Over the past week something has changed for the better for the Boston Red Sox.
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The game just as it did the night before with Mookie Betts hitting a lead off home run in the bottom of the 1st.
Kurt Suzuki was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Red Sox after taking a foul tip off his mask. Tonight, once again, Betts would provide a spark from the leadoff spot. The Sox got their run back in the bottom of the inning on an infield single from Jackie Bradley Jr., and danger seemed to have been averted. But Brock Holt was the one coming up short on a play that certainly could have been made, seeming uncertain how to approach it and ultimately going into an ill-fated slide on the pop-up letting another run come in, making it 8-7 and bringing Tommy Layne into the game.
“Honestly, I feel good”, he said. He permitted four runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning on July 18 against the Seattle Mariners, and allowed six earned runs against the Kansas City Royals on May 28.
Betts left the game in the sixth inning with a sore right knee, but is expected to be ready to play on Saturday.
Over on the Red Sox side, we’ll be getting another look at RHP Rick Porcello on Sunday.
Lance McCullers struck out 10 in eight-plus solid innings and Will Harris finished off the ninth to lead the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Instead of failing, like so many others, Rodriguez allowed only one run in his first three starts.
“E-Rod” retired the Twins in order in the first inning, but Brian Dozier and the Twins’ offense would quickly respond to Betts’ homer in the second inning.
Rodriguez would settle down, however, and turn in another solid outing. Heath Hembree replaced him, but struggled with his command. Following a walk to Dozier, he ran a full-count to Miguel Sano, until Sano won the battle with a go-ahead double to make it a 2-1 game. It was all the scoring Minnesota needed as Gibson (3-6) did the rest before Brandon Kintzler survived the ninth for his seventh save. Michael Martinez, the switch-hitter the Red Sox claimed from the Indians before the All-Star break, was playing right field.
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Dustin Pedroia opened Boston’s rebuttal in its five-run second with an RBI double. The 30-year-old closer is 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA though he has converted 23-of-his-26 save opportunities. This was another huge moment, as he came to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs, and down by one run. Wright (12-2, 3.47 ERA and three complete games) is having a career campaign, while Porcello has bounced back from a bad 2015 campaign, posting a 12-2 record to go along with a 3.47 ERA. With thanks to three home runs by Hanley Ramirez, it marked their second ten run win in a row. Given that they’ve already made three deals to try and get control back of the American League East, one might assume that the Red Sox are done dealing.
