Red Sox Wrap: Boston’s Offense Explodes In 9-4 Win Over Diamondbacks

BOSTON — The Red Sox put their disappointing series with the New York Yankees behind them with a 9-4 thumping of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at Fenway Park.

The victory keeps Boston in the second and final wild-card playoff spot in the American League.

Here’s a recap of Red Sox-Diamondbacks.

GAME IN A WORD
Offense.

The Red Sox crushed Diamondbacks pitching with 11 hits and nine runs.

IT WAS OVER WHEN
Hanley Ramirez’s second three-run homer gave the Red Sox an 8-2 advantage in the second inning, and that was more than enough run support for Boston starter David Price.

ON THE BUMP
— Price gave up three hits in the first inning, including a two-run homer to Rickie Weeks Jr. that cleared the Green Monster. The Sox scored four runs in each of the next two innings to give Price an 8-2 lead, and it seemed to calm him down as he retired the side in order in the second and third frames.

The Diamondbacks hit a pair of singles in the fourth inning, but Price was able to escape without any damage. He gave up another run in the fifth inning when Tuffy Gosewisch homered to left field.

Price allowed a single and a walk in the sixth, but Arizona could not score any runs. He allowed two singles in the seventh inning, but the Diamondbacks still weren’t able to trim the deficit. The Diamondbacks were shut out in the eighth frame, too.

Price departed after the eighth inning. He allowed 10 hits, three runs (all earned) and struck out eight with one walk.

— Fernando Abad pitched the ninth inning and gave up one run and two hits before ending the game.

IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Dustin Pedroia reached on an error to lead off the game and hit an infield single in the second inning. He exited the game 1 for 2 with two runs scored.

— Xander Bogaerts hit a second-inning single and later scored on Ramirez’s second homer. He went 2 for 4 with a strikeout.

— David Ortiz beat the shift to tally Boston’s first hit and advance Pedroia to third base. He hit another single in the second inning, which scored Pedroia. His third hit was a solo homer to center field, his 26th of the season. Papi went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBI.

— Hanley Ramirez smacked a three-run homer over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a 3-2 first-inning lead. It was his 15th home run of the season. He hit another three-run homer in the second inning. Ramirez was 2 for 4 with six RBI.

— Aaron Hill singled in the first and second innings. He finished 2 for 4.

— Bryan Holiday knocked in a run with a first-inning single. It was his only hit.

–Jackie Bradley Jr. (0 for 4), Mookie Betts (0 for 4) and Andrew Benintendi (0 for 3) were the only Sox starters without a base hit.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Diamondbacks resume their weekend series Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. ET. Clay Buchholz (Boston) versus Archie Bradley (Arizona) is the expected pitching matchup.

Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images