Red Sox top Mariners, move closer to wild card
SEATTLE — The Red Sox didn’t do much at the trade deadline, but they did enough on the field, defeating the Mariners, 6-4, Tuesday night to pull 1½ games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Josh Winckowski and Kenley Jansen shut down the Mariners in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the victory. Reese McGuire and Alex Verdugo homered for the Red Sox.
Starter Brayan Bello ran into trouble in his first inning.
The righthander relinquished a leadoff walk to J.P. Crawford, which was followed by Julio Rodriguez’s sharp single to left. Eugenio Suarez followed with a grounder through the left side, plating Crawford. Left fielder Jarren Duran, who was attempting to nab Crawford at the plate, made a poor throw and the runners moved up.
Bello gifted Cal Raleigh a free pass to load the bases, but he wiggled out of trouble, inducing a fly out, strikeout, and ground out.
Bello seemed as though he had settled into his groove, going the next three frames in scoreless fashion. Meanwhile, the Sox offense broke through in the fourth against Mariners starter Bryce Miller, who came into the game with a 3.96 ERA in 14 starts.
Christian Arroyo stroked a two-run double to right field that one-hopped the wall, marking Arroyo’s first multi-RBI games since June 20. McGuire, who was reinstated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s contest, delivered a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, the Sox stretched their lead to 5-1 after Duran got the inning going with a double. Verdugo, who was without an extra-base hit since July 17, then pounded a two-run homer to left-center.
The comfortable lead for the Sox didn’t last long, however, with Suarez, again, getting into the action, launching a two-run home with two outs in the fifth.
McGuire responded in the sixth with a solo home run. But a Ty France double in the bottom half of the sixth slimmed the Sox’ margin to 6-4.
Underdog mentality
The Red Sox have made it beyond the Aug. 1 trade deadline. And on the other side of the angst that comes with this time of the year is a Red Sox team that looks effectively the same.
Other than a trade for infielder Luis Urías from the Brewers in exchange for minor league righthander Bradley Blalock, the Sox played it safe.
The moves — or lack thereof — are a reflection of the team, according to chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. While Bloom believes his group is a playoff team, he was direct in how he views his club, and how that played into his decision-making.
“We’re underdogs this year, right now, where we are in the playoff odds,” Bloom said via Zoom Tuesday afternoon. “We just tried to stay true to that.”
When asked to elaborate on why he views his team as an underdog, Bloom pointed out the odds of his club making the playoffs. According to Fangraphs, the Red Sox have a 24.6 percent chance of making the playoffs as of Tuesday.
“Just look at the odds,” said Bloom. “We don’t have a playoff spot right.”
Staying put
James Paxton and Adam Duvall were linked to many teams leading up to the deadline, but still ended up dressing for the Sox’ game Tuesday night in Seattle.
It helped that both were free agents at the end of the season, making it easier for the Sox to part ways with the duo, if they wished.
Various teams, including the Rangers, were interested in Paxton, and Duvall had a list of suitors, too. Paxton has bounced back from injury, leading the Red Sox’ pitching staff this season, tallying 3.34 ERA in 13 starts.
Duvall missed a chunk of the season with a fractured wrist, but has proven himself to still be a quality ballplayer with power that could help a contender.
Both knew trades were a possibility, but were glad to remain with the Red Sox.
“I’m really happy to still be here and fighting with this team,” said Paxton.
“I guess it’s comforting knowing that I’ll be here the rest of the year and get to finish this thing out with the guys,” said Duvall.
When asked about the team not making significant adds, Paxton said that wasn’t his right to have a reaction.
“That’s not my job,” he said. “’We’re happy with the guys we got in this room, and we’re confident in what we can accomplish. We think we can get this team to the postseason.”
Strong night for Sale
Chris Sale (shoulder) didn’t allow a run in two-plus scoreless innings for the Worcester in Syracuse. He allowed just one hit — a Ronny Mauricio double — walking a pair, and striking out three on 40 pitches.
“I felt good,” Sale told reporters. “I had a couple of walks, but I felt as if I was missing small. I was mainly around the zone. I have some things to work on. but it was a good start to build off of.”
Sale’s next start is scheduled for Sunday
The WooSox, despite getting home runs from Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story, fell to the Mets, 5-4, in 10 innings.
Story’s two-run homer in the eighth gave the WooSox a 3-2 lead, but the Mets tied the game in the home ninth.
No room for Alfaro
The Red Sox reinstated McGuire from the injured list. To make room, Jorge Alfaro was designated for assignment.