GAME #131 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022 - BOSTON RED SOX @ MINNESOTA TWINS

[markj]

7:40PM Eastern

Red Sox

Michael Wacha (R)

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

Twins

Joe Ryan (R)

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH
2. Carlos Correa (R) SS
3. Jose Miranda (R) 1B
4. Max Kepler (L) RF
5. Kyle Garlick (R) LF
6. Gio Urshela (R) 3B
7. Nick Gordon (L) 2B
8. Gilberto Celestino (R) CF
9. Sandy Leon (S) C

Gametime Temp: 83°F
Chance of Precip: 0%

[Sea Dog 23]

I think the Twins are on a 5 game streak.  The bigger question, can the Sox win 80 this year?  A big NO as they would have to close out at .500.  Ill say 74 wins since they have a pretty tough schedule ahead.

[markj]

Wow, a big time clutch hit from Xander. A Grand Slam at that. Miracles do happen.

[markj]

And now JDM goes deep. This Twins pitcher Ryan is having a very bad night.

[MongoLikeSox]

They nailed them, too. Big hits.

[markj]

Wacha gives up a 2-run dinger after a long battle. You could feel that one coming.

[longgame]

A shame they couldn’t get to Ryan again after that inning, but it was nice to see the ball go out of the park for a change. 

I’m at the point where I don’t see the point of playing Dalbec if Arroyo can play a passable 1B.  3 Ks already tonight and as lost as ever.

[markj]

Sox tend to do that. They make hay against a pitcher having a bad night or a bad inning, then the bats go quiet again. Twins still have their secret weapon...the Sox BP.

[markj]

Dalbec is pathetic at the plate. Swinging at low, outside pitches to K yet again and leave a runner stranded at 3rd.

[markj]

Whitlock with 3 ER tonight. Not a good showing. Sox are lucky the Twins runner tried to stretch that double into a triple and got thrown out.

[markj]

No clutch hit from Kike. Razor thin lead. Not promising.

[markj]

Barnes being Barnes. Walkoff coming any minute.

[Schloicka]

Not pinch running for JD was huge.

[markj]

Wow, they got out of it. Twins fans must be pissed.

[SeaBeachFred]

Wow, a big time clutch hit from Xander. A Grand Slam at that. Miracles do happen.

Not too loud markj; he might hear about us talking about it and go in the tank again.  Seriously, he has gotten hot the last few games while JDM and Devers have gone into the deep freeze, and that makes me think X is fighting hard for a big contract extension from either us or a new bigger one from teams in need of a shortstop or hitter next season and in subsequent years.