Chris Sale pitched six solid innings and Christian Vazquez hit a go ahead pinch hit home run to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Vazquez with the pinch-hit HR to lead off the 7th, giving the #RedSox a 3-2 lead. MLB-leading 5th pinch-hit HR of the season for Sox, who lead MLB in pinch hitting avg, OBP, slugging %, and OPS.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) July 24, 2019
The Red Sox got on the scoreboard quickly with two first inning runs. They had three hits during the inning, sparked by a run scoring hit from Andrew Benintendi.
Travis d’Arnaud evened the score when he nailed a two run homer off Sale in the third inning.
#Rays first hit off #RedSox Sale is a 2-run homer by Travis d’Arnaud, the 11th for the former #Mets C
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 24, 2019
Sale (5-9) got through six innings after him and manager Alex Cora were having a conversation in the dugout after the fifth inning, and then again on the mound with two outs in the sixth.
Can’t blame Cora for keeping Sale in the game there – #RedSox desperate to win. He’s your horse.
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) July 24, 2019
With the score tied, it looked like Sale was heading for a no decision. But then Vazquez hit for Mitch Moreland and drilled one that would give the Red Sox lead and Sale a win.
With a 5-2 leading going to the bottom of the ninth inning, Brandon Workman stayed in to attempt to get the two inning save. With two outs and one runner on base, Workman allowed two walks and one hit. Marcus Walden came in to get the final out but not before walking in a run. Walden got Austin Meadows to ground out to end the contest.
JD Martinez had three hits, while Benintendi and Rafael Devers each added two a piece. The Red Sox and Rays will conclude the three game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:10 PM, with Boston going for the three game sweep.
Christian Vazquez (shown here during a game earlier this season) came through with a pinch hit home run in a 5-4 Red Sox win on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner
