Sale Fans 10 To Help Resurgent Red Sox Beat Orioles 7-2
BALTIMORE (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 10 over six sharp innings, J.D. Martinez homered in a third straight game and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 on Saturday.
Sale (3-7) gave up two runs, six hits and a walk. Both runs came in the sixth, after the left-hander extended his streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 22.
Sale ended his outing by blowing a third strike past Keon Broxton with runners on the corners and Boston nursing a 3-2 lead. The seven-time All-Star has reached double figures in strikeouts nine times this season and 73 times in his 10-year career.
Martinez hit his 16th home run, the fourth in three games, to provide the Red Sox with a two-run cushion in the seventh. The slugger has 12 homers in his last 28 games.
Boston pulled away with a three-run ninth against Miguel Castro, much to the delight of the thousands of Red Sox fans among the announced crowd of 30,050.
The defending World Series champions (38-34) have won four straight and can move five games over .500 for the first time by completing a three-game sweep Sunday.
After hitting 11 homers and scoring 20 runs in its previous two games, Boston managed only four singles through five innings before finally breaking through against Dylan Bundy (3-8) in the sixth.
Xander Bogaerts doubled in a run and scored on a single by Brock Holt before third baseman Hanser Alberto botched a grounder to let in an unearned run.
Baltimore got an RBI double from Renato Núñez and sacrifice fly from Jonathan Villar in the bottom half before Sale struck out Broxton for the third time.
The Orioles have now gone winless in 15 straight series (0-14-1) since taking two of three from the White Sox on April 22-24.
Bundy allowed two earned runs and struck out eight. He was pulled after giving up four successive hits in the sixth.
Baltimore owns the worst record in the majors (21-49) and worst record at home (9-27).
MENTAL LAPSE
After crossing from center to right field to make a catch next to teammate Anthony Santander, Broxton took a moment to discuss the outfield coverage. Noticing this, Boston's Andrew Benintendi tagged up and went to second base. Fortunately for Broxton, Bundy subsequently struck out Rafael Devers to end the first inning.
ROTATION SHUFFLE
Orioles right-hander David Hess (1-9, 7.20 ERA) has been sent to the bullpen after making 12 straight starts without a victory. Rookie Josh Rogers, who pitched in relief on Friday night, will start Wednesday in Oakland.
The rotation now stands as Andrew Cashner, Bundy, John Means and Gabriel Ynoa. As for No. 5, manager Brandon Hyde says, "We're going to be playing with that spot all year long."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Hector Velazquez (lower back strain) began a rehab assignment on Saturday by pitching a scoreless inning for Class A short season Lowell. ... Steven Wright, recovering from knee injury as he nears his return from an 80-game suspension for violating baseball's PED policy, will pitch two innings on Sunday for Triple-A Pawtucket. ... 1B Steve Pearce (back) played first base and went 0 for 3 with Lowell on Saturday after being the DH on Friday in his first rehab game. ... Closer Ryan Brasier (bereavement) is expected to return Monday.
Orioles: Cashner, who was scratched Friday because of a blister, will start Monday in Oakland.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Brian Johnson (1-0, 12.71 ERA) makes his first start of the season Sunday. The lefty was activated from the injured list Friday after dealing with elbow inflammation.
Orioles: John Means (6-4, 2.60) is 1-1 with a 0.69 ERA over 12 innings in two starts against Boston this year.