The Boston Red Sox played today like a team that knew the region’s attention would be turned to the New England Patriots. Patrick Sandoval started the game and almost immediately ended it, surrendering four runs before even recording an out. The offense, for most of the day, was non-existent. They loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but Roman Anthony ultimately struck out to end the inning with no runs scored.
Immediately after the Patriots took a knee to end the game, the offense started to wake up. Trevor Story hit a solo home run to cut the Rays’ lead to four, and Caleb Durbin singled to force the Rays to Kevin Kelly to finish the game. He did so, and the Red Sox will need to wait for at least another hour or so to find out if they’ve clinched the division. Go Braves.
Seriously, like nothing happened. The whole game took only 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the only runs scored came via home runs outside of the first inning. If you didn’t watch, you didn’t miss much.
Today’s game, in the grand scheme of things, probably doesn’t matter. Entering the game, the Red Sox needed to win one of their final seven games to clinch a postseason spot (if Houston wins out). Sandoval had a brutal first inning, but settled in and ultimately got through seven innings. At this point, it’s about lining up the pitching staff, resting the bullpen, and getting to the postseason as healthy as possible. Sandoval lost the game for the Red Sox early, but at least he ate some innings in a fairly meaningless game.
He hit a home run. That’s all.
A three-run home run gave the Braves a 4-1 lead over the Astros in the sixth inning. If the Braves can hold on, the Red Sox will be going to the postseason.
Sandoval isn’t very good. He has one good pitch, and it’s only a useful pitch if he can throw strikes with his other pitches, which he often can’t. Because of that, it’s often a tightrope act for Sandoval, who has to navigate his way through traffic in seemingly every inning. On Sunday, he fell off the tightrope and allowed four runs in the first inning. The offense couldn’t pick him up, and that was that.
They only scored one run and barely made any noise all afternoon. Again, it doesn’t really matter, but they’ve gotta swing the bats to go anywhere in the playoffs.
