It’s past my bed time. Let’s make this quick.
Top Play (WPA): The Red Sox may have lost this game, but they were the owners of the top play by WPA, and that’s what really counts. Future Hall of Famer Travis Shaw hit a game-tying solo shot off Brian Matusz in the eighth inning (+0.268) that tied the game at five and doomed us to a 13-inning affair.
The Orioles’ top play wasn’t the game-winning single by Chris Davis (+0.067), but instead the play that set it up. After Gerardo Parra drew a leadoff walk, Manny Machado singled to center field (+0.235), moving Parra to third and all but guaranteeing an Orioles victory.
Bottom Play (WPA): The Red Sox had an opportunity to score a run of their own in the top half of the 13th. With Deven Marrero on first base and one out, Ryan Hanigan had a chance to do some damage. Instead, he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play (-0.126), ending the inning and any chance at Boston pulling this one out.
Key Moment: If we’re being honest, the key moment was Davis’ winning single off Robbie Ross. The key to baseball, you see, is winning games, and that hit won the game. But, that’s boring. So, we’ll go to the top of the 12th, when the Red Sox probably had their best chance at taking the win. Xander Bogaerts hit a two-out double, and Baltimore then put David Ortiz on with an intentional walk. It was setting up for another huge moment for Shaw. Instead, he hit a grounder right at the second baseman and ended the inning.
Trends to Watch: Joe Kelly left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. That can’t mean good things for his [Editor’s Note: great] stuff.
Bogaerts’ defense, man. He made a few spectacular plays in this game as he continues to make massive strides in that area of his game.
Jackie Bradley has come crashing down to Earth. He’s now 0 for 12 in his last three games with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He was never going to hit as well as he did in August, but the strikeouts are still discouraging.
The bullpen…..did……good?
Just another day in the life of Travis Shaw.
Coming Next: The series in Baltimore finishes tomorrow night with Henry Owens taking on Mike Wright. After that the Red Sox will head to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays and continue their quest for third place. What a garbage year.
Photo by Tommy Gilligan/USA Today Sports Images