Red Sox 6, A's 0

 

Before the game, the Sox decided to put unreliable starting pitcher Dustin May on the 15-day IL due to "right elbow neuritis," or as we say in the 'hood, "because he sucks." Instead they called up rookie pitcher Connelly Early from the minors to make his major-league debut, and, holy shit, he struck out 11 batters to tie a 48-year Red Sox record for a major-league debut. He went five shut-out innings, giving up only five hits and one walk. His ERA is currently 0.00. Way to go, Rook!

Not that we needed ace pitching to win this game. Romy González hit a homer on the fourth pitch of the game, and then Refsnyder hit a three-run homer in the same inning before the A's even got a single out.  González hit a RBI double in the second, and Yoshida made the game 6-0 with an RBI in the eighth. 

Meanwhile, the Tigers humiliated the Yankees in the Bronx, beating the bombers, 12-2. So Boston and New York are effectively tied for second in the AL East and for the top spot in the Wild Card standings, although New York (80-64) has a slight, .001-point advantage over Boston (81-65) only by virtue of having played two fewer games. Detroit will take another shot at the Yanks tonight.

Seattle won again, keeping up the pressure from behind in the Wild Card.

Rookie season continues: tonight, the Sox will start rookie Payton Tolle, who so far has had one good outing (8 K's and 2 runs), and one not-too-good outing (2 K's and 5 runs). He'll get a chance to improve his stats with the A's tonight against fellow rookie Mason Barnett (1-1, 9.00), who's also had one good start (8 K's and 3 hits) and one bad start (1 K and 8 hits). 

Need I remind anyone that a win tonight would complete a sweep of the A's, as well as potentially move Boston ahead of New York?