One gets it done for Sox
’Pen backs Pomeranz in shutout
BALTIMORE — Red Sox hitters call themselves gritty, scrappy, resilient and determined, all which might be true, but they’re also willing to admit the biggest reason they’re making history in extra innings is because of their bullpen.
The relief corps submitted a magnificent effort last night, throwing 42⁄3 innings without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out eight as the offense took its sweet time, eventually squeaking out a 1-0 win against the Orioles in 11 innings.
The Red Sox have played extra innings in three of their past five games and won all three, improving to 15-3 in bonus-baseball games this season. Their 15 extra-inning wins tied a franchise record set in 1943. Credit goes to the bullpen. “They’ve been unbelievable,” said Brock Holt, whose infield single led to the game’s only run. “I feel like we play an extra-inning game every night, and they always give us a chance to win. Our record is what it is in extra innings because of those guys.”
Holt started the rally in the top of the 11th by out-racing Brad Brach to first base on a high chopper and sneaking in with a head-first slide. Two batters and two outs later, Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts each drew a walk and then Jackie Bradley Jr., who replaced Holt on base after a fielder’s choice, scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Red Sox the lead.
The Sox became the third major league team this year to win a game without recording an RBI. It was the first time in three years the Red Sox had done it, and just the fifth time since 1944.
“We’re giving it everything we have every play through,” manager John Farrell said. “We talked about the grit and competitiveness last night, and here it is again in the 11th inning tonight.”
Drew Pomeranz fired 61⁄3 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 3.15, fifth-best in the league, but lost the chance at his 17th win. The ’pen behind him stole the show.
Carson Smith struck out both batters he faced in the seventh, Addison Reed struck out two in a perfect eighth, Craig Kimbrel handled a scoreless ninth, Joe Kelly struck out the side in the 10th and Matt Barnes pitched a hitless 11th.
In September, the Red Sox bullpen has thrown 75 innings with a 2.28 ERA, fourth-best in the majors.
“Yeah, it’s extremely impressive,’ Farrell said. “And when you think about so many innings with their back against the wall, they’ve executed. They’ve been able to, to a man, hand it off to the next guy, continue to build a bridge until we were able to scratch out a run.”
Pomeranz rarely faced trouble, and his defense bailed him out when he did.
Benintendi threw out Manny Machado trying to score from second on a single in the third. And Bradley robbed Chris Davis of a home run in the fifth, jogging after a hard-hit ball to his left and making a leaping grab.
Rafael Devers made a throwing error with two outs in the 11th to keep the O’s alive. It was Devers’ fifth straight game with an error, and he’s expected to get tonight off.
The offense looked lifeless against O’s starter Kevin Gausman, a developing nemesis who was perfect until Devers singled in the fifth.
They botched an opportunity to take the lead in the eighth with a strange strategy to pinch-run speedster Rajai Davis after Sam Travis reached with a leadoff single, then instead of stealing with Davis, the Sox tried having Holt drop down a sacrifice bunt. He bunted foul twice, then struck out looking.
Bradley then took three pitches to start his at-bat, but still Davis didn’t steal. Bradley then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Sox aren’t having trouble winning the long games, but it’s the day after that’s killing their offense.
They’re averaging just 4.12 runs in 17 games immediately following extra-inning affairs. In all other games, they’re scoring 4.93 runs.
“I think we’re just tired, man,” Holt said. “It’s a long season as it is. You start adding innings onto the end of these games, as many as we’ve played, it takes a toll on you.”
The Red Sox are 10-3 in their past 13 games. In that span, the bullpen has thrown 63 innings with 16 walks, 80 strikeouts, a 1.29 ERA and a .168 average against.
“They did great,” Bradley said. “What more could you ask for? Took them off the board tonight, and we were able to secure a win late in the game, and there wasn’t much offense, but we’ll take it.”