NEW YORK -- In this dramatic revival by the Red Sox over the past two weeks, the only thing that had been missing was a signature comeback.
Just in time for the All-Star break, interim manager Chad Tracy’s red-hot team took care of that Sunday, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth to tie and one in the 10th to take the lead en route to a 3-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field that gave Boston a clean sweep of a nine-game road trip.
This is just the second time in team history -- and first since 1977 -- the Sox have accomplished that feat.
It was the first time in 44 tries this season the Sox won a game they trailed after eight innings.
Boston (46-48) roared into the break with 14 wins in its past 16 games dating back to June 25.
The Mets had a chance to end the game in the ninth when Romy Gonzalez hit a hard grounder to shortstop that could have been a double play. Instead, Francisco Lindor couldn’t corral it and everybody was safe. Andruw Monasterio brought Boston within one on a bases-loaded walk and the slumping Jarren Duran tied it with a single to right that fell in front of diving Mets right fielder Carson Benge.
Here are three more takeaways from Boston's comeback victory:
1. Tolle finishes strong
In an effort to keep rookie lefty Payton Tolle strong heading down the stretch, the Sox opted to give him a short day at the office on Sunday (3 2/3 innings). Tolle made the most of it, holding the Mets to three hits and a run with one walk and seven strikeouts over 66 pitches.
2. Bello returns with a flourish
Five weeks after he was demoted to Triple-A, the Red Sox called Brayan Bello back to the big leagues, in large part due to the plan to give Tolle an abbreviated outing. As he did before his demotion, Bello pitched well in bulk relief, with a solo homer off the bat of Lindor representing his only blemish. It was Lindor who also drove in the first Mets run with a first-inning double off the base of the wall in left against Tolle.
3. Offense comes through just in time
It had been a sleepy afternoon for the Boston bats, generating just two hits over the first eight innings. Ceddanne Rafaela provided some life with a leadoff single off Mets closer Devin Williams. Caleb Durbin kept hope alive after the Lindor error with a walk, which loaded them up for Monasterio. The Sox took the lead in the 10th without the benefit of a hit. Connor Wong moved automatic runner Masataka Yoshida to third with a sacrifice bunt. Anthony Seigler drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left.