Red Sox Are Back To .500 After Beating Orioles In Extras, Sale Punches Out 14, Records Immaculate Inning

For the first time since they were 1-1, the Red Sox are back at .500 after beating the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in 12 innings at Camden Yards last night, improving to 19-19.

Both of Boston's runs were scored on solo shots by Mookie Betts (7th, 3rd inning) and Andrew Benintendi's (4th) game-winner in the 12th.

With the win, Boston clinched the three-game series victory against Baltimore, their third straight series win.

Boston is now 13-6 in their last 20 games (since April 20) after starting out 6-13, a total flip-flop of success. It was only a matter of time before they got hot, and shame on everyone who declared the season over after a couple weeks.

You're all absolutely hilarious.

The real story of the game though was Chris Sale. In eight absolutely dominant innings, Sale allowed only three hits, one run, ZERO walks, and he punched out 14.

Red Sox pitchers with 14+ strikeouts, 0 walks, and 3 or fewer hits allowed:

Chris Sale – 5/8/19 at BAL
Hideo Nomo – 5/25/01 vs. TOR
Pedro Martinez – 5/12/00 at BAL
Pedro Martinez – 9/10/99 at NYY
Roger Clemens – 4/29/86 vs. SEA

— Red Sox Notes (@SoxNotes) May 9, 2019

He also threw an immaculate inning in the 7th as Hanser Alberto, Dwight Smith Jr., and Steve Wilkerson went down on nine pitches—all swinging.

Sale's immaculate inning. pic.twitter.com/7lIx5z1Sz2

— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) May 9, 2019

Documented immaculate innings in Red Sox history:

Chris Sale – 5/8/19 at BAL (7th inn.)
Rick Porcello – 8/9/17 at TB (5th inn.)
Craig Kimbrel – 5/11/17 at MIL (9th inn.)
Clay Buchholz – 8/16/12 at BAL (6th inn.)
Pedro Martinez – 5/18/02 vs. SEA (1st inn.)

— Red Sox Notes (@SoxNotes) May 9, 2019

Sale is indeed back. In his last four starts, he's recorded a 1.73 ERA (five earned runs) in 26 innings with 42 strikeouts, lowering his ERA from 8.50 to 4.50 in that span.

Ryan Brasier (2-1) earned the win with a perfect 11th (with a bit of help from Jackie Bradley Jr.), while Heath Hembree recorded his first career save in the 12th, striking out the side in the process.