The Boston Red Sox starting pitcher problems have clearly faded away since their horrific start in April, with Chris Sale recording a career-high 17 strikeouts over seven innings pitched. Sale also became the first pitcher in the MLB with as many as 17 strikeouts in an outing of seven innings or less.
But Sale’s unreal performance on the mound wasn’t enough as the Red Sox would fall short in extra innings. The Red Sox bats started off hot, with rookie Micheal Chavis homering in the second, J.D. Martinez homering in the third, and Rafael Devers going deep in the third.
The Red Sox held the 3-0 lead over the Colorado Rockies for six innings before Nolan Arenado launched a two-run blast to left field. Sale would leave after the seventh inning with a career-high 17 K’s, three hits, two earned runs, and no walks over the seven innings pitched.
Boston’s bullpen issues would continue, as it would only take an inning for Brandon Workman to give up a two-run home run to Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon as Colorado took a 4-3 lead. Mitch Moreland would bring in Devers in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at 4-4 and continuing his clutch streak at the plate this season.
The Red Sox and Rockies would hold each other at the plate until the 11th inning when Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds hit an RBI-single to give Colorado a 5-4 lead. The Red Sox couldn’t answer in the bottom of the frame and would lose on Sale’s historic night.
Colorado and Boston finish their two-game series Wednesday with the first pitch at 7:10 p.m., with Eduardo Rodriguez taking the mound for the Red Sox opposite German Marquez for the Rockies.
