Wilyer Abreu’s two-run homer and three RBIs, plus Payton Tolle’s six scoreless innings, powered the Boston Red Sox to an 8-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
BOSTON — The Red Sox bats looked like they’d finally found their rhythm again, and it showed in a big way. Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs as Boston powered past the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 on Wednesday.
Payton Tolle did his part. shutting the door for six scoreless innings while the Red Sox built the kind of lead that keeps everyone in the same moment. Boston struck early through Jarren Duran’s leadoff single, stretching his hitting streak to 10 games. Abreu drove Duran in to make it 1-0. then later added a two-run homer in the third to push Boston ahead 3-0.
The game opened up in the fifth inning, when the Red Sox put five runs on the board. Mickey Gasper started the surge with a two-run triple. and Ceddanne Rafaela helped keep the pressure on with three hits across the night. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Caleb Durbin, and Rafaela each drove in one run in the frame, turning momentum into separation.
Abreu finished with three RBIs on the day, and Willson Contreras went 2-for-4 with two singles and a double. Every spot in the Boston batting order had at least one hit. a stark contrast to a recent stretch in which the Red Sox went 11 straight games without scoring more than four runs. They’ve now scored five or more runs in six of their last nine games.
Tolle’s line told the story of the evening’s balance: he improved to 3-2 by allowing seven hits, striking out five, and walking two, lowering his ERA to 2.28. In nine of his 10 career starts, he has allowed fewer than four runs.
Baltimore did manage a reply in the seventh. Adley Rutschman hit an RBI triple to get the Orioles on the board. But Boston’s pitching kept the damage contained after that.
Chris Bassitt (4-4) took the loss, allowing six hits and three runs over three innings. Taylor Ward had three singles for Baltimore, and Ryan Watson earned his first career save. He worked three innings, recorded two strikeouts, and allowed one run.
The Orioles head into the rubber match with Trevor Rogers on the mound, listed at 2-6 with a 6.84 ERA. Boston has not announced its starter yet.
Red Sox Orioles Wilyer Abreu Payton Tolle Mickey Gasper Ceddanne Rafaela Willson Contreras Jarren Duran Adley Rutschman Ryan Watson Trevor Rogers Chris Bassitt MLB