Red Sox 11, Guardians 7

 

A win is a win is a win, but WTF was that all about? The Red Sox won the game, 11-7, but blew a four-run lead when pitching ace Garrett Crochet gave up three homers for six runs in a single inning, the sixth, giving Cleveland a two run lead. Fortunately, Rafaela hit a two-run homer in the seventh to tie the game back up, and then the Sox erupted for four more runs in the eighth to win the game, but our faith in Crochet has been shaken.  

Garrett Crochet hasn't gotten a win since August 23 in New York, and has scored only one win in his last five starts. Hope everything's okay with our main man.

Meanwhile, the Yankees crushed Houston, 7-1, and Toronto beat Cincy, 12-9, so nothing's changed in the standings - New York and Boston are still tied for second, 2½ back from the Blue Jays. We need to keep on winning, and rely on the difficulty-of-schedule disadvantage New York and Toronto have coming up to make the difference for us.

You hear that, Brennan Bernardino? Wins, we need wins. Bernie (4-2, 3.05) pitched a perfect hitless ninth inning against the Tribe the Guardians last night, getting Nolan Jones, Austin Hedges, and lead-off batter Steven Kwan to all fly out, but is still our designated started tonight despite the lack of rest. He'll be facing Cleveland's Joey Cantillo (3-3, 3.93). Way back on April 27, the only time he faced Boston, Cantillo  struck out Devers, Story, and Refsnyder but gave up a three-run homer to Rafaela in two innings of relief. The Sox won the game, 13-3.