G124: Red Sox 5, Rays 2

Rays    - 000 002 000 - 2  5  1
Red Sox - 401 000 00x - 5  4  1

Instead of falling behind early and coming back, the Red Sox grabbed a first-inning lead and rode it to the finish. David Price (7-5-2-2-8, 103) was solid and J.D. Martinez hit his 38th home run.

The first two Rays reached base in the top of the first, but Price worked out of that jam and the offense went to work. Andrew Benintendi lined a one-out double into the left-field corner and quickly scored on Mitch Moreland's first-pitch double to right-center. Moreland stole third and Martinez walked. Then JDM felt like stealing second - so he did. Tyler Glasnow (6.2-3-5-3-4, 94) walked Xander Bogaerts on four pitches to load the bases and walked Ian Kinsler on four pitches to force in a run. Brock Holt grounded to first. Jake Bauers's throw to second base was wild and two runs scored.

With Sandy Leon batting, the Red Sox tried a double steal, but Glasnow stepped off the mound. His throw to third was high and Matt Duffy reached way up to grab it. He chased Kinsler back toward second, faked a throw, and tagged him. Then Duffy ran across the diamond toward Holt, who was standing between first and second. After a few feints, Duffy tagged Holt for the final out.

Martinez made it 5-0 with a solo shot into the Red Sox bullpen in the third. After that, the next 15 Red Sox batters were retired. Their next baserunner came with two outs in the eighth.

C.J. Cron hit a two-run dong in the sixth. Kevin Kiermaier doubled to lead off the seventh, but Price struck out Michael Perez and Carlos Gomez (both looking) and got Duffy on a liner to first. Ryan Brasier pitched a clean eighth and Craig Kimbrel got the side in order in the ninth.

The Red Sox:

are 44-15 (.746) at home and 44-21 (.677) on the road

have won 13 of their last 15 games, 17 of 20, and 32 of 39

have swept 12 series this season, but have not been swept in a series of any length

have allowed three or more runs in the first inning eight times this season (including Friday) and are 5-3 in those games

are 60-9 when they score first and 28-27 (!) when their opponent scores first (both records are the best in MLB)

ALE Magic Number: 29.

Tyler Glasnow / David Price

Betts, RF
Benintendi, LF
Moreland, 1B
Martinez, DH
Bogaerts, SS
Kinsler, 2B
Holt, 3B
Leon, C
Bradley, CF

Breathe deeply. Chris Sale is back on the disabled list, with "mild left shoulder inflammation". Brandon Workman has been recalled and Sunday's starter has not been announced.

Last night: The Cubs turned seven double plays in their 1-0 win over the Pirates, tying the record for a nine-inning game. The Cubs turned a DP in every inning but the fourth and fifth, matching the achievement of the Yankees on August 14, 1942 and Astros on May 4, 1969.

It was also the second straight win for the Cubs with a home run giving them a 1-0 victory (Thursday). The other three times that has happened since 1908:

1960 Tigers - May 10 (T9) and 11 (T11)
1964 Angels - July 15 (B8) and 17 (T2)
2018 Giants - March 29 (T5) and 30 (T9) (Joe Panik hit both homers)

The Orioles are a mind-boggling 50.5 games behind the Red Sox. The last three teams to finish more than 50 GB were the 1998 Devil Rays (51), 1998 Marlins (52), and 1979 Blue Jays (50.5).

The Orioles - with 40 games left to play - could shatter (what I believe is) the modern era record: 65.5 GB, by the 1909 Boston Doves. In their previous 40 games, the Orioles have lost 18.5 games in the standings. If they maintain that pace for the rest of the season, they would finish 69 GB!

The Orioles have 36 wins. The Red Sox won their 37th game on May 28 - nearly three months ago!

OH, YEAH? WELL, YOU JUST .... Ah, Fuck it.