After two rain delays, the Red Sox picked up a 6-2 win over the Royals Wednesday night, handing the Royals their eighth consecutive loss.
With some pregame rainstorms, the 7:10 PM EST start time was pushed to 7:40 PM EST, and there was rain throughout the night as it was a busy day for the Red Sox’ ground crew.
After both teams were set down 1-2-3 in the first inning, Salvador Perez launched a solo homer off Martin Perez to lead off the second inning.
The Red Sox stranded two men in the second, but J.D. Martinez lifted a three-run homer into centerfield to give the Sox the 3-1 lead in the fourth. Boston piled on another two in the fifth, as Xander Bogaerts singled home a run before Hunter Renfroe picked up an RBI on a fielders choice to make it 5-1.
Martin Perez was dominant, going 5.1 innings finishing his day allowing two runs on seven hits, walking none although striking out just two. He was removed after giving up a run on an RBI groundout and was replaced by Brandon Workman. The righty recorded the final two outs of the half inning, and with the rain pouring the tarp came on the field at around 9:40 PM immediately after the side was retired. .
After many fans left the building, there was not even 1,000 fans in still attendance when they started removing the tarp at about 10:30. At around 11, the field was ready to go after a long process of the grounds crew preparing the field.
They returned to play in the bottom of the sixth, as Brandon Workman, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, and Matt Barnes combined for 3.2 scoreless frames out of the pen.
Hunter Renfroe bashed a homer over the monster that looked like it was hit further than Statcast’s projected 427 feet.
Kike Hernandez’s spectacular catch:
In the top of the fifth, Perez got quite some help from his centerfielder, as Kike Hernandez sprawled out to make a jaw-dropping grab to retire the side.
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 1, 2021
Field work ahead pic.twitter.com/Oupsmu55y2
Game Notes:
- The Red Sox captured their 50th win of the season, and are on pace to go 100-62
- Josh Taylor recorded his 24th straight scoreless relief appearance
(Photo: AP Photo/Elise Amendola)