If there’s one factor we’ve realized at Fenway Park this season, it’s this: When it rains, it pours.
After taking part in by means of a soggy, rain-soaked afternoon on Saturday, the Red Sox and White Sox couldn’t end Sunday’s collection finale, with the White Sox popping out on high 3-2 after the sport was referred to as attributable to inclement climate after six innings.
White Sox proper fielder Gavin Sheets drove in what proved to be the game-winning sacrifice fly within the high of the sixth. Adam Duvall homered within the backside of the inning to chop the deficit to 1, however after the Red Sox couldn’t drive a draw the tarp got here off and the sport was referred to as shortly afterwards following a 1:43 rain delay.
Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford was in management all through the early innings. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and stranded a runner at third to maintain issues scoreless heading into the fifth.
Boston, in the meantime, took a 1-0 lead within the backside of the second after rookie Wilyer Abreu hit a house run to deep proper discipline in his first at-bat again following an prolonged absence attributable to left hand soreness.
The Red Sox had further scoring alternatives within the third and fourth innings as nicely, however couldn’t money in. That left the door open for the White Sox within the fifth, they usually capitalized after Crawford walked a pair and allowed a two-run double to shortstop Elvis Andrus, placing Chicago up 2-1.
The second stroll got here with two outs in opposition to No. 9 hitter Korey Lee after Crawford initially received forward 0-2 within the rely, and he stated afterwards that he took too many possibilities figuring out of the zone and may have been extra aggressive as soon as the rely evened up.
“The leadoff walk, that’s kind of a cardinal sin as a pitcher, but that two-out walk in that situation I’ve got to go right after him and get him out,” Crawford stated. “Can’t let him by on a free pass.”
Crawford went on to permit a double and a single within the high of the sixth earlier than being pulled for left-hander Chris Murphy, who allowed one in all his inherited runners to attain on the Sheets sacrifice fly. Crawford was finally charged with three runs on 4 hits, three walks and 7 strikeouts over 5.1 innings, a strong effort however not sufficient on Sunday.
“It goes back to the walks,” stated Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora. “That’s something he knows and he’s upset about it, but overall good stuff, hit his spots, a lot of swing and misses. He’s got one more so we’ve got to push to keep getting better.”
Outside of the 2 solo house runs the Red Sox couldn’t string collectively any sustained offense. The membership collectively went 0 for six with runners in scoring place and stranded 4, together with two essential males at third base. Chicago starter Mike Clevinger additionally didn’t strike anybody out, however he restricted the Red Sox to 5 hits with no walks over six innings to earn the win.
Once the sky opened up and the rain began falling within the sixth, it grew to become a well-known scene at Fenway.
The Red Sox have now endured 13 rain delays at Fenway Park this season, and that doesn’t embody the quite a few occasions they’ve performed by means of sloppy circumstances on a getaway day as a result of the opponent wasn’t scheduled to come back again to Boston once more this season.
It’s been significantly unhealthy just lately, and courting again to the final homestand the Red Sox have now had seven of their final eight house dates impacted indirectly by inclement climate.
Cora stated afterwards he’s by no means seen something just like the climate we’ve seen in Boston this season.
“The whole summer, right, I don’t remember being on the field four straight days to work on our craft early,” he stated. “It’s been rough, but with that one, (God) decides and we just go.”
Fortunately the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday’s ultimate house video games appears to be like much more promising. The Red Sox are set to welcome the Tampa Bay Rays following Monday’s off day, and after the transient two-game set they’ll have their ultimate off day on Thursday earlier than wrapping up the season in Baltimore over the approaching weekend.
Robert leaves early
Though the White Sox received the win, in addition they suffered a doubtlessly huge loss as star middle fielder Luis Robert Jr. left the sport within the high of the third attributable to left knee soreness.
Robert has been one of many solely causes to look at the White Sox these days, and he entered Sunday batting .264 with 38 house runs and 80 RBI. Considering that Chicago is 60-96 and on tempo to high 100 losses, the prospect of shedding Robert is the cherry on high of what has been a nightmare season on the South Side.
Source: www.bostonherald.com