Ranger Suarez was everything this team needed on Friday night.
Seven innings. Zero runs. Ten ground ball outs. No serious threats from a Baltimore lineup that came in buzzing after Thursday’s seven-homer drama. Suarez just went out there and made them pound the ball into the ground, inning after inning after inning. It was the best start he’s had since coming back from the IL in late July, and it felt like a statement—not just from him, but from the rotation. When this guy is right, he is really,
really right.
But before Suarez could take over, Evil Mickey had to do his thing. (I cannot take credit for Evil Mickey, that goes to @rockmeannadeus on X)
Mickey Gasper stepped in on the second pitch of the game and sent one over the wall. That was the whole ballgame. One swing. One run. 1-0 final. That’s all Ranger Suarez needed, and Suarez knew exactly what to do with it. Roman Anthony tried on the first pitch of the game—he lined out to center, but it almost felt like it had to be Mickey.
The game got seriously chippy in the 8th. There was already some residue from Thursday—Jahmai Jones had a late but legal slide that didn’t go unnoticed—and when Blaze Alexander slid into second on the inning-ending double play, he made very sure to go right at Nick Sogard. Intentionally. Blatantly. Dugouts and bullpens emptied, words were exchanged, nobody got tossed, but it was the kind of thing that sits with a team for a few innings. Cam Sanders—the Orioles reliever in the 9th—tried to keep it going, exchanging words with the Sox dugout on his way back to his own, but Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela very much wanted all the smoke.
Then Aroldis Chapman came in and closed it clean. No drama. No Encarnacion-Strand two-run shot like Thursday. Just three outs and a handshake line. Chapman learned from last night. Good night.
September baseball. Stress filled, but mega important. I’d argue these wins against the Orioles are more important than any we could have taken against the Yankees. There’s no shot at winning the division so beating teams ahead of us isn’t the most critical. Taking wins against teams behind you, staying ahead in the Wild Card race, and hitting your weight—aka beating teams you should be beating—that’s what matters down the stretch. Two more games in this series, and they continue to get more and more pivotal for the chances of October baseball in Boston.
Studs
Ranger Suarez
Best start since his IL return. Seven shutout frames, 10 ground ball outs, made a dangerous lineup look completely harmless. When Suarez is locating and keeping hitters off-balance, he is a legitimate top-of-rotation arm. Tonight he looked like that guy again. Welcome back, Ranger.
Mickey Gasper
Second pitch of the game. Home run. Walks to the dugout. That’s the whole review. Evil Mickey is not to be trusted, and Baltimore found that out before the count even hit 0-1.
Duds
Blaze Alexander
There may be some carryover from Jahmai Jones’ late slide Thursday, but that doesn’t excuse what Alexander did. He slid into second on the double play and went directly, intentionally at Nick Sogard. Blatantly bad. If you want to send a message, fine, but own it—don’t act surprised when the benches clear.
The Offense Otherwise
I get Shane Baz has been throwing the ball better as of late, but five hits? What is up with Friday night offense not at Fenway?
Play of the Game
Gasper. Second pitch. You already know.
