The Boston Red Sox complete their sweep against the San Francisco Giants with a 5-4 victory on Sunday.
Jake Bennett and the Red Sox struggled out the gates, but an offensive outburst in the fourth inning became the defining moment of the contest.
The Giants started the game with three runs through the first two innings. Bennett allowed four consecutive hitters to reach base resulting in two RBI singles from Bryce Eldridge and Victor Bericoto. And the second inning, Jonah Cox poked a leadoff home run to left field for San Francisco’s third unanswered run.
The Red Sox responded with their own leadoff home run in the same inning from Nick Sogard, who smashed a 415-ft solo shot to the middle of the monster seats.
Boston found its groove against Giants starter Matt Wilkinson by the third inning. Jahmai Jones lead off the third inning with a scorching triple over the head of Cox in center field, and Ceddanne Rafaela drove home Jones with a single up the middle.
Boston continued its scoring streak in the fourth inning. With a runner at third base and two outs, Connor Wong smacked an RBI double off the Green Monster which tied the game. Initially, it appeared that left fielder Bericoto caught Wong’s double, but Chad Tracy and the Red Sox successfully reversed the call on the field.
The Giants changed pitchers following Wong’s double, and the Red Sox continued to produce runs with two outs. Mickey Gasper lined a pinch-hit RBI double to right field, and Rafaela recorded his second RBI of the day with a single to center field. Boston finished the fourth inning scoring five runs in three innings.
Bennett managed to pitch through seven innings, limiting the Giants to just three hits after the second. In his last inning, the Giants picked up their final run on a little league home run by Christian Koss. Willson Contreras failed to pick up Andruw Monasterio’s throw from short, and an errant throw to third from Wilyer Abreu allowed Koss to advance home.
Bennett finished the day allowing three earned runs and seven hits, and Boston’s bullpen shut out the Giants to give Bennett the win. Aroldis Chapman completed a one-run save for his 29th save of the season, and Tyron Guerrero picked up his 17th hold in the eighth.
The Red Sox will now travel to Miami to take on the Marlins. First game of the series will take place tomorrow at 6:40 p.m.
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WHO: Red Sox (70-59) vs Giants (52-77)
WHEN: 3:15 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: (2-0), (2-0)
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Jake Bennett (7-6, 3.46 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Wilkinson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7
Jahmai Jones (R) DH
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Willson Contreras (R) 1B
Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
Nick Sogard (S) 2B
Andruw Monasterio (R) SS
Eli White (R) LF
Connor Wong (R) C
Osleivis Basabe (R) 2B
Rafael Devers (L) DH
Willy Adames (R) SS
Bryce Eldridge (L) 1B
Victor Bericoto (R) LF
Jung Hoo Lee (L) RF
Andrew Knizner (R) C
Jonah Cox (R) CF
Christian Koss (R) 3B
The Red Sox look to complete their home sweep against the San Francisco Giants after last night’s come-from-behind walk-off victory.
Jarren Duran, Adley Rutschman and Mickey Gasper start the game on the bench. Boston expects San Francisco to use multiple bullpen arms in today’s contest.
