Eduardo Rodriguez allowed just one unearned run over six inning and the Red Sox erupted for five runs in the first two innings to claim a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Red Sox and averted a sweep at the hands of the Giants.
The Giants loaded the bases in the ninth against closer Brandon Workman, who allowed a run on a two-out bases loaded walk before fanning Evan Longoira for the final out.
Rodriguez claimed his 18th win while going six innings, allowing just two hits and fanning 10.
Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts combined to knock in all five runs for the Red Sox.
WHO: Red Sox (79-72) vs. San Francisco Giants (74-78)
WHEN: 1:05 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: San Francisco 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (17-6, 3.64) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-8, 3.73)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
3:56 Mike Yastrzemski, who pinch-hit in the top of the inning, goes into to play left and then, caught in between the shadows and son and drops a pretty routine fly ball from Marco Hernandez for a two-base error.
3:47 Things coming unglued here in the top of the eighth after two quick outs. Two runs in, three runners on for Giants.
2:53 Ostensibly called up to give the Red Sox a righthanded bat off the bench, Gorkys Hernandez is still hitless against lefthanded pitching since his promotion, going 0-for-3 today and 0-for-13 overall.
2:45 Through five innings, Eduardo Rodriguez allowed a single to the first hitter he faced, but since then, has allowed just one other base hit -- and that was a grounder to the shortstop hole.
2:39 Bumgarner has settled in after the first two innings in which he was unlucky, with a lot of softly-hit balls falling in for hits.
2:01 Red Sox are having no difficulty putting the ball in play against Madison Bumgarner. Of the 13 batters to come to the plate, seven have reached via base hits. Single to center by Devers drives in one, bloop to right by Bogaerts scores more.
1:37 Sox get two, but had first and second with no out and didn't get more.
1:30 Devers and Xander Bogaerts battle back and fourth for the team RBI lead. After Devers gets No. 109, Bogaerts serves a single into center, scoring Vazquez, for RBI No. 107.
1:26 After allowing an unearned run in the top of the first, the Red Sox need just three plate appearances to tie the game. A leadoff double by Andrew Benintendi, a walk to Christian Vazquez and a soft line single to right by Rafael Devers produces the Red Sox run.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Vazquez C
Devers 3B
Bogaerts DH
Holt 1B
G. Hernandez RF
Bradley CF
Owings SS
M. Hernandez 2B
GIANTS
Dubon SS
Slater RF
Pillar CF
Longoria 3B
Posey C
Rickard LF
Davis DH
Adames 2B
Garcia 1B
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Heath Hembree will to throw a simulated game Friday at Tropicana Field with an eye toward returning to game action in Texas next week.
- Mookie Betts (inflammation in the foot) sat out his fifth straight game, but could return to the lineup as the DH at some point this weekend.
- J.D. Martinez (groin pull) and Sam Travis (concussion) will need additional recovery time.
- Michael Chavis suffered a setback with his pulled side muscle Wednesday and could be shut down for the remainder of the season.
- David Price will soon see a hand/wrist specialist before determining whether he needs a surgical procedure.