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It was a roller coaster kind of night at Fenway Park on Friday. The Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead on an opposite-field HR by
Jackie Bradley, Jr. With ace
Chris Sale on the hill, it looked like an easy "W" from there. But after Sale departed inexplicably after just six innings and 100 pitches, the bullpen reared its ugly head once again.
Ryan Brasier (who had been flawless until Friday) gave up one run in the seventh, and
Craig Kimbrel of all people blew the ninth-inning lead—putting the Twins up 3-2.
Rafael Devers—who had been in a horrific slump—lined a 112-MPH HR into the Red Sox bullpen to tie things in the ninth. Then, it was
MVP Time.
Mookie Betts crushed his 25th HR over everything in left to provide
the walk-off 4-3 win. The victory—coupled with a rain out for
The Evil Ones—pushed Boston's lead in the AL East to five full games.
[Note to John Henry: sign Mookie long-term NOW!]