E-Rod The Magnificent Drops Sox Magic Number To Five

Eduardo Rodriguez made a statement today: "Put me in the postseason rotation!". The lefty went 7.2 innings, giving up no runs and just three hits. He struck out six in the 5-0 Boston win that reduced the team's Magic Number to five to clinch the AL East. The big offensive blow for Boston—in their fifth straight win—was a three-run HR by Mitch Moreland. Other RBIs came from Brock Holt and hometown boy Andrew Benintendi. Carson Smith and Joe Kelly closed things out, as Boston has now won 13 of their last 16 contests at the most crucial time of the year. Doug Fister will try to go for the sweep in Queen City on Sunday. (Getty Images)

Sox Hit Comeback Trail, Empire Fail, Magic Number 6

It was not looking good. Rick Porcello coughed up an early 1-0 by giving up a grand slam to a guy named 'Scooter'. But then, as they have so many times before, the Red Sox roared back. Pouncing on a rookie Reds pitcher (who grew up a Yankee fan), Boston answered with four runs of their own for a 5-4 win. The big blow was by rookie Rafael Devers—a three run HR to give The Carmine Hose the lead. Again, the bullpen was elite—most notably David Price who had another stellar outing (2.2 innings, no earned runs, 4 Ks). Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for the save. The Evil Empire was pounded 8-1 in The Great White North, which increased Boston's AL East lead to four games and reduced the Magic Number to clinch the division title to six. (Getty Images)

'Sale-A-Bration' As Sox Ace Reaches 300Ks In 9-0 Win

For the first time in 18 years, a major-league pitcher has reached the 300 strikeout plateau. And on top of that, Chris Sale tonight became only the second pitcher in Red Sox history to collect 300 Ks. The other guy was Pedro Matrinez in his ridiculous 1999 season. The lanky lefty ace mowed down 13 Birds—the last, fittingly, Portland, Maine native (and young Red Sox fan) Ryan Flaherty. There were many other interesting twists in this game—but the history made by Sale overwhelms it all. Both Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero launched 2-run HRs. And, Hanley Ramirez, back in lineup, had three hits and three RBIs in the 9-0 win. Also, Dustin Pedroia broke out of a long slump with a two-RBI hit. But this night belonged to Sale. Boston maintains its three-game advantage over The Evil Ones with just 10 left to play. And, if Tito's Tribe wins tonight, the Sox will have clinched a playoff spot. (Getty Images)

POLL: Near Three-Quarters Think MLB Is Juicing Ball

Very early voting in our latest FenwayNation Poll shows that almost three FN readers in four think Major League Baseball is "juicing" the baseball to increase the number of HRs hit. Yesterday, the all-time single-season HR record was broken. As the chart shows, just over one-quarter of voters feel the MLB is not juicing up baseballs. You can still vote in this poll HERE.

POLL: With Record-Breaking HR, Is MLB Juicing Ball?

The all-time, single-season record 5,694th HR was hit yesterday. In 2014, just 4,186 HRs were hit. Is MLB juicing the baseball?

Yes

No

 

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Red Sox 'Walk On The Wild (Pitch) Side', Beat O's 1-0

Alert the media! Another extra-innings Red Sox win—their fifteenth of 2017. A true pitcher's duel dominated most of this quick contest—with Drew Pomeranz going 6.1 innings and giving up no eared runs on just five hits. Stellar defensive plays helped—Andrew Benintendi gunning down a runner at the plate and Jackie Bradley, Jr. literally stealing a solo HR from the Birds. There weren't many offensive fireworks to talk about in this one—with the winning run scoring on a wild pitch in the 11th inning for the 1-0 victory. The win guarantees that the Sox will maintain their 3-game lead on The Bronx Embalmers and they reduce their Magic Number to clinch the AL East to 9. (Getty Images)

Pedey And Hanley Both Out Of Red Sox Lineup

Here is tonight's Red Sox lineup: Xander Bogaerts SS; Andrew Benintendi LF; Mookie Betts RF; Mitch Moreland 1B; Christian Vazquez C; Rafael Devers 3B; Sam Travis DH; Brock Holt 2B; Jackie Bradley Jr. CF. Drew Pomeranz is on the mound for The Carmine Hose.

Red Sox Smack Down 'Jaws Of Defeat', Comeback 10-8

(AP Photo)

The Red Sox were down 5-0, 6-1 and 8-7 last night to the increasingly surly Baltimore Orioles and their Captain Queeg-like manager. They had played like Little Leaguers against The Empire and suddenly they were pumped to play The Carmine Hose. It didn't matter. The Red Sox erupted for six runs in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead—paced by three RBIs in the inning by Mookie Betts. A see-saw battle ensued, until Andrew Benintendi laced a two-out single to right in the 11th inning that gave Boston the winning 10-8 edge. Doug Fister was awful, morphing back into the guy we thought we got—going just two innings and giving up five earned runs. Nine other Boston pitchers did the job—with Carson Smith getting his first Red Sox save. This was another in a long line of "character-building" wins—keeping Boston three full games up on The Bronx Embalmers.

Red Sox Offense Shuts Down, Fall To Devil Dogs, 3-2

(AP Photo)

Thank goodness for Jackie Bradley, Jr.'s bat. Otherwise, the Red Sox would have been shut out Sunday by the lowly Rays in a 3-2 loss at TheMostPulpDome. JBJ launched his 17th HR of the year—a two-run blast in the sixth. Otherwise—Raiders Of The Lost Offense again. Boston managed just three hits (two by Bradley) in the loss. Andrew Benintendi got the only other base knock. Eduardo Rodriguez pitched decently, but was hurt by costly errors. And, David Price pitched two perfect innings of relief. Austin Maddox continued his scoreless run streak with one-third of an inning of relief. On the downside, Mookie Betts suffered a right thumb contusion on a weird play at first base. Luckily, The Bronx Embalmers lost to the reeling Orioles—who The Carmine Hose will play tonight in Charm City.

Sox Plate Seven In Fifteenth, Edge Devil Dogs, 13-6

Things were bleak. The Red Sox entered the top of the ninth at the MostPulpDome trailing by three and facing a Tampa closer with 44 saves. The Evil Ones had already won and the AL East lead was about to be sliced to a thin two games. Then, Mitch Moreland walked. Then some errors, wild pitches and hits ensued and—shazam—it was tied 5-5. Multiple frustrating squanders followed, but in the 15th, the Carmine Hose put the game away with seven runs for the 13-6 win. There were multiple contributors to this one, no one star. It was a team-defining character win. (AP Photo)

'Solomonic' Commish Smacks Down Both Sox & Empire

Although he was supposed to rule on APPLEGate early in the week, MLB Commissioner Rob "King Solomon" Manfred divided the 'penalty baby' and fined both the Red Sox and Evil Ones for electronic eavesdropping to steal signs. In case anyone was paying attention on a Friday afternoon at 5PM, Manfred also said the undisclosed fines will be donated to Hurricane relief efforts in Florida. This guy is good.