The Boston Red Sox swept their doubleheader last night and are back to .500 at 48-48. They’re tied for the final playoff spot in the American League. They’re also now down to eight games back of the Rays for first in the American League East.
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MLB Game Recap
Game 1:
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the home half of the second. Jarren Duran drove home a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Carlos Narvaez then singled home Masataka Yoshida to make it 2-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Yoshida hit a solo home run to extend the Red Sox lead to 3-0. They broke it open in the sixth with RBI singles from Jarren Duran, Carlos Narvaez, and Tsung-Che Cheng to make it 7-0. Ceddanne Rafaela then doubled home a run and scored on a Caleb Durbin single to make it 9-0. Narvaez in the seventh hit a solo home run to make it 10-0.
Jake Bennett got the start in the first game, going six scoreless innings. He allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out three. He improved to 5-3.
Game 2:
Tampa Bay jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first behind a single. The Red Sox answered to tie the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run from Wilyer Abreu, then Willson Contreras hit a solo home run in his first game back from suspension. That all came in the first, and Boston led 3-2. Tampa Bay tied it with a solo home run in the third. In the home half of the third, it was Abreu again, this time with a solo home run to give the Red Sox the lead back, 4-3. In the bottom of the fourth, Anthony Seigler drove home Tsung-Che Cheng with an RBI double. That would be the final.
The Red Sox used seven different pitchers as Eduardo Rivera got the start. Greg Weissert, Jovani Moran, Tyron Guerrero, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, and Aroldis Chapman all got work. Rivera allowed all three runs. They combined to allow seven hits, two walks, and struck out eight.
Standout Game Performer
Caleb Durbin really led the Red Sox in both games as he went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in game one. He added two more hits in the second game, going 2-4. He went 5-8 combined.
Key News & Notes
With today being a doubleheader, the roster expanded to 27, and the Red Sox used that spot on Alec Gamboa. He pitched three innings in game one. He didn’t allow a run on two hits, no walks, and struck out one.
Bennett hasn’t allowed a run in 13 innings now. In his last five starts, he’s 4-0 with a 0.81 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 27 innings.
Farm Report
- Worcester Red Sox (AAA): Allan Castro went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in a 7-6 loss to the RailRiders
- Portland Sea Dogs (AA): Brooks Brannon hit a solo home run in a 7-2 loss to Somerset.
- Greenville Drive (A+): Enddy Azocar hit a walk-off double in an 8-7 win over the Keys.
- Salem RidgeYaks (A): Franklin Primera, in his Single-A debut, went 4-4 with four runs scored in a 14-11 loss to the Shorebirds.
- FCL Red Sox (ROK): Josue Brito went 0-4 with an RBI in a 7-1 loss to FCL Guardians.
- DSL Red Sox Red (ROK): Anderber Urbina went 3-4 with two runs scored in a 4-2 win over DSL CLE Mendoza
- DSL Red Sox Blue (ROK): Garielvin Silverio went 2-5 with two RBI and three runs scored in a 15-13 win over DSL Cubs Red.
