Overcoming an early 2-0 deficit, the Red Sox rode a big night from Xander Bogaerts (four RBI) to a 6-3 victory over the New York Mets, Boston's sixth straight victory.
Bogaerts belted a two-run homer in the fifth and added a two-run single in the sixth to lead the Red Sox' attack.
Starter Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 4.1 innings before five relievers combined to give the Sox 4.2 innings of one-run relief,
WHO: Red Sox (86-55) vs, New York Mets (73-77 )
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BOS 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 5.00) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (9-12, 2.88)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
METS
Nimmo CF
Lindor SS
Baez 2B
Alonso DH
Davis 3B
Conforto RF
Pillar LF
Smith 1B
Nido C
RED SOX
Hernandez CF
Schwarber DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Verdugo RF
Dalbec 1B
Vazquez C
Iglesias 2B
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
T8: Garrett Richards gets two quick strikes on Pete Alonso before hanging a slider that Alonso crushes off one of the billboards in the Monster Seats.
B6: Some two-out magic for the Red Sox. A hit batsman, two walks and a well-placed single to RF by Bogaerts produces two more runs.
B5: Another sinker up in the zone from Stroman and another long ball -- this one from Xander Bogaerts, with Kyle Schwarber on second, and the Sox have their first lead of the night at 4-2.
B5: Kike Hernandez drives a sinker up-and-in and sends it into the Monster Seats. No. 18 for the season, tying the game.
B4: After a booming double to CF by Bobby Dalbec off the CF wall, Red Sox get a gift as Kevin Pillar misjudges a line drive hit right at him and has it over his head for another double -- this one from Christian Vazquez, scoring Dalbec.
T4: Rodriguez gets out of the fourth with a flyout and a groundout to first. Given the mess he was in -- no outs, bases loaded -- it could have been a lot worse.
T4: Michael Conforto snakes a single through the shift, scoring Javy Baez, but a second runner (Pete Alonso) is gunned down at the plate on a fine throw from CF Kike Hernandez.
T4: Rodriguez walks three hitters in the of four batters, forcing in a run.
B3: Xander Bogaerts hits into a 5-2-3 double play with no outs and the bases loaded and the Sox are suddenly in danger of a major squander.
B3: A double to lead off the bottom of the third for Jose Iglesias. That's his fourth in 13 games.
T3: Eduardo Rodriguez is sharp to date, allowing just one hit while fanning five.
B2: Red Sox get a baserunner - a two-out single by Bobby Dalbec -- but Marcus Stroman fields a comebacker by Christian Vazquez for the third out.
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won their last 5 games and are 11-6 in September...Since 8/20, they are 17-11 in games and 6-2-1 in series. The Sox’ current winning streak is their longest since winning 8 consecutive games from 6/25-7/2. The Sox own MLB’s 5th-best record in September (.647), trailing only TOR (15-4, .789) for best in the AL. The Sox own the 6th-best record in MLB, trailing only TB (93-58, .616) and HOU (89-61, .593) for best in the AL. The Sox are more than 20 games over .500 for the first time since ending play 63-42 on 7/30. ...The Red Sox’ .618 win percentage at home ranks 4th in the AL and 7th in the majors...They started the season 10-11 at home but are since 37-18 (.673). In home games, the Sox lead MLB in runs per game (5.83) and OPS (.831) and lead the AL in AVG (.281). In their last 20 home games, the Sox have scored 155 runs (7.8 per game) and hit 35 HR. COMEBACK KIDS: The Red Sox have 44 come-from-behind wins, trailing only the Rays (45) for most in the majors. ....The Red Sox are 12-2 in the last 14 games started by either Nathan Eovaldi or Chris Sale. In 6 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, Sale is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA (30.0 IP, 8 ER, 6 BB, 31 SO). NASTY NATE: In his last 8 starts, Eovaldi has a 2.27 ERA (12 ER/47.2 IP) with 64 SO, 8 BB, and a 1.03 WHIP. Eovaldi leads AL pitchers in fWAR (5.5), ranking tied for 3rd among all pitchers (Corbin Burnes-7.2, Zack Wheeler-6.6, Max Scherzer-5.5). Eovaldi leads MLB in BB/9.0 IP (1.66)...He ranks among AL leaders in starts (T-1st, 30), SO/BB (2nd, 5.88), SO (6th, 188), IP (4th, 173.2), WHIP (6th, 1.17), and ERA (7th, 3.58).....The Red Sox have a 2.41 ERA (24 ER/89.2 IP) in their last 10 games...They allowed 3 ER or fewer in 9 consecutive games prior to allowing 6 ER on Sunday...It was the club’s longest such streak since April 2018. ....Red Sox relievers have allowed 3 ER in their last 25.0 IP and 4 ER in their last 33.1 IP (1.08 ERA)...In their last 9 games, they have given up 5 ER in 39.2 IP (1.13 ERA)... The Red Sox have played 151 games, tied for most in the majors (5 others)...They have 11 games remaining in the regular season (6 road, 5 home); their best 11-game stretch of the season is 10-1 (twice). The Sox are playing 8 games in 12 days from 9/16-27. 3 of the Sox’ remaining games are vs. teams with a winning record (NYY) and 8 are vs. teams with a losing record (BAL-3, WSH-3, NYM-2)... The Red Sox have used 56 players this season, tied for their most in franchise history (also 2012). The Sox have used 33 pitchers, their most in franchise history...That does not include 4 position players who have pitched (Araúz, Arroyo, Gonzalez, Plawecki). ...The Red Sox swept the Mets in the clubs’ 2-game series at Citi Field in April, winning by scores of 2-1 on 4/27 and 1-0 on 4/28. 21 of the last 27 meetings between the clubs have been decided by 1 or 2 runs...The visiting team has won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the clubs, including each of the last 6. This is the 11th season in which the Sox and Mets are meeting in Interleague play (also 1997-2001, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2018, and 2020). ....The Red Sox are 11-4 vs. NL teams this season...They are 274-184 (.598) all time against the NL, the highest Interleague winning percentage in MLB. ....The Red Sox have scored 7+ runs in each of their last 5 games, matching their longest streak in the last 15 seasons (also 5 games from 6/30-7/4/2017...They last had a longer streak from 8/26-9/1/2005 (7 straight). The Sox lead the majors in doubles (314) and XBH (536) and rank 4th in runs per game (5.1), 3rd in AVG (.261), 2nd in SLG (.448), and 3rd in OPS (.776). ....The Red Sox rank 9th in MLB with 201 HR...They have homered in 24 of their last 26 games; in that time (beginning 8/23), they rank 4th in MLB with 44 HR. The Sox lead MLB with 37 HR with at least 2 runners on base (34 three-run, 3 grand slams). The Sox have hit 4+ HR in a game 13 times, 2nd-most in franchise history (15 times in 1977). From the No. 9 spot in the batting order, the Sox lead MLB in HR (18), RBI (tied, 68), and XBH (50)...Only once have they hit 19+ HR from the No. 9 spot (24 in 2003). ....In their last 38 games (beginning 8/8), the Sox lead the majors in AVG and OPS with runners in scoring position (.309/.910)...In their 113 games prior, they ranked 17th in AVG and 18th in OPS with RISP (.252/.744). The Sox are slugging an MLB-best .441 against relief pitchers...They have hit 88 HR against relievers, tied for most in the AL. ....The Sox lead the majors in 2-strike RBI this season (316), 46 more than any other team. With 2 strikes, the Sox also lead MLB in XBH (193)...They lead the MLB in HR hit in counts of 0-2 (18) and 1-2 (27). The Sox lead MLB in runs scored with 2 outs (317)... With RISP & 2 outs, they lead the majors in OPS (.837). ....The Red Sox entered today with MLB’s largest increase in win % from 2020 (.400) to 2021 (.570). Boston’s .426 win % in 2012 (69-93) is the club’s lowest ever prior to a postseason campaign....Beginning 8/8, Bobby Dalbec has 12 HR and 36 RBI in 33 games...In that time, he leads the majors (min. 100 PA) in SLG (.804), OPS (1.228), and wRC+ (218) while batting .333 with a .424 OBP. Dalbec leads AL rookies in SLG (.497) and ranks 3rd in HR (23) and RBI (76)...In 147 career ML games, he has hit 31 HR with 92 RBI and an .830 OPS. ...Red Sox outfielders lead MLB with 40 assists, their most in a season since 1987 (47).
NOTES:
* The team placed RHP Garrett Whitlock on the IL with a strained pectoral muscle. "We don't feel it's that serious,'' said Alex Cora. "But obviously, he's not going to be ready in the upcomings days. It's actually going to be closer to 10 days. We've got some capable guys and they have to step up. It doesn't matter who you lose now -- it's a big hit anyways. It doesn't matter. Whoever you lose on the roster it's a big one'' To fill Whitlock's spot, the Sox recalled Ryan Brasier from Worcester.
* The Sox were waiting to make a decision on infielder Christian Arroyo, who is on the COVID-IL, The Sox want make sure he feels baseball ready before activating him.