Red Sox Recap: Rodriguez, Sox slammed in Miami

Eduardo Rodriquez gave up eight runs and the Marlins blasted two Red Sox relievers in a ten run sixth inning on their way to coasting to a 14-6 win in Miami – a win that featured a grand slam and six RBI day for Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto.

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A pair of newbie lefties took the mound and both were greeted by some home run clout. First off the launching pad was Dee Gordon ( 3 hits) for the Marlins, who led off the Marlins first frame with a line shot to right field. That was the power deficient Gordon’s second of the season.

One who has not been power deficient is David Ortiz, who launched one of his own in the top of the second off Marlins lefty Adam Conley. Boston tagged Conley for a pair of singles courtesy of a pair of fellow rookies, Rusney Castillo and Blake Swihart, who were both left to enjoy the open air as hot hitting Jackie Bradley ended the inning.

Big innings have been the downfall of Rodriguez and the second inning saw an uprising from the normally placid Marlin bats.

Cole Gillespie (3 hits) walked – never a good start – and quickly came home on a triple to center by Realmuto who got the fishes second run of the game. Ichiro Suzuki (3 RBI), barely hanging on to employment, added an RBI to his impressive career credentials with a single. Adeiny Hechavarria then singled, but E-Rod received a respite when Conley could not lay down a bunt and whiffed. But Gordon can and that means a run in from third and a 4-1 lead – fortunately, that was the extent of the damage.

Through the first two innings, Rodriguez was getting pounded as if the Marlins were Apollo Creed. The line was 47 pitches and four hits and an equal number of runs. Time to see if E-Rod could pull it together. The Marlins had a double in the third and that was it. A scoreless inning.

Top of the fourth the Sox picked up another run. Xander Bogaerts punched a single to center and Ortiz moved XB to third on a single of his own. The Marlins gave up that run to get two outs on a Castillo DP to set the score at 4-2.

Top of the fifth the Sox edged closer with a JBJ single – another hit off a lefty – and Rodriguez displayed his bunting skills to push Bradley to second. Sox needed a hit and Brock Holt banged his second of the game to left for an RBI. That was it for Conley and enter right-hander Kyle Barraclough – pronounced Bear Claw.

Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. This time Bogaerts got the Bear with a double to right to send Holt on a scamper home. The Bear got some level of revenge getting Castillo on a low fastball. New game at 4-4.

The Bear starting think of a “W” when the Marlins trashed E-Rod for four runs in the sixth. The big hit was Ichiro with a two run triple to right. Hechavarria then drove him in with a single for another run. Exit Rodriguez and enter Ryan Cook.

Going to the Boston bullpen is similar to dousing yourself in gasoline and then juggling torches. Today was no exception with Cook, who was not helped by a poor decision by Bogaerts, that ended up with Gordon collecting an infield hit. Cook (4 runs) was now sent to the bench and time for Robbie Ross to perform triage.

Ross was right in top notch Red Sox bullpen form when a breaking ball was sent by Realmuto into the left field stands. A grand slam and that was a ten spot in the sixth for the Marlins. That was the ballgame as the Sox were done.

The Red Sox did get a highlight in the seventh with Ortiz’ second blast of the day – this one a two run shot to lower the deficit to a mere eight runs.

The Red Sox return home Friday after an off day on Thursday. The home stand begins with the Seattle Mariners sending rookie left-hander Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.25) to face the Red Sox Joe Kelly (4-6, 5.96).

Game notes and other detritus

* Yesterday (8/11) all 15 road teams lost.
* All four starting pitchers for the series are rookies.
* Andre Dawson is the only former Marlins player in the HOF.
* Since 5/31 Xander Bogaerts leads all AL hitters at .344.
* The Marlins are 27th in MLB attendance.
* The Red Sox have lost 715 games to players on the DL (through 8/11).
* The Marlins have been in the playoffs twice as a WC – winning the WS both times.
* The longest shutout streak for a Red Sox reliever this season is Alexi Ogando at 14.2 innings.
* Marlins Park is one of six stadiums in MLB with a retractable roof.
* Yesterday was the Red Sox first loss in the last eight games against Miami
* Sixth was the second ten run inning in Marlin’s history.

F. . Game Ball. Eduardo Rodriguez. STARTING PITCHING

Awful 92 pitch performance by Rodriguez who went 5 innings allowing eight runs on nine hits. E-Rod walked one and manged a pair of strikeouts. Rodriguez was a pitching pinata for the light hitting Marlins. Record drops to 6-5.

F. . Game Ball. Tommy Layne. RELIEF PITCHING

If this bullpen was an old horse they would be in a glue bottle. Start with Cook and his stellar 0.1 innings for four runs. Next up was Ross with an 0.2 and “only” two runs.

Tommy Layne

managed to not embarrass himself.

. Game Ball. Davis Ortiz. OFFENSE . B

Ortiz pumped out two home runs and is now at 25 for the season. Bogaerts and Holt a pair of hits. Red Sox had 11 hits on the day and six runs.

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