All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-3 victory over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Porcello goes deep to bail out the bullpen: Starter Rick Porcello didn't figure on the decision, but he did factor into the win in a big way. With the Sox already short a man thanks to the suspension of Joe Kelly, Heath Hembree having been used the last two days and Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson both having thrown multi-inning stints in the series, the Sox needed length from Porcello and he delivered. With 102 pitches after seven, he went back out for the eighth and got two more outs before coming out. "We were very short today,'' said Alex Cora, "and for Rick to go out there for 116 pitches ... that was amazing. He had great stuff. For him to go 7.2, knowing where we were, that's amazing. He knew where we were. He knew he had to go deep, regardless of the score.'' Porcello allowed a two-run homer in the third and another solo run in the fourth, but shut the Rays down after that.
Leon proves to be the unlikely hero: With the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox had runners at the corner and two out. Sandy Leon was due next, having collected just three hits in 30 at-bats to that point. But Cora stuck with Leon and was rewarded with a base hit inside the third-base bag which scored the eventual game-winning run. Leon could be seen looking back over his shoulder as he approached the plate, half-expecting to be lifted for a pinch-runner. And when he wasn't? "I was ready to hit,'' said Leon. "But I think (being allowed to hit) made me feel good. It gave me the confidence to go up there and try to win the game.'' The run-scoring single was just the second RBI of the year for Leon and the first since April 12, 15 games ago.
Comeback complete. ✔️ pic.twitter.com/4f3jhhNvSD
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 29, 2018
Gettin' things started. pic.twitter.com/rHysX2SbyJ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 29, 2018
#Rays @ #RedSox
Craig Kimbrel strikes out Carlos Gomez with runners on second and third to complete a four-out save as the Red Sox win, 4-3 (00:19)
MLB Gameday: https://t.co/NNNAss11om pic.twitter.com/QbcazyWdih
— Ballpark Videos (@BallparkVids) April 29, 2018
— Rick Porcello
- The win was the 11th come-from-behind victory of the season for the Red Sox
- The Red Sox became only the fifth team since 1913 to win 20 games before May.
- Boston's 18 wins in April ties a franchise record
- The Sox improved to 8-2 in one-run games.
- The Sox have won 25 straight games when providing Rick Porcello with three or more runs.