FINAL: Red Sox 6, Colorado Rockies 0 - Tyler O'Neill Hammers Two Homers, Criswell Tosses a Gem

The Red Sox (54-46) snap their four game losing streak and pick up their first win of the second half with a 6-0 win against the Colorado Rockies (37-65).

The Sox batters got started early in this one, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Rafael Devers hit a two out double that scored Jarren Duran from first, and then Tyler O'Neill would hit his first of two home runs, bringing two runs across the plate. In the second inning, Rob Refsnyder would add on to the lead with a two run double to left field. The final run came off the bat of O'Neill, who hit the ball 465 feet to left field, on to the concourse of Coors Field. Tyler's longest home run of his career made it a 6-0 ballgame in the top of the third inning.

Cooper Criswell came into tonight's game knowing that having a lengthy start would really help the team out, and he delivered. He went seven full innings, allowing five hits and just one walk, and he also struck out four Rockies. Brenan Bernardino would pitch the eighth, where he struck out the side, and then Greg Weissert would close out the game in the ninth inning, getting the Rockies to go down in order.

My Player of the Game: Cooper Criswell - Cooper came through in a huge way tonight, having the longest start of his career and giving the bullpen some much needed rest. 

Tomorrow's rubber match will be a matinee, with first pitch being at 3:10 p.m.. Probable starters are Nick Pivetta (4-6, 3.87 ERA) and Cal Quantrill (6-7, 4.15 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  _______________________________

WHO: Red Sox (53-46) at Colorado Rockies (37-64)
WHEN: 8:40 p.m.
WHERE: Coors Field
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Cooper Criswell (3-4, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Ty Blach (3-5, 5.46 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rob Refsnyder LF
Connor Wong C
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O'Neill RF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Romy Gonzales 1B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS
Jamie Westbrook 2B

SP Cooper Criswell

OPPONENT

Charlie Blackmon DH
Ezequiel Tovar SS
Brendan Rodgers 2B
Brenton Doyle CF
Kris Bryant RF
Elias Diaz C
Jake Cave LF
Michael Toglia 1B
Aaron Schunk 3B

SP Ty Blach

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox have lost their first 4 games following the MLB All-Star break, after going 10-3 in their previous 13 games before the break. The Sox have tied their season-long losing streak (3x, prev.: 5/15-18)...They last lost 5 in a row from 9/23-28/23.

Tonight marks the Red Sox' 100th game of the season...They went 53-47 through 100 games in 2023. Boston's last seasons with as many as 54 wins in their first 100 games were 2021 (61 wins), '19 (54), '18 (69), '17 (55), and '16 (55). The Sox currently own a 3.74 ERA...Their last year with a sub-4.00 ERA through 100 games was 2018 (3.55).

Boston ranks 3rd in MLB in AVG and OPS vs. RHP, (.260 AVG/.766 OPS), while ranking 15th in each against LHP (.245 AVG/.714 OPS). The Sox have lost each of their last 5 games against left-handed starting pitchers...They're 6-11 in their last 17 games facing a left-handed starter.

Boston lost by just 1 run last night at COL and on Saturday at LAD...The club had previously won 6 consecutive 1-run games and 9 of its last 10. The Red Sox are 12-7 in 1-run games, MLB's 3rd-best record behind NYM (19-10) and TB (17-9).

The Sox have recorded 10+ hits in 38 games, 3rd most in the AL (HOU-43, MIN-39)...They've done so in 6 of their last 10 games, including 2 of their last 3. Boston lost despite recording 10+ hits last night and on Saturday at LAD, after winning each of its previous 21 games when doing so from 5/19-7/14. BOS is 33-5 when recording 10+ hits, the 3rd-best record in MLB behind DET (23-3) and TEX (21-3).

Vaughn Grissom began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Saturday...He's played in 2 games, making 1 start at 2B and one as the DH (1-for-6, 2B, RBI, 2 BB).