BOSTON — The Red Sox offense stayed red-hot Saturday night and propelled the team to its second straight win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park.
Brock Holt and Sandy Leon led the charge in the 6-3 victory. It also ensures Boston will win its first series since it took two games from the San Francisco Giants in mid-July.
Here’s a recap of Red Sox-Diamondbacks.
GAME IN A WORD
Bottom.
The bottom of the Red Sox order (Sandy Leon, Brock Holt, Andrew Benintendi) tallied five hits, six runs, four RBI and a walk.
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Holt’s two-run homer in the sixth inning put the Red Sox up three, which was enough of a cushion for Boston’s bullpen.
ON THE BUMP
— Buchholz retired the side in order to open the game. He allowed a walk to begin the second inning but was aided by a double play that eliminated any threat. The same thing happened in the third frame as a walk was wiped out by a double play.
The Diamondbacks finally got to Buchholz in the fourth when a walk, a single and a double steal resulted in an RBI groundout by Jake Lamb. Rickie Weeks Jr. hit an RBI single in the next at-bat to give Arizona its first lead at 2-1.
After giving up a single to start the fifth inning and then recording the first out, Buchholz departed after 71 pitches, 43 of which were strikes. Buchholz went 4 1/3 innings and gave up three hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out one.
— Robbie Ross Jr. entered in the fifth inning with a runner on first. He allowed one run to cross the plate, but it was charged to Buchholz. Ross recorded the first out of the sixth inning and then was taken out. He went one inning and gave up one hit, a walk and no runs. Ross also had one strikeout.
— Junichi Tazawa entered in relief and ended the inning without giving up any hits.
— Matt Barnes relieved Tazawa for the seventh inning and retired the side in order with the help of a double play. He also started the eighth inning and walked the bases loaded. He was then replaced by Brad Ziegler.
— Ziegler struck out the side on just 10 pitches in one of the most impressive innings of relief you’ll see this season.
— Craig Kimbrel pitched a clean ninth inning for the save.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Sandy Leon collected Boston’s first hit with a third-inning single. He also hit a solo homer, his fifth of the season, in the fifth inning. Leon drew a walk in the sixth inning and scored on Holt’s homer.
— Andrew Benintendi singled in the third inning, his first hit since Aug. 10. He also hit an RBI double in the fifth inning that tied the score 3-3. He later scored.
— Dustin Pedroia got the Red Sox on the board with an RBI single in the third inning. He went 2 for 4.
— Mookie Betts hit an RBI single in the fifth inning that just cleared the third baseman’s glove. It was his only hit of the game.
— Brock Holt hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was his sixth homer of the season.
— Xander Bogaerts (0 for 4), David Ortiz (0 for 3), Hanley Ramirez (0 for 4) and Travis Shaw (0 for 3) were the only Sox starters without a hit.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
This tweet is from 25 days ago, but we’ll use it now because Leon had a great game and it’s still funny.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Diamondbacks conclude their series Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. Rick Porcello (Boston) versus Zack Greinke (Arizona) is the expected pitching matchup.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
