FanPost

Yanks Capitalize, Sox Do Not: Rout Closer Than Score Shows

July 8

Seabold pitches for the Sox against Cortes. Seabold was called up from Triple-A Worcester because Wacha was placed on the injured list before the game. A runner is at second with one out in the top of the first after the lightning-like reflexes of Rafael Devers save a double. A hit batsman puts two on, and then a single to left scores LeMahieu to make it 1-0 Yankees. Donaldson makes it worse by hitting a homer to the Monster to make it 4-0. This is his ninth of the year. It’s the second straight night that the Yankees have gone up 4-0. Hicks then doubles to right before being stranded.

The Sox counter by putting two on with one out in the bottom of the frame. With two out, Vázquez doubles off the Monster to score Refsnyder and Martinez and cut the New York lead in half and make it 4-2. A pop out ends the inning. In the top of the third, now 5-2, a runner is at first with nobody out for Trevino, who doubles down the left-field line to put two men in scoring position. With one out, Arroyo inexplicably loses the ball in right field. He’s not deep enough, and while he’s looking up for it, the ball lands several feet deeper in right than he is! Tragedy strikes as Hicks and Trevino score to make it 7-2. Gallo gets a triple, but Arroyo recovers in time to throw him out at the plate. That could and should have been a simple sacrifice fly. Seabold is removed by the manager and trainer. Michael Feliz replaces him.

In the bottom of the fourth, now 9-2, Story leads off with a Monster shot to make it 9-3. This is his fifteenth of the year. After a groundout, Dalbec smashes one onto Lansdowne to make it 9-4. This is his sixth of the year. Refsnyder then doubles to the gap in left-center. With two on and two out, Cortes gets the hook. Bogaerts is hit to load the bases, but Vázquez gives the Yankees a huge break by striking out. With the bullpen shorthanded and exhausted, Jackie Bradley Junior makes his first career pitching appearance in the ninth. With the score 11-5, the first two batters reach. A walk with two out loads the bases, and then a walk scores Trevino to make it 12-5. A force out ends the inning. It says something about the current state of our pitching staff that the best performance all night was by a position player. The Sox had plenty of opportunities, but they all went by the wayside in this 12-5 thrashing.