The Sox take the series against the Reds
There’s something romantic about watching a ballgame in a half-empty ballpark on a summer afternoon. The game feels less like a big time event and more like something to do in the city if you’re nearby — a pastime, in other words, which is what it’s supposed to be. I wouldn’t want to watch my team play in that environment every day (or even more than just a couple times a season, really) but it’s fun every once in a while.
While the Reds went right to the pen following last night’s rain delay, Alex Cora made the aggressive decision to throw Brayan Bello and treat this one like a full start instead of a resumed game, saving the bullpen for tonight. That decision looked risky right off the bat, when Bello walked the second hitter he saw and allowed a homer to the second, but he settled down quite nicely, facing the minimum from there on out, even though he hit two batters. Ultimately, the move paid off and the Sox took the series on a lazy afternoon in the Fens.
Three Studs
Brayan Bello
Bello leaned heavily on his sinker and pitched five one-hit innings on an afternoon when his routine was (mildly) thrown out of whack. And while he was gifted two separate double-plays after hitting batters on the afternoon, he did a good job limiting the walks. I’ll happily take three more months of this version of Brayan Bello
Wilyer Abreu
Wilyer is proving he can dominate against someone other than the Texas Rangers this week. After his historic night on Monday, he picked up another two hits today, including the game-winner.
Abraham Toro
Abraham Toro is going to turn back into a pumpkin soon, but with two more hits today — one of which went for two bases while the other set up the winning run — he’s not quite there yet.
Three Duds
Marcelo Mayer
Another two strikeouts for Mayer as his average creeps down to the Mendoza Line. Honestly, I’m not expecting much with the bat from Marcelo this year; he’s still got some learning to do. But he’s proving valuable in the field just about every night — merely by being steady even when he’s not quite spectacular — and he did so again in this one.
David Hamilton
Another 0-fer and, with Alex Bregman hopefully back soon, these could be the final days of David Hamilton in Boston for a while.
Ceddanne Rafaela
An 0-fer for Ceddy, too. Don’t worry: if Bob Osgood jinxed him, he will be forced to spend a day in the OTM stockade in Kenmore Square.
Play of the Game
Get your Wilyer Abreu AL Player of the Week bets in now, you degenerates.