The Chicago White Sox were hitting what Wade Miley was dealing Tuesday night, but the Boston Red Sox starter was able to dig himself out of trouble time and time again.
Until the seventh inning rolled around.
Miley gave up a single to Gordon Beckham to start off the inning and unleashed a wild pitch that allowed the White Sox third baseman to get to third with one out. Another single from Melky Cabrera allowed Beckham to score, and a two-out walk to Avisail Garcia didn’t make matters much better. However, Hanley Ramirez helped things get even worse when Trayce Thompson doubled to left field.
Ramirez misplayed Thompson’s line drive, so Cabrera and Garcia scored easily. And the blunder only strengthened the case to move Ramirez to first base amid his rough season in the outfield. Ramirez took reps at first before Tuesday’s game, and acting manager Torey Lovullo said he could see time there by the end of the season.
For Red Sox fans frustrated with Ramirez’s outfield play, that time probably can’t come soon enough.
Here are some more notes from Tuesday’s game.
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— Rusney Castillo was notably absent from the lineup Tuesday, but you have to wonder why he wasn’t called upon to pinch-hit in the ninth inning. He had a career night Monday, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs, and there was an opportunity for him to try to help with Ramirez batting in the ninth.
Instead, Ramirez added another strikeout to his 0-for-4, three-strikeout performance.
— Alexi Ogando and Tommy Layne were able to hold it down out of the bullpen, which hopefully is a result of Boston’s starters being able to go deeper into games of late. The rotation’s performance clearly has had an impact on the Red Sox’s taxed bullpen, so better starts could mean better outings from the relievers.
— Speaking of starters, Rick Porcello will make his return from the disabled list Wednesday, and he couldn’t have worse timing. The right-hander will have to go up against American League strikeouts leader Chris Sale.
However, the Red Sox did light up Sale for seven runs on 12 hits in their last meeting on July 30.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. showed once again why baserunners should never test his arm strength. The right fielder nabbed White Sox second baseman at third base with an incredible throw, which Chicago manager Robin Ventura inexplicably challenged.
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Thumbnail photo via Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports Images
