GAME #120 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 - BOSTON RED SOX @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES

[markj]

7:05PM Eastern

Red Sox

Kutter Crawford (R)

1. Tommy Pham (R) LF
2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
5. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B
6. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
7. Rob Refsnyder (R) DH
8. Reese McGuire (L) C
9. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF

Orioles

Jordan Lyles (R)

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
2. Adley Rutschman (S) C
3. Anthony Santander (S) DH
4. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
5. Kyle Stowers (L) RF
6. Austin Hays (R) LF
7. Rougned Odor (L) 2B
8. Ramon Urias (R) 3B
9. Jorge Mateo (R) SS

Gametime Temp: 82°F
Chance of Precip: 1%

[longgame]

Another day, another lineup.  At least Raffy is batting behind some guys who could be on base, if he can get his act going.  Boagaerts may as well bat 9th.  At least JDM is getting a day off which will be an improvement. 

It really seems like a lot of guys are just waiting for this season to end and there's still a month and a half to go. 

[Sea Dog 23]

Cora said after Thurs, Sox are a team of singles /doubles hitters.  "They do not hit homers, but hit to gaps, work the pitch count, try to get on base." 

I think what Cora is saying - this is the team MGT gave him.  What is missing?  Big bats like Schwarber,  Renfroe and other free agent sluggers.

[MongoLikeSox]

If Cora had resigned himself to that fact in June, he would not have hammered the "hit more homers" message into the big-3. Instead, they harped on it and they each dropped 40 points and have been pressing for at least 50 days.

[longgame]

Nice to see an early lead.  Maybe they should be hitting the 1-3 guys 7-9?

[longgame]

Well that lead didn’t last long. Crawford has been pretty good until now. 

[MongoLikeSox]

Devers has had at least 4 very hard hit balls to Left-Center field in the past few nights. Hanging back and waiting a bit. I think that's a good sign.

[MongoLikeSox]

I think we're seeing a hole in Pham's defense.

[elktonnick]

Yup

[longgame]

That’s a couple of times he’s missed very catchable balls.

This one is tough to watch.  Crawford with a lousy outing and the Sawamura who was lights out on the road gives up a homer and a base hit.  On the other side, it’s clear the wind isn’t blowing in, but the Sox are amazingly weak.

On Bogey, not sure what they said on NESN, but that was a strike although borderline.  He has to swing at that pitch with two strikes, not get thrown out whining.

[longgame]

Big chance for a big inning.  Too bad they don’t have anyone that can hit a HR.

Okay, Pham came through with a 3 run double! 

[elktonnick]

Brasier throws one meatball after another.

[elktonnick]

Besides not pitching the Sox are not playing defense.  BTW Who thought Duran could play centerfield.

[elktonnick]

Dalbec now playing 2nd. 

[longgame]

Pham out.  What a disaster of a game. 

This game is emblematic of the entire Sox season.  They had a couple moments when they looked like they had a chance, but the rest of the time they’ve been getting beaten badly in all aspects of the game.  Devers’ warning track power was perfect for this game.  Now they’ve got a mess of a lineup thanks to the whiny “leader” of the team.  I’m rooting for the O’s to double the score in the next couple of innings, but won’t be watching.