Red Sox Turn One Swing Into Dramatic Shutout Win Over Orioles

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The Boston Red Sox did not produce much offense Friday night. Thanks to Mickey Gasper and three outstanding pitchers, they did not need it.

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Gasper launched a solo home run in the first inning, Ranger Suárez delivered seven scoreless frames and Boston held on for a tense 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The win improved the Red Sox to 77-65 and gave them consecutive victories to open the four-game series. Boston also strengthened its position in the American League wild-card race with only 20 regular-season games remaining.

Gasper supplied the game’s only run almost immediately.

After Roman Anthony grounded out to begin the night, Gasper drove a 93.9-mph fastball from Orioles starter Shane Baz over the right-field wall. The ball traveled 374 feet and left Gasper’s bat at 103.7 mph. It was Gasper’s eighth home run of the season, and it gave Suárez a lead before he threw his first pitch.

That one run somehow remained enough for the next nine innings.

Ranger Suárez Delivers His Best Red Sox Start

Boston’s offense collected five hits, struck out 11 times and left 10 runners on base. The Red Sox went scoreless after Gasper’s first-inning homer despite drawing four walks and benefiting from two Baltimore errors.

Suárez made sure those missed opportunities did not become costly. The left-hander scattered five hits across seven scoreless innings. He recorded three strikeouts, walked one batter and threw 61 of his 91 pitches for strikes.

Baltimore threatened in the third when Carlos Narváez and Leody Taveras opened the inning with consecutive singles. Suárez responded by retiring the next three hitters, including Coby Mayo and Luis Robert Jr., to keep the Orioles scoreless. The Orioles created another opening in the fifth after Narváez singled and Suárez hit Taveras with a pitch. Once again, the left-hander escaped without allowing any damage.

Suárez repeatedly generated soft contact and kept Baltimore from delivering the one timely hit it needed. The Orioles finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six runners.

It was exactly the kind of performance Boston needed from Suárez as the club continues preparing for a potential postseason run. He improved to 6-4 with the victory.

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Red Sox Bullpen Protects Smallest Possible Lead

Garrett Whitlock replaced Suárez in the eighth and immediately faced pressure when Blaze Alexander singled to begin the inning. The tying run never advanced. Whitlock retired Mayo, Robert and Pete Alonso to complete a scoreless frame on only 10 pitches.

Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth one night after surrendering a two-run homer during Boston’s 6-5 victory in the series opener. This time, the veteran closer did not allow Baltimore to create another late scare.

Chapman retired Alonso before striking out Gunnar Henderson. Christian Encarnacion-Strand then lined out to Trevor Story at shortstop to end the game and give Chapman his 32nd save.

Gasper finished 2-for-4 and was the only Boston player with multiple hits. Story, Jarren Duran and Eli White accounted for the Red Sox’s other three hits.

Boston’s failure to add insurance made the night far more stressful than necessary. It also made the work from Suárez, Whitlock and Chapman even more impressive.

The Red Sox scored six runs and survived a Baltimore rally Thursday. One night later, they won with a completely different formula.

One swing. One run. Twenty-seven outs.

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