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Red Sox win 8th straight, cut magic number to 5
- Updated: September 23, 2016
BALTIMORE — The Red Sox’s playoff push is looking more and more like a steamroll.
Backed by seven strong innings by ace David Price, Boston picked up its second consecutive four-game sweep, beating Baltimore, 5-3, on Thursday night to complete an absolutely dominant series.
The Sox, who have won 13 of their last 16 games, have a commanding 5 1/2-game lead over second-place Toronto and a magic number of five to clinch the American League East.
“This is the time of year you want your team to get on a roll in the way we have,” said Price. “That’s what we’ve done and just continued to bring the same attitude to the field every day.”
Baltimore, losers in six of eight games at home, remained in third place and dropped out of the second AL Wild Card spot with Detroit’s win over Minnesota.
“I think you’ve got to be realistic about where we are at this point after losing four,” Orioles closer Zach Britton said. “It’s kind of time to light a fire under our [rear ends], because those other teams playing for the Wild Card are right there. You kind of need to look over your shoulder if you want to live in reality. You can’t just assume if we lose another game here and there it’s OK. We need to find a way to win games. It’s plain and simple.”
Boston chased Baltimore’s Opening Day starter, Chris Tillman, from the game after five outs — the ace’s shortest start of the year — jumping out to an early three-run lead. Price, who allowed all three of his runs on rookie Trey Mancini’s homer, held firm from there, as Boston went back up on Andrew Benintendi’s RBI single in the fifth, while Hanley Ramirez went deep in the seventh inning.
Ramirez’s insurance run, which snapped O’s reliever Donnie Hart’s 18-inning scoreless streak, helped the Sox secure their first back-to-back four-game sweeps since July 1-7, 1968, vs. Oakland and Minnesota.
“We’re playing baseball the way we’re supposed to be playing it,” said Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who played his final regular-season game at Camden Yards. “This time of year, every game matters. We’re taking it personally.”
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDHanley heats back up: Fresh off winning the AL Player of the Week Award, Ramirez had been quiet in this series until the finale. The first baseman gave the Red Sox the lead …
