After losing both games of an Interleague series with the Philadelphia Phillies at home, the Boston Red Sox continued a game that was in the 10th inning and was suspended by rain back on August 7 against the Kansas City Royals. It took 12 minutes to finish on Thursday afternoon, as Brock Holt had a walkoff hit in the bottom of the 10th as Boston won it 5-4.
From August 7- Kansas City had broke ahead early in this one. After two outs were recorded in a scoreless game in the top of the third, Boston starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez walked back to back batters. Nicky Lopez then grounded a single to left to load the bases, and Meibrys Viloria followed with a two run single to center for a 2-0 Royals lead. In the bottom of the fourth the Red Sox got even. Xander Bogaerts led off with a single, and then JD Martinez hit his 25th homer of the year deep into the monster seats in left center field. The two run shot tied it 2-2. Bogaerts gave the hosts their first lead of the night with a one out two run double in the fifth. Kansas City though would bounce back to tie the score. More two out and nobody on damage in the sixth against Boston reliever Darwinzon Hernandez, as Billy Hamilton doubled and Whit Merrifield drove him in with a single to cut the deficit to a run. Lopez would then double with two outs in the seventh off Nathan Eovaldi to tie up the game again 4-4. Both teams had a chance in the ninth inning. Hunter Dozier got to second base on a stolen base after a leadoff single, but Brandon Workman got the next three batters in order. Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, but Royals reliever Jake Newberry struck out Rafael Devers, got Bogaerts on a fly out, and then Martinez grounded into a fielders choice to send the game to extra innings.
Three pitches into the top of the 10th inning the game was stopped for a rain delay and eventually suspended. So on Thursday afternoon the game was continued. Josh Taylor came in to pitch and set Kansas City (41-75) down in order in the top of the 10th. Andrew Benintendi struck out to start the bottom of the 10th, but then Christian Vazquez doubled to center. Sam Travis came up to pinch hit for Mitch Moreland and was intentionally walked. Chris Owings also pinch ran for Vazquez at second base. Holt ended it when he slapped a shot down the left field line that landed on the warning track and one hopped off the wall scoring Owings from second.
Taylor (1-1) got his first major league win with the relief job in the 10th for the Red Sox. Rodriguez allowed two runs on seven hits in his 5.0 innings of work. Bogaerts had three hits in the game to lead the way, while Betts, Martinez, and Holt all had two a piece. Richard Lovelady (0-2) took the loss for KC allowing the run in the 10th. Sparkman started the game and allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Merrifield, Dozier, Lopez, Viloria, and Hamilton all had two hits. Hamilton is no longer a part of the Royals organization however.
Boston (68-61) now gets set to venture West to open an eight game road trip. The first stop is San Diego for a three game Interleague series against the Padres beginning Friday night at 10:10 p.m. The left hander Rodriguez will make the pitching start for the Red Sox, to be opposed by righty Chris Paddack for the Padres.
Brock Holt (12) shown here in a game earlier this season against Texas at Fenway Park, had the game winning hit in a 5-4 10 inning Red Sox victory over Kansas City on Thursday afternoon in a continuation of a suspended game. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner
