New York 6, Boston 1

 

The Red Sox might have one of the best bullpen ERAs in baseball, but yesterday that bullpen lost the game for Boston. 

After 6⅓ masterful innings by Ranger Suarez (one run and six K's), the game was tied at 1-1. Justin Slaten entered the game in the eighth inning and gave up a solo homer after two outs and then, after walking the next batter, allowed an RBI single. Joe La Sorsa (who?) took the mound next in his first Red Sox appearance and gave up a two-run homer to the Yankees' Jazz Jism Junior. Five runs in the inning, all coming on two outs.   

New York's Shittler lasted only 5⅔ innings, fewer than Suarez, got five K's to Ranger's six, and gave up one walk (Suarez had none), but the press called Shit Hitler's pitching performance "dominant" and barely mentioned Suarez. It doesn't matter, other than pointing out the big-market bias of the press, but it reminds us once again why the Yankees suck.

The Sox escape the Bronx with one win, one loss, and one rainout. They're still in last place, 10½ back from the lead, and headed toward first-place Tampa Bay.

The Rays have been on a rocky road as of late, losing seven of their last 10 and their last three home games. Tonight, they'll start pitcher Ian Seymour (3-0, 5.23). The Sox have faced Seymour twice before, both times in relief, and got only one hit, one run (and not on the lone hit), and three strikeouts over four innings. 

The Sox will answer with young Connelly Early (5-3, 3.26). Early was "dominant" against the Rays in a pitching masterpiece back on May 8, striking out eight over seven shutout innings in a 2-0 Fenway victory. I think he's still got it in him to do it again, this time in Tropicana Field.

Unfortunately, a Tampa Bay loss probably won't be as helpful for the Sox as for the Yankees, who trail the Rays by less than half a game. But even I don't advocate tanking a series in a lost season just to screw over New York . . . but why not? What have we got to lose? We're not winning the division (spoiler alert) anyway -  we're not going anywhere. Why not just be little stinkers and fuck things up for the goddamn Yankees and give Tampa Bay three easy wins while New York struggles with Cleveland?

It's a plan at least.