Red Sox Recap: Miley, Bogaerts lead rout of Phillies, 9-2

Wade Miley (10-10, 4.57) looked to bounce back against the Phillies. Alec Asher took the hill for Philadelphia in his second major league start (5.2 IP, four earned runs in first start). Miley and the offense were the stories today as the Red Sox cruised for a 9-2 victory.

The Red Sox did not get off to the fastest of starts. After Mookie Betts led off with a single, he advanced to third on an out and a balk by Asher. David Ortiz left him there when he struck out to end the inning. On the other side, Miley was on cruise control retiring the first 12 Phillies in order, six by way of the strikeout. In the third, the Red Sox had another chance with two outs after Betts doubled with two outs, but Xander Bogaerts was unable to drive him home.

Things would change in a hurry in the bottom of the fourth. Ortiz keyed the big Red Sox rally of the day with a lead-off single to right over the usual shift. Asher managed to commit another balk by dropping the ball on the mound, sending Big Papi to second base. An infield hit off the glove of the third baseman by Rusney Castillo sent Ortiz to third. He wouldn’t be there for long as Blake Swihart laced a ringing single to center field to make the score 1-0. Josh Rutledge grounded a single to left field to load the bases. Extra-base machine Jackie Bradley Jr laced a double (18 of his last 25 hits have gone for extra-bases) to left-center to push the lead to 3-0.

After a Betts walk to load the bases and force out at home, the score was still 3-0 when Bogaerts stepped to the plate again. The RISP master stroked a double into the right field corner which scored all three runners. When the throw got away, Bogaerts made a dash for home plate. The throw beat him but he managed to execute a swim move to touch the plate with the opposite hand to complete a Little League grand slam. This made the score 7-0. Ortiz capped off the rally with a laser shot home run to right field to push the score to 8-0. Could the bullpen protect that big lead?

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The Louisianan Miley was up to the task all my himself. While any dreams of a perfect game were dashed in the fifth as the Phillies put two runs on the board, the outcome was not really in any further doubt. Bogaerts added another run with an infield out in the eighth inning. Miley allowed just two hits over the final four innings, striking out another two batters along the way. He was at 100 pitches after eight innings so there was some doubt over whether he could finish the game. The Phillies were cooperative though, getting themselves out on 10 pitches as Miley finished the first complete game in his career.

Game Notes

• If you watched the game, you know this was career Ortiz home run number 496, but in case you didn’t, there you go.  His batting line since the All-Star break is .329/.400/.684.  That potential $16 million salary (with 81 more plate appearances this season) for next season for him is starting to look like a bargain.
• JBJ is on an incredible run of success.  He has been hot since August 9th, but has really sustained his run lately.  In his last six games he is 10 for 19 with five doubles and a homer and two walks, a batting line of .526/.571/.947.  His OPS for the year is up to .959 in 150 plate appearances.
• Shaw on the other hand is in a tailspin.  He is just six for his last 47 with a double and a homer.
• Miley is the only starting pitcher to make all his starts, leading the team with 28.  He also leads the team in strikeouts with 129 and wins with 11.

After two lousy starts, Miley bounced back in a solid way against the rookie-heavy Phillies lineup.  Miley allowed two earned runs on five hits, struck out eight and walked none today.  In his last 29 innings, he has walked just two batters.  A strong finish to the year would certainly add to the positive performances by many of his teammates coming out of the second half of the season in this lost year.

This time the nobody designation for the game ball is a good one because there was no relief pitching today.  Miley all the way in this complete game gem.

There is an embarrassment of riches in this category as the Red Sox had five hitters post multi-hit games.   The award goes to Bogie for his three run hit, which he made into a four run play with his graceful move to avoid the tag at home plate.  One remarkable thing that was pointed out online after today’s game, the Red Sox are hitting so well that Ortiz actually had the lowest batting average in the lineup today.  That says something about the depth of this lineup right now.   Hopefully they can keep it going for the rest of the season.