BOSTON – The Red Sox bullpen did everything within their power to lose to the Marlins Tuesday night. Boston’s bats and the Miami bullpen made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
Boston battled back for a much-needed 8-7 victory, snapping a three-game losing streak.
The Red Sox walked it off in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error by Marlins shortstop J.T. Riddle, who couldn’t turn a would-be inning-ending double play on Eduardo Nunez. J.D. Martinez scored the winning run after Riddle skipped the throw off of first baseman Miguel Rojas’ glove and out of play.
The Red Sox still have not had a losing streak longer than three games in 2018.
Despite the win, Boston’s bullpen struggled mightily, allowing six runs in the final two innings of the game.
Craig Kimbrel blew his fifth save of the season in the ninth, giving up a run with a 7-6 lead.
Kimbrel’s struggles came after the Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, reclaiming the lead the bullpen had given up in the top half of the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. tied the game with a two-out, two-RBI single before the go-ahead run came in to score on a wild pitch.
Aug 28, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Ian Kinsler (5) scores the go ahead run on a wild pitch during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Boston led 4-1 entering the eighth inning, but Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree combined to give up five runs. Four of the runs were charged to Barnes, who allowed two home runs and gave up four hits.
Brian Johnson gave up one run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Miami starter Jose Urena went six innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
How it happened:
Ian Kinsler opened the scoring with a single in the second, plating Xander Bogaerts. The Marlins were playing the infield in, allowing the ball to bounce over third baseman Brian Anderson and down the line for a hit.
Miami centerfielder Isaac Galloway homered in the third, tying the game 1-1.
Bradley Jr. singled to lead off the home half of the third before Mookie Betts worked a walk. Andrew Benintendi drove Bradley in with a double and Betts came in to score on a Bogaerts sacrifice fly.
Boston extended the lead to 4-1 on a Nunez solo home run in the sixth inning.
Disaster struck almost immediately in the eighth inning. Barnes gave up a leadoff single to Anderson before J.T. Realmuto launched a home run into the Monster seats in left-center. The next batter, Starlin Castro, homered into the Red Sox bullpen to tie the game 4-4. Barnes allowed another single before he was lifted from the game.
Hembree allowed two more runs to come across on a bloop single by Rafael Ortega.
The Red Sox battled back in the home half of the eighth, scoring three runs to take a 7-6 lead. J.D. Martinez, Nunez, and Kinsler all singled. Blake Swihart struck out with the bases loaded, bringing up Bradley with two outs. Bradley singled up the middle on a 3-2 pitch, driving in two runs to tie the game. Kinsler came around to score on a wild pitch by Tayron Guerrero, who was charged with all three runs.
But Kimbrel couldn’t shut the door in the ninth. The closer walked two men and gave up the game-tying single to Magnerius Sierra, who entered the at-bat hitting .161.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Martinez and Bogaerts singled to put runners on first and second. Nunez hit a chopper to short, Riddle tagged the bag but threw low to first, skipping the ball out of play and allowing Martinez to score the winning run.
Up next:
The Sox will send David Price (14-6, 3.50 ERA) to the mound Wednesday night as they look for a sweep of the brief two-game set. Miami will counter with rookie right-hander Trevor Richards (3-7, 4.23 ERA).
