TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019 The Boston Globe Sports D5
Boston (60-55), which
broke its longest losing streak
since 2015, pulled within five
gamesof Oaklandand 5½ of
the Rays for the secondwild
cardwhenbothlost Monday.
uREDSOX
ContinuedfromPageD1
Cleveland,7½ gamesaheadin
the first wild-card slot, lost as
well.
Sam Travis (two-run) and
RafaelDevers (solo)homered,
and XanderBogaerts knocked
in anotherrun.Enteringthe
game,those batters combined
had zero hits in 27 at-bats, with
Bogaerts the coldest (0 for 15).
It appeared Bogaerts was
pressing after he broke his skid
with a two-out singlein the
first.
On Andrew Benintendi’s
wall-balldouble,Bogaerts
blazedthrougha stop sign
fromthirdbasecoach Carlos
Febles, who had to scootout of
the way as Bogaerts charged
home. The relay from Royals
shortstop Nicky Lopez nailed
him by a few steps.
Royals lefthander MikeMontgomery, acquired last
monthfrom the Cubs, looked
primedto deal morepain. He
had just five strikeouts in three
starts withhis new club (11‚
innings), and matched that to-
tal in ninebatters, getting
catcherSandy Leon to strand
two in the second with a weak
cut.
ButMontgomery, who
struck out seven in five in-
nings, walked Mookie Betts to
leadoff the third.RafaelDe-
vers singledhim to third, and
Bogaertsknockedinarunwith
a sharply hit grounderthat ate
up Lopez at short.
Betts was taken out of the
gameafter the seventhinning
because of a left shincontu-
sion. The club said he is day-to-
day.
Withtwo out in the third,Travis madeit 3-0 by lifting a
92 m.p.h. sinker to deep center
for his thirdhomerof the year.
The Red Sox have homeredin
12 straight games,theirlon-
gest streak this season.
It was a bit of relief for Trav-
is, whocouldhave endedthe
top halfof the third, but
muffed a pop-upby the Red
Sox dugout. Givennew life,
Hunter Dozier walked, but Por-
celloescaped the first-and-sec-
ond jam withan athletic play
on Jorge Soler’s rollertoward
the mound,firingto a stretch-
ing Travis at first.
In the fifth, Devers hit his
23rd homeron a 1-0 pitch,
sending a hanging curveball
into the Monster seats for a 4-0
lead.
“We had a roughweek, but
we still believe in ourselves andwe know what we’re capable
of,” Deverssaidthrougha
translator.
Reliever NathanEovaldi
gave up a solo homerwithone
out in the seventh, catcher
Meibrys Viloria getting enough
of a 97-m.p.h. fastball for his
first big-league dinger.
Leon, in the lineup after J.D.
Martinez’s back trouble forced
Christian Vazquez into his spot
at DH, singledand scoredon
Scott Barlow’s wild pitch in the
seventh. Benintendi’s two-run
doublegave Boston a 7-2 lead,
its first five-run lead sincethe
heady days of the previous Yan-
kees series.
Bubba Starling turnedon a
Matt Barnes heater for a three-
run, 332-foot homer off the top
of the Monster in the eighth,
but Brandon Workmanclosedthe door in the ninth despite
allowing a one-out double.
The Royals are not the Yan-
kees or the Rays, though. The
Red Sox are a third-placeclub
with a lot of work to do. The
chipping and hacking contin-
ues Tuesday.Matt Portercan be reached at
[email protected].
Followhimon Twitter
@mattyports.Sunday night game
At YankeeStadium,Bronx,N.Y.
BOSTON AB RHBI BB SOAvg.
Betts rf 401000 .284DeversBogaerts3bss4 (^4000000000) 2.306.320
Martinezdh4 12000 .2 99
Travis1b 31001 0.250
Benintendilf 401200 .284
VázquezChavis 2bc3 31211110101 .285.259
a-Holtph0 0001 0.314
Bradley Jr. cf 300003 .224
Totals 32 47436
NY YANKEES AB RHBI BB SOAvg.
Torres 2bLeMahieu2b-3b 300100011000 .286.335
Judge dh 421110 .283
Gregorius ss4 0100 0.270
Urshela 3b 311210 .314
Valera 2bGardnercf 000311000010 .300.247
Maybinrf 412101 .312
Ford 1b 41110 0.206
HigashioTauchman lfka c4 40120021201 .235.283
Totals 34 710745
Boston...............................000 022 000 — 4 7 0
NYYankees...................... 106000 00x — 7 10 0
a-walked for Chavis in 9th.LOB—Boston 5, NY
Yankeesgashioka 2 (4).7.2B—GardnHR—Ver (14), Maybázquez(17),in 2 (11),off Happ,Hi-
Chavis (18), off Happ, Judge (12),off Price, Urshe-
la (12),off Price.Runnersleft in scoringposi-
tion—Boston2 (Devers,Chavis),NY Yankees 5
(JudgeBoston 1 for 3, NY Yankees, Ford 2, Higashioka,Tauchman).3 for 9.RunnersRISP—
moved up—Maybin,Ford.GIDP—Betts, Travis.
DP—NYYankees 2 (Torres,Gregorius, Ford),
(Gregorius,Torres,Ford).
BostonIPHRERBBSONPERA
PriceL 7-5 2„ 97723 75 4.36
Hernandez 1‚ 00020 22 2.03
Weber 410002 47 4.50
NY Yankees IP HRER BB SO NP ERA
Happ W 9-6 5„ 74412 91 5.24
CessaGreen S 212‚ 0000001311 42 3.7424 4.84
Inherited runners-scored—Hernandez 2-0,
CessaHapp.Umpires1-0.HBP—Ho—byme, AlfonsoHapp (BradMarquez;ley Jr.).WPFirst,—
Chad Fairchild; Second, MikeEstabrook; Third,
Bruce Dreckman.T—3:18.A—47,267 (47,309).
HOWTHERUNSSCORED
FIRST INNING
YANKEES — Torres groundedout,thirdbase-
man Deversto first baseman Travis. Judgehom-
ered to right on a 2-2 count. Gregorius singledleft.Urshelalined out to left fielder Benintendi.to
Gardnerfliedout to left fielder Benintendi.
THIRD INNING
YANKEES — Torres struckout. Judge walkedon
a full count. Gregorius fliedout to left fielderBen-
intendi. Urshela homered to left on a 1-1 count,
Judge scoredoubled to left,d. GardneGardnerr doubscored. Ford singled toled to right.Maybin
center, Maybinscored. Higashioka doubled to
left,Fordto third. Tauchman singled to right,
Fordscored, Higashioka scored. Torreswalked
on a full count,pitching.JudgeTauchmangroundedto second. Hernandezintofielder’schoice,
thirdbasemanDeversto second baseman
Chavis,Torres out.
FIFTH INNING
REDSOX— Benintendigroundedout,third
basemanUrshelato first basemanFord.Vázquez
homereto center on a 2-0 count. Bradleyd to left on a 2-2 count. Chavis homeredJr. washit by a
pitch. Betts grounded intoa doubleplay,short-
stop Gregorius to secondbaseman Torresto first
basemanFord,BradleyJr. out.
SIXTHINNING
RED SOX — Deverslined out to center fielder
Gardnerright.Travis walked. Bogaertsstruckon a full count,out. MartinezMartinezsingledtoto
second.On Happ’swildpitch, Martinez to third,
Travisto second.Benintendisingledto center,
Martinezscored,Travisscored.Cessapitching.
Vázquezstruckout.walked,Benintendito second.Chavis
Yankees 7, Red Sox 4
At Fenway Park, Boston
KANSASCITY AB RHBI BB SOAvg.
Merrifield2b 402010 .300
Gordon lf 500002 .273
Dozier rfSolerdh 413100012012 .280.249
Cuthbert3b 411102 .290
O’Hearn 1b 300010 .174
StarlinViloriag cfc4 41130011101 .250.267
Lopez ss 401001 .223
Totals 35 58539
BOSTONABRHBIBBSOAvg.
Bettsrf 220021 .283
Holt2b 10000 0.312
Devers 3b4 22101 .322
BogaertsBenintendiss3lf-cf4 1111002201 .307.286
Travis1b-lf 41120 1.250
Vázquezdh 400003 .281
Chavis 2b-1bBradleyJr. cf-rf4 30201001000 .263.224
Leónc4 11001 .194
Totals 33 710648
Kansas City.......................000 001 130 — 5 8 1
Boston...............................003 010 30x — 7 10 1
E—Lopez(3), León(3).LOB—KansasCity7,
Boston 6.2B—Merrifield (31), Dozier (20), Benin-
tendi 2 (33).HR—Cuthbert(7), off Porcello, Star-
ling (2), off MBarnes,vers(23), off MontgomeViloriary, Travis(1), off Eovaldi,(3), off Mont-De-
gomery.Runners left in scoring position—Kan sas
City 3 (Dozier,Soler2), Boston2 (Vázquez,León).
RISP—KansasCity 1 for 8, Boston 2 for 8.Runners
movedGIDP—Benintendiup—Merrifield.DP—Kansas, Gordon, DeveCity 1 (Merrifirs, Travield,s.
Lopez, O’Hearn).
Kansas City IP HRER BB SO NP ERA
MontgmryL 0-3 574217 90 6.61
McCarthHill‚y1 (^10001221009) 18 4.414.67
Barlow „11111195.73
Staumont1 0001 0113.38
Boston IP HRER BB SO NP ERA
PorcelloW 10-8 641125 99 5.54
Eovaldi 11111 0156.75
MBarnes 12320 2274.67
WorkmanS 61 1000 2171.99
Inherited runners-scored—Barlow 2-2.WP—
Barlow.Catchersinterference—León.Umpires—
Home,TrippGibson;First, Brian Gorman;Second,
RyanA—33,636 (37,755).Blakney;Third,Mark Carlson.T—2:56.
HOWTHERUNSSCORED
THIRD INNING
REDSOX—Betts walkedonfourpitches. De-
vers singledto center, Betts to third. Bogaerts
safe at firston fielder’s choiceplusfieldingerror
by shortstopond. BenintendiLopez, Betts scored,grounded into a doubleDevers to sec-play, sec-
ondbasemanMerrifieldto shortstop Lopezto
firstbaseman O’Hearn, Deversto third, Bogaerts
out. Travisvers scored.homeVázquezred to center on a 2-1 count, De-struckout.
FIFTHINNING
RED SOX — Betts grounded out, second base-
man Merrifield to first baseman O’Hearn. Devers
homereded out, shortstopto left on a 1-0 count. BogaertsLopez to first basemground-an
O’Hearn.Benintendistruck out.
SIXTHINNING
CuthbROYAert homered to left on a 1-2 count. O’HearnLS — Dozierstruck out. Soler struckout.
poppedout to firstbaseman Travis.
SEVENTH INNING
ROYALS — Eovaldi pitching. Starling fliedout to
centeron a 0-2 count.fielder BradleyLopez flied out to left fielderJr. Viloriahomeredto leftBen-
intendi.Merrifield walked. Gordonfliedout to
centerfielder BradleyJr.
RED SOX — Hill pitching. Leónsingledto left.
Bettswalkedon a full count, León to second. De-
verslined out to right fielder Dozier, Leónto
Leónthird.scored,BarlowBettspitching.to seconOn Barlow’sd. Bogaertswildwalkedpitch,
on fourpitches.Benintendidoubledto right,Bet-
ts scored,Bogaertsscored.Travis grounded out,
firstbasemanO’Hearnunassisted, Benintendito
third. Vázquezstruck out.
EIGHTHINNING
ROYALS — Holt in as second baseman. Benin-
tendi in as center fielder.Travis in as left fielder.
Chavisfielder. Barnes pitching.in as first baseman.DozierBradleysingledJr. in as rightto center.
Solerreachedon interference on catcher León,
Dozier to second. Cuthbertstruckout. O’Hearn
fliedout to center fielderBenintendi.Starling
homeredSoler scoredto left on a 1-0 count,. Viloria struck out. Dozierscored,
Red Sox 7, Royals 5
Martinez a late scratch with back tightness
ByMatt Porter
GLOBESTAFF
As the Red Sox triedto get
off the mat Monday,J.D. Marti-
nezwas a strong candidate to
do someheavy
lifting.
If only his
backwouldal-
low it.
The club scratchedMarti-
nez, on the longest hitting
streak amongBoston regulars
(four games),from Monday’s
lineupagainst the KansasCity
Royalsbecause of a backail-
ment. Martinez has dealt with
minorbackdiscomfort this
season.
It was “acting up,” manager
Alex Corasaid before the Red
Sox snappedan eight-game
skid with a 7-5 victory. “A little
bit tight.”
Cora said the flare-upoc-
curred,and was treated, Mon-
day morning. Martinez was not
hampered during the New York
series.He was not expected to
be available untilTuesday, at
the earliest.
“It is what it is,” Cora said.
“We’re not going to pushhim
out there. We’ve got to make
sure he’s healthy.”
During the team’s eight-
gameslide, Martinez hit .417
(5 for 12), with a homer, two
RBIs, and five walksover his
last four games.He had hom-
ered in four of his last 10
games,and threeof his last six
at Fenway.
ChristianVazquezfilled in
at designated hitter, going 0 for
4.SandyLeoncaughtand hit
ninth, with left fielderAndrew
Benintendimoving into Marti-
nez’s cleanup spot, wherehe
went2 for 4 with a pair of dou-
bles and two RBIs.
Another Red Sox star,
Mookie Betts, was taken out of
the gameafter the seventhin-
ning with a left shin contusion,
after fouling a pitchoff his leg.
The club said he is day-to-day.
“Precautionary,” Cora ex-
plained after the game.“He
should be OK for [Tuesday].”
Morelanda bitoff
EnteringMonday,Mitch
Morelandwas 4 for 21 in seven
gamessincecomingoff the in-
juredlist, with one extra-base
hit. Moreland, originallyplaced
on the IL with a quadstrain Ju-
ly 8, has beentrying to find his
timing.
“It’s beenOK,” he said. “It’s
somethingwe talked about
having to manage for a little bit
anyways, and we’ve had a pret-
ty good string of lefthanders.
Haven’t had a wholelot of
starts and getting in there.But
that’s the way the gamegoes.
You keep trying to prepare,and
be readywhenyour number’s
called.”
Moreland,who said he
didn’t swing for a month while
on the IL, hasn’t beenable to
drivethe ball opposite-field
sincehis return.
“Mechanically, he’s a little
bit off,” said Cora, who studied
Moreland’s batting-cage ses-
sion before Sunday’s game.“It’s
all aboutbalance with him. It
seemslike he’s pullingoff.”
Moreland said he wouldlike
to fix his swingnow. As for the
deficit in the standings,he
said,the club isn’t trying to
erase it in one day.
“I think we’re a good
enoughgroup,” he said.“We’ve
got enoughguys who have
someexperience now to know,
we’ve got two monthsleft, and
it’s going to take every bit of it.
“If anybodycan do it, I
think this grouphas it. If I was
going to do it, this is the group
I wantto do it with... No-
body’s letting up. Everybody’s
trying to find the answerto get
it going and rightthe ship.
“We’ve still got a long ways
to go. Two months,there’s a lot
of stuff that can happen. In my
time playing the game,I’ve
beenon both sidesof it, where
we’ve beenaheadand lost the
lead,and beenbehindand
gainedit.”
Cora: ‘We’llbefine’
As expected, Cora wasn’t
throwing in the towelafter a
pair of sweepsat the handsof
the Yankees and Rays.
“It doesn’t look great as far
as math and percentages, but I
do believe that we have talent,”
he said.“It’s just aboutputting
a string of good pitchingto-
gether. We did it for seven days,
eightdays, whatever it was,
and you saw what happened.”
EnteringMonday, Fan-
graphsput the Red Sox’ playoff
chances at 15.9 percent, down
from44.8 percententeringthe
season. FiveThirtyEighthad
themat nine percent. Baseball-
Referencewas even lower, at
3.7 percent.
“We’re five days fromturn-
ing this around, you know?”
Cora said.“The guys pitchwell
five days in a row, I thinkthe
narrative changes.
“We can’t talk aboutit the
wholetime,like, ‘We’ll be fine,
we’ll be fine.’ We’re not fine,
and we knowit.”
Cashnerstruggling
RighthanderAndrewCash-
ner, who takes the mound
Tuesday, has struggled since
his arrival in Boston (6.94 ERA
in four starts). He hasn’t
pitched into the seventhin-
ning, and walked a season-high
five in last Thursday’s loss to
the Rays.
Whenasked if Cashner’s
spot in the rotation was secure,
Cora smiledand said,“Oh
yeah.” In the manager’s view,
the formerOriole’s location,
particularlythat of his change-
up, needsto improve.
“His commandwas out-
standing for a long periodof
time,” Cora said.“The last one,
he was off.”
Matt Porter canbe reachedat
[email protected].
Porcello makes sure eight losses are enough as Sox top KC
REDSOX
NOTEBOOK
JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF
MookieBetts grimacesin painafterfoulinga balloff hisleft legduringtheseventhinningof Monday night’s 7-5victory.
JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF
Andrew Benintendigota smileanda high-fivefrommanagerAlex Cora aftergoing2 for4 with2 doublesand2 RBIs.