FINAL: Red Sox 3, Chicago White Sox 1 - Rafaela Hits Two Run Home Run to Take the Lead in Seventh

The Red Sox (71-70) defeat the Chicago White Sox (32-110) by a final score of 3-1.

The Sox didn't hit the ball too well in this one, winning the game with only five hits compared to the White Sox six. Boston would get on the board in the fourth, as Triston Casas drove in Wilyer Abreu with an RBI single, after Abreu and Masataka Yoshida were hit by pitches. The Sox would take the lead in the seventh and never surrender it, with a two run shot off the bat of Ceddanne Rafaela who hit it straight to a fan in the monster seats. That home run was the only extra base hit of the night for the Red Sox.

Nick Pivetta started the game tonight for Boston, and he did his thing, pitching six total innings, giving up five hits, but only one run, which was brought in by way of a Jacob Amaya single. He also walked three and struck out six. He would be replaced by Zack Kelly, who received the win. Kelly pitched one inning, and he gave up the sixth and last White Sox hit. Brennan Bernardino pitched the eighth, and struck out one. Josh Winckowski got the save, getting a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to shut the door on Chicago.

My Player of the Game: Ceddanne Rafaela - Rafaela's lone hit was a huge one, giving the Red Sox the lead late in the game, allowing them to win.

Tomorrow's game is slated for a 7:15 p.m. start on FOX. Probable pitchers are Garrett Crochet (6-10, 3.61 ERA) and Cooper Criswell (5-4, 4.14 ERA).  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 _________________________________

WHO: Chicago White Sox (32-109) at Red Sox (70-70)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 2-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Davis Martin (0-3, 3.62 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.53 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O'Neill LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Triston Casas 1B
Connor Wong C
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Nick Pivetta

OPPONENT

Nicky Lopez 2B
Luis Robert Jr CF
Andrew Benintendi LF
Alex Vaughn DH
Gavin Sheets 1B
Lenyn Sosa 3B
Dominic Fletcher RF
Chuckie Robinson C
Jacob Amaya SS

SP Davis Martin

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox have lost a season-high 5 straight games, their longest losing streak since 9/23-28/23 (also 5)...They haven't lost as many as 6 consecutive games since 9/21-26/22. Boston went 1-5 on a 6-game road trip to DET and NYM. The Sox are 5-10 in their last 15 games, 12-18 in their last 30, and 17-27 in 44 games since the All-Star break.

In their last 26 games (beginning 8/9), Red Sox starting pitchers rank 5th in the AL and 7th in MLB with a 3.61 ERA (52 ER/129.2 IP). Sox starters have posted an AL-best 2.55 ERA in their last 10 games since 8/26 (15 ER/53.0 IP), allowing 2 or fewer runs in 8 of those.

Boston ranks in MLB's top 5 in XBH (2nd, 472), doubles (2nd, 271), triples (5th, 29), AVG (5th, .256), SLG (5th, .430), and OPS (5th, .751). The Red Sox are hitting .210 with a .615 OPS in their last 16 games (beginning 8/19), after batting .285 with an .836 OPS in their first 28 games after the All-Star break. The Sox have been held to 3 runs or fewer in each of their last 5 games, their longest such streak since 6/7-12/23 (6 games).

With 16 games remaining, Triple-A Worcester is 4.0 games back in the International League's 2nd-half standings...They're 19-6 in their last 25 G. Double-A Portland leads the Eastern League Northeast Division's 2nd-half standings with a 0.5-game lead over Somerset (9 G left).

Trevor Story played in his 4th rehab game with Triple-A Worcester last night at Rochester, going 4-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base...He's made 3 starts at SS and 1 as the DH, batting .375 (6-for-16). Liam Hendriks tossed a scoreless 6th inning for the WooSox last night at Rochester (1.0 IP, H, 4 pitches, 4 strikes)...He has pitched in 6 rehab games between WOR and POR (5.0 IP, 4 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). Cam Booser has made 1 rehab appearance with the WooSox (1.0 IP, H, 3 SO, 16 pitches, 13 strikes).