Red Sox Score 7 In 7th To Beat Rangers 9-4
BOSTON (AP) — Dustin Pedroia waved home the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch, then singled in two more during Boston's seven-run seventh inning on Wednesday night and the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 9-4 for their third straight victory.
Chris Sale (5-2) struck out six, falling short in his attempt to become the first pitcher in baseball's modern era to strike out at least 10 batters in nine straight games in one season. He allowed three earned runs, six hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings and received more runs of support in the seventh inning alone than in any previous game this season.
Sam Dyson (1-5) faced seven batters in relief of Martin Perez and gave up four hits, three walks — two intentional — and a wild pitch without retiring a batter. Mike Napoli homered for Texas, which has lost three of four to follow a 10-game winning streak.
Sam Travis had two singles for the Red Sox in his major league debut.
Sale, who also struck out 10 or more batters in eight straight games in 2015 with the White Sox, remains tied for the season record with Pedro Martinez. (Martinez had 10 straight in a span from 1999-2000.)
After scoring four total runs in support of Sale in his first six starts, the Red Sox have scored 27 while he was in the game in his last five.
Sale took a no-hitter into the fifth, despite allowing a run in the fourth on a walk, a passed ball, a groundout and a sacrifice fly. Napoli cleared the Green Monster with Sale's 61st pitch of the night. On the next pitch, Ryan Rua doubled down the left-field line, then Joey Gallo singled to make it 3-1.
SEVEN IN THE SEVENTH
It stayed that way until the seventh, when Andrew Benintendi and Travis singled with one out to chase Perez. Mitch Moreland singled to make it 3-2, pinch-hitter Josh Rutledge singled to tie it and, after Mookie Betts was intentionally walked to load the bases, Moreland scored on a wild pitch to give Boston the lead.
Pedroia singled in two more runs, Xander Bogaerts doubled and Hanley Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Dyson was pulled after walking Chris Young to force in another run.
Austin Bibens-Dirkx got Benintendi to pop up foul of first base, but Napoli let it fall safely — his second such error in the game. Benintendi followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 8-3 before Travis was called out on strikes to end the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: 2B Rougned Odor was shaken up when he dived for Betts' grounder up the middle in the third inning. He was slow getting up. After being looked at by the trainer, he remained in the game.
Red Sox: LHP David Price made his second rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing six runs — three earned — seven hits and a walk. He struck out four in 3 2/3 innings, throwing 89 pitches, 61 for strikes, and left without addressing reporters. 3B Pablo Sandoval also played in the game, going 2 for 4 with two runs.
UP NEXT:
Rangers: Will send RHP Nick Martinez (1-2) to the mound in the finale of the three-game series.
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (3-3) looks to snap a personal two-game losing streak.