandy Leon up,
Warren threw a curveball in the dirt that bounced away from Romine. Betts was
quick down the line and scored standing. When Romine turned his back to the
plate, Ramirez also tried to score. The catcher recovered in time to tag him
out. In the end, the Sox did not need the extra run.
The Sox have taken the first three games of the series with
the finale on Sunday night. Overall, they have won eight of 11. With Baltimore
and Toronto losing, the Sox lead the American League East by three games with 14
to play. |
.jpg)
