​NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida connected for two-run home runs as the surging Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to eight games with a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday, playing the day after a night of unusually light rest. The win kept Boston rolling, marking its longest streak since piling up 10 consecutive wins from July 4-13 last year, and it pushed their record into a run of dominance: 13 wins in 15 games, and 16 wins in 21 overall.
The Red Sox had a stumble getting into the series opener when travel trouble kept them grounded in Chicago for nearly a full day. They used the moment as a lighthearted bonding moment, sporting white T-shirts that joked, “Show and Go Airlines, See You at 4:15,” a playful nod to their travel delay prior to the game.
In the fourth, after Caleb Durbin drew a leadoff walk, Monasterio delivered the decisive blow by launching a fastball from Freddy Peralta (5-8) into the left-field seats, giving Boston a 2-0 lead. Durbin also had a single off Tobias Myers to start the inning, and Yoshida followed with a 1-0 cutter that sailed into the right-field seats to push the advantage to four.
Eduardo Rodríguez began his first big-league start with 3 1/3 hitless innings, but his outing ended when Jorge Polanco singled on the final pitch of Rodríguez’s stint. Greg Weissert and Jovani Moran combined to cover the next 2 2/3 innings, with Moran earning the win (2-2) by escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth when rookie A.J. Ewing took an ABS challenge and a called third strike ended the threat.
Danny Coulombe closed out the eighth with Polanco’s double-play grounder, finishing Boston’s AL-leading ninth shutout of the season. Peralta was touched for two runs on three hits and five walks across 4 1/3 innings; his five-walk performance contributed to an 0-3 mark and a 7.59 ERA over his last five starts.
New York (40-56) went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position for the second straight game, extending its slump in clutch situations. The Mets were shut out for the ninth time this season and have been held to three or fewer hits in eight different games.
Looking ahead, LHP Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.14 ERA) is slated to start for Boston on Sunday, while rookie RHP Zach Thornton (0-1, 4.35) is expected to pitch in relief for the Mets, likely following an opener. The Mets will continue to search for a breakout offensive performance as they try to end a skid and avoid further frustration against a Boston club that shows little sign of slowing down.