Red Sox accustomed to being 'extra' special

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  — How have the Red Sox become so adept at winning extra-inning games?

Practice, practice, practice.

Friday night’s marathon 13-6 win in 15 innings was the 16th extra-inning game the Red Sox have played this season, and while that’s not the most in baseball (Giants and Blue Jays have each played 19), the Sox have a sterling 13-3 record in extra time.

If winning long games is a habit, the Red Sox have plenty of experience. Friday marked the fourth time this season they’ve played 15 or more innings.

Now, they’ve got the hang of it.

“Our guys have done such a great job, as we’ve gotten into these long, almost marathon-like games,’’ said John Farrell. “They don’t quit. They keep digging for a little extra.  With the number of (extra-inning) games we’ve played, we’re certainly comfortable. We don’t panic. There’s a relaxed energy and attitude in the dugout, knowing that someone is going to step up big.’’

To even force extra innings, the Red Sox had to score three runs in the ninth off Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome.

After missing huge opportunities in the 11th and 12th, the Red Sox seemed to have the game won in the 14th when Rafael Devers singled home Mookie Betts to put the Sox up 6-5. But in the bottom of the inning, three outs away from a win, Brandon Workman allowed a game-tying homer to Kevin Kiermaier that kept the party going.

Through 14 innings, the Red Sox had stranded 14 baserunners and appeared unable to produce the necessary hit. Then, in the 15th, the spigot got turned on and almost never turned off.

The Red Sox sent 12 men to the plate in that inning, and the same team that had scored five runs in the first 14 frames suddenly played seven.

“I don’t know,’’ shrugged Jackie Bradley Jr when asked how the offense that had been so dormant suddenly came to life. “You definitely don’t want to be on the losing end of long, extra-inning games. I think you can say that we’ve been there (before). Playing all those long games, we’ve become accustomed to it. Physically, it stinks, but we know we can battle back and get the job done.’’

This was a grind. The Red Sox used 15 position players and nine pitchers to get to the finish line. In the end, it was worth it.

“It’s obviously not the best situation to be in,’’ said starter Chris Sale of the team’s penchant for marathons. “You obviously would like to get it done in nine innings. But (the success) means we fight. It shows we never quit, never lay down attitude. Shoot, it’s nice to see.

“Games like this, these are good ones to win. Obviously, they’re good ones to win. But you’re out there 15 innings and guys and getting eight, nine 10 at-bats….talk about grinding it out. They pulled it out.’’

Sale wasn’t sharp, yanked after 5.2 innings having given up two homers and three walks, but the bullpen bailed him out.  Other than solo homers allowed by Matt Barnes (to Wilson Ramos in the eighth) and Workman (Kiermaier in the 14th), the Boston bullpen combined for 7.1 innings with those two shots the only blemishes.

Joe Kelly pitched three perfect innings from the 11th through the 13th to keep buying the Red Sox more time and chances.

Finally, in the 15th, the Sox cracked the code. Six of the first eight hitters reached as the Sox ran the bases like it was a relay race, with one runner after another crossing the plate.

And the win came on a night when the Sox were in imminent danger of seeing their lead in the division shrink down to just two games over the Yankees, who had won earlier against Baltimore.

It took a while, but the Sox made that game up with 11 runs after the eighth inning.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, on his way out of Farrell’s office as 2 a.m. approached, smiled and called back to his manager: “Let’s win two today.’’