7:05PM Eastern
Red Sox
Rich Hill (L)
1. Tommy Pham (R) LF
2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
6. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B
8. Reese McGuire (L) C
9. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF
Pirates
Roansy Contreras (R)
1. Kevin Newman (R) SS
2. Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
3. Michael Chavis (R) 1B
4. Ben Gamel (L) RF
5. Kevin Padlo (R) 3B
6. Rodolfo Castro (S) 2B
7. Greg Allen (S) LF
8. Bligh Madris (L) DH
9. Jason Delay (R) C
Gametime Temp: 77°F
Chance of Precip: 3%
This is pretty much the lineup the rest of the way other than Story coming back and Arroyo is certainly a serviceable replacement. Certainly as good a group as they've put on the field for a while, let's see if they can generate anything.
With Hill doing the honors, we'll need at least another 5 runs or more. Cora hinted that Winchowski could piggyback, 2+2 or 3+3.
3 pitches in and they're down 2-0 already. This could be a long night.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on August 17, 2022, 04:22:47 PM
With Hill doing the honors, we'll need at least another 5 runs or more. Cora hinted that Winchowski could piggyback, 2+2 or 3+3.
They talked about a great game Hill threw at Pittsburgh 5 years ago. That’s clearly a long time ago as Hill coughs up a single and a HR to the first two batters.
Sox looking to repeat last night's opening frames with some small ball hits leading to runs. Now 3-2 Sox and still going.
Xander K's, leaving the bases loaded. Missed opportunity.
Nice of the Pirates to gift us a run.
Kike and Pham don’t deliver with the bases full. Those are killers against the better teams. The pen will have to hold ‘em.
Bases loaded again. Going for a dozen LOBsters tonight?
That's better. One run in at least.
Two more in. Glad to see they're not blowing this bases loaded opportunity.
Little bit of drama from Familia but he finally closed it out. Easy win, as it should be with a team like the Pirates.
Quote from: markj on August 17, 2022, 06:36:21 PM
Xander K's, leaving the bases loaded. Missed opportunity.
Simply put, BOGAERTS IS A CHOKER, PURE AND SIMPLE----and I have always believed it. His clutch hitting has always been horseshit and I'm worried that other teams will finally wake up to this and simply not make him an offer worth taking when he ops out of his contract with us. That means we have him for three more years of choking in the clutch time and time again.
Quote from: markj on August 17, 2022, 08:54:17 PM
Little bit of drama from Familia but he finally closed it out. Easy win, as it should be with a team like the Pirates.
Here's hoping that Cora doesn't develop a love affair with Familia and start pulling a Darwizon with him. He stinks and that's why he was released by the Mets and another team. He should be a mop up man and nothing else. He was used right tonight though because we had a very healthy lead in the ninth inning. Three in a row for us. We need to keep this up whether we make it back to playoff contention or not. We have to end this season with some success and some momentum and confidence that might carry into next season.
The lack of power really shows up. Plus nothing worse than this team with the bases loaded and the "heart" of the order coming up. It turned into an easy win, even with a little late game drama (got that right Fred, there's a reason Familia was dumped), but they should have scored at least 10 runs in this game.
George used to say it was the kiss of death when the Sox got the bases loaded with none out. Now it doesn't matter how many outs. Sure would be nice to hope that someone would hit a homer with all those guys on base. Pathetically weak hitting team!
The Sox have about 6-7 teams to deal with for 3 wild cards. Seattle is about assured one of those with a soft Sept schedule. Balt. came back to earth on Wed. and lost as did the Rays and Chisox. We’re needing about 3 head to head wins to overtake O’s or their losing to another team. Fridays game is DDay.
. ESPN has reduced out chances to 17% based on our upcoming schedule with the ALEast. But that could also help us if we omehow get hot again.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on August 18, 2022, 08:00:17 AM
The Sox have about 6-7 teams to deal with for 3 wild cards. Seattle is about assured one of those with a soft Sept schedule. Balt. came back to earth on Wed. and lost as did the Rays and Chisox. We’re needing about 3 head to head wins to overtake O’s or their losing to another team. Fridays game is DDay.
. ESPN has reduced out chances to 17% based on our upcoming schedule with the ALEast. But that could also help us if we omehow get hot again.
They keep changing it. It was about 7% a week or so ago, then it went up. They keep the Sox the same in their power rankings. The fact is that they have something like 31of their remaining 44 games against the AL East.
I distrust anything ESPN says about baseball. That network has gone steadily down hill over the past years. Their baseball broadcasts are virtually unwatchable and have been so for a long time.
Quote from: elktonnick on August 18, 2022, 09:56:12 AM
I distrust anything ESPN says about baseball. That network has gone steadily down hill over the past years. Their baseball broadcasts are virtually unwatchable and have been so for a long time.
Speaking of broadcasts, I was happily surprised to find that Charlotte is no longer "home" territory for Pittsburgh.