MLB wrap: Red Sox beat Rangers on bases-loaded walk

E.Jay Zarett

MLB wrap: Red Sox beat Rangers on bases-loaded walk image

The Red Sox picked up a walk-off win in unconventional fashion Wednesday.

Jesse Chavez walked in Mookie Betts with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give the Red Sox a 4-3 win over the Rangers at Fenway Park. The victory snapped Boston’s three-game losing streak.

“Just try and get a strike,” Betts told NESN after the game. “(Chavez) is tough. You start chasing on the corners and you’ll get out real quick. So, I just tried to get him over the big part of the plate.”

Christian Vazquez opened the inning with a double for Boston and Jackie Bradley Jr. singled. Michael Chavis followed with a walk before Betts’ game-winning at-bat.

“It just shows you we can start something anywhere in the lineup,” Betts said. “You’ve got to pitch to all nine guys, because they all can hurt you.”

Andrew Benintendi went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Red Sox in the victory.

“(Benintendi) took some great swings,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game, via MLB.com. “It started with going the other way. We need him to start driving the ball. … He's a complete hitter. It was good to see him swing the bat the way he did.”

Boston starter Rick Porcello allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings. Reliever Matt Barnes picked up the win.

Studs of the night

Ramon Laureano belted a grand slam in the Athletics’ 6-2 win over the Rays. He finished 2 for 4 at the plate.

Cole Hamels threw seven shutout innings in the Cubs’ 10-1 win over the Rockies. He also drove in two runs.

Duds of the night

The entire Phillies lineup produced just three hits in a 2-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals reliever John Brebbia allowed three runs in one inning of work in a 9-0 loss to the Marlins.

Highlights

Javier Baez crushed this ball.

Christian Yelich with a great diving catch.

What’s next

Cardinals (33-32) at Mets (33-34) — New York and St. Louis will begin a four-game series at Citi Field on Thursday. The Mets enter the matchup hot as they’ve won five of their last seven while the Cardinals have dropped four of six. St. Louis will send Jack Flaherty (4-3, 4.08 ERA) to the mound and New York will counter with Jacob deGrom (3-6, 3.45 ERA).

 

E.Jay Zarett