Overview

• Boston won 7-4 in Phoenix to avoid a sweep, improving to 79-65 and holding the AL’s second wild-card spot, 1.5 games behind the Yankees for the top slot and 3.5 back of the Blue Jays.
• After two reached against Taylor Rashi, Nick Sogard delivered a two-out, two-run pinch-hit double off Andrew Saalfrank in the ninth, and Carlos Narváez added an RBI single.
• Aroldis Chapman struck out four in the ninth, secured his 29th save in 31 chances, and extended a hitless streak to 17 appearances over 14 2/3 innings, the third-longest since 1901.
• A chaotic seventh featured Trevor Story credited with a steal on a pickoff (27-for-27 this season), David Hamilton’s RBI single, and a two-run throwing error by Jordan Lawler that briefly put Boston ahead.
• Zack Kelly allowed the tying run in the eighth, Garrett Whitlock recorded 1 2/3 scoreless for the win, and the result halted a three-game slide during a stretch marked by offensive inconsistency without Roman Anthony as Boston heads to Sacramento to face the Athletics.