In a tight wild-card race like the one currently unfolding in the American League, sometimes teams need a little bit of luck to remain solvent. The Red Sox got more than their fair share Monday evening in their 6–2 win over the Royals.
The game entered the bottom of the ninth inning tied 2–2, with Kansas City having rallied to tie it in the seventh. Boston third baseman Rafael Devers cracked a ground-rule double and first baseman Triston Casas was intentionally walked, but the Red Sox soon found themselves down to their last out before extra innings.
On a 3–2 count, second baseman Luis Urías appeared to strike out as he attempted to check his swing. Urías, however, was credited with a walk as first-base umpire Vic Carapazza ruled he held up by the narrowest of margins. Royals manager Matt Quatraro came out to argue the call and was ejected.
Swing or not? pic.twitter.com/NUiQ4sQrDG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 8, 2023
That sequence of events set the stage for shortstop Pablo Reyes’s walk-off grand slam off pitcher Carlos Hernández, with which Boston was able to keep pace with the Blue Jays in the AL wild-card race.
IT'S PABLOVER! pic.twitter.com/poWwfQ0Lge
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 8, 2023
Kansas City, which dropped to 36–78 with the loss, will have to deal with the Red Sox twice more on Tuesday and Wednesday.
