The Red Sox took care of business against the San Francisco Giants today, winning the third and final game of the series by a final score of 5-4. Things started out rocky, with Jake Bennett getting hit around early and surrendering three runs in the first two innings. The Red Sox, as they always seem to do these days, quickly punched back. They grabbed a run in the bottom of the second, another in the third, and three more in the fourth to take the lead. Tyron Guerrero and Aroldis Chapman closed
the door, and the Red Sox swept the series.
The story isn’t that the Red Sox won the game. It’s who contributed in the win. Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, and Caleb Durbin were a combined 0-12. The production came from Jahmai Jones (2-2, 3B) and Mickey Gasper (pinch-hit RBI double) at the top of the order. It came from Nick Sogard (2-3, 2B, HR). It nearly came from Andruw Monasterio, who doubled off the monster in the bottom of the eighth, but was stranded on base.
With Roman Anthony, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and Trevor Story returning from injury imminently, Sogard, Jones, Gasper, and Monasterio are all candidates to be sent to Worcester. Anthony Seigler feels like a lock for one of the corresponding moves. Gasper is likely another because he has options, but he’s come up big against right-handed pitching. Jones doesn’t have any options and crushes lefties. Monasterio has slowed offensively of late, but he’s manned shortstop and was a key contributor to the turnaround. Sogard has options too, but he should be untouchable.
The roster that’s righted the ship for the Red Sox isn’t the one that they’ll go into the postseason with. The pitching side is close to fixed, but the lineup still has several moving pieces. Today, some of the players who might not see the postseason roster are the reason they won the game. That’s both a credit to the front office for amassing quality depth, and a reminder that baseball season is a long, winding road with many different chapters. We’re on to Miami for a three game set with the Marlins, who have played very well at home this season.
Three Studs
Ceddanne Rafaela (3-4, 2 RBI, diving catch)
I didn’t mention Rafaela above because he didn’t fit my narrative. He played a great game, racking up three singles and making a diving catch to get Bennett out of a jam.
Jake Bennett (7 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 1 BB)
Nick Sogard (2-3, 2B, HR)
Three Duds
Wilyer Abreu (0-4, Throwing Error)
Willson Contreras (0-4, Threw his bat an almost hit the umpire by accident, broke a bat that hit someone in the crowd who was carted out)
Caleb Durbin (0-4, no errors or moments of violence, accidental or otherwise)
