Connelly Early did it once more! He took the ball in a giant September recreation in opposition to a surprisingly stable A’s lineup and fully shut them down. When he he walked off the mound in the course of the prime of the sixth inning, he had a mixed line over his first two MLB begins of 10.1 innings pitched, ZERO earned runs (at the very least for a second), and 18 strike outs in opposition to only one stroll. He was nothing in need of sensible, once more!
This could have been the story of tonight’s recreation. How the Sox had been once more injected by the youthful vitality and excellence of their farm. How they’ve their No. 4 starter set for the remainder of the 12 months, and the way they moved one win nearer to their first playoff look since 2021.
Sadly, that’s not the story. As an alternative, we’re left right here pondering how the remainder of these jamokes can look so lifeless in such a excessive stakes surroundings. With tonight’s 0-7 effort with runners in scoring place, the Sox are actually a mixed 5-54 in these spots over their final six video games. They’ve scored only one run over their final 16 innings (and so they haven’t precisely been going through a parade of prime notch arms both).
I want I might level to only one factor right here, however the issues on this lineup run deep. The complete backside half of it evokes zero confidence irrespective of how Alex Cora rearranges it, Alex Bregman hasn’t been scorching for a number of weeks now, and Romy Gonzalez had possibly his least productive night time of the season on the dish on this recreation going 0-5 with two double performs, together with the sport ender.
It’s simply astounding how unproductive this group is with out Roman Anthony in there, significantly in shut video games. And no, it doesn’t simply really feel that approach, the numbers bear it out as properly. Check out these figures from bostonsportsinf from BEFORE tonight’s one run loss.
I can’t underscore sufficient how a lot it sucks that not one of the large three prospects getting into the season (Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell) are right here getting at bats down the stretch!
Pitching sensible, Greg Weissert ruined Connelly Early’s line by permitting an inherited runner to attain. He’s actually fortunate this pitched stayed within the ballpark. Holy meatball!
So Early will get screwed because the baserunner solely obtained there on an infield hit, after which Weissert proceeded to surrender one other run to place the staff in a 2-1 gap, which for this pathetic offense proved insurmountable.
If this feels acquainted, it’s possible as a result of Weissert additionally ruined Payton Tolle’s Fenway debut on the final homestand when he allowed inherited runners to attain within the recreation in opposition to the Pirates. Each Tolle and Early didn’t enable a run whereas they had been on the mound of their Fenway debut, however each gave up runs on their line due to Greg Weissert, and the Sox misplaced each video games.
Greg Weissert: See above.
Romy Gonzalez: 5 plate appearances, seven outs, two crippling double performs, and a -.475 WPA. Horrific!
Alex Bregman: 0-4 tonight, which simply isn’t ok from a man who’s right here to be a pacesetter and show you how to win essential, late season video games. He’s additionally batting simply .157 over his final 22 video games. With Roman Anthony out, the Sox want Bregman to step up greater than ever and provides this sputtering offense one thing in a giant second.
Connelly Early: Take a second to take pleasure in his lovely outing.
Trevor Story: Not solely did he go 3-4 on the plate, however he additionally swiped his thirtieth bag of the season with out getting caught, which ties an MLB document. His turnaround from Might has been nothing in need of exceptional.
Justin Slaten: It was straightforward to overlook, however he labored a 5 pitch scoreless inning out of the pen in his greatest outing but since getting back from the IL.
As ugly as this loss was, it was a sneaky nice night time when you’re on the lookout for extra depth within the pitching division. Connelly Early represents one other beginning choice behind Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito, and Justin Slaten possibly type of kinda may be capable of work his approach again into the seventh inning position earlier than the tip of the month? We’ll see.
I’m going to go someplace fully totally different with this one and spotlight what I assumed was one of the vital compelling second guess calls of the night time. It’s Nick Sogard getting picked off attempting to steal second base to finish the underside of the eighth inning.
There’s a bunch to select at right here! Let’s begin with Lou Merloni’s tackle why it was the suitable name:
The counter argument I see right here is that it takes the bat out of Bregman’s arms because the Sogard out put Bregman up fourth within the ninth. So the query then turns into would you moderately have Bregman up with the sport on the road the way in which he’s hitting proper now, or Duran left on left both down within the rely 1-2 with a person on second within the eighth, or with a contemporary rely main off the subsequent inning, nonetheless caught in a left on left matchup. It’s a detailed name!
In fact, Bregman and possibly even Trevor Story nonetheless ought to have gotten an at bat anyway within the ninth as Ceddanne Rafaela managed to succeed in base on a single, however as beforehand talked about, Romy Gonzalez ended the affair with a backbone snapping double play.
