Final, Red Sox 7-2: Drake Britton hammered the nail into the coffin in the ninth inning. The Red Sox earn a 7-2 victory behind a strong effort from Jake Peavy.
Peavy pitched seven solid innings to earn the win. He gave up two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking one. It took him 109 pitches (68 strikes) to take care of business.
The Red Sox received contributions up and down the lineup Saturday, as seven batters had at least two hits. Jacoby Ellsbury led the way with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Will Middlebrooks (0-for-4) and Dustin Pedroia (0-for-5) were the only two Red Sox starters without a hit.
The Red Sox will look to complete the sweep Sunday before kicking off a series against the Tigers on Labor Day. Felix Doubront will take the hill in Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
Good night, everyone.
End 8th, Red Sox 7-2: David Ortiz worked a leadoff walk before David Purcey settled in.
Ortiz walked on seven pitches, but that was the extent of the Red Sox’ offensive noise in the eighth inning. Mike Napoli grounded down to third base, where Conor Gillaspie started up a 5-4-3 double play, and Jonny Gomes popped out to end the inning.
Drake Britton will look to record the final three outs for Boston.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 7-2: Craig Breslow once again did his job in the eighth inning. It wasn’t a high-leverage situation, but it’s become clear of late that John Farrell has a ton of confidence in the left-hander.
Breslow tossed a perfect eighth to put the Red Sox three outs away from a victory. He sat down the top of the White Sox’ order.
Alejandro De Aza grounded out, and Gordon Beckham popped out. Breslow capped the impressive inning with a strikeout of Alexei Ramirez.
David Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes will try to add to Boston’s run total in the bottom of the eighth.
End 7th, Red Sox 7-2: The Red Sox failed to score for the first time since the second inning in the seventh.
Boston did have a chance to tack on, as Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino delivered a pair of two-out singles. But Dustin Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning.
The book is indeed closed on Jake Peavy. Craig Breslow will take over in the eighth inning after seven strong innings from the starter.
Peavy gave up two runs on five hits in his seven innings of work. He struck out four and walked one while throwing 109 pitches (68 strikes).
Mid 7th, Red Sox 7-2: Jake Peavy received a nice ovation as he headed back to the dugout. That likely spells the end of his night, and it was another strong performance by the veteran.
Peavy needed just four pitches to record the first two outs of the seventh inning. Jordan Danks then singled to center field, but Peavy bounced back and retired Josh Phegley on a flyout to deep center.
Jake Petricka will pitch another inning for Chicago.
9:42 p.m., Red Sox 7-2: Want to predict what is going to happen next? The MLB PrePlay app allows you to predict every play of every game. By correctly selecting the outcome of every at-bat in real time, you’re able to earn points.
End 6th, Red Sox 7-2: The Red Sox have scored in four straight innings after tacking on another run in the sixth.
Jake Petricka, who also pitched Friday, took over for John Danks and was greeted by Shane Victorino, who singled into left field.
Dustin Pedroia struck out swinging on a pitch in the dirt for the first out, and David Ortiz followed with a hard line drive into center field. Victorino went from first to third on Ortiz’s single.
Mike Napoli walked to load the bases with one out. Petricka’s control issues lingered into the next at-bat, as he delivered a wild pitch that actually kicked up on top of the screen behind home plate. Victorino scored from third base.
Jonny Gomes, batting with runners at second and third after the wild pitch, grounded in front of the plate. Petricka took care of it, although his throw to first base was rather shaky.
Will Middlebrooks flied out to end the inning, leaving two runners in scoring position. Jake Peavy will now have a five-run lead to work with, though, as he’s coming back out for another inning.
Mid 6th, Red Sox 6-2: Jake Peavy made it back-to-back perfect innings in the sixth.
Peavy retired Alexei Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko in order. Ramirez popped out, Dunn grounded out and Konerko flied out.
Peavy has put together a good outing thus far. He’s up to 99 pitches through six innings.
John Danks’ night has come to a close, as the White Sox will send out Jake Petricka to begin the sixth inning.
Danks, who is on the hook for the loss, gave up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits in his five innings of work. He struck out two and walked one while throwing 110 pitches (76 strikes).
End 5th, Red Sox 6-2: Xander Bogaerts now has two career RBIs to his credit.
Jonny Gomes led off with a single. He scorched a ball off the left field wall, and it was hit too hard for him to think about two bases.
After Will Middlebrooks grounded out, Conor Gillaspie made a sensational play down at third base. David Ross smoked a line drive that looked destined for the left field corner. Gillaspie had other ideas, as he made a terrific diving play. I’m talking full extension. The Fenway Faithful gave him a good ovation for his efforts.
John Danks failed to parlay the diving play into an escape. Bogaerts lined a single into left field, and Gomes trucked his way around from second base with Boston’s sixth run.
Mid 5th, Red Sox 5-2: Jake Peavy put a stop to the scoring.
Peavy pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning, marking the first time since the bottom of the second inning that either team failed to score.
Peavy struck out Josh Phegley to begin the fifth inning. He gave Phegley a 1-2 cutter in the dirt that the White Sox catcher couldn’t lay off.
Alejandro De Aza grounded to second base with one out. Dustin Pedroia made the play and tossed to a covering Peavy for the second out. Peavy was forced to stretch out while fielding the subpar toss from Pedroia, but the out was made, nonetheless.
The inning ended with Gordon Beckham flying out to The Flyin’ Hawaiian.
End 4th, Red Sox 5-2: The Sox’ are trading blows.
The Red Sox struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and there’s now been at least one run scored in each of the last four half innings.
David Ross gave everyone a surprise treat by dropping down a leadoff bunt. The White Sox, as you’d imagine, were caught off guard by the tricky antics from the wily vet, and Ross reached safely.
Xander Bogaerts then singled before Jacoby Ellsbury smoked a ball to right field. Ellsbury made a bid for a three-run blast, but the ball touched down on the warning track and kicked up into the seats. Ross scored, but the White Sox briefly caught a break with Bogaerts having to stop at third base on the ground-rule double.
Shane Victorino made the first out of the inning on a hard ground ball right at third baseman Conor Gillaspie. Neither runner could score.
Dustin Pedroia also grounded out for the second out, but Bogaerts was able to trot home because of how softly Pedroia’s grounder was hit. Ellsbury took third base on the groundout and scored Boston’s fifth run when David Ortiz singled into left-center field.
8:42 p.m., 2-2: The Red Sox have completed a trade.
The Red Sox have acquired 38-year-old infielder John McDonald and cash considerations from the Phillies in exchange for minor league pitcher Nefi Ogando.
McDonald, a native of New London, Conn., and resident of Scituate, Mass., has appeared primarily at shortstop over his 15-year major league career.
Ogando went 2-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 33 relief appearances with High-A Salem this season.
Mid 4th, 2-2: We’re once again knotted up.
Alexei Ramirez led off the fourth inning with a single up the middle. He then stole second base as Adam Dunn struck out swinging. The theft was Ramirez’s 27th of the season.
Paul Konerko struck out for the second out, after which he had a conversation with home plate umpire Paul Nauert. Konerko didn’t look too happy, but Nauert decided that the chat wasn’t enough to warrant an ejection.
Avisail Garcia, who will forever be linked to Jake Peavy via last month’s trade, tied the game with a single into center field.
Garcia swiped second base and Conor Gillaspie walked, but Peavy exited the inning by getting Jordan Danks to ground out to first base.
End 3rd, Red Sox 2-1: The Red Sox grabbed the lead right back in the third inning.
John Danks got two quick outs before running into trouble. Dustin Pedroia popped out, and David Ortiz grounded out.
Mike Napoli extended the inning with a less-than-graceful, yet-still-effective double. His dive into second base won’t show up in any instructional videos, but it got the job done.
Jonny Gomes followed with a double of his own. He hooked a ball into the left field corner to plate Napoli from second base.
Mid 3rd, 1-1: A bang-bang play was the difference between a tie game and the Red Sox escaping the frame with a lead.
Conor Gillaspie began the third inning with a single into left field. Jonny Gomes didn’t get the best jump, and he eventually needed to pull up as the ball dropped in front of him.
After Jordan Danks — brother of starting pitcher John Danks — struck out, Josh Phegley hit a ground ball up the first base line. Mike Napoli ranged over, but it snuck past him and into right field. Gillaspie went from first to third.
Alejandro De Aza then hit a ground ball to the right side that almost resulted in an inning-ending double play. Dustin Pedroia made the play and fired to second base, where Xander Bogaerts executed a clean turn. De Aza just beat Bogaerts’ throw, though, and Gillaspie scored from third base.
End 2nd, Red Sox 1-0: Shane Victorino has been red hot this month, but he couldn’t extend Boston’s lead in the second inning.
David Ross started things off with a one-out double. He drilled the ball a mile into the air, and it clanked off the Green Monster in left-center field.
Xander Bogaerts, who is such a mature hitter for just 20 years old, then walked on nine pitches to put two runners on for Jacoby Ellsbury.
Ellsbury grounded out softly to second base, meaning it was up to Victorino to push across a run or two. John Danks ended the inning by freezing Victorino with a pitch on the inside corner.
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 1-0:Â Jake Peavy has started his night with six straight outs.
Peavy retired Adam Dunn on a fly ball to left field to begin the second inning, and he then got the White Sox to put the ball on the ground for the first time.
Peavy also helped his own cause in the second. Paul Konerko, whose error paved the way for Boston’s first run, drilled a comebacker that Peavy made a nice play on for the second out.
Avisail Garcia, who was part of the three-way Peavy trade, grounded to second base to end the inning.
End 1st, Red Sox 1-0: The Red Sox can thank Paul Konerko for their first run of the game.
Jacoby Ellsbury started things off with a ground ball to the left side. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez charged it while ranging to his right. Ramirez made a backhanded stop, but he couldn’t throw out Ellsbury.
Shane Victorino flied out to his right field counterpart for the first out, and Dustin Pedroia lined out to his second base counterpart for the second out. Konerko couldn’t handle a sharp grounder off the bat of David Ortiz, though, and Ellsbury went from first to third as Ortiz reached safely.
Mike Napoli, who slid up into the No. 5 spot for Saturday’s game, put Boston on the board by drilling a line-drive single into left field.
Mid 1st, 0-0: The White Sox put three balls into the air against Jake Peavy in the first inning. All three found leather.
Alejandro De Aza and Alexei Ramirez sandwiched a popout with a pair of fly outs. De Aza flied out to Jonny Gomes in left field, and Ramirez flied out to Jacoby Ellsbury in center.
Let’s see if Shane Victorino keeps sizzling in the home half of the first inning. Victorino enters Saturday’s game hitting .526 (10-for-19) with four homers, two doubles and 11 RBIs over his last five games.
7:12 p.m.: Jake Peavy’s first pitch against his former team misses for a ball.
6:54 p.m.: In addition to holding opponents to three runs or fewer, Red Sox pitchers haven’t allowed more than eight hits in any of their last 10 games.
The only longer three-run, eight-hit streak of the last 25 years belongs to the 1991 Blue Jays, who lost in the ALCS that season.
6:37 p.m.: John Farrell said before Saturday’s game that the Red Sox plan on calling up a reliever, catcher and infielder when rosters expand Sunday.
6:26 p.m.: Clay Buchholz took another step forward during a rehab start Friday, and he’ll likely need one more rehab outing before rejoining the Red Sox. We could be looking at a Sept. 10 return to the Boston rotation for Buchholz.
Buchholz threw 53 pitches (34 strikes) with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday while surrendering one run over 3 1/3 innings. He wasn’t perfect, but it was encouraging given how ineffective he was in his first rehab start.
Click here for more on Buchholz’s rehab start >>
Buchholz wasn’t the only Red Sox player rehabbing with Pawtucket on Friday. Brandon Snyder went 1-for-3 and Alex Wilson pitched an inning.
6:07 p.m.: The Red Sox are carrying a streak into Saturday’s game.
Red Sox pitchers have surrendered three runs or fewer in each of the team’s last 10 games. It’s the Red Sox’ longest such stretch since 1988, when Boston hurlers allowed three runs or less in 11 straight contests from April 12 to April 25.
Red Sox pitchers have a 2.03 ERA during the current 10-game stretch.
5:05 p.m.: Xander Bogaerts will be in the Red Sox’ lineup Saturday. David Ross will join him, as they’ll bat ninth and eighth, respectively.
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Red Sox (80-56)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
David Ross, C
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jake Peavy, RHP (10-5, 3.99 ERA)
White Sox (56-77)
Alejandro De Aza, LF
Gordon Beckham, 2B
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Adam Dunn, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
Avisail Garcia, CF
Conor Gillaspie, 3B
Jordan Danks, RF
Josh Phegley, C
John Danks, LHP (4-10, 4.15 ERA)
8 a.m. ET: It’s been just over a month since Jake Peavy joined the Red Sox. On Saturday, the right-hander will go up against the team that traded him away.
Peavy, who was traded to Boston from Chicago as part of a three-team deal on July 30, has made five starts since joining the Red Sox. He is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in those starts, which include a complete-game gem against the Dodgers his last time out. It was his 15th career complete game and his second this season.
Peavy spent parts of five seasons in Chicago before being traded to Boston before last month’s non-waiver trade deadline. He went 36-29 with a 4.00 ERA in 84 games (83 starts) with the White Sox while battling numerous injuries. The right-hander wasn’t the ace that he was in San Diego, but Peavy did earn a trip to the All-Star Game in 2012.
The Red Sox took the series opener Friday. Shane Victorino kept his hot streak alive by reaching base three times, and David Ortiz snapped an 0-for-23 slump with a two-run single. Ryan Dempster was solid while working into the seventh inning. Peavy will be opposed by John Danks on Saturday.
The Red Sox are a better team than the White Sox, plain and simple. You still have to play the games, though, and Boston will look to make it two straight against Chicago on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
