Alex Verdugo hit a game winning walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday evening, lifting the Boston Red Sox to their fourth straight win with a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.
In a scoreless game until the seventh inning, Rafael Devers help put Boston (79-59) on the board with a three-run homerun to centerfield. It was the 33rd homer for Devers, and now has 100 RBI. The Sox turned to Adam Ottavino for the ninth inning save, but Jose Ramirez led off with a single and Bobby Bradley hit an RBI double to cut it to 3-1. With two outs, Cleveland called on pinch hitter Franmil Reyes. Reyes would take a 2-2 offering from Ottavino into the monster seats in left field for a two-run homerun to even the score 3-3. Travis Shaw would lead off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and pinch runner Tyler Motter was moved to second on sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Arauz. Kyle Schwarber then flied out, before Devers walked and the Indians intentionally walked JD Martinez to load the bases. Verdugo ended with a line drive single to right on 1-2 pitch. Boston is now just a 1/2 game back of the New York Yankees for that first spot in the American League wild card, and are four games ahead of the Oakland Athletics for the second spot.
Tanner Houck in a no-decision was brilliant over 5.0 innings allowing no runs on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Ottavino (5-3) picked up the win but also his fifth blown save. Verdugo and Christian Vazquez had two hits each. Eli Morgan in his no-decision also did well for Cleveland allowing no runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Bryan Shaw (1-1) was tagged with the loss in relief, as the Indians drop to 67-66. Boston goes for the three game sweep on Sunday afternoon, sending Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.67 ERA) to the mound. Cleveland counters with Zach Plesac (9-4, 4.49).
