Red Sox Defeat Baltimore, 5-3, in First of Saturday Twin Bill
BOSTON – I’ll take Baseball Wins & Losses for $500, Mayim.
This is the most important thing for a major league baseball club, like the 21-24 Boston Red Sox, when they’re playing a day-night double-header a few hours after blowing a 6-0 lead and losing to the last place Baltimore Orioles, 12-8?
What is, have your starting pitcher throw a complete game?
Is right.
Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi settled down to earn a 5-3 complete-game victory after he shook-off a 5th inning two-run home run by Baltimore catcher Robinson Chirinos which tied the early-bird first of a two games admission twin bill, 3-3. It was Eovaldi’s first complete game win of his career and one of only two CG the Red Sox pitching staff has enjoyed this season, the other by Nick Pivetta on May 18 (a 5-1 Boston win over Houston).
Eovaldi allowed seven hits, walked one and struck-out six while throwing 108 pitches (75 strikes) during his effort. Baltimore scored three runs, two earned and positioned the Sox bullpen for the evening game. Friday, Sox starter Garret Whitlock was spotted a 6-0 lead which was cut to 6-2 in the fourth inning, but was undermined by his relievers to the tune of 10 other runs scored from the 7th through 9th innings.
Today’s matinee was a different story, as Boston manager Alex Cora made a smart strategic play, having right-handed batter and first baseman Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for lefthand hitting starting first baseman Franchy Cordero to lead-off the 6th inning. Dalbec deposited a 397-foot, game-winning homer to right, giving Eovaldi the support he needed for the win.
Boston secured an insurance run in the 7th inning when designated hitter J.D. Martinez walked, shortstop Xander Bogaerts doubled and second baseman Christian Arroyo reached safely on an infield hit to score Martinez. Arroyo went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and RBI. Meanwhile, Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers went 4-for-5 to set his season high of hits in a single game to extend his MLB-leading collection of hits to (69).
Devers hammered a first inning single with a (106.1 mph) exit velocity, doubled in the 2nd inning with the ball leaving his bat at 97.1 mph and added two other hits, with his 5th inning single clocking NASA control towers at 107.5 mph. Devers leads the majors in hard-hit balls with 84 clocking over 95 mph exit numbers.
The AL East cellar-dwelling Orioles fell to (19-28) and are (2-3) over this eight-game road trip. Baltimore is 7-17 on the road, going into the Saturday night tilt against the Sox (weather permitting). Baltimore pitchers have allowed 10+ hits in nine of their last 13 games, dating back to May 15th.
Keegan Akin (1-1) took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on two hits.
