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What can we expect from this game? The Red Sox should try to gain some ground in the Wild Card race and show what they can do in the second half. Rafael Devers tried to hit his 200th home run. And we say hello to our old friend Mauricio Dubón.
Game action
Jarren Duran tried to earn my favor again by hitting a home run on the first pitch. The Red Sox scored again after a couple of singles and a fielder’s choice.
Although the Astros had committed two infield errors before the end of the second inning, none of them resulted in a scoring opportunity.
A Sox tag charge at home plate in the fourth inning cost the Astros a run, but just as quickly the Astros scored two more to tie the game. It was a dramatic few minutes for Danny Jansen. On the canceled play, the Astros’ runner appeared to get under him. On the next sequence, he intercepted a throw from Tyler O’Neill that was too high at third base, then threw his own throw to first base that went past Gonzalez, which he probably shouldn’t have tried in the first place. He was credited with the error on essentially the only failed play by the Sox defense. I don’t get to say this often, so here it is again: The Sox played pretty good defense, and Romy Gonzalez in particular put in some real stellar performances.
The Astros committed another error that extended the fifth inning, and although the Sox threatened to put a runner on third base, they ultimately failed to capitalize.
Houck’s sixth strikeout of the night left Mauricio Dubón squirming worse than the most tentative piñata swing you’ve ever seen. The locker room commented later that he “seems to be afraid of the ball!” and that was funny. I wish I could find video of that for you, but I got a strikeout while doing it or it would have been eligible for my play of the game.
Great defensive play by Romy Gonzalez to prevent a run and end the fifth inning. He had a pretty great night. Gonzalez reached first base in the sixth inning when Jose Altuve’s high throw knocked the Astros first baseman into the air, but he didn’t land on the base. At one point he remembered to step on it, but only after Gonzalez ran by. It was weird. The Astros challenged the call, but to no avail, and the fault went to Altuve. That was funny.
After a pitcher change, Masataka Yoshida came in and hit a contested home run. He didn’t even notice and stopped at second base to take off his batting gear, but the umpire waved him around. This criticism went as far as New York, but it was indeed a home run – if only in this park – but who cares! Yoshida continues to impress. Gonzalez, who got on base on the earlier error, also scored. This was the first time the Red Sox made the Astros pay for the evening’s sloppy defense. A close-up of the camera caught Yoshida smiling a little to himself in the dugout (immediately after the home run) and when he realized he was being watched, he ducked in embarrassment. A nice moment that proves his red-hot hitting power hasn’t gone to his head.
The Astros scored again with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly and increased the lead to 4:3.
More sloppy play from the Astros in the bottom of the seventh inning: Yainer Diaz called a second timeout to contest the previous call, automatically earning a strike despite already having two. Bye! The Astros’ heads were not in the game tonight. There were two runners on the field and Chris Martin got another K to get out of the jam (thanks to the Astros for their help).
Lucas Sims was unconvincing, walking the leadoff man to get on base and allowing the tying run. Gonzalez saved him briefly with a brilliant barehanded catch from Ceddanne Rafaela and then a double play, but Sims got around that with two singles and two walks in the inning. Thankfully, he struck out Altuve at a crucial moment, so that’s something.
We went into the ninth with the game tied. Kenley came in to try and bridge the gap to extra innings. We failed, folks: Diaz hit a walk-off home run against Kenley in their very first meeting.
Somehow it didn’t feel like the ending this game deserved. That was down to our bullpen not sticking to the script.
Bolt
Gonzalez
Had a good night! He only managed one hit, but reached base in all but one of his at-bats. He showed the Astros, and Altuve in particular, that the first baseman doesn’t step on base. He scored a run and made two great infield plays.
Houck
8K (he hasn’t had that many since early June), his sweeper was down and away with great movement and position, 2 ER, 0BB
Martin
Did what we needed him to do, get out of trouble in the seventh inning. 2H, 3K, 0BB, no runs.
Yoshida
Fantastic pinch-hit HR. 7G hit streak during which he batted .632.
Unexploded bombs
Bullpen (except Chris Martin)
Namely: Lucas Sims: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1K, missed a save, fell behind every batter. Kenley Jansen: That’s all she wrote because we know what happened.
NESN broadcast booth
The only thing less appealing than listening to them talk about how many times they get up in the night to “go potty” would be another homophobic slur from Jarren Duran. Please.
Triston Casas
0-4, 3K, lost a foul ball at the last second. He can shake off the rust.
Gameplay
Of course, the walk-off home run that Kenley allowed was the real play of the game, but let’s not wallow in that. Let’s move on to happier moments! I loved Masa’s home run, but this time I want to celebrate Romy Gonzalez and the defense, because God knows I’m here to criticize when there’s a lack of brilliance. Please admire that slide, that snatch, and that off-balance throw.
