Red Sox highlights: Chris Young powers Boston to sixth straight victory
Boston Red Sox reserve Chris Young went on a power surge Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park. His 2 home runs led the Sox to a four-game sweep over Chicago.
Suddenly the power has returned to the Boston Red Sox offense. In Sunday’s 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox, the team as a whole hit three home runs, including two off the bat of reserve outfielder Chris Young.
The veteran right fielder drove in five runs overall as the Red Sox won their sixth straight victory. The second of Young’s two homers was the game winner.
Despite the success he had against White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey, including a first inning solo home run, Chicago manager Rick Renteria decided to take his chances with Young by intentionally walking Andrew Benintendi to put two runners on base.
What happened next was something Chris Young strives for as a major league hitter. He took Pelfrey deep for the second time to propel the first place Red Sox to a four-game sweep over the White Sox.
"“You definitely feel better if you get the job done in that situation. And if you don’t get the job done you feel a little worse than you would if the game was just going as it normally does,” Young said, via MLB.com. “The good thing about today is I was able to hit after Benny and hit in front of (Rafael) Devers, who’s swinging the bat well. So in that situation, they kind of have to come at me, challenge me and allow me to be the guy to beat them. It was nice to be able to get it done.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"
Young was able to get it done at the plate as he made his third consecutive start in the outfield. With the consistent playing time, he is definitely in a grove with his swing as is the entire team.
Home run surge
Along with Young’s two home runs yesterday and another by Eduardo Nunez, the Boston Red Sox have launched 17 home runs in their last 11 games.
The additions of Nunez and top organization prospect Rafael Devers has helped incite the suddenly mighty bats the Red Sox are swinging. The good thing about this streak and how the offense has been performing is that different guys are stepping up game to game.
Christian Vazquez and Mitch Moreland have had walk-off, game-winning blasts during this current stretch. The young group of Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts and Devers have also distributed powerful swings.
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If the offense continues to surge to go along with solid starting pitching, the Boston Red Sox should take the AL East with ease. They are currently three games ahead of the New York Yankees and are trending in the right direction.