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Astros Conduct Batting Clinic in Boston; Sunday at 1:35pm

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The Houston Astros have a relatively new, gorgeous, multi-purpose ballpark in the Space City and it’s served the team well. But, the ‘Stros might trade places with the Boston Red Sox on a Minute Maid moment. Consider the facts and the stats.

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Coming into the series finale on Sunday at Fenway Park, the Astros were riding a four-game winning streak, the prior two victories coming at the expense of the hometown Sox to the tune of 8-4 on Friday night and 5-4 on Saturday afternoon for the FS-1 tv crowd. But, consider: Houston left fielder Jordan Alvarez was batting a sizzling .463 (25-for-54) at Fenway over his 14 career games at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

Alvarez had seven homers, 19 RBI and a .963 slugging percentage. His batting average, slugging and OPS (1.517) were all tops amongst active MLB batters. The next closest Sox opponent was 78 points behind Alvarez.

By the way, coming into today’s game, Alvarez leads all of MLB with his road numbers of .357 batting average, 1.134 OPS. .695 slugging, and .439 on base percentage.  All the number improved!

On Sunday, as the Astros conducted a clinic in pitching, fielding and batting at the expense of the Sox, Alvarez reached base his four at bats, including a towering home run in the top of the fifth inning when Houston did five runs of damage and take a 6-0 lead in the game. Alvarez hit his solo HR immediately after 3B Alex Bregman took out some car headlights in the parking garage across Lansdowne Street outside of the left field Green Monster.

In the sixth inning, it was more of the same, as Bregman doubled and scored, Alvarez was intentionally walked and scored and SS Jeremy Pena had the honors to place another ball on the pavement outside of the House of Blues on Lansdowne.

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Boston relievers, Brennan Bernardino (four earned runs) and Luis Garcia (five earned runs) took the brunt of the Astros’ in-game BP.

Boston’s relievers were sent to work early when starter and LHP James Paxton suffered a strained calf in the first inning and had to be removed from the game. Long reliever and RHP Lucas Sims came on in relief and pitched two serviceable innings, allowing only one run.

The Red Sox managed to score two runs in the home sixth, avoiding the 10-run rule type outing in what finished as a 10-2 rout with Sox first baseman Dom Smith pitching the top of the ninth inning for Manager Alex Cora in the all-out laugher.

Smith did receive a warm ovation from the Fenway faithful who withstood another Texan-sized shellacking as the Sox were swept for the second time since the MLB All-Star break (LA Dodgers took three, July 19-21).

Boston will be forced to do another Texas “two-step” when the Rangers visit Fenway for three games this Monday through Wednesday. Boston dropped to 61-55 on the season and three games back of the Kansas City Royals in the race for the final wild car slot, while Houston improved to 62-55.

For the agate column lovers, Sims took the loss for Boston and is (1 – 6) while Houston’s starter Hunter Brown improved to (10-7) on the year.

‘Stros Defeat Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston’s Jordan Alvarez hit two home runs and Spencer Arrighetti recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts to help the visiting Houston Astros defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Saturday.

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Alvarez opened the scoring by hitting a solo home run in the top of the first, and then broke a 1-1 tie by hitting a two-run home run in the sixth. The two home runs gave him 24 for the season.

Alvarez has 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs, and 20 RBIs in 68 career at-bats at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Arrighetti (5-10) limited Boston to two runs on two hits in seven innings. His 13 strikeouts were one more than his previous career high.

Alex Bregman and Zach Dezenzo each added a solo home run for Houston, which extended its winning streak to four games. Bregman’s home run, his 16th of the year, gave the Astros a 4-1 lead in the seventh. Dezenzo’s homer came in the eighth, and was the first of his major league career.

Danny Jansen (No. 8) and Masataka Yoshida (No. 7) both had a solo home run for Boston, which were the only hits against Arrighetti.

Boston’s Wilyer Abreu drove in two runs with a two-out single in the eighth that trimmed Houston’s lead to 5-4, but Rafael Devers was stranded at second after he led off the ninth with a double. After allowing the double, Houston closer Josh Hader retired the next three batters to record his 25th save.

The Red Sox went with a bullpen game after scheduled starter Cooper Criswell was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list Friday. Brad Keller (0-3) gave up three runs on six hits in four innings of relief and took the loss.

Jansen led off the fifth with a solo home run that tied the game, 1-1, but Houston regained the lead in the sixth when Alvarez hit his second homer to put the Astros in front 3-1.

After Bregman’s home run stretched Houston’s lead to three runs, Yoshida made it 4-2 when he homered in the bottom of the seventh. Dezenzo’s home run put the Astros in front 5-2 before Abreu’s two-run single in the eighth.

–Field Level Media

Sox: Astros Break Out of Slump

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BOSTON – The Houston Astros will look to extend their winning streak to four on Saturday when they face the Boston Red Sox for the second matchup of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The Astros seem to have broken out of an offensive slump that plagued them in early August.

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After collecting 13 hits in a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, Houston posted a 16-hit attack in an 8-4 triumph over Boston on Friday night. Seven of those hits came in a four-run seventh inning that included a two-run home run by Jose Altuve.

Altuve’s shot tied the game at three-all, and Houston scored twice more in the frame.

“Obviously, trying to get a run in, we were down by two,” Altuve said. “Basically, just put a ball in play. … I’ve been working on trying to drive the ball again and (have) been getting on base, hitting for power.”

Yainer Diaz hit a two-run home run for the Astros in a three-run ninth. Prior to the Wednesday win, Houston was held to 19 runs in the previous eight games — six of them losses.

The Astros scored seven runs on 12 hits in three innings against Boston’s bullpen.

“We’re getting healthy and we have arms,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It didn’t happen today. I always say that’s a fastbreak offense. When they get going, they get going. … It happens quick. They do a good job putting the ball in play, hitting the ball hard early in counts. They’re very aggressive and today we didn’t do the job.”

The Red Sox were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-10, 5.33 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday. Arrighetti struck out a career-high 12 in his latest outing, a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. It was the most strikeouts in a game by an Astros pitcher this year.

Arrighetti allowed five hits and walked two in six innings. The only run he permitted came on doubles by Dylan Carlson and Brandon Lowe in the third inning. He threw 100 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Houston has lost six consecutive games started by Arrighetti, but he compiled a 3.41 ERA over the past five of those outings as the Astros scored a total of five runs.

Arrighetti will be facing Boston for the first time in his career.

Right-hander Cooper Criswell was scheduled to start Saturday’s game for Boston, but he was placed on the COVID-related injured list on Friday. Right-hander Josh Winckowski (2-1, 3.44 ERA) will get the ball instead.

In 24 games with Boston this season, Winckowski has made five starts, the most recent coming July 6 against the New York Yankees. In that contest, he allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Against the Astros in his career, Winckowski has a 2.25 ERA and one save in three relief appearances, all of them last year.

The Friday loss dropped Boston’s home record to 27-29. The Red Sox have a 3.85 ERA in 58 road games and a 4.28 ERA in 56 home games.

Boston’s Nick Sogard had two hits in the series opener. He has reached base in all six games he has played since he was called up from Triple-A Worcester last week, compiling a .318 batting average and a .423 on-base percentage.

“He has a pretty good idea of what to swing at,” Cora said. “He doesn’t chase. He gets to the fastball. So far it’s been good.”

–Field Level Media

Witt is It

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice and drove in four runs on Wednesday, leading the Kansas City Royals past the visiting Boston Red Sox 8-4 to salvage the finale of a three-game series.

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Cole Ragans (9-7) allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City. The left-hander struck out seven and collected his fourth win over his last five starts.

Boston starter Kutter Crawford (7-9) tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. He allowed Witt’s first home run, a one-out solo shot in the first to open the scoring.

Crawford has surrendered 13 homers in his last four starts and leads the majors with 27 home runs allowed.

Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino, who are tied for third in the American League with 84 RBIs, both supplied two in the Royals’ five-run fourth inning.

MJ Melendez drew an 11-pitch walk to open the frame and scored on Crawford’s wild pitch with one out to pull Kansas City within 4-3.

Witt put the Royals ahead with a two-out, two-run double into the right field corner on an 0-2 pitch, which chased Crawford from the game.

Pasquantino promptly hit reliever Brennan Bernardino’s second pitch into the right field bullpen for a two-run homer and a 7-4 lead.

Witt closed the scoring in the sixth inning with his second solo shot of the night and 22nd of the season.

With the win, the Royals increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over Boston for the AL’s final wild-card spot.

Michael Massey’s RBI single put Kansas City up 2-0 in the second inning before his throwing error helped the Red Sox rally in the third.

Massey’s mistake put two runners on with none out, and Romy González eventually connected for a two-out, three-run homer, his fourth this season.

Boston boosted its lead to 4-2 on Danny Jansen’s homer to lead off the fourth.

Red Sox right-hander Chris Martin was activated from the injured list and struck out three in a scoreless eighth.

–Field Level Media

Sox: On Again After Off Again

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied past the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Tuesday evening.

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Yoshida, who had four hits in Monday’s 9-5 win for Boston, hit a solo homer in the third inning on Tuesday — his sixth blast of the season. He then singled in two runs to cap a three-run sixth inning.

Opening the sixth, Dominic Smith doubled and was later ruled out trying to score on Seth Lugo’s wild pitch, but the call was overturned after the Red Sox challenged it, breaking the 3-3 tie.

After Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first, Boston answered quickly, taking advantage of second baseman Michael Massey’s first error of the season. David Hamilton’s RBI double and Ceddanne Rafaela’s run-scoring grounder gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.

Kansas City tied the game with two out in the fifth on Massey’s 10th homer and Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI double. After a walk to Salvador Perez, Boston starter Brayan Bello was pulled in favor of Brennan Bernardino (4-3), who the final out got and picked up the win with his only pitch of the game.

In 4 2/3 innings, Bello allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out six.

MJ Melendez’s two-run double in the eighth cut the Royals’ deficit to one, but closer Kenley Jansen struck the final batter of that inning and two of three he faced in the ninth to earn his 21st save.

Boston has won six of eight games and three straight series.

The Red Sox won four of five games against the Royals this year and 27 of 38 since the start of 2018.

Lugo (13-6) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs — four earned — on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. He has lost four of his last six starts.

Pasquantino had three of Kansas City’s eight hits with two RBIs, and he leads the Royals with 82 RBIs.

The Royals have lost six of their last seven home games.

–Field Level Media

Sox Facing Royals in Key Series

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As the visiting Boston Red Sox prepare for the middle game of a pivotal three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, they expect to soon receive a bullpen boost with the return of right-handers Chris Martin and Justin Slaten.

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On the injured list since July 4, Martin may return during the series with the Royals.

“He’s on his way here,” Boston manager Alex Cora said on Monday. “He’s staying at home one more night. We’ll know more (Tuesday) night. If he’s ready, he’ll be activated Wednesday.”

Slaten, dealing with right elbow inflammation like Martin, has been sidelined since July 8.

“(He was) playing catch (Monday), up to 120 (feet),” Cora said, “so, that’s a good sign. When you get up to there, the bullpen is right around the corner.”

The Red Sox recently received surprising news about Trevor Story, who has missed all but eight games due to left shoulder dislocation and was thought to be lost for the year.

Instead, the shortstop has made significant progress and could return this season.

“I never thought we were going to get to this point,” Cora said. “I’m excited. Obviously, not a hundred percent that it’s going to happen, but the fact that he is doing everything possible to make it happen is great.”

Story is travelling with the club and swinging a bat.

“He’s hitting underhand tosses, front tosses this past weekend,” Cora said. “That’s close to BP. He’s moving well. His swing looks great.”

After winning the series opener 9-5 on Monday, Boston will send right-hander Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.13 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday as they look for their third straight series victory.

In two career starts against the Royals, Bello is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. He collected a win on July 14 vs. Kansas City despite surrendering homers to Salvador Perez and Adam Frazier. He threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.

In three starts since, Bello has been consistent, throwing at least five innings while allowing three or fewer runs each time.

The Royals will counter with right-hander Seth Lugo (13-5, 2.57 ERA). He has made four career appearances — one start — against the Red Sox, going 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA. The lone start was a loss on July 13, when he allowed five runs on 10 hits, including a home run by Rafael Devers, in five innings.

Lugo beat the Detroit Tigers in his latest start, allowing a run on four hits in eight innings on Thursday.

“A lot of soft contact, a lot of pitch efficiency,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It looked like he had everything working. He got soft contact on changeups, some swing-and-miss on the breaking ball, had the two-seamer going. All in all, he was in command the whole night.”

While Bobby Witt Jr. has earned most of the Royals’ offensive headlines, teammate Vinnie Pasquantino has also contributed as Kansas City has homered in 11 straight games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in club history.

In the Monday loss, Pasquantino extended his hitting streak to nine games with his 16th homer. He has five long balls in his past six games.

“Vinnie’s a run producer,” Quatraro said. “He’s had some good games for us, especially lately.”

In 35 games since June 24, Pasquantino is hitting .329 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. His 51 home-game RBIs lead the majors.

–Field Level Media

 

Abreu, Red Sox Pound Rangers

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ARLINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu posted his first career multi-home run game on Sunday to power the Boston Red Sox to a 7-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in central Texas.

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Abreu had a solo shot in the fourth inning then hit a three-run homer in the sixth to finish with four RBIs. His second blast was his 12th of the season and handed Boston a 6-2 lead.

Jarren Duran (No. 14) and David Hamilton (No. 6) each added a solo home run for the Red Sox, who won the rubber game of the three-game series. Duran had three hits and two RBIs in the victory.

Two of Boston’s four home runs came against Nate Eovaldi, who gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings. Eovaldi (8-5) struck out seven and walked one.

Cam Booser (2-2) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Booser took over for Boston starter Nick Pivetta with two outs in the fifth and did not allow a hit.

Texas received solo home runs from Corey Seager (No. 22) and Josh Jung (No. 3), who had two of the team’s three hits.

The Rangers opened the scoring on Seager’s drive in the first,and doubled their advantage when Jung homered in the second. The Red Sox have allowed a major-league-leading 33 home runs in 15 games since the All-Star break.

Duran’s RBI double in the third drove in Hamilton to make it 2-1. Abreu’s home run in the fourth tied the game and Duran’s blast put the Red Sox in front 3-2 in the fifth.

In the sixth, Rafael Devers singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and Connor Wong doubled. Eovaldi was then lifted for Walter Pennington, who then gave up Abreu’s three-run shot. Devers extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Hamilton’s home run stretched Boston’s lead to 7-2 in the seventh.

–Field Level Media

Texas Ends Losing Streak vs Red Sox

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ARLINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Texas’ sluggers Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to help the Rangers end a three-game losing streak by beating the Boston Red Sox 7-4 on Saturday in Texas.

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Heim hit a three-run homer against Boston starter Tanner Houck that tied the game at 3. Taveras followed with a solo home run against Houck to put Texas in front, 4-3.

Josh Smith had three hits for Texas, which had 13 hits in the game.

Boston’s Rob Refsnyder had two solo home runs, an RBI double and a single during a four-hit game. Refsnyder hit his sixth home run of the season in the first inning, and then collected home run No. 7 in the fourth. It was the first multi-homer game of his career.

Jose Leclerc (5-4) earned the win for tossing two-third of an inning of scoreless relief. Leclerc struck out Ceddanne Rafaela with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Texas closer Kirby Yates recorded four outs to earn his 20th save. Yates entered the game with runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth. He struck out Jarren Duran with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Houck (8-8) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Boston’s Rafael Devers extended his hitting streak to 10 games when he doubled in the fourth. Connor Wong followed with an RBI single that extended Boston’s lead to 3-0.

After scoring four runs in their half of the fourth on the home runs by Heim (No. 10) and Taveras (No. 9), the Rangers took a 7-3 lead by adding three runs in the sixth. Ezequiel Duran, Taveras and Smith each had an RBI single in the inning.

The Red Sox sliced their deficit to 7-4 when Refsnyder’s double in the seventh drove in Rafaela, who opened the inning with a single.

Boston outfielder Tyler O’Neill did not play Saturday. Boston manager Alex Cora said O’Neill is dealing with an illness and may not be available Sunday either.

–Field Level Media

Sox Can Hit Struggling Texas Relievers

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ARLINGTON –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Texas Rangers, riding a three-game losing streak, will hope to slow the Boston Red Sox’s offense on Saturday night in Texas. Boston opened the three-game series with an 11-6 victory on Friday. Texas has been outscored 29-8 during its skid.

The Red Sox hit three home runs in the Friday win, which raised their road record to 31-22. Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela each hit a two-run blast, and Rafael Devers added a solo shot in the ninth. Devers enters the Saturday contest on a nine-game hitting streak in which he is batting .528 (19-for-36).

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“They’re a good hitting ballclub,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “They’re one of the top offensive teams in baseball. It was a tough night for the pitchers all night, really. … You have to keep battling. That’s all you can do.”

The Rangers have lost six of their past seven games, with the pitching staff compiling a 7.98 ERA in that stretch.

Connor Wong had four of Boston’s 16 hits in the series opener. The Red Sox have at least 10 hits in 12 of their past 15 games.

“Offensively it was an outstanding night,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We got the first one out of the way, which is important. I talked to the staff about it, this whole Fridays and not winning games … it put us in a bad spot going into the weekend. You win that one and then you have two chances to win the series, and we are in the business of winning series. Hopefully we can do it (Saturday).”

The Rangers had not announced a starting pitcher for the Saturday contest.

“We’re going to talk about it, where we’re at,” Bochy said following Friday’s loss. “I think we’re fine, but we will huddle up here soon and talk about the game plan (Saturday) and the next couple days. … If we have to bring somebody up, we’ll do that.”

Boston will go with right-hander Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79 ERA). Houck had a 2.18 ERA through his first 16 starts this season, when he recorded 101 strikeouts and walked 18 in 103 1/3 innings, but he hasn’t been nearly as effective since then. He has a 5.26 ERA in his past five outings, logging 15 strikeouts and 15 walks over 25 2/3 innings.

“I think just timing issues and delivery just feels a little out of whack as of late, over the past month, but ultimately that’s the way that a full 162 games is going to play out,” Houck said. “You’re not always going to feel your best. You’re not always going to have everything clicking, and it’s about getting back to those days that you feel that and just keep showing up. Don’t really (need) to reinvent the wheel.”

Houck is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Texas. He has allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings against the Rangers.

Texas received two solo home runs from Cory Seager in the Friday loss. Marcus Semien added a two-run homer for the Rangers, who also got a solo homer from Leody Taveras. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Boston’s offense.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Score Early, Add to Lead in Rout of Texas Rangers

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ARLINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela each hit a two-run home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-6 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday in Texas.

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Red Sox veteran 3B Rafael Devers added a solo home run and catcher Connor Wong collected four singles for the Red Sox. Boston second baseman Nick Sogard added a two-run single in his major league debut.

Corey Seager of Texas hit two solo home runs among his three hits and had three RBIs and three runs for the Rangers. Marcus Semien added a two-run blast and Leody Taveras a solo shot. All four homers came against Boston starter Kutter Crawford, who has allowed 12 in his last three starts.

Crawford (7-8) earned the win despite giving up five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Texas has lost six of its last seven games and also saw its five-game home winning streak come to an end.

Texas starter Jose Urena (3-6) surrendered seven runs on eight hits in four innings. Urena made his first start since June 5, when he held Detroit to one run in 6 2/3 innings.

After Seager’s first home run gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the first, Abreu’s two-run homer in the second put Boston in front 2-1. Taveras and Seager went deep in the third inning for a 3-2 lead.

Boston scored four runs in the fourth to go ahead 6-3. Wong and Abreu hit RBI singles for the first two runs, and Sogard added a two-run single.

The Red Sox added a run in the fifth. Duran led off with a triple and scored on Masataka Yoshida’s sacrifice fly.

Rafaela’s home run pushed the lead to 9-3 in the top of the sixth, but Semien answered with his two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning.

Seager drove in Carson Kelly with a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 9-6. Boston padded the lead when Devers homered and Dominic Smith doubled home Wong in the ninth inning.

–Field Level Media