Red Sox 2, Marlins 1

 

I'll be the first to admit I'd have liked to see Boston win this game by a bigger margin, and I'm more than a little concerned that Miami shut out the Sox through 6.2 innings, but a win's a win. And it's always fun to get a walk-off, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, thank you very much, Mr. Story. It was Story's 10th walk-off win of the season, tops in MLB.

The lower-case "s" story of this game was a pitcher's duel. Giolito limited the Marlins to one run on seven hits with five strikeouts through 6.1 innings. Miami's Sandy Alcantara kept the Sox to one run on two hits with seven strikeouts through 6.0 innings.  Both bullpens were near-flawless until the Marlin's Josh Simpson fucked up and loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch, and then reliever Calvin Faucher allowed Story's single and an unearned, game-winning run.

This afternoon, Brayan Bello (8-6, 3.25) goes up against the Marlins' Cal Quantrill (4-9, 5.09). Statistically, you gotta like the Sox' chances here.