This was almost ugly but they snatched this game back in extras!
The Red Sox head into Detroit in big need of a series win. Lucky to have losses from KC and Minny last night, the boys from Boston need to take advantage of every game and start this road trip out with a victory. Could the Sox come out on top or would the Tigers scratch back?
Key Moments
T6: Connor Crushes
This felt like it could have been the back breaker in this one, in all honesty. The Red Sox hit a lot of hard balls off of Casey Mize and finally one of them got out of the park. A 4-0 ballgame SHOULD be a cakewalk.
B9: Blown Save…Again
Until it isn’t. We’ll talk about the bullpen below but Kenley Jansen looked ROUGH tonight.
T10: Rafaela Rakes, Duran Demolishes
Where is this mentality more often? Your bullpen blows a sure-fire victory and you come right back with your offense to punch your opponent in the mouth. Only ghost runners, no ghost offense in extras.
Studs
Connor Wong (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 K)
Danny Jansen better keep eating plain donuts. Connor Wong does damage when he does.
There was a box of donuts in the clubhouse this afternoon. Danny Jansen grabbed one and asked Connor Wong if he wanted one.
Wong declined, saying he was playing. Jansen happily scarfed his down and said, ‘You’ll hit a homer if I have one.”
Sure enough. 4-0 Sox.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 31, 2024
Jarren Duran (3-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI)
2 doubles and a titanic solo shot, 431 ft and 109.3 exit velocity off the bat. His bat is rarely cold, and tonight it was on FIRE. Oh and he can play defense.
Tanner Houck (6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 ER)
A no hitter through four frames is pretty darn good! The last time the Red Sox won a Tanner Houck start was July 11th…my word.
Duds
Brennan Bernardino & Kenley Jansen
I’m lumping the two of them together in this one because the bullpen for the most part continues to be just stinky. Bernardino giving up a three-run shot made my stomach churn just knowing the inevitable felt like it was going to happen after giving up a 4-0 lead against the D-backs just this past Sunday. It came close to happening again but thankfully the offense came through and Chris Martin was clean in the 10th. Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia hopefully are healthy soon and Liam Hendriks looks very close to a return from Worcester. It’s sorely needed.
Play of the Game
There’s no question to me it’s Ceddanne’s two-run blast in the 10th. He’s rounding out to be one hell of a Major League hitter.