With two outs and the Indians down to their last strike of the ballgame, Adam Ottavino’s 2-2 delivery was smacked well over the Green Monster by Franmil Reyes for a two-run big fly to tie it up in the top of the ninth.
It was Ottavino’s first homer given up all season.
However, the Red Sox answered back in the bottom of the ninth, as Travis Shaw led off with a single, and with two outs, Rafael Devers walked before J.D. Martinez was intentionally walked to get to Alex Verdugo and the lefty-lefty matchup.
With the bases loaded and Verdugo down to his last strike, Verdugo lined a 1-2 pitch over the head of Cleveland right fielder Daniel Johnson for the walk-off hit.
Tanner Houck strong through five:
Tanner Houck racked up five scoreless innings of work, striking out seven while only serving up three hits.
He set down the final nine batters he faced in order. Despite the strong outing, he still has yet to pick up a win this season, after picking up wins in his first two outings of 2020.
Phillips Valdez hurls two perfect frames:
After Austin Davis and Hansel Robles combined for a damage-less sixth, Phillips Valdez set down the six batters he faced in order, despite not fanning one batter.
Valdez has now thrown five scoreless innings since his forgettable seven-run outing on August 11th.
Rafael Devers puts Sox on the board:
No team scored through the first six and a half innings, but with two outs and runners on the corners in the seventh, Boston had a prime chance to cash in with Rafael Devers at the plate.
Devers took advantage of the opportunity, socking a three-run jack over the Monster for his 33rd homer on the season.
Help from other ballclubs:
The Yankees and Athletics both suffered losses Saturday, as the Orioles beat New York 4-3 while the Blue Jays beat Oakland, 10-8, in a high-scoring thriller.
Boston now sits a half-game back of the Yankees for the first Wild Card spot, while the A’s lie four games back of the Sox for the second Wild Card spot. The Sox are 79-59 with Saturday’s win, while the Yanks are 78-57 and Oakland is 74-62.
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)