Ceddanne Rafaela hit a go-ahead two-run home run over the Green Monster in the seventh inning, helping the Boston Red Sox defeat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Friday night.
This win ended the Red Sox’s five-game losing streak and came at a time when they have struggled in their attempt to secure the AL’s third and final wild-card spot, with a 6-10 record in their last 16 games.
“That was huge for the team, to help the team. That was pretty good,” said Rafaela, who hit a first-pitch slider after a 12-pitch walk by the batter before him. “I was just looking for the best pitch I can.”
Jacob Amaya had an RBI single for the White Sox, who now have a 32-110 record and are on track to break the New York Mets’ record of 120 losses in 1962, the most in a season since 1900. They lost for the 13th time in 14 games after a win over Baltimore on Wednesday.
The White Sox also suffered their 43rd loss of the season after scoring first and have a 5-39 record since the All-Star break. The White Sox (0-14) haven’t won a series since the break.
Rafaela’s 15th home run was hit off Matt Foster (0-1) into the second row of Monster seats, where a fan made a nice barehanded catch after a walk by Enmanuel Valdez.
Zack Kelly (6-2) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win, and Josh Winckowski got the final three outs for his first save of the season.
White Sox starter Davis Martin and Boston’s Nick Pivetta each pitched six strong innings. Martin allowed one run on three hits, struck out three, walked one, and hit three batters. Pivetta gave up one run, five hits, had six strikeouts, and walked three.
“We played good defense behind him and he gave us a chance to win,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said about Pivetta.
