The Red Sox Opened The White Sox Series At Fenway With Another Comeback Victory, 7-4

 

    After Friday night's series opener vs. Chicago (6-8 overall, 3-5 away) was postponed due to rain (haha and snow!), the teams got things started at Fenway Park yesterday afternoon with the Red Sox (10-4 overall, 4-3 home) picking up a solid 7-4 win. The White Sox scored twice in the first inning and later tied it at three in the seventh inning but both times, the home team had a timely response. First baseman Marwin Gonzalez hit his first home run for the Red Sox to ignite the four-run eighth inning which ended with a two-run double by shortstop Xander Bogaerts (4-for-5, 18th career 4-hit game). 

    Boston survived a poor start by Nick Pivetta (3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 hits, 3 Ks, 4 BBs) who wasn't able to get out of the fourth inning. That forced Red Sox manager Alex Cora to dip into his bullpen early but it worked out as Josh Taylor struck out the one guy he faced in the fourth then Matt Andriese went three valuable innings. Northeastern's Adam Ottavino (2-1) had an impressive eighth inning, striking out the side on 12 pitches to earn the win. The only downside from a pitching perspective (besides Pivetta's dud) was that Cora burned closer Matt Barnes (28 pitches) in a non-save situation since he warmed up in the eighth for a long time and was ready to go before Boston rallied to break the game open. 

    Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on first baseman Jose Abreu's (2 hits) RBI double that scored Adam Eaton. The other White Sox run came on a groundout. Boston tied it with a pair of sacrifice flies-by right fielder Alex Verdugo and third baseman Rafael Devers-in the third inning. Center fielder Kike Hernandez (4-for-5, 2B, RBI) had his best game in a Red Sox uniform and he put them ahead 3-2 in the sixth with an RBI single that scored catcher Kevin Plawecki. 

    A sacrifice fly by Chicago in the seventh tied it at three before Gonzalez hit his bomb to right center in the eighth. J.D. Martinez added a bases loaded walk for an insurance run before Xander's clutch extra-base hit. Get ready for plenty of baseball today as there will be a doubleheader: rookie Tanner Houck (0-1) faces Dallas Kuechel (0-0) in Game 1 (1:10, NESN) followed by Martin Perez (0-0) vs. TBA in Game 2 (5:10, NESN). Boston is 9-1 in their last 10 games and they own the best record in the American League so they just want to keep it rolling on this beautiful Sunday.