DENVER – The Red Sox wasted no time staking an early lead Tuesday night, and unlike the game that got away from them Monday, the Red Sox continually added on, slowly building a lead en route to a 5-2 victory to even the series and set up a Wednesday rubber match finale.
Wilyer Abreu drove in Boston’s first run in the first frame, launching his second triple of the season to the right-center-field gap and plating Nate Eaton, who opened the game with a walk and a stolen base.
Eaton singled in another run in the second on a drive to left. He was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single, a walk, a steal, two runs and two RBIs.
Abreu added a third run in the fifth when he smashed a drive 443 feet into the Sox bullpen, and Eaton increased the lead in the sixth with a run-scoring double and a run on Ceddanne Rafaela’s subsequent single to left.
Sonny Gray had a masterful night on the mound at Coors Field, going seven innings and allowing just one run on six hits and three walks while striking out a season-high 11 and matching his season high with 93 pitches. His only blemish was a 435-foot homer to right in the second inning from Willi Castro.
It was Gray’s ninth start since coming back from the injured list on May 6, and he improved to 7-0 since his return.
The Rockies closed the gap against Garrett Whitlock with a one-out solo shot from Ezequiel Tovar before Whitlock closed the door and secured the win.