I threw out my back and its two already-herniated discs less than an hour before the game, so I was already in agony. Then the game began and I immediately felt even worse.
With the game’s very first batter, Romy Gonzalez committed an error. This was a baserunner who came around to score (after a single and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out). With the Pirates owning MLB’s worst offense, this felt inexplicable, especially to start the game this way.
Dustin May did pitch an impressive second: 3K
on 11 pitches. And Narváez tied it up with a swing for the fences. But that’s almost all of the good news.
Things really unraveled in the sixth. May gave up a homer, a double, and a walk (did I mention that the Pirates have MLB’s worst offense?) before he was lifted. IMO May was left in too long. He finally came out but see, the problem was, Bernardino came in. Like May before him, he also struggled with command and was hurt by an error, but he was in charge of his own undoing. Five runs scored in this dismal inning.
More stuff happened, very little of it worth noting here. Not much went right today for the Sox.
Studs
In a game you lose 10-3, this feels like an overblown description. It was more like, “Pretty Good Players Today.”
Carlos Narváez
He caught a runner trying to steal, hit a HR into the Monster seats to tie the game at one all, and walked.
Trevor Story
2-3, double, walk, 24th SB (out of 24 attempts).
Steven Matz
Another great play in the field and another 1-2-3 inning. I wish we could’ve used him more than one inning.
Duds
Dustin May and Brennan Beranardino
Each were rocked in their own ways and command was an issue for both. What else is there to say? It was ugly.
Top of the Order
They didn’t have it today. And Bregman is suffering in a bit of a slump, by his standards. Anthony, Bregman, and Duran were a combined 2-for-14, with both hits being singles. They had 5K and no walks. Not enough.
Play of the Game
I never like to give this honor to the other team, though the Sox didn’t really earn it today. Narváez’s homer was electric in the moment that it tied up the game, but with everything that came afterwards, it lost some luster for sure.
