Andrew Benintendi, seen here in an earlier game this season at Fenway Park, hit a two run homer in Bostons loss to Texas Monday night. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner (click to enlarge)
Matt Barnes blew a ninth inning save, and despite tying it in their last at bat in the bottom half of the ninth the Boston Red Sox lost for the sixth time in their last seven games at Fenway Park falling to the Texas Rangers 4-3 Monday night in 11 innings.
Emotions were running high at Fenway Monday. Before the game the Red Sox had a moment of silence and reflection for former designated hitter and first baseman David Ortiz who was shot in the Dominican Republic Sunday night, but is now at Mass General recovering from the attack. Boston (34-33) got off to a fast start off Texas starter Mike Minor. Mookie Betts took a leadoff walk, and then on a 1-0 pitch Andrew Benintendi socked a long two run homer 420 feet to center field to make it 2-0. Minor though would settle in. Red Sox starter Chris Sale also pitched well, not allowing a hit or a baserunner until a fourth inning double by Danny Santana.
Sale got into a little trouble leading off the sixth inning when he allowed his only walk of the game to Rougned Odor. Sale then struck out Jeff Mathis and Delino Deshields. Odor then attempted to steal second with Santana at the plate, and a throw by Sandy Leon to try to cut him down skipped to second and into center field allowing Odor to get to third. Santana made the walk hurt by hitting an RBI single to left to make it 2-1.
The score remained the same until the top of the ninth. Deshields popped out to Leon on a bunt attempt off Barnes, but then Santana singled and Elvis Andrus doubled to put runners on second and third. Nomar Mazara put Texas (35-30) ahead for the first time on the night with a two run single to left. The Sox rallied though in their last at bat. JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts hit back to back singles off Rangers closer Shawn Kelley. Rafael Devers though would then hit into a doubleplay. Brock Holt then came up as a pinch hitter and delivered with a line drive to left to score pinch runner Michael Chavis to tie it 3-3. Marco Hernandez then looped a double down the right field line, but Holt ran the coaches stop sign at third and was thrown out at the plate by Mazara to send the game to extra innings.
Santana and Andrus came through again in the 11th. Santana started it with a double off Sox reliever Ryan Brasier, and Andrus got the game winner with an RBI single. Boston went 1-8 with runners in scoring position, and have gone 6-49 in the area in the last six games (.122 average).
Sale ended up going 7.0 innings allowing one run (none earned) on three hits, with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Brasier (2-3) took the loss allowing the run and two hits in the 11th. Martinez had two hits in his first game back since June 6 (back spasms). Minor allowed two runs on four hits in his 8.0 inning effort. Jesse Chavez (2-1) won in relief, and Chris Martin picked up his second save. Santana had a big night with four hits, while Andrus had two to lead the Rangers.
Boston and Texas will play game two of their four game series Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. The Sox will send rookie Darwinzon Hernandez to the mound, and the Rangers will counter with Ariel Jurado. Hernandez will be making his first major league start, he previously appeared in relief going 2.1 innings and allowing four hits back on April 23 against Detroit. The Red Sox are just 15-16 at home this season, where they only lost 24 at home in the entire 2018 regular season.
