The Boston Red Sox claimed their sixth-straight win Tuesday at Fenway Park with a 6-3 verdict against the New York Mets.
With the victory, the Red Sox improved to 87-65 and maintained a 1 1/2-game lead in the American League Wild Card as both the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays also claimed wins.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Xander Bogaerts continues to swing a red-hot bat, and his four RBIs propelled the Red Sox to victory against the Mets. The Red Sox shortstop, who entered the game batting .346 with a 1.085 OPS in the last six games, hit a two-run home run to give Boston a 4-2 lead during a three-run fifth inning. He then stepped up the plate again in the sixth and delivered Alex Cora & Co. some much-appreciated insurance. Bogaerts connected on a two-run single in the sixth to extend Boston's lead to 6-2. He reached base three times with a first-inning walk to go along with it.
His production in the middle frames certainly made up for a third-inning plate appearance that Bogaerts will want back as he grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and nobody out.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Kiké Hernández tied the game with his bat (1-for-3 with two runs) as he hit a solo shot in the fifth inning before Bogaerts' blast. The Red Sox center fielder did just as much with his arm, though, as he threw Pete Alonso out at the plate in the fourth inning. And while Hernández is worthy of praise following his latest assist, he certainly benefitted from the ill-advised base running error, which proved costly as the Mets took a mere 2-0 lead after having bases loaded with nobody out. Alonso was the first out of the inning.
-- Ryan Brasier relieved starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and provided the pitching staff a lift when he entered the game in the fifth. Brasier took the mound with one out and runners on second and third, the Red Sox trailing the Mets 2-1. He got out of the jam by striking out Javier Báez before a Alonso ground out ended the threat. Brasier did not allow a hit with one strikeout in his inning of work.
-- José Iglesias is in the midst of an eight-game hit streak with his lead-off double in the third inning. It gave Boston a prefect opportunity, but the Red Sox weren't able to capitalize on bases loaded and nobody out. The second baseman, who went 1-for-3 with one run, entered the game hitting .387 (12-for-31) in 12 games since joining Boston.
WAGER WATCH
If you had Bogaerts hitting a home run Wednesday night (+450) a $100 wager would have made you $450 richer. Pretty good, right? Well, imagine the payout if you parlayed home runs by both Bogaerts and Hernández, who had 5-to-1 odds himself to hit a home run, according to DraftKings SportsBook.
ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will host the Mets in the second and final game of their series Wednesday at Fenway Park. You can watch the game on NESN with pregame coverage starting 6 p.m. ET.
