Ricky deals (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
When you’re a team that has scored 5 runs combined over your last three games, the last thing in the world you want to do is face King Felix on the road. They managed 7 hits, 4 walks, and 4 runs off of Seattle’s ace, handing him his first loss in 2015. Because the baseball gods love keeping us on our toes.
The Sox and Mariners were wearing throwback Negro League Tribute uniforms. Sometimes with these kinds of things they tend to overdo it, but these looked good – clean and simple.
Porcello was great, aside from giving up TWO home runs to Brad freaking Miller who seems like the Brock Holt of the West Coast. He went 6.2 innings and 104 pitches deep before being lifted for Tommy Layne. Farrell has had a quick hook with the starters, which I guess makes sense given their performance to date this season, but I’d like to see him let the starters try and work through the later innings.
Anyway, overall a good outing from the guy who has become the most consistent member of the starting staff.
The first two runs were thanks to Panda showing some really impressive opposite field power –
– and Papi’s frozen rope that looked like it never got more than 20 feet off the ground.
It looked like Felix twisted his ankle on a delivery in the top of the 6th and really struggled with his location after that. He had given up only 8 walks in his first 48.2 IP this year, but surrendered 3 in that inning.
Blake Swihart would drive in one run with a double, and Brock Holt would drive in another on a groundout. Holt was robbed of extra bases by a diving Logan Morrison.
Swihart had a good game at the dish, going 2 for 4. The rookie took an aggressive approach against the King, with both hits coming on the first pitch. Probably a good idea since he struck out in his other two ABs.
Notes:
–JBJ is still oh-for-the-majors this season, but he’s had to face R.A. Dickey, Sonny Gray, and King Felix. That’s tough no matter who you are.
–Xander had another good game in the field, highlighted by a sweet barehanded pickup on a slow roller.
-Jesus Sucre means Jesus Sugar in French.