Boston Red Sox: Mitch Moreland’s walk-off blast powers Sox victory
By Gio Rivera
Mitch Moreland delivers walk off home run in 11th inning for the Boston Red Sox in their 13th extra innings game of the season.
The Boston Red Sox played their 13th extra inning game Friday night in an 11 inning battle against the Chicago White Sox.
However entering the night with a 9-3 extra inning record this season, and being at home, things appeared to be on the Red Sox side.
Which they were with pitchers Craig Kimbrel and Heath Hembree escaping jams in which Chicago was on the verge of breaking the tie.
In the 11th…
With two men out and on a 2-2 count, Mitch Moreland delivered a walk-off, solo home run to give Boston the win and put the team ahead of the Yankees by now 3 games in the American League East.
Mitch Moreland goes the other way for a walk-off home run in the 11th, giving the #RedSox a 3-2 victory 🙏https://t.co/m6QUvpqG5V
— Boston Blabber (@BostonBlabber) August 5, 2017
Following the game, the Friday night hero explained his mindset entering the at bat.
"“Obviously, for me it’s the first at-bat of the game, and I’m trying to go in there and slow it down a little bit,” Moreland said, via MLB.com. “Try to get a good pitch. I kind of rushed myself on the 2-0, but was able to slow it down and stay on it and get a breaking ball there and put a good swing on it.”"
Clutch offense
The Red Sox have won back to back game’s against one of baseball’s biggest sellers at the trade deadline in the White Sox.
Boston’s offense has stepped in recently when the pitching has needed the lineup to come clutch.
Just the night before, the Red Sox managed to overcome Chris Sale’s uncommon outing in which he allowed 5 runs and lasted just 5.1 innings against the White Sox, by outhitting Chicago 15-7 with 9 runs scored.
Along with their last walk off win just 2 nights ago where it was catcher, Christian Vazquez the hero for the Red Sox.
Related Story: Christain Vazquez delivers walk-off homer in dramatic win
Bullpen
Boston’s bullpen could be receiving some more depth to accompany their recent acquisition of Addison Reed.
Right handed reliever, Carson Smith is set to make a rehab appearance with Double-A Portland this weekend.
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Smith has not made a single appearance for the Boston Red Sox since being acquired prior to the 2016 season via the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox acquired Smith along with right handed pitcher, Roenis Elias in exchange for pitchers, Wade Miley and Jonathan Aro.
However Smith would see just 2.2 innings in just 3 appearances as a Red Sox in 2016, going down with Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn UCL.
Prior to 2016, Smith had a successful 2015 season for the Mariners in which he posted a 2.31 ERA in 70 games which recording 13 saves and striking out 92 batters.
Another soon to be addition to the Sox pen will be righty, Joe Kelly who recently completed rehab by pitching a perfect inning in Triple-A Pawtucket. Kelly hit the disabled list prior to the All-Star break.
Next: Boston Red Sox: The sensational importance of a home run
The additions of Kelly and Smith is something certainly to look forward to, especially in the bullpen that ranks 3rd in all of baseball with a 3.03 ERA and is 2nd with 19 wins.
Drew Pomeranz takes the ball in game 3 of the series. Pomeranz has won 4 of his last 7 starts in which his ERA stands at 1.85 through that span. He will seek his 11th win of the season.