Twins Avoid A Sweep & Snap Five-Game Losing Streak While Sox Lose For First Time In 10 Games

 

    It had been awhile but Boston (9-4 overall, 6-1 away) finally lost another game, 4-3 in the series finale at Target Field this afternoon against the Twins (6-7 overall, 2-5 home). The Red Sox' nine-game win streak ended while the Twins' five-game losing streak also came to a halt. Not to sound like a Little League coach here but even in defeat, the Sox proved that they are winners. They trailed 3-0 in the eighth when outfielder Alex Verdugo worked an amazing 10-pitch at bat before slashing an opposite field three-run double to left that scored second baseman Christian Arroyo, pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez and right fielder Hunter Renfroe with the tying runs. That's where the magic would end though for Boston as right fielder Max Kepler drove in infielder Luis Arreaz (4 hits, run, 2 RBIs) with a bloop single in the bottom of the ninth to win it. 

    In many ways, the Red Sox were fortunate to keep it that close since Garrett Richards (5 IP, 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 Ks, 2 BBs) was their starting pitcher. He actually was ok by his crappy 2021 standards but they couldn't do anything against the Twins starter Michael Pineda (7 IP, 2 hits, 6 Ks, 1 BB) who completely shut them down with seven scoreless innings. Arraez gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the second inning that scored center fielder Jake Cave and catcher Ryan Jeffers. Hirokazu Sawamura was the first reliever out of Boston's bullpen and he promptly allowed a solo homer to infielder Miguel Sano-the first batter that he faced. 

    Former Rays reliever Alex Colome (1-1) earned his first win for the Twins by pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts. Northeastern's Adam Ottavino (1-1) suffered his first loss for the Red Sox. He never really gave himself a chance in the ninth as he allowed a leadoff single to Arraez, he drilled infielder Jorge Polanco in the foot with a terrible pitch, then surprisingly stuck out DH Nelson Cruz before allowing Kepler's game-winning hit. Still, it's tough to complain about much with the Red Sox right now after they just won three out of four at Minnesota and they currently own a three-game lead over second-place Toronto (6-7) in the AL East. 

    Speaking of the Blue Jays, Boston will get their first look at them next week since they are part of a 10-game homestand for the Red Sox which starts tomorrow night (7:10, NESN) with four games against the White Sox (6-7 overall, 3-4 away). Weather permitting (since it's supposed to rain on Friday), it'll be Nick Pivetta for Boston vs. Chicago's Dylan Cease. Even though the Marathon is not on Monday like it used to be in the before times, Chicago is here for the traditional four-game series over Patriots Day weekend including the 11:10 am start on Monday. Toronto is only here for two games followed by a four-game series starting on Thursday and into next weekend with the Mariners (8-5 overall, 5-2 away). It's been a great few weeks for the Red Sox, let's hope that they can keep that momentum going back at Fenway Park. 

There's Dumb and then There is Michael Pineda

It's about time that Red Sox-Yankees had some new drama since admittedly the last few years have been pretty blah for the alleged best rivalry in MLB. Tonight shall forever be known as the night that Michael Pineda overdosed on pine tar. He had gotten away with having it all over his hand two weeks ago when New York (12-9 overall, 6-6 away) beat Boston (10-12 overall, 5-7 home) 4-1 at Yankee Stadium but it was a different story in the friendly confines of Fenway Park.

Red Sox manager John Farrell pointed out the pine tar all over Pineda's neck (I'm serious) and the Yankees hurler was ejected with two outs in the bottom of the second. Boston had already scored twice in the first inning and they went on to post a 5-1 victory that will perhaps propel them out of the depths of mediocrity that they've been stuck in since the opening series in Baltimore.

Let's not have Pineda's utter stupidity completely overshadow what was John Lackey's best performance as a Red Sox (8 innings, 1 earned run, 7 hits, 11 strikeouts, 0 walks), in the regular season at least I know he had some great ones last postseason. It's the second time in his career that he's had 11 Ks & 0 BBs vs. New York (the other was when he was an Angel) and he became only the fourth Red Sox pitcher to do that (joining Pedro Martinez, Jim Lonborg and Cy Young).

Pineda figures to be suspended by MLB, how long is another question but he also screwed his team over since his manager Joe Girardi had to burn through four additional relievers. Boston went up 2-0 in the first on RBI singles by Dustin Pedroia (2 hits, 2 runs) and A.J. Pierzynski (walk). The Red Sox pushed two more runs across in the third against David Phelps on a ground rule double by Mike Napoli (3 for 4) and a wild pitch.

Alfonso Soriano's sacrifice fly in the sixth produced New York's only run. Brock Holt (2 walks) continued his fine play with an RBI single in the eighth that drove in Xander Bogaerts (single, run). You hate to see him used in non-save situations but Farrell always plays Koji Uehara when he's warmed up so he went out there in the ninth and struck out the side to end it.

To kill time before Bruins-Red Wings Game 4 tomorrow night (8, NESN), we will probably see about 1.5 innings of the series finale between the Red Sox and Yankees (7:10, NESN Plus). CC Sabathia (2-2) faces Felix Doubront (1-2) and they both suck so both teams could put up big numbers as they try to clinch the three-game series.

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