Red Sox 5, Rays 4: Let’s Get Weird

Let’s get weird. 12 innings is a lot of innings in today’s MLB. Between ghost runners and the inability to fully shift, games are typically over long before the benches are empty. That wasn’t the case tonight though as neither team could push across more than a run through the first two-and-a-half innings of bonus baseball. Ultimately, the Red Sox came out on top after Brennan Bernardino stranded two Rays’ baserunners in the top of the 12th, and Romy Gonzalez singled home the winning run.

Seriously, how often do you see a manager lift his best hitter to put the pitcher into the lineup, effectively allowing him to pinch-run with a faster runner? If I had a nickel for every time that happened this season, I would have two nickels. That’s only ten cents, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

Having a “lame duck” manager in Alex Cora isn’t ideal, although it does allow Cora to manage like he has nothing to lose. We’re just about a quarter of the way through the season, and we’ve seen Alex Cora manage games like they’re game seven of the World Series. It may look awkward at times, but Cora has a knack for pulling the right strings more often than not. Somebody is going to give Cora a lot of money this off-season, I hope it’s the Red Sox. Great win tonight, let’s keep it rolling tomorrow.

Four Studs

Zack Kelly

To me, Kelly was the best player for the home team tonight. He masterfully navigated two extra innings, only allowing a run thanks to a throwing error by Ceddane Rafaela. If Rafaela cleanly transfers the ball and accurately throws to first, the Red Sox likely walk out of Fenway with a win in the 11th. Keep an eye out for an Anatomy of an Inning featuring Zack Kelly on Thursday morning.

Nick Pivetta (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 0 BB)

Although it was roughly seven hours ago, Pivetta put in an excellent start after a rough first outing back from injury. His fastball command wasn’t great with many four-seamers finding the middle of the plate, leading to just three whiffs on 49 pitches. Fortunately, his slider and sweeper picked up the slack as he kept them down and to the glove side on his way to a 33% swinging strike rate. He gets the Cardinals next; I’d expect him to build on tonight and deliver another strong performance.

Romy Gonzalez (1-1, RBI)

Let that be a lesson to the rest of the league. Never intentionally walk Tyler O’Neill to get to Romy Gonzalez.

Whoever Designed This Bobblehead

What a delight.

Two Duds

Justin Slaten (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 K)

Slaten entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of Pivetta and quickly surrendered the lead. He pitched a clean seventh, so it wasn’t all bad, but Slaten has scuffled a bit after a terrific start to the season. He’ll find it again, I believe.

My “Friends” Who Left after the 11th Inning

I’m not mad, just disappointed.

Play of the Game

Walk of winners, baby.