Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Red Sox Deny Evil Empire Playoff Clinchage, Win 5-1

(AP Photo)
Rookie left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez spotted The Evil Empire a run in the first inning—and then pretty much nothing else. E-Rod got his 10th win of the year—going six innings, giving up seven hits and striking out five in the 5-1 win. He is the first Boston lefty rookie to win 10 games in 43 years. A win by The Bronx Embalmers (which would have been the 10,000th in franchise history) could have secured them a playoff spot—but not tonight. Boston got two-run home runs from Travis Shaw (3-4) and Jackie Bradley, Jr. (an 'oppo' shot) to pace the Red Sox offense. Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts also had two hits apiece. The win by The Carmine Hose silenced the tiny Bronx crowd of 39,476—the smallest for a Red Sox game in 15 years. If the Red Sox run the table in their final six games, they will finish with an 82-80 record.