Sale got the ball in the top of the first and Brandon Nimmo took strike three to start. Pete Alonso struck out swinging and Francisco Lindor grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to New York starter Taijuan Walker in the bottom of the first inning as Kike Hernandez took strike three to start. Kyle Schwarber launched his 30th home run of the season to put the Sox on top before Xander Bogaerts drew a walk. Rafael Devers got a base hit to center and JD Martinez ripped a base hit to right to score Bogaerts. Alex Verdugo grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
The Mets struck back in the top of the second as Javier Baez walked to start. JD Davis struck out swinging and Jonathan Villar flied out to right, but Baez stole second. Jeff McNeil doubled to left to score Baez to cut the lead in half, but Kevin Pillar struck out swinging to end the inning with the Mets down 2-1.
The Sox broke it open in the bottom of the second as Hunter Renfroe doubled to left to start. Christian Vazquez lined out to center but Renfroe moved to third. Jose Iglesias walked and Hernandez doubled home Renfroe. Schwarber then crushed a three run bomb to ice the game. Bogaerts grounded back to the mound and Devers grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.
James McCann got a base hit to left to start the top of the third and Nimmo singled to right. Alonso struck out swinging and Lindor grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox were relentless in the bottom of the third with Trevor Williams now on the mound. Martinez doubled to left and Verdugo pounded a ground rule double down the right field line to score JD. Renfroe struck out swinging but Vazquez grounded out to first to move Verdugo to third. Iglesias tripled into the centerfield triangle and Baez threw the ball away to allow Iglesias to score. Hernandez took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 9-1.
Baez singled to right to start the top of the fourth before Davis struck out swinging. Villar also went down hacking but McNeil singled to right. Pillar flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the fourth as Schwarber snuck a double inside the third base line to begin. Bogaerts ripped a base hit to right to put runners at the corners, but Devers grounded into a double play. Schwarber scored on the play but Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 10-1.
Chris Sale returned for one last inning in the top of the fifth as McCann walked to start. McCann moved to second on the Nimmo grounder to Sale then to third on the Alonso fly out to center. Lindor hit a line short to third that scored McCann but Baez struck out swinging to end the inning. With the game out of reach, Sox manager Alex Cora felt 5 innings was enough for Sale and just 2 runs allowed on six hits and two walks.
The Sox scored another run in the bottom of the fifth as Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Renfroe singled to right, Vazquez doubled to left and Iglesias grounded back to the mound to score Hunter. Hernandez popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 11-2.
Matt Barnes came in to pitch the top of the sixth with Christian Arroyo in for Bogaerts. Davis walked to start and Villar got a base hit to center. McNeil flied out to left but Pillar walked to load the bases. That was it for Barnes as Ryan Brasier came in to pitch. McCann hit a sac fly to center to score Davis but Villar was thrown out at third to end the inning with the Guardians down 11-3.
Schwarber walked to start the bottom of the sixth but Arroyo struck out swinging. Devers singled to right but Travis Shaw pinch hit for Martinez. Shaw reached on an error to load the bases and Verdugo beat out a double play to score Schwarber. Renfroe flied out to right but the Sox now led 12-3.
Another run for Schwarber
Adam Ottavino came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Nimmo lined out to left to start. Alonso then hit a home run all the way to Arkansas to cut the lead. Linor walked and Luis Guillorme pinch hit for Baez. Luis lined out to center and Davis struck out swinging to end the inning with the Guardians down 12-4.
Alonso hits one out
Jeurys Familia came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Vazquez struck out swinging to start. Iglesias grounded out to short and Hernandez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning.
Josh Taylor came in to pitch the top of the eighth with Bobby Dalbec in at third. Villar took strike three to start before McNeil grounded out to second. Pillar singled to left but McCann took strike three to end the inning. Brad Hand came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Schwarber flied out to right to start. Arroyo took strike three and Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning.
Martin Perez came in to finish off the top of the ninth and Nimmo doubled to left to start. Alonso grounded out to second but Lindor singled to right to move Nimmo to third. Guillorme beat out a double play ball to score Nimmo but old pal Jose Peraza pinch hit for Davis. Peraza flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had won it 12-5.
Hero of The Night is Kyle Schwarber. He was 3 for 4 with a walk, 2 home runs, 4 total rbis and 4 total runs scored.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4.
JD Martinez was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Hunter Renfroe was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Jose Iglesias was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Chris Sale got the win with 5 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8.
Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Bobby Dalbec struck out in his only appearance.
Travis Shaw was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Matt Barnes was charged with a run in 1/3 of an inning.
Adam Ottavino allowed a run in an inning of work.
Martin Perez allowed a run in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run and scored a run.
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in 2 runs and scored a run.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ryan Brasier allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox needed to make a statement as the season came to a close and they definitely made one, taking seven straight and two in a row against the Mets. There's still some concerning elements such as the starters not going past 5 innings and the injuries/ineffectiveness to Garrett Whitlock, Ottavino and Barnes. Still, can't play October baseball until you get there and Sox manager Alex Cora is doing everything he can to get there. Kyle Schwarber has been a godsend since he's been activated and its a shame Jose Iglesias is ineligible for the post-season. The Sox have 9 games left in the season and have a two game lead over Chicago for a post-season spot. Win 7 more games and they're in. The win improved the Sox to 88-65, 6 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East and 2 games in front of the Chicago White Sox for the first Wild Card. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Friday night against the New York Yankees. The Sox have a chance to knock the Yankees out of October when Nathan Eovaldi (10-8) takes on ace Gerrit Cole of New York. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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