Xander Bogaerts, Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez, J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers and Kike Hernandez all scored home runs in the Red Sox's 11-6 victory over the Rays. (2:14).
After Friday's first inning, the Red Sox offense knew that Chris Sale needed to be picked up.
After Tommy John surgery, their lefty ace didn't have his best stuff Friday. He allowed four hits and five earned runs per inning. The Tampa Bay Rays scored five runs to win the top frame after scoring two runs in their first inning.
Boston tied the postseason record for franchise home runs with five more in the second inning to let their ace go. This team was the first to have 20 hits and five homers during a postseason game. Boston was able to rebound thanks to Tanner Houck, who replaced Sale and retired 11 batters consecutively.
Hernandez stated that Hernandez started with one run and continued scoring until we were able tie it. Then, [Houck] kept them there." Hernandez spoke to the media in Tampa Bay.
Hernndez was the leader, going 5-for-6 with three doubles and a homer. He tied the MLB postseason record for four extra base hits and became the fifth player to do so, the first since Albert Pujols.
After the first inning rollercoaster, Boston needed to adjust its mindset. Alex Cora kept it simple for the team's offense.
"Don't panic," Cora said.
Slowly, the panic subsided. Boston took the lead with two runs in the second inning. The score was 5-4. Hernandez and JD Martinez scored four more runs two innings later. Boston saw the number 14 next the team's runs after runs in the 7th-8th and 9th innings.
These contributions to the 14-run run total were made by all levels of the lineup. In addition to Hernandez's inexplicable outburst at plate, Rafael Devers, outfielder Alex Verdugo, and shortstop Xander Bogards all contributed home runs. Christian Vzquez, the catcher, reached base three times with three hits. Hunter Renfroe also recorded a hit while Kyle Schwarber received a walk. Boston was the postseason's most successful team, with four players scoring three hits and a home run.
Collin McHugh, Rays pitcher, said that they took advantage of their mistakes.
Boston was defeated by a 5-0 score in Game 1. The offensive outburst was a rebound. The 14 runs were the most run total by any team in that postseason. Boston was also the first playoff team to have six players score 2 RBIs since RBI became an official statistic. The Rays were 73-3 in the regular season, with a lead of three runs, even including the playoffs. The offense of Boston made sure that the loss column was at four by Friday's end.
Friday marked Martinez's return from a sprained foot. Cora moved Martinez to sixth place in the lineup, after delaying submission of the lineup cards in order to play the Red Sox slugger in the face of a tough Rays pitcher. Martinez made his presence known by hitting a single to the right field, and then hitting a three-run homer in the fifth that scored Boston five runs ahead.
Verdugo gave Cora the credit of setting the tone for the dugout.
Verdugo stated, "I remember Cora is coming up and down in the dugout." It's all good, we have a whole game, eight innings more."
Rays manager Kevin Cash was not shy in describing Boston's offensive performance after Friday's game.
Cash stated, "They kinda put it to us."
The Red Sox win ensured that Tampa Bay and Boston would face off for at most two more games. This proved Cora's optimism right.
Verdugo stated, "We are all happy now." "Riding high."
