BOSTON (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds overcame the Boston Red Sox 8–4 on Wednesday night after Christian Encarnacion-Strand blasted his first career grand slam during a five-run seventh inning.
The Reds added RBIs from Santiago Espinal, TJ Friedl, and Elly De La Cruz.
Nick Martinez (6-8) helped Cincinnati escape being swept in the three-game interleague series by pitching 6 2/3 innings and giving up four runs off nine hits.
Wilyer Abreu gave the Red Sox a two-run home drive. In order to bring Boston within five runs, Romy Gonzalez drove in two runs, including an RBI double in the seventh.
After pitching 1 1/3 innings as Boston’s opener, Brennan Bernardino was relieved by Chris Murphy and Jorge Alcala. Before Greg Weissert took over, that trio limited Cincinnati to three hits and no runs over five and a third innings.
The final came out of the sixth inning thanks to Weissert (2-3). However, Stephenson’s single to start the seventh inning, followed by Rece Hinds’s fielder’s choice and Gavin Lux’s walk to load the bases for Encarnacion-Strand, caused everything to fall apart. Weissert gave up five runs off four hits and was removed.
Abreu produced a game-ending RBI single in the eighth inning on Wednesday to help the Red Sox win 5-3 after the game was postponed due to rain on Tuesday.
In the sixth, Abreu pounced on Martinez’s changeup, sending it over Hinds’ reach and over the right-field wall and into the Reds bullpen. It followed a catch by Hinds against the same wall in the fifth that denied Jarren Duran an extra-base hit.
Cincinnati’s sixth grand slam of the season came from Encarnacion-Strand.
Cincinnati will pitch LHP Andrew Abbott (7-1, 1.79 ERA) on Friday in the first game of their three-game series against Philadelphia. The Red Sox will start RHP Lucas Giolito (4-1, 3.99) against Washington.
Sign up for Red Sox updates
During baseball season, receive breaking news and commentary straight to your inbox.
