The anatomy of the Red Sox’ eight-run fourth inning
The Sox erupted for eight runs on eight hits to take a commanding lead en route to the 15-7 win.
Thursday night’s series opener against the Yankees had the potential to be a frustrating loss for the Red Sox. Already smarting from losing Chris Sale to the 10-day disabled list the day before, the Red Sox fell behind, 4-0, after the top of the second inning.
While they answered with a run in the second and third, they stranded a total of five runners and still trailed, 4-2, entering the bottom of the fourth. That was when the Sox erupted for eight runs on eight hits to take a commanding lead en route to the 15-7 win.
Here’s how the runs scored:
Bradley’s dash: With Mookie Betts on second and Jackie Bradley Jr. on third with no outs, Andrew Benintendi bounced a ground ball at Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder, who fielded the ball cleanly. Bradley had broken for home plate, but started back for third, when Holder fired the ball to third basemen Miguel Andujar.
As soon as Holder pivoted to make the throw, Bradley reversed course again and headed for home. Andujar proceeded to throw to home, but the ball was up the first base side of the bag, allowing Bradley to slide to the back of the plate safely and avoid catcher Austin Romine’s tag with his outstretched.
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Result: Yankees lead, 4-3
Pearce punches one out: There were still no outs, when Steve Pearce came to bat. With Holder clearly rattled, Benintendi broke for second base. Holder stepped off the bag and threw to second, but it was not in time. With runners on second and third, Pearce followed with a three-run homer to left, his second of three that he would hit, to drive in Benintendi and Betts.
Result: Red Sox lead, 6-4
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Kinsler connects: After J.D. Martinez doubled to center, second baseman Ian Kinsler singled to right to allow Martinez to score easily.
Result: Red Sox lead, 7-4.
Nunez knocks another in: Kinsler stole second base, then scored when Eduardo Nunez doubled to left. Holder would be pulled from the game without recording an out. He had never allowed more than four runs in 83 career games. He ended up being charged with seven runs.
Result: 8-4
Bradley does it with his bat: Green came on to record the next two outs and looked like he might escape any further damage, but Bradley doubled to center to drive in Nunez.
Result: Red Sox 9, Yankees 4.
It’s not easy being Green: After Betts singled to left to put runners at first and third, Benintendi singled to left to score Bradley and knock Green out of the game.
Result: Red Sox 10, Yankees 4
