Red Sox 7, Guardians 10: When It Rains, It Pours (2024)

The thrill of watching sports is in part because each game you watch, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Each game begins the same way, and the rules remain the same, but there’s always a chance you see something new and exciting. If you’re looking for unique, original baseball, the 2024 Boston Red Sox may be the team for you. It’s just April 16th and the Red Sox have already lost games in every way imaginable. Even when things seem to be going well, they’re falling apart in some way or another.

On Tuesday night, the Guardians jumped out to an early lead in the second inning after Garrett Whitlock surrendered a walk and back-to-back doubles. After a couple of scoreless frames, the Red Sox punched back as Enmanuel Valdez hit a ball to Jupiter, topping the distance on Triston Casas’ home run that launched the red seat debate. After the Red Sox were retired, Joely Rodriguez trotted out to the mound. Here we go again.

It was later announced that Whitlock left the game with oblique tightness, which, all things considered, might be dodging a bullet. Still, Rodriguez allowed three runners to score in the fifth, extending the Guardians' lead to 5-1. (The last of those runs was questionable as the umpire ruled Connor Wong was blocking the plate. I’m not well versed in the rule to argue otherwise, but what else was Wong supposed to do?)

Fast forward another inning to the bottom of the sixth. Tanner Bibee exits the game, and Triston Casas leads off with a home run. Wilyer Abreu follows it up with a walk, and two batters later, Connor Wong goes yard to cut the Guardian lead to one. Ceddane Rafaela then singled, Jarren Duran walked, and finally, Rafael Devers hit a laser to center field that brought in both Rafaela and Duran, giving the Red Sox the lead. We’re back.

Brennan Bernardino worked a scoreless top of the seventh, the Red Sox went down quietly in the bottom, and then, Bobby Dalbec showed up? Devers left the game with “left knee discomfort”. Sigh. Chris Martin entered for the eighth, did what he always does by retiring the side, and the Red Sox once again went quietly in the ninth.

If you’ve been following the Red Sox this season, you’d know that it is now time for Kenley Jansen to pitch. Given the title and intro to this recap, you should know where this is going. Jansen threw strikes for the first time all year. His velocity was even up a tad. And for the first time all season, he blew the save, sending the game to extras. In extras, each team scored one in the tenth, and my scorecard was out of space. In the 11th, Josh Winckowski didn’t have the best command, the Guardians scored three, and that was all she wrote.

If that’s too much to read, just know this: In a game where David Hamilton doubled off of Emmanuel Clase, the Red Sox still lost. Even when things seem to be going okay for this team, they find a way to lose.

Three Studs

Triston Casas (2-4, HR)

Wilyer Abreu (0-4 2 R)

Despite his mediocre day at the plate, Abreu made an impact on this game. His highlight reel catch in the ninth inning saved at least one run. He also stole a base to get himself into scoring position late in the game (He did not score).

Connor Wong (2-4, HR, 3 RBI)

While Wong hasn’t been particularly impressive behind the plate, he’s been swinging the bat very well in a limited sample. His two-run home run brought the Red Sox within a run, and his sacrifice fly in the tenth kept the game alive. He did have one attempt at blocking a ball in the dirt that almost made me throw up, but he was great otherwise.

Three Duds

Kenley Jansen (1 IP, 1 BS)

Yuck.

Masataka Yoshida (0-6)

I know Yoshida took some time to heat up last season, and the plate discipline is still there, but he needs to get going at some point. You’re the designated hitter. Hit.

Bobby Dalbec (0-2, K)

How is Bobby Dalbec still on the team? There has to be someone, anyone, out there in free agency that gives you a better chance to win a game. Sure, the positional versatility is nice, but he’s an automatic out every single time he’s at the plate. It’s malpractice to keep trotting him out there expecting something to change.

Play of the Game

Watch the aforementioned catch by Wilyer Abreu in right field. This was spectacular.