RED SOX RALLY FROM 4-0 DOWN TO BEAT CARDS ON BETTS’ TWO-RUN DOUBLE
Mookie Betts lined a two-run double off the left-field wall with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a three-run rally that lifted the Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday night.
Xander Bogaerts hit a solo homer for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who won for the 12th time in 14 games and maintained their 4½-game lead over the second-place Yankees.
Kolten Wong had three hits, including an RBI single in St. Louis’ four-run second inning. It was just the third loss in 11 games for the Cardinals, who were swept in the two-game series, their first visit to Fenway Park since the 2013 World Series.
Trevor Rosenthal gave up Bogaerts’ homer into the Green Monster seats in the ninth. Zach Duke (0-1) struck out a batter and walked one before John Brebbia gave up Betts’ hit.
Craig Kimbrel (5-0) pitched one hitless inning for the win.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Elvis Andrus had the go-ahead home run among his four RBIs, Cole Hamels won again despite a shaky outing and the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers with a 12-6 victory. … Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam in the first inning and Javier Baez scored on a wild pitch in the ninth as the Cubs overcame a late Reds rally to win 7-6. … Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer in a four-run eighth, Charlie Morton threw 6L solid innings as the Astros defeated the Diamondbacks 9-5. … Giancarlo Stanton’s homer streak ended, but he singled, stole a base and scored in a four-run first inning to help the Marlins beat the Giants 8-1. … Manny Piña hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Brewers to 7-6 win over the Pirates. … Clayton Richard pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout since 2012 and Wil Myers stole three bases in an inning as the Padres blanked the Phillies 3-0 for a three-game sweep. Richard (6-12) relied on his effective sinker, inducing the Phillies to ground into 17 outs for his third career shutout. He struck out six and walked one and ended his four-game losing streak. … Luis Valbuena and Kole Calhoun homered, Ricky Nolasco bounced back from a rocky first inning before exiting with an injury and the Angels defeated the Nationals 3-2 to split their twogame series. The Angels won for the seventh time in eight games. … Alex Gordon hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth after Oakland tied it in the bottom of the eighth, and the Royals beat the Athletics 7-6. Alcides Escobar doubled to start the ninth against Blake Treinen (1-1), matching his season high with three hits. Then Gordon delivered his second runscoring single of the series finale. … Recently acquired Yonder Alonso hit his first homer for Seattle and drove in three runs, and Marc Rzepczynski struck out Chris Davis with the bases loaded to end the Mariners’ 7-6 win over the Orioles .… Marcus Stroman pitched 6L innings, Steve Pearce homered and scored twice and the Blue Jays beat the Rays 3-2. Stroman (11-6) allowed two runs and six hits to beat the Rays for the first time in five career meetings at the Rogers Centre. The right-hander entered 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA in four home starts against the AL East rivals. Toronto has won 11 of 16 at home. … Aaron Judge launched a titanic, 547-foot homer, Didi Gregorius snapped a seventhinning tie with a two-run double and the Yankees beat the Mets 5-3 for their third straight victory in the Subway Series.