The Sox just had back-to-back series wins against AL East opponents! Thanks to Buehler having a quality start and going seven innings, Marcelo Mayer hitting a home run twice, Duran and Toro adding on, Narvaez remaining amazing, and the bullpen managing to hold it down, the Sox can finally claim a one-run win again. Against the Rays, which they won a different one-run game against back in April! The studs were especially stud-y tonight, so let’s go over them:
FIVE(!!) Studs:
Marcelo Mayer: Had his first career multi-homer major league game and his first (two) home run(s) at Fenway! He saw Littell’s pitches really well tonight overall.
Jarren Duran/Abraham Toro: Tacked on runs with their own solo homers. Duran’s was on his first pitch of the night, and Toro’s came after the Yandy Diaz 2-run homer tied the game, so Toro’s was the winning run.
Carlos Narváez: How can you not love this man? He threw two separate runners out on the base-paths, first Taylor Walls in the top of the 5th when he tried to steal second, and then José Caballero in the top of the 8th when he tried to steal third. He had his cap on backwards too and that just emanates aura. Offensively he wasn’t spectacular, only going 1-4 with his leadoff double in the bottom of the 8th, but his defensive prowess really shined tonight.
The Bullpen: Kept the score the same, even after Justin Wilson had to get pulled for getting two men on base and Greg Weissert then loaded the bases. Weissert soon got a strikeout for the third out, and Chapman was lights out in the bottom of the 9th, even blowing 102 mph past Josh Lowe for the final strike. In a one-run game, you need your bullpen to be nails, and while things did get murky, they kept the Sox fully in the game.
The Defense: NO ERRORS! We must always give the defense Stud Status when this happens because it doesn’t happen that often! I wish it happened more often, but positive reinforcement is known to work, right?
Three Duds:
Rafael Devers: Went 0-3 with one strikeout. He’s been cold recently in the batter’s box, but with all the hype surrounding Mayer and Anthony as of late, he hasn’t really been getting criticism for it. With all the heat Raffy’s gotten this season, it’s probably for the best to not get mad at him for this cold streak right now, but we should all still hope he breaks out of it soon.
Roman Anthony: Went 0-4 with one strikeout. I can give him a pass though, he’s still new, we’re all still excited he’s here, he pretty much won the game for us yesterday, etc.
Trevor Story: Went 0-4, but no strikeouts today for him, and he’s known to strike out a lot, so at least he was putting the ball in play.
Play of the Game: Mayer’s Second Home Run
The first home run was also great, but the second one was what made his night especially impressive.
Another off day for the Sox tomorrow, and then the Yankees are in town. We all know what that means.
