In bitterly cold temperatures, the Red Sox were able to grind out a 3-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles for their fourth victory in a row and 13th in their last 14 tries.
Shut out for the first four innings and trailing 1-0, the Sox tied the game in the fifth on a triple by Andrew Benintendi. An inning later, the Sox used an error, a double from Mitch Moreland and a wild pitch to take their first lead, then got a two-out double from Tzu-Wei Lin to tack on an insurance run.
Chris Sale lasted just five innings as his pitch count soared quickly. He limited the O's to a run on two hits while striking out eight. Heath Hembree, Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel combined to toss four shutout innings, allowing just two baserunners between them.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles
WHEN: 1:05 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have own the best record in the American League, with three straight wins and 12 in their last 13 tries. Statistically, it's the best start in franchise history. The Sox have gone 5-1 on their first homestand with two games remaining. The Orioles are on the other end of the spectrum, with a 5-10 record and two straight defeats.
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 1.06) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (0-1, 1.35)
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
3:29 Another out on the bases, which I believe is No. 8 for the Sox. But this one is a bit easier to defend. With two outs, and a weak arm in left (Trey Mancini), probably a good "send,'' or chance to take on the part of third base coach Carlos Febles.
3:10 Strong offensive game from Tzu-Wei Lin today. In his first at-bat, Lin clubbed a ball to the triangle. In the fifth, he singled to right. And with two on and two out in the sixth, he laced a ground-rule double to right, scoring Mitch Moreland.
2:45 Impressive piece of hitting for Andrew Benintendi, who manages to turn on a fastball down and on the black and rocket it to right for a triple, scoring Bradley and tying the game at 1-1.
2:27: An 11-pitch inning from Sale helps a bit, but with 93 pitches thrown and Heath Hembree up in the bullpen, that could be it for the lefty today.
2:11: Sale is being made to work by the Orioles, who have driven up his pitch count to 82 after just four innings. Seven strikeouts and two walks contributing, too.
1:58: Orioles' game plan with Hanley was pretty obvious -- down and away with just about everything. He got a fastball over the middle on a 2-and-2 pitch and fouled it off. Next one was a slider down-and-away that he swung through.
1:52: Tzu-Wei Lin got a fastball up in the zone to lead off the bottom of the third and hit it well, but with the wind and cold, ball seemed to hold up. Right fielder Anthony Santander had time to glide over to the triangle to make the catch.
1:24: Can't think of a worse experience for a major league player today than 1) dealing with this cold AND 2) facing Sale.
1:11: Maybe it's a psychological thing ("Cold? What cold?'), but Chris Sale is pitching in short-sleeves
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Bradley RF
Benintendi CF
Ramirez DH
Martinez LF
Moreland 1B
Devers 3B
Vazquez C
Holt 2B
Lin SS
ORIOLES
Mancini LF
Gentry CF
Machado SS
Jones DH
Valencia 3B
Davis 1B
Beckham 2B
Santander RF
Joseph C
NEWS AND NOTES:
- OF Mookie Betts, who was removed from Saturday's game after suffering a contusion of his left foot, remained out of the lineup Sunday. But according to manager Alex Cora, Betts is improved and lobbied to play Sunday. "We'll keep him off his feet today and go from there,'' said Cora. "I'm not saying he was going to get the day off anyway (for rest), but it was getting close. Things happen for a reason. We know he's going to be fine. This is a good day to stay off his feet, don't take batting practice, hang out and let the other guys show up and do the job.''
- With Betts out, Cora had Jackie Bradley Jr. in the leadoff spot. "I think it's good for him, confidence-wise,'' Cora said. "We trust him. He's having good at-bats. He's been getting on base lately. I know he was excited when I told him (Saturday) night. He led off in spring training, so we're comfortable with him.''
- Given the cold weather, Cora kept Eduardo Nunez out of the lineup, with Tzu-Wei Lin at short and Brock Holt at second. "It's actually good for (Nunez) to get a few days off,'' Cora said.
- Cora noted that getting Blake Swihart some playing time "is a work in progress.'' Swihart was inserted into the game in left when Betts was injured.