5/10 Nationals at Red Sox 7:10 PM EDT

[vegasbob]

Houck vs Patrick Corbin LH'er, career #5 type pitcher. 0-3 in 2024 with 6.35 ERA and 1.81 WHIP. In his best year of his last 5 (2020 short season) his ERA was 4.66 with a 1.57 WHIP.

 

What I am saying here is that if the Sox lineup, at Fenway, cannot hit Corbin and score 4 or 5 runs in 5 innings, then there are serious issues with the bats.

 

Houck, we know well this year. Tanner needs another good 7 inning start, preferably a 1 or 2 runs given up to rack up a win. Facing an 18-18 Nats team with a team OPS of .679 , Tanner should prevail.

 

Projected lineup: Duran (LF)

Refsnyder (DH)

O'Neill (RF)

Devers (3B)

Wong ©

Grissom (2B)

Cooper (1B)

R. Gonzalez (SS)

Rafaela (CF)

[vegasbob]

2nd inning, 2 outs, 3-2 on the batter---Nats start a 2 run rally with 3 consecutive hits, exceeding Houck's ERA early. Of course the Sox had their runner O'Neill erased at the plate.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Another Washington run on a hit with an exit velo of a Ford Pinto. Before someone says the Sox are snakebit tonight, I would imagine a snakebite hurts. This Nats attack is more like a wormbite -- in the middle of the night when you're asleep -- that eats at you brain until the worm dies...

 

... because we all know Red Sox gray matter is ultimately toxic.

[Maxbialystock]

2nd inning, 2 outs, 3-2 on the batter---Nats start a 2 run rally with 3 consecutive hits, exceeding Houck's ERA early. Of course the Sox had their runner O'Neill erased at the plate.

 

With 2 outs, O'Neill should have gotten a good jump on the single to RF. But, if it was hit hard enough, you can still get him. I can't see anything because of course I'm 400 miles south in NC and therefore in blackout mode.

 

I'm sure Corbin is as bad as vegasbob says he is, but the Sox lineup right now is in the bottom 1/3 of MLB teams.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

With 2 outs, O'Neill should have gotten a good jump on the single to RF. But, if it was hit hard enough, you can still get him. I can't see anything because of course I'm 400 miles south in NC and therefore in blackout mode.

 

I'm sure Corbin is as bad as vegasbob says he is, but the Sox lineup right now is in the bottom 1/3 of MLB teams.

 

We were also saying the two-out approach is "scoring on contact" but the Sox are sending him even with Clemente in right -- because, as we all know, there are no hitters after Wong batting 5th.

[Maxbialystock]

This could be kind of a telltale game. Houck is the Sox best starter and has already given up 3 runs in 3 innings. Corbin's ERA is 5.98, and he is having zero problems with the Sox lineup.

[Maxbialystock]

We were also saying the two-out approach is "scoring on contact" but the Sox are sending him even with Clemente in right -- because, as we all know, there are no hitters after Wong batting 5th.

 

Zero hits so far from the four Sox batters before Wong.

[Maxbialystock]

First four Sox batters have now faced Corbin twice and still have no hits. Wong has 2 hits.

[vegasbob]

Sox finally bust through on the hittable Mr. Corbin with a run created by Conor Wong and a wall ball double by Cooper. Wow , this lineup is a machine

[Maxbialystock]

Sox score!!!! They need to stop the game and give Cooper the ball he hit for the double.

[vegasbob]

One problem with the 3 runs off Houck on weak rollers through the 4 hole is the somewhat extreme positioning of Grissom , shifted well towards 2nd base. Otherwise we are up 1-0. The analytics give and takeaway.

[Maxbialystock]

We were also saying the two-out approach is "scoring on contact" but the Sox are sending him even with Clemente in right -- because, as we all know, there are no hitters after Wong batting 5th.

 

Blackout notwithstanding, I saw the replay. That single was hard hit, a one-hopper to the RF'er who was not deep, and he threw a rope on one hop. However, it was well up the the 3d base line and still beat O'Neill.

[Maxbialystock]

Nats now 2/2 stealing on Wong. Or is it on Houck?

[vegasbob]

Houck now through 5, but still having to work hard with 2 outs, even 2 strikes on the hitters. It's a challenge tonight, but the offensive production is not clicking.

[Maxbialystock]

Rafael hits a GIDP ball, but the Sox already had 2 outs thanks to O'Neill's ignominious K on a called 3d strike well inside the zone.

 

Sox are 1/5 w/ RISP and the Nats are 3/6.

[Maxbialystock]

Houck now through 5, but still having to work hard with 2 outs, even 2 strikes on the hitters. It's a challenge tonight, but the offensive production is not clicking.

 

I'm guessing that the Sox are in fact in their real hitting groove.

[vegasbob]

Devers amongf several still leaving LOB's with 2 outs. O'Neill is a disappointment too after watching him more recently. These guys are at home in a hitter friendly park against a really weak pitcher, had a day off yesterday . Difficult to figure these guys out.

[vegasbob]

bases loaded, 2 outs, game is in Duran's hands. I'm a Duran fan this year, so will love it if he picks up a couple rbi's

[vegasbob]

bases loaded, 2 outs, game is in Duran's hands. I'm a Duran fan this year, so will love it if he picks up a couple rbi's

 

Not to be... Jarren's taking tips from O'Neill and Devers, called 3rd strike and it was within the strike zone.

[Maxbialystock]

Not to be... Jarren's taking tips from O'Neill and Devers, called 3rd strike and it was within the strike zone.

 

First two pitches to Duran were right down the middle and he took both of them. After that, he was the proverbial dead man walking.

 

The Sox seem determined to stay in their non-hitting "groove."

[vegasbob]

On the other hand, the Red Sox have outscored the Bruins after the second period, also playing at home. Man, these 2 offenses suck.

[vegasbob]

Put the biscuit in the basket, and get the f'ing bat off your shoulder.. A sure fire strategy to actually win a game.

[Oscars]

Watching Duran’s AB taking good pitches reminded me how much I miss Turner, who was so clutch with runners on base, and who would fight off pitches to get something he could handle.

[Maxbialystock]

Game over. 5-1, Nats. The Sox more and more seem absolutely terrified with RISP. You can bet Devers was cringing in the on deck circle at the prospect of once again failing miserably with the bases loaded. I hasten to add Barnes (not the former Sox reliever) has enough of a fastball to get it by Devers.

[moonslav59]

A sad display of what was supposed to be a baseball game.

[redsoxrules]

Best pitching staff in the league and only a 19-19 record to show for it. Pretty sad.

It's looking like last year all over again.

[moonslav59]

Best pitching staff in the league and only a 19-19 record to show for it. Pretty sad.

It's looking like last year all over again.

 

Except for the best pitching staff part.

[vegasbob]

The bloom is off the April rose when this version of the Sox showed some spark and excitement , instead of excrement with men on base. Their best pitcher has a losing record now since they cannot support him, especially at Fenway.

 

And they were up against a pitcher with a 5 year record of non-winning, poor stats , but couldn't hit at all. In the end the losing Bruins did outscore these assclowns by 1. No credit to either of them.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

There should be one hell of a yard sale at Fenway in the next few months. Sticker prices can be negotiated.

[Old Red]

Except for the best pitching staff part.

 

W-L records in the standings is all that counts, and matters.🤭🙈🤮