Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts gets set to bat on Sunday at Fenway Park against Toronto. Bogaerts led the Red Sox to a win on Tuesday night with a go ahead homer. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
Xander Bogaerts hit a game winning two run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday night, and Rafael Devers had four hits to back a solid start by David Price giving the Boston Red Sox a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.
Devers hit a one out RBI double in the bottom of the first scoring Mookie Betts to give Boston (44-37) a 1-0 lead. But like Monday night, the Red Sox would have to battle back from a two run deficit. A second inning RBI single by John Jay made it 1-1, before James McCann hit an RBI double and Eloy Jimenez an RBI single in the third to make it 3-1 Chicago. The hosts came right back in the bottom of the third, getting a clutch two out two run single by Christian Vazquez to tie it 3-3. The Red Sox killed a White Sox rally in the top of the fifth. Leury Garcia led off with a single. Tim Anderson then singled to center, but was thrown out at second base by Jackie Bradley Jr trying to extend it to a double. Price then struck out the next two hitters. Devers once again started things in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff double, and then Bogaerts launched a 1-0 pitch deep into the monster seats an estimated 429 feet to give Boston a lead they never gave back. It was the 15th homerun of the season for the shortstop. Eduardo Nunez hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to score Michael Chavis to cap off the scoring.
Price (5-2) allowed two earned runs on eight hits, with no walks and nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings to pick up the win. Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, and Brandon Workman each pitched a scoreless inning out of the Boston bullpen with six strikeouts only allowing two hits. Workman earned his third save. Devers had four hits including three doubles, and scored two runs. Six other Red Sox starters had one hit each. Jose Ruiz (0-1) took the loss in relief for Chicago allowing three runs on four hits in 2.0 innings. Jay had three hits, while Garcia and Anderson had two a piece. Anderson left the game with an apparent ankle injury in the bottom of the fifth. Chicago falls to 36-41.
Chris Sale will begin the official second half of the season when he takes the hill Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 in the series finale. Reynaldo Lopez will go for Chicago to try avoid a three game sweep. After the game the Red Sox will leave for the London series in England where they face the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday.
