Now this is more like it.
The Red Sox rallied for an exciting late win on Wednesday, pounding out seven runs in the seventh inning to beat the Rangers 9-4.
It was the third straight Sox win, with this one clinching a series victory regardless of Thursday’s outcome. The Sox have not swept the Rangers in a three-game set at Fenway since August, 2008. Wednesday’s win was made even more satisfying with the knowledge that Texas arrived in Boston having won 10 straight, baseball’s longest stretch of consecutive wins so far this season.
Is the Sox’ streaky offense finally here to stay? Only time will tell, of course, but it’s satisfying right now to note that Boston has scored 32 runs over the last three games, their first set of three games with nine or more runs scored since May 9-12, 2016.
Thrilling Lately
Late rallies are thrilling. Boston has outscored opponents 95-55 in the seventh inning and later this season. The club’s team AVG of .302 in innings seven to nine this season is the best in the major leagues. No other team is batting above .281 in late inning appearances.
For those prone to criticize Manager John Farrell‘s in-game strategy, Wednesday’s game may have left them at least temporarily speechless. Farrell injected Mitch Moreland and Josh Rutledge into the game in the seventh inning resulting in the club’s first pair of consecutive pinch hits since last September 5th. When Moreland drove in a run he tied Hanley Ramírez for the longest such streak by a Red Sox hitter this season (5 games).
Adding to the fun Wednesday was the major league debut of Sam Travis, who before his family in the stands, went 2-for-4 with his first MLB run scored. Travis is first Sox hitter with two hits in his MLB debut since Will Middlebrooks on May 2, 2012.
Speedy Sale Earn Wins
Chris Sale, who had the chance to beat his own MLB single-season record for most consecutive outings with 10+ strikeouts (8 games), fell short of the mark. Instead, Sale struck out six over 7.1 IP, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with one walk. Sale now was 101 strikeouts this season joining Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, and Roger Clemens as the only MLB pitchers since 1900 with 100+ SO through 10 starts of any season according to ESPN.
Sale is the first Boston pitcher since Martinez in 2000 to allow three or fewer ER in 7.0+ IP in each of his first six home.
Official time for last night’s contest was two hours and 59 minutes. In Sale’s seven decisions this season all but one have completed in under three hours of play.