Red Sox reactions: Winning streak reaches four as road trip rolls on

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CHICAGO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field Tuesday night:

1) For a change, the Red Sox didn’t squander the momentum they built from the previous series. Fresh off a sweep in Anaheim, the Red Sox kept rolling at Rate Field, knocking off the Chicago White Sox, 8-1. Two homers in the third inning accounted for a quick lead and the Sox kept adding on, adding four runs in the ninth for a bigger cushion. Starter Payton Tolle did the rest.


2) Tolle’s last start was his worst outing of the season. He was shelled for six earned runs on seven hits in just three innings in the Red Sox’ final game of their last homestand. On Tuesday night, he pitched like a man intent on erasing his previous outing — and succeeded. Tolle was brilliant over six innings, allowing just two hits, both to Chicago outfielder Sam Antonacci. Otherwise, Tolle was almost perfect. He issued just one walk while striking out six and never faced more than four batters per inning. He also retired the last seven hitters he faced in a row and 15 of the final 16.

3) Here’s how well the Red Sox are going currently: in the second inning, they got home runs from two somewhat improbable power sources. First, Andruw Monasterio turned on a sweeper down in the zone from Chicago starter Noah Schultz and drove it out to left for his fourth homer of the season. Three batters later, with Connor Wong on first, Ceddanne Rafaela struck a pitch similar to the one Monasterio powered out — a sweeper down-and-in — and hit it out to left for a two-run shot. Rafaela has more pop than Monasterio, of course, but still, it was his first homer in almost a month: his last one came on June 12.

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4) Somewhat improbably, Wong is one of the Red Sox’ best bunters and he demonstrated that twice Tuesday night. In the second inning, with one out, he bunted for a base hit and reached as he placed one nicely toward third. Then, in the fourth with runners at the corners and no out, he laid down a squeeze bunt, scoring Jarren Duran from third when first baseman Miguel Vargas’ throw was a bit late and off the mark.

5) One wonders how long a leash Danny Coulombe has. Sporting a 4.58 ERA, Coulombe entered in the seventh after Tolle had thrown six shutout innings and immediately loaded the bases, starting with a leadoff walk. Worse, on a ball hit to Willson Contreras with the bases loaded that could have resulted in a double play, Coulombe was late covering first so that the shortstop, Monasterio, couldn’t make a throw to first for the second out. Fortunately, Coulombe and the Red Sox were bailed out when Justin Slaten, who’s had his own struggles, came in and, with runners at the corners and the tying run at the plate, fanned two hitters to end the threat.


6) The Red Sox took an aggressive approach on the basepaths, but it didn’t work out well for them. Willson Contreras tried to steal second in the third only to be thrown out by former Red Sox prospect, catcher Kyle Teel. In the fifth, it was Abreu’s turn. After being hit by the pitch to lead off the inning, Abreu made off for second, but was also gunned down. Finally, Monasterio went for it after a one-out single in the sixth and slid in safely ahead of the throw for his second steal of the season.

7) It’s astounding to see the number of former Red Sox players populating the White Sox’ roster. Of the 26 players on Chicago’s active roster, seven previously played for the Red Sox, including a number from the last couple of seasons. The list includes: Andrew Benintendi, Braden Montgomery, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy, Jordan Hicks, Chase Meidroth and Kyle Teel.

8) In the middle game of a three-game set here, the Red Sox will send LHP Jake Bennett (3-3, 3.10) to the mound to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.08) at 7:40 p.m. ET.

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