Piloted by a persistent performance after falling behind yet again immediately at the outset of the game, the Boston Red Sox snapped the Chicago White Sox' seven-game winning streak with a convincing 8-2 victory, just their third in 14 games since the All-Star break.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, designated hitter David Ortiz went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and the tandem of right fielder Rusney Castillo (2-for-4) and catcher Blake Swihart (2-for-4) combined for four hits and three runs scored for Boston, who were able to prevent a potential four-game sweep by the surging White Sox.
After allowing two runs in the first inning, Red Sox starter Steven Wright (4-4) was able to settle himself and garner the win, yielding just two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out eight Chicago batters. On the flip side, Boston battered White Sox ace left-hander Chris Sale (L, 9-6) for seven earned runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings, despite striking out on seven occasions against the starter.
Center fielder Adam Eaton (2-for-3, run scored) and shortstop Alexei Ramirez (2-for-4) were the only Chicago batsmen to record two hits against Boston, contrary to the opening three games of the series where it appeared as if every single White Sox batter was able to reach base at will.
Chicago began the game, which started at 8:00 PM ET due to rain showers, in similar fashion to how they started their previous three runaway victories over the Red Sox, with Eaton singling to right to kick off the first inning, followed up by first baseman Jose Abreu smashing a 400-foot two-run shot to right-center to provide his team with a 2-0 advantage almost instantly.
However, Boston refused to fold, showing resilience right off the bat against the formidable Sale. With one out in the bottom of the first, Bogaerts reached on an infield single, and after left fielder Hanley Ramirez struck out, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Ortiz then laced a double to right, plating Bogaerts and handing the Red Sox a wealth of momentum.
As Wright and Sale dueled on the mound, the score remained intact until the bottom of the fifth, when Boston finally inflicted some sustainable damage. After Swihart flied out to begin the inning, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was hit by a pitch, replaced at first base by second baseman Brock Holt after the All-Star grounded into a fielder's choice. Bogaerts then singled, advancing Holt to third, a crucial hit which was followed up by consecutive RBI singles by Ramirez and Ortiz, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 advantage.
Boston would extend this lead further in the ensuing pair of innings, creating an insurmountable advantage. Castillo led off the bottom of the sixth inning with an infield hit, which was then followed by Sale hitting newly acquired third baseman Josh Rutledge (entered the game in the fourth inning as starter Pablo Sandoval left the contest with a bruised left forearm) with a pitch and yielding yet another infield single, this one to Swihart, to load the bases with none retired.
Bradley Jr. then dropped an RBI single to center, which paved the way for the definitive blow, a two-RBI single to right by Holt which pushed the advantage to 6-2. White Sox reliever Matt Albers entered the ballgame, proceeding to relinquish an RBI sacrifice fly to Bogaerts which increased the gap to 7-2.
The Red Sox were not finished, however, as Castillo lead off the bottom of the seventh inning by tagging Albers for a 426-foot solo home run to center, his second blast of the season.
Boston relievers Robbie Ross Jr. and Junichi Tazawa combined for a perfect eighth and ninth inning for the ballclub, sending Red Sox Nation to the exits with content.