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BOSTON — All in all, it was a productive holiday weekend for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox rallied to beat the Houston Astros 5-4 in Sunday’s series finale at Fenway Park. Boston took two of three from the American League West leaders, including back-to-back contests following an extra-inning loss in Friday night’s series opener.
The New York Yankees lost to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, so the Red Sox picked up a game in the standings, moving them to within six games of the AL East-leading Bronx Bombers.
GAME IN A WORD
Responsive.
The Red Sox relinquished a two-run lead in the seventh inning, only to then bounce back moments later with a punch of their own. Boston has gone quietly far too often this season, yet the offense showed good life when it needed to in the face of adversity Sunday afternoon.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Hanley Ramirez flexed his muscle with a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
The Astros stuck with Tony Sipp after the left-hander walked David Ortiz with one out. Ramirez clubbed a 1-2 changeup from Sipp into the Monster seats to give the Red Sox a 5-4 advantage.
Both Ramirez and Ortiz celebrated in style. Ramirez had a nice little bat flip and Ortiz emphatically pumped his fist while running the bases.
ON THE BUMP
— Eduardo Rodriguez allowed a baserunner in each of his five innings yet held the Astros to one run.
Rodriguez threw 101 pitches (65 strikes) over five innings. The left-hander surrendered six hits and issued two walks. He struck out a career-high eight.
It wasn’t all that pretty, especially given Rodriguez’s early-season dominance. But it was encouraging in that he didn’t allow things to snowball when the Astros threatened.
— Alexi Ogando’s very good stretch came to a very loud stop in the seventh inning.
Carlos Correa crushed a 2-2 slider into the Monster seats to tie the game 3-3. The rookie shortstop has seven home runs in just 25 games. It’s easy to see why Houston selected Correa first overall in 2012.
Evan Gattis, whose defensive gaffe in the sixth inning enabled the Red Sox to take a 3-2 lead, put the Astros on top 4-3 with a screamer that struck just over the left field wall.
Ogando hadn’t allowed a run in 12 consecutive appearances spanning 13 2/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on three hits (two homers) and a walk over 1 2/3 innings while throwing 31 pitches.
— Matt Barnes earned the win after recording the final out of the seventh inning.
— Junichi Tazawa, making his first appearance since June 28, worked around a one-out walk for a scoreless eighth inning.
— Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 19th save.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Ryan Hanigan had three hits for just the second time since 2011. He also walked once.
Hanigan delivered a pair of two-out RBI singles — one in the second inning and one in the sixth — that plated Pablo Sandoval.
— Sandoval had three hits and scored two runs.
Sandoval’s third hit was a double into the left field corner that Gattis bobbled, allowing Ramirez to score from first base. Ramirez, who reached on an error by Correa, briefly stopped at third base before Brian Butterfield realized Gattis’ miscue and waved in the hulking slugger.
(Ramirez’s helmet, of course, flew off in the midst of everything.)
— Ramirez walked twice in addition to hitting his 18th homer of the season.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Pff. WAR. What is it good for?
[tweet https://twitter.com/iamjoonlee/status/617801494528688128Â align=’center’]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox are off Monday. They’ll open a two-game series Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.
Wade Miley will pitch the series opener for Boston. Rick Porcello, who is winless since May 16, will start Wednesday despite Boston considering whether to keep him out until after the All-Star break.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
