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Crazy 6th puts Red Sox’s magic number at 6
- Updated: September 22, 2016
BALTIMORE — The Red Sox are running away with the American League East.
After coming away empty-handed in two earlier bases-loaded opportunities, the Sox made the third time the charm on Wednesday night, as they scored five unearned runs during the sixth inning and posted a 5-1 win over the Orioles.
Boston’s seventh straight victory puts the Sox a season-high 24 games over .500 and increases their AL East lead to a season-high five games over Toronto while reducing their magic number for clinching the division to six with 10 games to go. Baltimore, meanwhile, holds a one-game lead over Detroit for the second AL Wild Card.
The Red Sox have played their best baseball of the season at the most important time, winning 10 out of their last 13 — all against division opponents.
“Similar to other challenges that have been thrown our way, whether it’s injuries to certain individuals, schedules, division, where we are in the standings — we’re seeing some things come together in a good time of the year,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
After chasing Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez with one out in the sixth, Boston took its first lead on Chris Davis’ errant throw to reliever Brad Brach on a two-out ground ball that should’ve ended the inning. Instead, the ball sailed past Brach and bounced off the netting in front of the camera well along the first-base line, scoring two, and Andrew Benintendi launched Brach’s next pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run homer.
“I was trying to get something early in the count, because I feel like this entire series, it feels like I’ve had two strikes on me every time,” said Benintendi, who is ranked the No. 2 prospect in Boston’s farm system. “Just looking for something out over the plate and put a good swing on it.”
That was plenty for Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz, who went seven innings and held the Orioles to one run on three hits.
Baltimore, losers in five of its last seven, has been held to two or fewer runs in five consecutive games. The Orioles’ lone run came on Adam Jones’ sacrifice fly after loading the bases in the third inning.
“We talk about it every day. When there’s more season left you know someone’s going to pay down the line. We’ve seen that. But when you’re in a situation like this, no one feels sorry for you,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of his club’s recent struggles. “They want to step on your neck while you’re down. We did it to them. Now they’re trying to do it to us. It doesn’t get any easier. They got …
