Braves 10, Red Sox 2

Last night, Tolle and the Boston bullpen essentially provided batting practice for the Braves, giving up 10 runs on 11 hits. As a rule of thumb, if a Braves batter got on base, he got home. The Sox pulled a couple of runs out of their ass in the bottom of the fourth on a walk, single, and double, but otherwise let Sale cruise for five innings and then let the Atlanta bullpen pad their stats.

Man, I hate this team. In 50 years of cheering for the Red Sox, this is the worst I've ever seen.

Now the last-place Sox (23-32) are off to Cleveland (33-25), the first-place team in the AL Central. Rookie reliever Tyler Samaniego (0-2, 1.04) will be making his first career start. The team sent Samaniego down to the minors early this week, but had to call him right back after more pitching injuries. However, he's thrown 13 K's and allowed only two earned runs in 17⅓ innings of relief, so we know he's got good stuff, but I don't know if he'll be expected to go long tonight, or if he's in just as a short starter for some other pitcher. I give up. Who knows, and just as importantly, who cares?

The Guardians will be starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (3-5, 5.18), who's only faced the Sox once before, going 5⅓ innings last September 2 with eights K's but seven earned runs. 

100 more days until college football.