Mickey Gasper hit a first-inning home run and Ranger Suarez pitched seven strong innings as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on Friday night. The game featured a contentious eighth-inning benches-clearing incident involving Blaze Alexander and Nick Sogard, while Aroldis Chapman earned his 399th career save.
Mickey Gasper Power Streak and Shane Baz Pitching Duel
Mickey Gasper delivered the game’s decisive blow on Friday night at Camden Yards by connecting on a first-pitch fastball from Orioles starter Shane Baz. The 375-foot shot to right field cleared the out-of-town scoreboard and provided all the offense Boston needed in the 1-0 victory. Gasper connected on a 93.9 mph pitch left over the plate according to MassLive reporting. I figured that was going to be one of a few, but turned out to be the difference in the game
, Gasper said after the win as detailed by MassLive.
The home run marked Gasper’s eighth of the season, with every single one coming across his last 16 games according to the Associated Press coverage via CBS News. Before receiving a recall from Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 16, the 30-year-old had hit just two home runs in 240 career at-bats noted the Associated Press. On the mound, Baz surrendered four hits—two of them to Gasper—while striking out six and walking two in 6 1/3 innings reported CBS News. The loss dropped Baz to 5-15, tying him with Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee for the most losses in the majors while continuing to deal with the second-worst run support in Major League Baseball at 3.02 runs per nine innings according to the same report.
Ranger Suarez Dominates on the Mound for Boston
While Gasper provided the lone run, Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez silenced the Baltimore lineup over seven scoreless innings. Suarez allowed five hits—all of them singles—while striking out three and walking one to improve his record to 6-4 noted the Associated Press.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy praised the outing reported the Associated Press.
Eighth-Inning Benches-Clearing Fracas Involves Blaze Alexander and Nick Sogard
Friction in the American League East rivalry flared up in the eighth inning when Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock induced Luis Robert Jr. into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play reported MLB.com. Shortstop Trevor Story and second baseman Nick Sogard combined to turn the play, after which Orioles base runner Blaze Alexander slid hard into second base according to MLB.com. Although the slide itself did not draw immediate complaints from the infielders, words were exchanged after Alexander stood up and noticed Red Sox players looking his direction detailed MLB.com.
“I thought it was a clean slide into the bag and just getting stared at. I wanted to know why I’m getting stared at.”
Blaze Alexander, Orioles player via MLB.com
Sogard explained that his glance back at Alexander was simply to check his distance on the bag rather than a critique of the physical contact reported MLB.com.
“He slid in pretty hard. I didn’t have a problem with the slide, but we turned the double play. I was just looking back to see how far he went. I don’t know if he liked me looking back. That was pretty much it.”
Nick Sogard, Red Sox second baseman via MLB.com
The incident caused bullpens and benches to empty onto the infield grass noted MLB.com. Both teams received warnings from the umpires, but no ejections were issued according to MLB.com. The tension followed a similar hard slide by Boston’s Jahmai Jones during the eighth inning of Thursday’s series opener reported MLB.com. Tracy downplayed the altercation as routine competitive friction noted MLB.com.
“Not a big deal, not a huge thing. It’s one of those things where, when he’s out there, it looks like a bigger deal than it is. But I just think there was some chirping in our direction, and they took exception.”
Chad Tracy, Red Sox interim manager via MLB.com
Aroldis Chapman Nears Save Milestone as Orioles Chase Wild Card
Aroldis Chapman shut down the ninth inning in order, retiring Pete Alonso on a groundout, striking out Gunnar Henderson, and inducing a line out from Christian Encarnacion-Strand reported MassLive. The perfect frame marked Chapman’s 32nd save of the season and the 399th of his career noted the Associated Press. With his next save, Chapman will become the ninth reliever in major league history to reach the 400-save milestone according to MassLive.
The shutout loss was the fifth of the season for Baltimore, dropping the Orioles to 69-73 overall and 0-4 in September reported MLB.com. The team slipped three games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third AL Wild Card spot noted MLB.com. Meanwhile, Boston improved to 2-0 in the four-game series reported the Associated Press, with right-hander Sonny Gray scheduled to face veteran righty Chris Bassitt in the next matchup according to CBS News.