By Zachary McMahon –
The Boston Red Sox played the second game of the interleague series at Fenway with the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night. The Red Sox won the first game of the series on Tuesday on a 4-0 shutout, for their third straight win, and their eighth out of their last 11.
On Tuesday, Garrett Cooper made his debut on first base after a trade from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations. However, he got hit in the wrist by Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle in the fifth inning.
So, they signed first baseman Dominic Smith, right after he opted-out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the day after playing 21 games with the Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls, where he batted with a .263 batting average with two home runs and 11 RBI. Smith previously played with the Washington Nationals last season, after playing his first five years with the New York Mets. Smith would start over at first base for his Red Sox debut.
Also, Masataka Yoshida was moved to the 10-day injured list with a hand-injury that he suffered on April 28 against the Chicago Cubs. This enabled Tyler O’Neil to be the designated hitter for the second straight game, and Rob Refsnyder went out in left in O’Neil’s place.
Kutter Crawford started on the mound for the BoSox and he bounced back from his rough start against the Cubs with a seven-inning outing, which is now his career high in a game. Crawford allowed four hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out six batters.
The Giants struck first in the third inning with a solo homer by the catcher Tom Murphy, but the BoSox would strike back with two runs of their own off a RBI double by Rafael Devers and an RBI groundout for Refsnyder that scored Jarren Duran home.
Red Sox legend Carl Yaztremski’s grandson Mike Yaztremski played out in right field for the Giants, and he would tie the game up at two with an RBI bunt single in the fourth inning.
However, the BoSox were able to extend their lead to two, with an RBI double by Enmanuel Valdez where he was able to swim move his way into second base and then an RBI Triple Duran, that would’ve been an inside the park home run if Yaztremski did not play the ball right in right field after it bounced off the corner where the foul line ends on the field.
Smith had an RBI single in his debut for the Sox, when he hit to center field and scored Refsnyder home in the fifth.
The Sox capped off the scoring when Connor Wong, who had a three-hit night, doubled to center and scored Wilyer Abreu home to make it 6-2.
Both Chris Martin and Greg Weissert shut down the Giants in the eighth and ninth innings respectively in relief of Crawford to get their fourth straight win for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox try to sweep the Giants tomorrow at 1:35 pm first pitch as Josh Winckowski will be going for his third straight start, and his 10th appearance this season. That game will be broadcasted on NESN/NESN3