Braves 3, Red Sox 2 (19)

 

Classic Red Sox: game's tied in the tenth inning, Yaz comes to the plate, and hits a game-winning double. The only problem is "Yaz" is Mike Yastrzemski,  Carl's son, and for some reason he's playing for the Braves.

In all, though, I'm not surprised the Red Sox lost, playing on the road against the team with the most wins in MLB. I'm surprised the game was that close and that the Boston offense, such as it is, came back from a 2-0 deficit to force extra innings.

Mickey Gasper singled in the sixth, bringing home Carlos Narváez, and Marcelo Mayer homered to deep right center in the seventh. After that, the bullpen held on, giving up only one hit while earning five K's., and then Yaz stepped to the plate in the tenth . . . 

For the record, young Connelly Early got more strikeouts (6) than hits (5) and lasted five innings, but both Atlanta runs were scored against him.

And with that, the Sox are unsurprisingly down 0-1 in this three-game road series in Smyrna, Georgia (the Braves don't play in the City of Atlanta, and for that this Atlanta urbanite will never be a fan).

We may be in last place, back 11½ from Tampa Bay, but we're still only three games back in the Wild Card chase (the Boston Red Sox: still better than the Houston Astros and L.A. Angels).

Tonight is Payton Tolle (1-2, 1.99) versus Bryce Elder (4-1, 1,81). Last year, the Sox got three runs off Elder on six hits, but three of the four batters who had hits are now gone, and no one is expecting Trevor Story to get two hits again off Elder tonight (not least because they just put him on the IL). Tolle will be facing the Braces for the first time tonight. 

How did we not acquire Yaz?