Red Sox 6, Giants 4

 

What? They booed Devers? Sure, his exit from the Red Sox organization wasn't the the most graceful moment in Boston sports history, but after all he had done for the team over the years, couldn't they look past that last contentious chapter? In any event, he got a home run, so who's laughing now? Red Sox fans, that's who, because it was a meaningless run and Boston won the game.  

With two outs in the bottom of the third and Sogard on base with a walk, Abreu singled and then Contreras homered to deep left center. Then the Red Sox loaded the bases back up with a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch on Durran, and then the Giants walked in a run, followed by another on a hit-by-pitch on Gasper. With that, the Giants finally pulled starter Logan Webb, but couldn't they have left him in just a little longer? We were just starting to have fun!

But be careful about gloating - in the top of the next inning, the Giants got back-to-back homers after two outs, including Raffie's hit that made the game 5-4, Red Sox.  However, Boston starter Sonny Gray recovered and pitched two shutout innings after the homers and the bullpen of Miller, Gamboa and Chapman were hitless in three innings with only one walk. By the way, former Giant Erik Miller's ERA is still 0.00 after 8⅓ innings with the Red Sox (Gamboa's is 1.40 and Chapman's is 1.90).

Abreu tripled in the sixth inning and scored Sogard for the final score of 6-4.

Last night's win in Fenway lifts the Red Sox back to .500 at home (32-32).  Tampa Bay lost last night, to Boston (69-59, overall) is now seven games back from first and four behind New York. 

Tonight, lefty Patrick Sandoval  (1-2, 4.76) starts against righty Blade Tidwell (0-0, 4.33). Sandoval has had his challenges this season, losing his last two starts, including a five-run meltdown in Pittsburgh last week. Let's see if he can salvage his fading reputation with a win over the Giants tonight.