Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogarts makes a throw to first base in an earlier game this season against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner (click to enlarge)
Xander Bogarts and Brock Holt both had two RBI, and Chris Sale won for just the third time in 2019 as the Boston Red Sox made it four wins in a row with a 7-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards Saturday evening.
In a scoreless game into the top of the sixth inning, Boston (38-34) broke through with three runs off the Baltimore bullpen once they forced starter Dylan Bundy out of the game. Rafael Devers led the inning off with a single, and would score on a Bogaerts double to make it 1-0. Holt then knocked in Bogaerts with a single, and Michael Chavis followed with another single ending the day for Bundy. Later with two outs Holt scored when Sandy Leon reached on an error to increase the lead to 3-0.
Baltimore (21-49) came right back off Sale in the bottom of the sixth. Renato Nunez knocked in the O’s first run with an RBI double, and later in the frame Jonathan Villar knocked in Nunez with an RBI sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 3-2. JD Martinez made it 4-2 with his third homer in two games, the 16th of the season was a solo shot to right center. The Sox put it away in the ninth when Bogaerts knocked in Mookie Betts with a sacrifice fly, Holt singled in Andrew Benintendi, and Devers scored on an error by the Orioles catcher.
Sale (3-7) went 6.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits, with one walk and 10 strikeouts to get the win for the Sox. Marcus Walden and Matt Barnes went an inning each while both getting holds, while Brandon Workman worked the ninth inning. The Boston bullpen allowed two hits and no runs, with five strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched. Holt had three hits. Benintendi, Devers, and Michael Chavis all had two hits each in the win. Hanser Alberto, Trey Mancini, and Nunez all had two hits a piece for Baltimore. Bundy (3-8) took the loss and was charged with three runs (two earned), eight hits, along with two walks and eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Boston will go for the three game sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. A pair of left handers will face off as Brian Johnson will start for the Red Sox, and John Means will throw for the Orioles. After the win the Red Sox sat five games behind the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.
