Over the previous few seasons the Los Angeles Dodgers have served as a litmus check for whether or not or not the Crimson Sox have been an actual contender or a home of playing cards.
Two years in the past the Crimson Sox hosted the Dodgers at Fenway Park in late August and misplaced two of three. Final season they began the second half at Dodger Stadium and received swept.
However this 12 months? The Crimson Sox confirmed they’re made of various stuff.
The Crimson Sox got here from behind for the second straight day to beat the Dodgers 4-3 on Sunday, rallying for 3 runs within the backside of the fifth earlier than holding the defending champions at bay late to clinch the three-game weekend sequence.
Alex Bregman delivered the exclamation mark together with his go-ahead two-run dwelling run, which got here moments after Roman Anthony hit an reverse discipline RBI triple off the Inexperienced Monster.
The rally lifted up Crimson Sox starter Walker Buehler, who little doubt had this recreation circled on his calendar for a very long time.
The veteran right-hander spent the primary decade of his skilled profession with the Dodgers, incomes two All-Star honors whereas serving to the membership win a pair of World Sequence championships. This weekend marked Buehler’s first time dealing with his former membership, and Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts acknowledged pregame that seeing Buehler in one other uniform has taken some getting used to for his staff too.
“Clearly loads of nice recollections competing with him and I do know what he’s going to convey right this moment, he’s going to convey all the pieces he’s received,” Roberts stated. “He’ll actually need to stick it to us. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
Sunday wasn’t the storybook story Buehler would have most popular. The righty’s command points popped up once more as he walked 5 batters over 4.2 innings, his second begin with 5 or extra walks this season.
Worse, he twice walked Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers’ No. 9 hitter who each occasions got here round to attain.
Buehler first bumped into hassle within the third, when he walked three males within the inning, together with Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded. He threw 31 pitches within the inning however was in a position to restrict the injury to only one run, however he bumped into extra hassle within the fourth, throwing 35 pitches whereas permitting a solo dwelling run to Michael Conforto and an RBI single to Mookie Betts that put the Dodgers up 3-1.
Buehler got here again for the highest of the fifth and received two strikeouts trying to wrap up his day. He allowed three runs over 4.2 innings with 4 hits, 4 strikeouts and 5 walks.
Although Buehler trailed when he left the mound, his teammates made positive to choose him up.
The Crimson Sox initially scored first for simply the second time in 9 video games because the All-Star break. Anthony was hit by a pitch to guide off the primary inning, superior to 3rd on a Jarren Duran single and scored on Trevor Story’s sacrifice fly.
Then, after falling behind by two, Boston’s bats exploded for 3 runs within the backside of the fifth. Abraham Toro sparked the rally together with his one-out single, Anthony drove him in together with his reverse discipline triple off the Inexperienced Monster, and Alex Bregman smoked a no-doubter of a two-run homer off the Nationwide Automobile Rental signal atop the wall to place the Crimson Sox up 4-3.
Boston had an opportunity to stretch its lead additional within the seventh when Anthony beat out a possible inning-ending double play and took second on a wild pitch. Bregman walked to place two males on, however Duran struck out to finish the risk.
Then issues received uncomfortable within the high of the eighth.
With Rojas, Betts and Shohei Ohtani due up, Cora went to his nearer to face the guts of the Dodgers lineup. However one thing clearly mistaken with Aroldis Chapman, whose fastball was 4 miles per hour slower than common. Chapman allowed back-to-back walks to Rojas and Betts earlier than forcing Ohtani to fly out.
At that time Cora and a coach got here out to examine on the All-Star lefty, and Chapman departed the sport.
Jordan Hicks got here on to attempt to salvage the state of affairs, and after a seven-pitch battle with Teoscar Hernandez drew a line drive that went proper into the glove of Ceddanne Rafaela at second base. Rafaela then made a leaping dive to the bag, and whereas Dodgers pinch runner Hyeseong Kim was initially dominated secure, the decision was overturned after replay confirmed Rafaela’s glove beat Kim’s hand, giving the Crimson Sox an inning-ending double play.
Hicks got here again for the highest of the ninth and closed out the victory, forcing Tommy Edman to floor out with the tying run at second to lock down the save. In doing so he ensured the Crimson Sox (57-50) will end their Cubs-Phillies-Dodgers gauntlet nonetheless in playoff place.
