It’s been a frustrating year, and last night the Red Sox played yet another frustrating game. The pitching was bad, the offense fought back again and again, and even had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the 9th. But they fell short, as is custom.

The first inning was pretty rough for Joe Kelly, who please God cannot be long for this rotation. I’ll let my very clever tweet paint a picture for you.

Guys Joe Kelly struck out the side just kidding he gave up back-to-back triples and a double and hit a batter and a single and made an error

— LeftyandRighty.com (@AndRighty) July 27, 2015

David Ortiz made sure, however, that the game didn’t turn into a blowout with a two-out, two-run home run off White Sox starter John Danks (according to Righty, “a weird guy”) in the bottom half of the inning. So pretty much immediately, this was a weird game.

Even weirder, Mike Napoli was tossed one batter later when his angry helmet toss ended up rolling into the home plate umpire.

This was serious horseradish, and home plate umpire Toby Basner is clearly a soft piece of garbage.

So a lineup that was already wonky (with Hanley batting second and Napoli batting 5th) was made even wonkier by Daniel Nava’s slotting into the 5 hole in his 2nd appearance since May. In any case, the Sox got two more runs in the bottom of the 2nd to tie the game thanks to doubles by both Ryan Hanigan and Mookie Betts. 4-4.

Kelly, of course, immediately gave that run right back in the top of the 3rd on a double-single combo. Craig Breslow would come in to relieve Kelly in the 4th, leaving Joe with an unmemorable line.

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Kelly	3.1	7	5	4	0	2	0	5.94

No walks! Well done buddy.

The Sox took the lead back on a barrage of single-baggers in the bottom half of the 4th, including two of the infield variety by Jemile Weeks and Betts. There was also an error by third baseman Tyler Saladino, his first of the game (and season) to bring across the go-ahead run. 6-5, Sox.

But Breslow loaded the bases in the top of the 5th, and even though Alexi Ogando successfully came in to get the next two batters out to escape the inning, Hanigan tried to backhand a ball in the dirt instead of blocking it (Righty’s new pet peeve) and a run scored to tie the game.

The Sox took the lead back again in the bottom half of the same inning. Sandoval doubled with 1 out, and with Fat Albers on the mound, Rusney Castillo (recently called back up) grounded out to advance Sandoval to third, and Panda scored on Tyler Saladino’s second error of the game (and season).

Unfortunately, the White Sox got three runs off Robbie Ross, Jr. over the course of 2 innings, and another off Tommy Layne in the top of the 9th to get the Chicago lead to 10-7 going into the bottom of the 9th. David Robertson got Xander Bogaerts and Ortiz out to start the inning, but Nava drew a five-pitch walk, advanced to second on defensive indifference, and scored on a Sandoval single to cut the lead to two runs. Panda also advanced to second on defensive indifference, and Alejandro De Aza (who’d come in for Castillo in the 8th) drew a very tough ten-pitch walk. But Hanigan grounded out to third, and the game ended. 10-8, Chicago.

Notes:

• The Sox traded Shane Victorino and cash considerations to the Angels for infielder Josh Rutledge. I expect Rutledge to be sent down to AAA, where he’s spent 2015 so far in the Angels’ system, but I’ve heard differing opinions. I read somewhere that Farrell took this move as an indication that the team is officially building for the future. Which is a bummer, though not unexpected. Also, the fact that Victorino won’t use “Three Little Birds” as his walkup song anymore out of respect for Boston…he’s just a classy, classy guy. I’ll miss him.