Chris Sale was outstanding once again, and the Boston Red Sox managed to get enough offense to pull out their ninth straight win Wednesday night, with a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.
Boston took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Eduardo Nunez hit a popup that was mishandled by Texas second baseman Rougned Odor, that allowed Xander Bogaerts to score. JD Martinez hit a two run double to make it 3-0 in the fifth, and Bogaerts got credited for a triple in the same inning to make it 4-0 when his looping fly ball got between Rangers left fielder Joey Gallo and center fielder Delino Deshields, who nearly collided. The score stayed the same until the top of the eighth when Texas got an RBI single from Nomar Mazara, and a bases loaded walk to Robinson Chirnos, both charged to Heath Hembree and ending the scoring. Craig Kimbel struck out Gallo with bases still loaded to end the eighth inning threat, and pick up his 28th save by striking out the side in the ninth. 45 year old veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon (5-7) took the loss for Texas, allowing four runs (three earned), and nine hits in 6.0 innings of work.
Bogaerts had three hits to lead the way for the Sox, while Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Nunez all had two a piece. During the game it was announced Benintendi finished second to Seattle shortstop Jean Segura in the final All Star game voting for the American League. Sale (10-4), went 7.0 innings allowing no runs, six hits, one walk, with 12 strikeouts. Kimbrel struck out four of five guys he faced in 1.1 innings. Sale in his last seven starts has a 0.94 ERA, with 78 strikeouts, and 10 walks. He also owns the longest streak in MLB history by recording 11 or more strikeouts and one walk or fewer in five consecutive starts. Sale also hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 51 innings pitched. Boston now has a nine game winning streak for second time this season, first time that has happened since 1948.
Boston (65-29) begins a four game series with Toronto Thursday night at 7:10 at Fenway. David Price opposing J.A. Happ is the scheduled pitching matchup.
