The Boston Red Sox just pulled off a 4-0 shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 15, but let me tell you, it was way tenser than that final score shows. This whole game started off on the wrong foot for me, wrestling with streaming issues just to watch the damn thing. By the time Ceddanne Rafaela stepped up, swinging at pitches a foot above the zone and going 1-5 with three strikeouts by the end of the night, my mood was absolutely foul. Pirates starter Jared Jones came out firing, throwing nine strikes on ten pitches and getting two punchouts in the first inning. It felt like a long night was brewing.
Abreu Wakes Up a Sleepy Crew
Honestly, my simmering frustration lifted only midway through the second inning, and thank goodness for Wilyer Abreu. The man absolutely mashed his 22nd home run of the season, putting the Sox up 1-0 and finally giving us something to cheer about. That’s how you get out to a quick lead! But even with that spark, the game was a nail-biter. Masataka Yoshida tweaked a hamstring running out a double and had to leave the game, which is never what you want to see. The Sox offense, despite getting on base and having “plenty of chances,” kept shooting themselves in the foot. Durbin, for instance, got picked off first in the second. Through eight innings, it was a one-run lead that felt incredibly precarious because the bats were just too quiet. We were watching a sleepy offense.
Monasterio and Chapman Lock Down a Gritty Win
Thank god for the ninth-inning wake-up call, because this team was making us sweat. The offense in innings one through eight was a real dud. Why do they make us wait until the ninth inning? Tonight’s one-run lead felt precarious simply because of that inability to capitalize earlier. But then, Andruw Monasterio, who was a big hero tonight, stepped up. He plated two massive insurance runs with a double, and then he was driven in by Jahmai Jones. Just like that, a tight 1-0 game became a comfortable 4-0 lead. On the mound, Sonny Gray was an absolute stud, doing his best to be the stopper the Sox need. He bore down, going seven solid innings, giving up just six hits and one walk while racking up seven strikeouts. Erik Miller did his job beautifully, and then Aroldis Chapman came in and locked it down, getting some needed work. The pitching staff truly shone, once again, bailing out an offense that made us wait way too long to breathe easy. Wilyer Abreu, with his homer and two doubles, almost single-handedly contributed most of the offense until the ninth. Monasterio’s heroics were huge, and honestly, with Trevor Story starting a rehab stint this Sunday, Monasterio deserves to keep playing. Rafaela’s free-swinging ways, especially at pitches he had “no business giving a second thought to,” are a real concern. That tight hamstring for Masa is also something to keep an eye on. But for now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and sleep well tonight after that one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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