It only took two pitches for the Red Sox to score four runs, and it was enough for the Red Sox as Boston grabbed their 90th win with a 4-2 win over the Nationals.
After singles from Xander Bogaerts — who has been cold as of late — and J.D. Martinez, Hunter Renfroe mashed a three-run big fly 434 feet, well into the right field seats. The next pitch? Bobby Dalbec clobbered one 376 feet to make it 4-0 in the sixth.
Eduardo Rodriguez’s five-inning masterpiece gave the cushion for just a four-run performance, as he served up just five hits while he struck out six Nats. He did get a hand from Kiké Hernandez in the fourth, as after loading the bases with nobody out, E-Rod retired the next two batters. With two outs, a slow dribbler was softly rolled to Hernandez, at second base, and he bare-handed it and flipped it on to first to barely retire the side.
Ryan Brasier hurled a perfect sixth, while Matt Barnes couldn’t get out of the seventh after letting up a solo home run to Alcides Escobar. Jordy Mercer would take Adam Ottavino deep in the eighth to make it a two-run game.
Hansel Robles entered for the save, and set down the first pair of batters with ease. But, he would run himself into some trouble, as on a payoff delivery, Robles walked Juan Soto before walking Josh Bell in the following at-bat to put two on. After a mound visit from catcher Christian Vazquez, the righty was able to notch the save as he got Keibert Ruiz on a game-ending popout.
AL Wild Card race
As of now:
Yankees 91-69
Red Sox 90-70 — 1 GB of Yankees
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Mariners 89-70 — 1/2 GB of Sox, playing now
Blue Jays 89-71 — 1 GB of Sox— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) October 2, 2021
The Rays were able to fend off the Yankees, but the Blue Jays did win — the Mariners are currently playing. The Sox still hold the second Wild Card spot and would be in sole possession if a Seattle loss occurred to the LA Angels currently.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)