Mickey Gasper homers again to lead Red Sox past Orioles
Mickey Gasper’s first‑inning blast was the only highlight in a 1‑0 win for the Boston Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park on Friday night. The lone run, a home run off first‑pitch fastball by the 30‑year‑old rookie, gave the Sox a 1‑0 lead that the team never surrendered.
Gasper, who was recalled from Triple‑A Worcester on Aug. 16, now has eight home runs this season – all in the last 16 games. He collected two of the four hits that the Orioles’ starter, Shane Baz, allowed in the game. Baz, 5‑15, was held to five singles over 6 ⅓ innings, striking out six and walking two. The loss ties him with Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee for the most defeats in the majors, and his run support of 3.02 runs per nine innings remains the second‑worst in MLB.
Ranger Suárez, Boston’s closer, surrendered five hits in seven innings for a 6‑4 record, striking out three and walking one. He allowed no extra‑base hits, and the Sox’s only run came from Gasper’s homer. Aroldis Chapman closed out the game, earning his 32nd save of the season and the 399th of his career.
The game’s tension peaked in the eighth inning. Red‑Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock induced a ground ball from Luis Robert Jr., leading to an inning‑ending double play. A short‑stop slide by Orioles’ Blaze Alexander into second sparked a benches‑clear incident. Red‑Sox shortstop Trevor Story appeared to protest the slide, prompting players and coaching staffs to leave their seats as the play unfolded. The benches cleared but the game proceeded without further altercations.
Baltimore finished 0‑for‑3 with runners in scoring position and lost a fourth straight game, falling further behind in the pursuit of the final American‑League wild‑card slot. The Sox have taken two of the four games in the series, giving them a 2‑0 advantage.
Looking ahead, the Sox will send right‑hander Sonny Gray, 16‑4 and 2.82 ERA, to the mound to try for another victory. The Orioles will hand veteran right‑hander Chris Bassitt, 6‑4 and 4.97 ERA, the start as he seeks a third straight win.
