Article: It Was Only One Game, But...

[Brian Ziller]

One baseball game is 0.0067% of a season but hey, we're fans. Let's get irrational!

I'm ready to be hurt again.

After the Red Sox failed to sweep the bottom-dwelling White Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon, I threw in the proverbial towel on the 2024 season. I had seen one too many bullpen meltdowns and watched one too many openers. I prayed one too many times for just "one more run" that would never come. I was ready to chalk this season up to a third straight "bridge year."

Then the Red Sox won a game... and I'm all in, baby.

If you've flipped on NESN at any point since the All-Star break, you're probably aware things have been pretty brutal. In the last month, the Red Sox are tied for 18th in OPS and 24th in ERA; on the season, they are dead-last in Fielding Percentage, having committed 104 errors. They need right-handed bats, lefty arms, and a miracle to catch the Minnesota Twins for the third Wild Card spot. And with the Baltimore Orioles coming into town, it seemed like an appropriate time to start brushing up on Chase Meidroth's OPS in Triple-A Worcester (.833).

But then...something happened. And it happened in the 1st inning. With one run already across for Baltimore, Brayan Bello had the bases loaded with just one out. We've seen this story before. After all, Bello has a 4.85 ERA in the 1st inning this season. 

Next up: Eloy Jimenez. He fouled off the first two pitches before whiffing on a slider low and outside.

Then, in stepped Colton Cowser. Red Sox fans remember what he did at Fenway Park in April when he went 6-13 with two home runs and 10 RBI. Bello kept everything outside and got Cowser swinging on an 89 MPH changeup below the zone to leave the bases loaded. It was a big moment for Bello, who had turned a corner since the All-Star break, pitching to a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts, compared to a 5.32 ERA in the first half. 

The Red Sox never looked back. Boston tied the game in the bottom of the frame and then proceeded to put up 11 more runs on a night when the Twins and Royals both lost. The Red Sox are now tied with the Tigers and Mariners three games back of a Wild Card spot with 18 games left, including three against the Twins.

In his post-game press conference, Alex Cora said with a laugh, "We're right there. Still right there. I don't know how." 

I don't know how either, but I'm feeling things again and I'm ready to have my heart ripped out. Possibly as soon as Tuesday night. 

View full article