Sox split the doubleheader, ending with the feel-good, much-needed win

The Sox not only scored first in both games, but ran the score to 3-0 early both times. But the similarities ended there.

What to say about Game One today? At times, it was downright ugly (Tanner Houck giving away the entire lead in the first inning). At other times, it was just feeble (a seeming ninth-inning rally fizzling out on a Trevor Story strikeout). I say it’s best forgotten.

Luckily, we had the night-game palate cleanser. It was everything G1 wasn’t: great Sox starting pitching, offense that never quit, an easy march to the win.

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. —Dolly Parton, who may as well have been talking about today’s doubleheader

Game Two will be remembered for Jarren Duran stealing home, which happened on the exact anniversary of Jacoby Ellsbury’s steal of home in 2009. Sixteen years from now, we’ll be playing Duran’s clip and marveling at it all over again.

Studs

Jarren Duran

G2 belonged to Duran. There was his theft of home, of course. Other heads-up baserunning (that is, chaos creation) included taking second on a wild pitch. He also hit a triple and two singles and scored three times.

Walker Buehler

Did what he always does for the Sox, which is holding steady and somehow inspiring the offense, which has scored more for him than for any other Sox starter this year. We needed this start from him and he didn’t disappoint. His one mistake was a three-run HR, but so much else went our way that all is forgiven.

Honorable Mention

Luis Tiant, who was brilliant for both Cleveland and Boston in his career, was honored and received a moment of silence before Game 1.

Three Duds

Game 1

Complete dud. Six batters into the game, Tanner Houck gave away a three-run lead, which quickly became a one-run deficit with the next batter. He more or less settled down after this disastrous first inning, but the damage was done. Despite first-inning homers by Wilyer Abreu and Rafael Devers and some scattered baserunners, the offense couldn’t string much together to do damage. Things got interesting in the ninth as the Sox put two runners in scoring position…only to have Trevor Story (0-5 on the day) strike out to end the game. That made 10 K for the Sox in G1.

Kristian Campbell

On the day, he was 3-9, which sounds pretty good, but it came with 3 K, a big baserunning mistake in G2, and a throwing error, also in G2. He’ll learn from it.

Ceddanne Rafaela

1-8 on the day, with a shocking lack of spectacular catches. In fairness, he looked poised to score in the bottom of the ninth in G1, but was stranded at third through no fault of his own. Tough day.