Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi got here off the 15-day injured record on Thursday morning and went again to work.
Eovaldi made his nineteenth begin of the season within the collection finale of a four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles in a matinee affair at Fenway Park, his first since incomes a no determination in opposition to the New York Yankees at Fenway on Aug. 12.
It resulted in a no determination, however was sufficient to assist his squad to a 5-3 victory over the Orioles earlier than 29,799 followers. The Red Sox took three of 4 from the Orioles and start a three-game set on Friday evening in Toronto.
“It felt really nice,” mentioned Eovaldi. “I was trying to out there and no do too much, stay within my mechanics and have really good balance out there. I was able to do that and I was able to command a lot of my off-speed pitches for strikes.”
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer over the Green Monster with one out within the backside of the eighth. Martinez received in entrance of an 0-0 pitch to drill his 14th of the season.
“He is swing the bat really well,” mentioned Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora. “He was able to clear and pull the ball and that is not something he has done this year. I do believe the pull side hasn’t been there this year but the last few games he’s been able to do that and drive the ball.”
Eovaldi gave up wall-ball doubles to Adley Rutschman within the first and Gunner Henderson within the second however escaped the body unscathed. Xander Bogaerts ended the second when he snagged a Rougned Odor line drive and doubled Henderson off second for the ultimate out.
Eovaldi’s cruise ran aground within the high of the third when he gave up back-to-back leadoff singles to Kyle Stowers and Jorge Mateo, the underside dwellers of the Orioles’ batting order.
Cedric Mullins moved the runners into scoring place with a sacrifice bunt. Stowers scored on a grounder to first and Mateo got here round on an error by first baseman Triston Casas to make it 2-0.
The Red Sox tied the sport 2-2 within the backside of the fourth. Martinez and Casas smacked back-to-back doubles off the wall earlier than Kike Hernandez tied the sport with a single to proper.
Eovaldi retired the primary two Orioles batters he confronted within the fifth earlier than surrendering the mound to right-handed rookie reliever Eduard Bazardo.
Eovaldi went 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on 5 hits, three strikeouts and no walks. He threw 72 pitches, 51 for strikes. Eovaldi hopes to get the ball within the closing homestand in opposition to Tampa Bay.
“I was pushing to make it back for two more starts and be able to time up where I was able to pitch at home,” mentioned Eovaldi. “It means a lot to me to be able to pitch for our fans and be able to put on a Red Sox uniform.”
Pen buddies
The Red Sox bullpen got here up with a robust collective effort to shut out the sport. Bazardo mopped up the fifth and retired the perimeters within the sixth with two strikeouts. He has not allowed a run in six of his final seven appearances.
Lefty Matt Strahm gave up a solo dwelling run within the seventh to Stowers however preserve a lid on issues. Zack Kelly pitched out of a primary and third jam on a groundout to second to earn his first profession win. Righty Kaleb Ort retired three of the 4 hitters he confronted within the high of the ninth to earn his first profession save.
“Kaleb pitched with conviction, good velocity and pitched like a closer,” mentioned Cora. “He’s been in that situation before.”
End of Story
Cora introduced at his pre-game press briefing that injured second baseman Trevor Story was “under the weather” and can shut it down for the rest of the season.
Story went on the 10-day DL on Sept. 22 with a left heel contusion, a transaction that was retroactive to Sept. 19. Story suffered the setback on Sept. 11 in Baltimore.
Cora dominated out Story for the Red Sox upcoming three-game collection in opposition to the Blue Jay on the Rogers Centre. He hoped to have Story again within the lineup for the season finale in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway.
“Actually, Trevor is under the weather so it’s kind of like what now?” mentioned Cora. “We get to a sure level the place this occurs and he gained’t go to Toronto.
“I think obviously that this is it for him. There is not much he is going to do over the weekend.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com