Late rally gives Boston sweep
Hernandez homer in 9th ties it, Sox score five in 10th
A comeback victory in a game that appeared to be lost enabled the Boston Red Sox to stroll out of Camden Yards feeling quite satisfied about where they stand at this point in the season.
Rafael Devers led off the 10th inning with a home run after Marco Hernandez tied it with a solo shot in the ninth, and Boston beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 Sunday to move a season-high five games over .500.
“Obviously we need to keep rolling and keep extending that,” winning pitcher Brandon Workman said. “We set that goal for ourselves, and we were able to get it.”
The Red Sox opened defense of their World Series title by losing their first four games this season and were 9-15 on April 23. Now they’re 39-34 and within striking distance of the first-place Yankees in the AL East.
“There’s a good vibe,” manager Alex Cora said. “We didn’t come out of the blocks the way we wanted, but it’s still a long race. We’re still in the hunt.”
After winning the first two games of the series in blowout fashion, the Red Sox used some late heroics to complete the sweep and extend their winning streak to five.
Boston trailed 3-2 in the ninth before Hernandez connected off Mychal Givens, who avoided further damage by getting two straight strikeouts following a triple by Mookie Betts.
In the 10th, however, Givens (0-4) served up a 1-0 pitch that Devers slammed far over the center-field wall. Betts and Christian Vazquez added two-out, two-run singles off David Hess, who was optioned to Triple-a Norfolk after the game.
“It was one of those that it was going to be an ugly loss, whatever, but now it’s a great win,” Cora said.
Brandon Workman (5-1) worked the ninth for the Red Sox. Boston’s eighth pitcher, Josh Smith, gave up a two-run homer to Stevie Wilkerson and a bases-empty drive to Trey Mancini in the 10th before sealing the win.
“Everybody kind of stepped up and did their job throughout the game,” Workman said. “Offense kept grinding out at bats and we were able to take the lead and win it.”
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was ejected in the fourth inning after arguing a call that cost Baltimore a run. Keon Broxton was called out for running in the baseline after laying down a successful squeeze bunt, which by rule sent Anthony Santander back to third base. Richie Martin subsequently struck out to end the inning, leaving the Orioles down 2-1.
In the eighth, Jonathan Villar drew a leadoff walk from Marcus Walden. Villar stole second, then stole third.
Villar scored on a wild pitch before Wilkerson greeted right-hander Travis Lakins with a pinch-hit triple and came home on a single by Hanser Alberto.
Trainer’s room
Red Sox: Andrew Benintendi sat out the game with a sore quad. “Nothing serious,” Cora said . ... 1B Steve Pearce (back) emerged unscathed from his first two rehabilitation games. “He felt good, moving around well. At the plate, he feels a lot better,” Cora said.