The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Red Sox send Orioles to record 112th loss
Red Sox send Orioles to record 112th loss
BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts was proud to reach 100 RBIs for the season, and even more pleased that he did it batting behind J.D. Martinez.
“Man, he doesn’t leave anyone for no one,” Bogaerts said in mock anger on Wednesday after driving in four runs to lead the Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles 19-3 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
“He just racks up those ‘ribbies’ by homer,” said Bogaerts, whose post-game interview was interrupted by pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez holding up a Wilt Chamberlain-esque piece of paper reading “100 RBIs.”
Martinez had three of Boston’s season-high 22 hits, including a three run homer that brought his major league-leading RBIs total to 127, to help send the Orioles to a franchise-record 112th loss. The 1939 St. Louis Browns went 43-111.
Baltimore dropped 611⁄2games behind Boston (107-51), which extended the franchise record in wins it set on Monday night when it clinched the best record in baseball and home-field advantage through the World Series.
In their first game with nothing to play for, the Red Sox had five homers and nine doubles and matched their biggest runs total of the season. The 14 extra-base hits were the most in the majors this
year and the most for Boston since 1950.
“These games aren’t easy to play, as far as (staying) interested mentally,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s been like that for the whole season. They never stopped playing.”
In the makeup of Tuesday night’s rainout, David Price (16-7) settled down after an early stumble in his final tuneup before the playoffs. He allowed three runs — all in the second inning — six hits and three walks, striking out six before leaving with a 10-3 lead after five.
“Probably I was one pitch from getting taken out of that game,” said Price, who is expected to start Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees or Oakland. “To reel it back in … was big.”
Probable Game 1 starter Chris Sale was scheduled to pitch Wednesday’s second game.
Rafael Devers had four hits and six RBIs, including two homers, and Mookie Betts had two hits to raise his major league-best batting average to .346. Betts also stole a base, making him the second player in Red Sox history with at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season.
Bogaerts and Blake Swihart also homered for Boston. Andrew Benintendi had three hits, including one of nine doubles in the game — his 40th on the year.
“Xander with 100 RBIs, 30-30, 40 doubles,” Cora said. “Good for them.”
Ryan Meisinger (2-1) got just one out in his first start since he was a sophomore at Radford University, allowing five runs and four hits.
“It was my first start since college, but you’re still pitching when you’re out there. I didn’t get it done today,” said Meisinger, who had made 126 relief appearances in the minors and 16 in the majors. “It’s still pitching.”
Renato Nunez and Trey Mancini homered in the third inning to cut Baltimore’s deficit to 5-3.
MILESTONES
Bogaerts’ 22 homers also is a personal best. … Martinez’s previous career high for RBIs was 104, last year. … Martinez’s 42d homer tied Dick Stuart (1963) for the most by a player in his first year with the Red Sox. … Devers had six RBIs, a new career high.
EMERGENCY PITCHER
Infielder Jace Peterson pitched the eighth for the Orioles, throwing mostly in the 90 mph range. He gave up four runs and six hits, but he could have gotten out of it with less damage if he had remembered to cover first base on a grounder to the right side. Two other hits barely eluded the fielders, including one that went off second baseman Corban Joseph’s glove.
Peterson struck out Christian Vazquez to end the inning.