This hasn't been the best season for Mookie Betts, but you can't take issue with his success with runners in scoring position.
Betts laced a two-run double off the left field wall with two out in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Red Sox a thrilling 5-4 walkoff win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Sox trailed 4-3 heading into the inning, but a solo homer from Xander Bogaerts brought them to within a run. Walks to Mitch Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr. gave the Sox hope. Eduardo Nunez popped up, but Betts cleared the bases with his Wall Ball, and Bradley just slid in as catcher Yadier Molina bobbled the relay throw from shortstop Paul DeJong.
St. Louis manager Mike Matheny went through three relievers in the ninth, but couldn't get three outs.
The win was Boston's ninth walkoff win of the year. They've won 14 of their last 15 home interleague games.
Eduardo Rodriguez allowed five hits and a walk, good for four runs, in the second inning, but the Cards didn't score again.
The Sox had pushed across two runs on an infield single and throwing error by starter Lance Lynn and a sacrifice fly from Betts. Hanley Ramirez, who hinted at a breakout at the plate Tuesday night, was 0-for-4, ending three innings and stranding four baserunners.
WHO: Red Sox (68-51) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (61-58)
WHEN: 7:10
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 3.80) vs RHP Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.12)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
SERIES TO DATE: The Sox swept two games in St. Louis in May and won this series opener Tuesday, 10-4. Wednesday night is the last meeting of the season between the two teams.
WHERE THINGS STAND: The Sox are 11-2 in their last 13 games in August, the best record in the big leagues over that span. They’re also 17 games over .500, matching their season high. They also have gone 13-1 in their last 14 interleague games at Fenway. The Cardinals recently had an eight-game winning streak to thrust themselves back into the N.L. race, but have since dropped two straight.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Rodriguez had arguably his best start of the season last Friday in New York, with six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts. He’s allowed just two earned runs over his last 12 innings of work. Rafael Devers continues to carry the offense and his 23 in his first 17 games is the most for a Red Sox rookie since Johnny Pesky in 1942. Lynn has fared well (2.08 ERA) in two previous regular season starts against the Red Sox, both of which took place in St. Louis. Paul DeJong has multiple hits over the last five games, and has knocked in at least a run in each one.
STAT OF NOTE: In August, the Red Sox are averaging 6.15 runs per game – the best in either league – and have scored double figures in runs three times.
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Nunez 2B
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Ramirez DH
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley Jr. CF
CARDINALS
Carpenter 1B
Pham LF
DeJong SS
Fowler CF
Molina C
Gyorko 3B
Wong 2B
Voit DH
Grichuk RF
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- David Price didn't throw Wednesday, but is expected to resume throwing on the side Thursday. "(Tuesday) when he threw, I don't know that he felt as free as when he threw the three consecutive days in New York,'' said John Farrell. "He's just going to go through treatment again today and resume again (Wednesday).''
- The Sox are debating who to start Sunday afternoon in the series finale with the Yankees. That day will mark Doug Fister's turn, but the Sox could turn to Rick Porcello. Fister was knocked around for five runs on seven hits in just 4.1 innings and could be skipped, thanks to Thursday's off-day. "That's going to require some conversations with our guys,'' said Farrell.