AL wild-card leading Red Sox rally past O's 8-6

BOSTON (AP) — Kiké Hernández’s game-tying RBI single caromed off the second-base bag and into shallow center field, sparking a three-run, seventh-inning rally that carried the AL wild-card leading Boston Red Sox to an 8-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday and a sweep of their three-game series.

It was the fifth straight win for Boston, which entered the day leading Toronto by one game and the Yankees by 1 ½ in the playoff chase.

J.D. Martinez had a solo homer and Kevin Plawecki added a two-run single for the Red Sox.

Trey Mancini had a three-run double for the Orioles, who lost 12 of the final 13 meetings against the Red Sox after sweeping a season-opening three-game series.

After giving up a two-run lead in the top of the seventh, Boston rallied against Conner Greene (1-1), getting the tying hit when Hernández’s grounder bounced off the bag, scoring José Iglesias.

Hunter Renfroe followed with a double high off the Green Monster and scored on Rafael Devers’ single, making it 8-6.

The victory could be costly for the Red Sox after reliever Garrett Whitlock walked off the mound with right pectoral tightness. The 25-year-old Whitlock, a Rule 5 pickup from the Yankees, has been a strong part of their bullpen this season.

Hirokazu Sawamura (5-1) was credited with the victory despite giving up a two-run lead in the seventh. Garrett Richards got the final three outs for his third save.

The Red Sox had jumped on starter Alexander Wells for three runs with two outs in the first when Bobby Dalbec got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Plawecki followed with his grounder to right.

They opened it to 5-3 on Martinez’s shot into the first row of Monster seats in the third.

But the Orioles rallied against Sawamura after Whitlock walked the leadoff batter, scoring three...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/AL-wild-card-leading-Red-Sox-rally-past-O-s-8-6-16471420.php