July 28

Crawford pitches for the Sox against McKenzie, whose ERA this month, a microscopic 0.34, is the lowest by a Cleveland pitcher in any month since 1975. Dennis Eckersley had a 0.32 ERA in May of that year, says Boston Globe writer Alex Speier. Josh Naylor, last night's hero for Cleveland, leads off the top of the second with a double off the Monster. He moves to third on a groundout but gets stranded. Ramírez breaks the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when he wraps his twentieth homer of the year around the Pesky Pole to make it 1-0 Guardians. That is confirmed after a brief crew chief review. It stays fair by a matter of inches over the foul pole. A stolen base puts a man at second with two out before a pop out ends the inning.

This is largely a pitching duel, but the Sox put two on with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The commentators are saying what a great time it would be for Bogaerts to go yard. Ask and ye shall receive! He takes McKenzie deep to the Monster to put the Sox on the board and in the lead at 3-1. It’s his eighth of the year. Cordero leads off the bottom of the seventh with a double to the gap in right, quickly scoring on Dalbec’s single off the Monster to make it 4-1. The first two batters reach in the top of the eighth, and then the Sox trade a run for a double play, cleaning the bases while making it 4-2. Bogaerts steals second with two out in the bottom of the inning, ripping his pants at the knee as he does so. A walk puts two on before Bogaerts steals third, but a strikeout ends the inning. Naylor doubles to right with one out in the top of the ninth. He moves to third on a groundout before the tying run grounds out. Red Sox win, 4-2.