Washington, Oct. 3 (BUS): Cristian Vazquez tripled the tiebreak in the ninth inning and moved the Boston Red Sox to the edge of the post-season curb with a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Boston tied with the Yankees for the first AL wild card to enter the final day of the regular season. Red Sox ace Chris Seal will be sending to the pile on Sunday in need of victory to punch the playoff card. If they win, they will host the wild cards game on Tuesday regardless of New York’s score because Boston won the season series 10-9.
“We know what that means if we win,” said Boston coach Alex Cora.
If the Red Sox lose on Sunday, they are still guaranteed to go into Monday’s tiebreak. The Red Sox edge Toronto by 1 1/2 over Seattle, with the Mariners set to play The Angels on Saturday night.
“A complete team effort,” Cora said. “It wasn’t easy. … It wasn’t easy all season.”
Tanner Hook made a perfect five innings, notching eight, but Washington tied it 1 in the eighth on Juan Soto’s long rule-laden carcass to center Austin Davis (1-2), The Associated Press reports.
JD Martinez topped ninth with a walk to Boston, and Vazquez drilled a ball just close to Tanner Reni (1-3), who easily scored from sprinter Jose Iglesias to take a 2-1 lead by two margins. Travis Shaw singled out the lead at Vázquez, then Kiké Hernández vaulted the Boston Bowl against Mason Thompson to push the lead to 5-1.
Washington’s Andrew Stephenson took a penalty in the ninth game before Hansel Robles finished the match with his 14th block.
The Nationals carried the rules by one in eighth after quarterback Hunter Renfrew lost a fly-ball in the twilight, resulting in a double, and Adam Ottavino walked twice. Soto hit a high ball into a deep center to hook it, but Josh Bell followed it with a smooth streak to end the threat.
Soto said he thought Davis was “lucky” because the ball was out of the field rather than the Grand Slam. Soto also said that Davis was “trash talking” during bat time.
Homer Raphael Devers’ 36th of the season put Boston ahead 1-0 in fourth place. Devers hit against Rainey with loaded bases and two eighths.
Hawk skipped the Nationals lineup, needing just 53 pitches to hit eight of his 15 consecutive goals. Washington hit one ball off the field before Hook lifted hitter Christian Arroyo for sixth.
The 25-year-old has thrown 90 of his 13 games this season. Both came in late August. He hadn’t thrown more than 42 throws in his last three games, all of which were in relief.
Prior to the game, Cora said there were no restrictions on Hawk, who made five runs three times earlier this season. He reached sixth place once, on August 29.
“She didn’t struggle at all,” Cora said of the decision to impeach Hawk. “(On Saturday) actually the plan was to see where Soto was and see where we went. He did a great job.”
“I would prefer this team win and keep moving forward,” Hook said of the decision.
Gerardo Barra’s sixth-place single against Garrett Richards produced the Nationals’ first baseman. Washington held the two bases in Game Seven against Ryan Brazier, who was playing for the fourth consecutive day, before Jordi Mercer hit his goal to end the threat. Mercer was fired for arguing on panel referee Phil Cousy’s call.
Washington player Josiah Gray made six runs, crossed out seven, and allowed runs.
NATS stadium training to return
Nationals coach Davey Martinez said Saturday that coach Jim Hickey, who was hired by Washington out of the 2020 season, will return for the 2022 season. Hickey and Martinez had a previous relationship from working together at Tampa Bay from 2008 to 2014. The Nationals players entered play on Saturday 24th in Team ERA.
coach room
Citizens: B Josh Rogers (a hamstring strain) was put on the injured list for 10 days on Saturday. OF Parra (knee) activated to take Rogers’ spot.
Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (right pectoralis strain) did not activate on Saturday after throwing Friday’s Bullpen session. Whitlock may be activated on Sunday depending on how it recovers, according to Cora.
the following
Selling (5-1, 2.90 ERA) will finally make his ninth start of the season after missing most of the year following Tommy John’s surgery. RHP Joan Adon will be called up by Washington to make his league debut after spending most of the season at High-A Wilmington.