BOSTON — Rich Hill was almost emotionless as he walked off the mound, having just recorded another strikeout to end the seventh inning. A standing ovation surrounded him at Fenway Park, high-fives and hugs awaited him in the dugout.
Hill had been there before, but not in a while.
On a day the Red Sox needed even just a satisfactory effort, the 42-year-old Hill turned back the clock and delivered a vintage performance. Behind seven shutout innings and a season-high 11 strikeouts, Hill dominated and led the Red Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Rays with his best start of the season and one that the 18-year veteran will surely remember for a long time.
