It was a long night at Fenway Park, but all that mattered, in the end, was that the Boston Red Sox got back in the win column.
The Red Sox came into Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays losers of three in a row and four of their last five while watching their lead in the American League East diminish to 2.5 games.
It looked like the Sox would again fall at Fenway Park, as they trailed by two heading into the ninth inning. But Boston rallied in the ninth inning against Jays closer Roberto Osuna, scoring twice to send the game into extra innings. The game stayed tied deep into the night thanks to solid work from both bullpens and a brilliant throw by Jackie Bradley Jr.
In the 19th inning, the Red Sox finally broke through when Mookie Betts led off the inning with a rocket double off the Green Monster. Hanley Ramirez then sent the Fenway Faithful home happy when he dropped a walk-off bloop single into center field, with Betts racing home to give the Sox a 3-2 win.
The Red Sox improved to 78-61 with the victory, while the Blue Jays fell to 64-75.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Exhale.
Boston was in danger of losing yet again, but rallied to grab a huge victory over the last-place Jays in epic fashion.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Ramirez knocked in Betts in the 19th inning to give Boston the win.
ON THE BUMP
— Eduardo Rodriguez pitched well enough to earn his first win since May 21, as he allowed only two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking one in six strong innings.
Toronto got on the board first when Kevin Pillar doubled with one out in the second and came around to score on a Teoscar Hernandez sacrifice fly.
Rodriguez settled down over the next three frames before Kendrys Morales hit a towering solo home run over the Green Monster in the sixth inning. The Red Sox left-hander finished the sixth inning but left the game trailing 2-0 after the home run by Morales to finish with a no-decision.
— Joe Kelly recorded a scoreless seventh frame.
— Addison Reed tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
— Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth.
— Brandon Workman pitched a dominant 10th with two strikeouts. Workman walked Jose Bautista to begin the 11th inning. The Blue Jays right fielder moved to third after a sacrifice bunt and an infield single.
Justin Smoak had a chance to give Toronto the lead when he lifted a fly ball to center field, but Jackie Bradley Jr. threw a strike to home plate to gun down Bautista and keep the game tied.
— Austin Maddox worked two scoreless innings in relief.
— Heath Hembree recorded a perfect 14th inning.
— Robby Scott sat down the first two batters in the 15th inning.
— Blaine Boyer finished off the 15th inning. He also worked a scoreless 16th and struck out the first two hitters in the 17th before being lifted.
— Fernando Abad gave up two hits but struck out Raffy Lopez with runners on second and third to end the threat.
— Carson Smith tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout in his 2017 debut since being activated from the disabled list earlier Tuesday.
— Hector Velazquez gave up a hit in a scoreless 19th inning.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— The Red Sox loaded the bases in the second inning, but Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada got Bradley to ground out to second base to end the threat.
— Boston mounted a rally in the ninth inning against Osuna. Andrew Benintendi led off the inning with a walk and Betts followed with a double to left field. Ramirez drove in a run with an RBI ground out and Mitch Moreland tied the game with a ground ball to second base that plated Betts.
— Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with two singles.
— Xander Bogaerts finished 1-for-5 with a single and two walks.
— Eduardo Nunez went 2-for-7.
— Ramirez ended the night 2-for-8 with a single, a double and two RBIs, including the game-winner.
— Betts went 3-for-7 with a single and two doubles.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
What’s the bad news?
UP NEXT
The Red Sox conclude their three-game series with the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Doug Fister will take the hill for Boston, opposing Blue Jays right-hander Joe Biagini.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
