GAME #37 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022 - HOUSTON ASTROS @ BOSTON RED SOX

[markj]

6:10PM Eastern

Red Sox

Nick Pivetta (R)


1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF
2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF
6. Trevor Story (R) 2B
7. Franchy Cordero (L) RF
8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
9. Christian Vazquez (R) C


Astros

Luis Garcia (R)

1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B
2. Michael Brantley (L) LF
3. Aledmys Diaz (R) 3B
4. Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
5. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
6. Kyle Tucker (L) RF
7. Chas McCormick (R) CF
8. Jeremy Pena (R) SS
9. Martin Maldonado (R) C

Gametime Temp: 68°F
Chance of Precip: 0%

[markj]

Note the one hour earlier start time.

[longgame]

It sure seems like it would be better having Bogey with his average and OBP on base ahead of JDM and Devers with the power.  It's that stupid lefty-righty thing he tries to do but the problem is the other lefties on the team all can't hit other than occasionally Verdugo but Franchy is coming around.  Dalbec in, sitting JBJ and playing the righty Dalbec makes no sense vs a righty pitcher.  In fact playing Dalbec makes no sense whatsoever at this point, but ditto JBJ so better to just have one of them in the lineup at the same time.

[Sea Dog 23]

Im still trying to recover from the homer barrage from last night.  Ted was referring to not playing JBJ and replacing with Franchy.  Neither of those two have a homer this year. In fact the other two regulars hare only hit 3 and 1.  The guy we didnt replace Renfroe,  has 9 already.  A power shortage we didnt take care of.

[elktonnick]

The loss of Renfroe was the dumbest thing  that Blooming Idiot has done to date.  It isn't just the power drain but guys like Dalbec and JBJ strike out at an alarming rate.  At least foul a ball off once and awhile!

[markj]

Bases loaded, one out and JDM pulls a GIDP on what looked like ball four. Wonderful.

[BoSoxFanNY]

RED SOX beat the Astros 5 - 1!
SOX win the series against the Astros.
Nick Pivetta pitches a complete game.

Who would have thought?

[elktonnick]

Baseball is crazy!  First complete game by a Sox pitcher in almost 3 years.  Pivetta was outstanding

[markj]

What a Gem by Pivetta. That's one way to win. Keep the game out of the bullpen's hands.

[SeaBeachFred]

Hell of a job by Pivetta, a two hit complete game and no Brasier, Barnes or Robles to gum up the works.  We won a series against a very good team after getting our lunch eaten yesterday.  Now if we can keep from getting exhausted by that effort perhaps this win may inspire the team to go on a moderate tear and try to move up in the standings a little.

[Sea Dog 23]

Yep, that was a timely win.  Two series wins against the state of Texas.  in just a week the Sox have gone from dire straits to getting near a playoff team.  Now 5 games out, but that's considering the new number of playoff teams.  The next 15 or so games are very do-able.

So one week thinking about trading the likes of Bogey and Devers, to the next week thinking about how MGT can hold the team together and maybe improve it at the trade deadline.  We shall see.

[longgame]

I can't recall seeing such a well pitched game in a long time.  Two hits, no walks, 8 Ks.  Loved it when he came off the field after the 8th and Cora didn't even look up.  Given how the bullpen had been used with the bullpen game and then the HR debacle, this team needed them to get a rest (or more importantly needed to keep them out of the game).  Also nice to see the ball flying better off the Sox bats.  They've got a heck of a stretch coming up to get right - Seattle and Chicago who could go either way but then Baltimore, Cincy and Oakland. 

Let's hope they've figured some things out.  Although saw a stat today about how we've had one HR from 1B and one from RF.  Need to do something there sooner rather than later.

[MongoLikeSox]

Pivetta is a joy to watch when he's on. I was shocked I saw him popping up out of the dugout as commercial break came on. Everyone is, sure, but something about him I really enjoy watching.

Filing it away for later, but he made his pitches when he was feeling the pressure late in the 8th and the 9th inning.

He had several mid-summer last year into the 7th. One was a no-no that we couldn't score JS to support in Tampa.

[SeaBeachFred]

I can't recall seeing such a well pitched game in a long time.  Two hits, no walks, 8 Ks.  Loved it when he came off the field after the 8th and Cora didn't even look up.  Given how the bullpen had been used with the bullpen game and then the HR debacle, this team needed them to get a rest (or more importantly needed to keep them out of the game).  Also nice to see the ball flying better off the Sox bats.  They've got a heck of a stretch coming up to get right - Seattle and Chicago who could go either way but then Baltimore, Cincy and Oakland. 

Let's hope they've figured some things out.  Although saw a stat today about how we've had one HR from 1B and one from RF.  Need to do something there sooner rather than later.

You can't run a good winning streak over a period of two or three weeks unless you get knock out pitching from both starters and relievers AND some thunder from the bats.  We have gotten little from first base with either Frenchy or Dalbec there and NOTHING from Bradley in RF.  Think of it.....we send a 30+homer and 100 RBI man to Milwaukee and get the worst hi tter in baseball last year and pretty much close to the worst one this year to take his place.  And we don't even  try to  trade for a RH power hitter to take Hunter's place but give the posi tion to Bradley.  Ted,  this team will not move up to a real shot at a playoff spot until Bradley is sat down and we get a RF who can give us a little thunder, but as I've said I know from people who were once working for the Sox that Bradley is a strong favorite of owner John Henry and he might be very reluctant to see his pet vanquished to the bench or DFA'd.  Let's just hope we can finally build some momentum from the two series wins against Texas teams and get our crap together.