Red Sox take the series with a 7-3 win over the White Sox
By Brian Draus
3. 128. Final. 7. 14
CHICAGO – In a battle of bullpens, the Red Sox outlasted the White Sox in the final game of a 3-game set. Erik Johnson made his first start of the season for the White Sox, and was shaky in his first audition to be the team’s 5th starter. Johnson’s fastball command was poor, as he allowed 4 ER over 5 IP, however it could have been much worse. Here is the recap.
Scoring Summary
1st Inning (Top): With one out, Dustin Pedroia hit a solo home run into the left field bullpen. Two more Red Sox runners would reach, however neither would score. 1-0 Red Sox headed to the bottom of the 1st inning.
1st Inning (Bottom): Adam Eaton led off the game with a single, and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. With Jimmy Rollins at the plate, Eaton stole third. Rollins then walked, to bring Jose Abreu up with runners on the corner and no one out. Abreu hit a into a double-play, however Eaton scored. No more runs would score for the White Sox. 1-1 tie headed to the 2nd inning.
2nd Inning (Top): Brock Holt singled to center to start the inning for the Red Sox. Ryan Hanigan drove him in with a double, putting the Red Sox back on top. The Red Sox would load the bases with one out, however not score any more runs. 2-1 Red Sox headed to the bottom of the 2nd inning.
3rd Inning (Top): Johnson gave up a leadoff home run to Hanley Ramirez, extending the Red Sox lead. Travis Shaw then tripled to center, who was driven home by a Brock Holt sacrifice fly. The Red Sox would take a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 4th inning.
4th Inning (Bottom): Avi Garcia led off the inning for the White Sox, and drilled a line drive out of the park for a solo home run. Jose Abreu had a chance to put the White Sox on top with two on and two out, however he flew out to end the inning. 4-2 Red Sox headed to the top of the 5th inning.
5th Inning (Bottom): After a Todd Frazier flewout to lead off the inning, Melky Cabrera reached on an infield single. Brett Lawrie singled in the hole between third and short, putting runners on first and second. Avi Garcia then lined a singled into center field, loading the bases. After a long at bat by Hector Sanchez (and a near double-ball foul by a foot), Sanchez worked a walk to force in Cabrera. After a call to the bullpen, Austin Jackson then flew out to right, however Brett Lawrie tried to score. Lawrie was called out on a play that could have gone either way, however Boston got the benefit of the call (play was challenged by the White Sox) and the inning ended with the Red Sox in front 4-3.
6th Inning (Top): With out and no one on, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo home run off of Matt Albers, breaking Albers scoreless inning streak. The score would be 5-3 Red Sox headed to the bottom of the 6th inning.
8th Inning (Top): With Dan Jennings on for his second inning of work, both Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts walked to lead off the inning. Dustin Pedroia followed them up with a groundout, however both runners advanced. Xander Bogaerts then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bradley Jr. David Ortiz then drilled a double into the right field corner, to score Betts. That would be the end of the night for Jennings, and the offense for either team.
Escape Act/Defensive Gem
I am going to give this award to the same exact play, that being when Mookie Betts threw out Brett Lawrie at home on an Austin Jackson fly ball. Matt Barnes had just been brought in to face Jackson, and was able to record two outs on one pitch (the unconventional way). It is unknown how this game would have turned out had they cashed in on more of their opportunities with runners on base.
Notables
Avisail Garcia: 2-4, HR, RBI
Adam Eaton: 2-3, R, 2 BB
Melky Cabrera, 2-5, R
On Deck
Friday 7:10 PM Chicago White Sox (19-10) vs Minnesota Twins (8-20)
Probables
Mat Latos (4-0 1.84 ERA) Ricky Nolasco (1-0 4.05 ERA)
Broadcast Info
TV: CSN/ Radio: WLS 890 AM
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cws