Boston Red Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals Match Player Stats On May 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 17, 2017

ST. LOUIS -- Mookie Betts led off the game with a home run and added another RBI to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1) allowed three runs and five hits over six innings to earn the victory. It snapped a string of three consecutive starts in which he got a no-decision despite allowing a total of five runs in 18 innings in those games.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 12th save in 13 chances.

Lance Lynn (4-2) took the loss after giving up only three hits over six innings. He was charged with four runs (two earned) while walking one and striking out four.

The Red Sox (20-18) increased a 4-3 lead to 6-3 in the eighth, taking advantage of consecutive walks off Brett Cecil, a sacrifice fly by Christian Vazquez and an error by left fielder Tommy Pham.

Betts, named the American League Player of the Week on Monday, delivered his 10th career leadoff homer, tying him with Jacoby Ellsbury for the franchise record. It was also his fifth homer in his past eight games.

Jackie Bradley Jr. increased the lead to 2-0 with a homer in the second, his third of the season. The Red Sox came into the game last in the AL with 31 homers and had only two in their last four games combined. It was only the sixth time this season they hit two or more homers in a game.

The Cardinals (21-16) rallied to take the lead with a three-run third. Kolten Wong led off with a single, went to second when Lynn was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Dexter Fowler.

A sacrifice fly by Pham brought in Lynn and Fowler was able to score on a pop up to short left field by Matt Carpenter, caught by shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Lynn could not hold the lead, however, as the Red Sox scored twice in the fifth. A leadoff walk to Bradley started the rally, followed by an error on Jedd Gyorko, and both runners came around to score on a groundout from Betts and single by Dustin Pedroia.

NOTES: After leaving his Sunday start because of tightness in his left triceps, Red Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He expects to make his next start as scheduled Saturday night in Oakland. ... The Red Sox said RHP Hector Velazquez would be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to start Thursday night against the A's, with LHP Chris Sale set to start Friday. ... OF Stephen Piscotty (hamstring) and 3B Jhonny Peralta (upper respiratory infection), the two Cardinals on rehab assignments, could both rejoin the major league team Saturday, GM John Mozeliak said. Piscotty played his first game Tuesday night for Double-A Springfield and was 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout and a walk. ... LHP Tyler Lyons is set to make one more rehab start Saturday for Springfield before rejoining the Cardinals. He has been out with a strained ribcage muscle.