Three of the Boston Red Sox’s best young players propelled the team to a 10-inning road win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
Xander Bogaerts (2-for-5 with three RBI), Jackie Bradley Jr. (1-for-4 with two runs and a walk) and Mookie Betts (2-for-5 with two runs) played pivotal roles in Boston’s 5-3 victory.
Bogaerts’ bloop single to center field in the 10th inning to put Boston ahead 5-3 was the difference. Betts, who dropped down a gorgeous bunt to load the bases two spots ahead of Bogaerts, scored on the game-winning hit by the Sox shortstop. Bradley started the scoring in the second inning with a double and then a run scored.
These three players tallied five of Boston’s nine hits and scored four of its five runs. The Red Sox needed good performances from them because designated hitter David Ortiz did not start the game and had only one at-bat in a pinch hitter role.
Here are some other notes from Boston’s win.
— The Red Sox now have three players in the top 10 in batting average among American League players. Bogaerts ranks first at .346, Jackie Bradley is sixth at .321 and Dustin Pedroia is 10th at .313.
— Pedroia extended his hit streak to 14 games. David Ortiz’s hit streak ended at 13 games.
— Hanley Ramirez went 0-for-5 with a strikeout and an intentional walk, dropping his slugging percentage to .390 and extending his homerless drought to 105 plate appearances. He’s 7-for-48 in his last 13 games.
— Boston increased its AL-leading run differential to plus-71. Only the Chicago Cubs (plus-142) are better.
— Red Sox starter Rick Porcello gave up three earned runs and five hits, while walking one and striking out six through six innings. He’s pitched six or more innings in 10 of his 12 starts this season. His only major mistake was a home run by Giants outfielder Jarrett Parker, but it came on a pretty good changeup.
Porcello didn’t factor into the decision, keeping his record at 7-2.
— Boston’s bullpen did a nice job after Porcello exited. Robbie Ross Jr., Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Craig Kimbrel all pitched one scoreless inning of relief. Kimbrel now has converted his last 17 extra-inning save opportunities.
via MLB.com
— It’s nice to have quick reflexes if you’re a pitcher.
— David Ortiz didn’t start Tuesday night’s game, but he was honored beforehand during a quick ceremony with former teammates Javy Lopez and Jake Peavy. Giants legend and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey also was on hand. This is the final series Ortiz will ever play in San Francisco, at least during the regular season.
— The Red Sox are 158-90 in interleague play since 2003, including a 6-2 record this season.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
