Red Sox Strut: Outfielder Mookie Betts, RHP Hector Velazquez
By Sean Penney
Pitching Candidates
He didn’t hang around long enough to get the win (big surprise), yet Drew Pomeranz delivered a solid outing Friday night. The lefty held the Astros to one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and only struck out four, but that’s still encouraging coming on the heels of a messy start against Detroit. Pomeranz has now allowed two runs or less in six of his last seven starts.
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Chris Sale was robbed by his own offense once again. He allowed only one run on four hits over eight innings, piling up ten strikeouts along the way… and still lost. It was Sale’s third loss of the season and he’s allowed two runs or fewer in each of them.
The bullpen had an outstanding week, allowing a total of only two runs over 34 innings of work.
Kimbrel led the way with his usual dominance. About the only surprise from the fire-breathing closer over the past week is that he actually allowed a hit. It was only his ninth allowed all season. The base runner would not come back to haunt him, as Derek Fisher was gunned down attempting to steal second to end the game. Instead of the tying run reaching scoring position, Kimbrel would close the door on his AL-leading 20th save.