This really felt like a game of two games within the same one. It started up being a pitcher’s duel between Mitch, Keller and Lucas Giolito— well really just a lack of offense on both sides. Giolito definitely got bailed out in the top of the second inning with a fantastic diving grab by Rafaela in centerfield.
The 5th is where things got dicey.
A ground rule double by Horwirtz to lead off the inning set a jam in motion right away, but a fantastic pick-off by Gio led us to think that this wouldn’t
come to anything. Three walks and a wild pitch later, we were down a run. Yikes.
Then it was the Pirates’ turn to collapse.
A fielding error and a ground rule double set things up for Roman Anthony to at least tie the game on a groundout. Alex Bregman gets hit by a pitch and Keller looks rattled. Here comes Jarren Duran. Line drive base hit, gets past Oneil Cruz and Alexander Canario and goes alllll the way to the wall. The Angry Lizard does what the Angry Lizard does. Flies all the way around the bases and a stand-up inside-the-parker. Not just the fastest one by sprint speed and home-to-home time of the season, but the fastest for the Red Sox in the Statcast era!
A little bit more insurance by Rafaela on an infield single. a small scare of a solo shot given up by Justin Slaten, a big snafu evaded by Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman shuts this one down. Ballgame.
With a Yankees loss this afternoon, the Red Sox pull within 3.5 games of the division lead and 0.5 back of the Evil Empire. This is going to be not just a tight Wild Card race, but a tight race for the AL East down the whole stretch!
Three Studs
Jarren Duran (2-for-2, 3 RBI 2 BB)
What a phenomenal game for Duran. Absolutely needed after a cold stretch at the dish.
Nathaniel Lowe (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K)
None of his hits were of much consequence, but he keeps putting the ball in play!
Aroldis Chapman (1.0 IP, 2 K)
The Cuban Missile stays! What a way to punctuate your extension with a fantastic save.
Three Duds
Trevor Story (0-for-4, 2 Ks)
Just a rough day at the plate for Story, it was fine since the rest of the team picked him up.
Masataka Yoshida (0-for-4)
Seriously, what is Masa still doing in this lineup? Fairly sure he’s now hitting worse than Connor Wong.
No one?
Honestly, no one else left played bad enough to be called a dud!
Play of the Game
This was ELECTRIC. Hearing Fenway Park as loud as it is this far into the season is so nice to hear.
