Red Sox win includes the hero apologizing, a near walk-off, ‘massive’ base running and prayers

WEST SACRAMENTO — Shortstop Andruw Monasterio crushed a go-ahead two-run home run in the 10th inning to lead the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday.

But after the win, the extra-inning hero was in the clubhouse profusely apologizing to relief pitcher Justin Slaten.

“He apologized once in the handshake line and then like three more times as I’ve been sitting here,” Slaten said. “I just keep telling him, ‘It doesn’t matter. We won the game.’”

This win had it all, including:

• Alert base running by Caleb Durbin to help tie the game in the sixth inning.
• A game-tying hit by Nick Sogard, who spent Tuesday night in Dallas, Texas.
• A near walk-off home run against closer Aroldis Chapman.
• Two must-have strikeouts by Chapman.
• Starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval’s 18 swings and misses in five solid innings.
• Five scoreless innings from five Red Sox relievers.
• Slaten escaping the seventh inning with the score tied after Monasterio made an error.

Slaten said he was able to pick up Monasterio in the seventh, then Monasterio picked up the team in the 10th inning.

“That’s why we’ve been winning games — because we just continue to pick each other up,” Slaten said.

Monasterio’s 428-foot home run to left field came on the third pitch of the 10th inning with the automatic runner at second base, giving Boston its first lead of the game.

“As soon as I hit the ball I knew it was gone, and I see my dugout cheering for me,” Monasterio said.

Monasterio’s at-bat almost never happened.

The game nearly ended when Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler hit a 385-foot double to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Butler’s drive hit off the top of the left field wall, coming within inches of being a walk-off home run.

“I thought it was gone,” Chapman said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez.

Butler did, too. He stood and admired the flight of the ball before realizing he needed to run.

“When the ball left the bat I was just praying, ‘Please stay down, stay in the yard,’” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said.

Donovan Walton’s sacrifice bunt advanced Butler to third base with one out. But Chapman struck out both Jacob Wilson and Jeff McNeil swinging to escape the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2.

“He’s Aroldis Chapman for a reason — just ice in his veins,” Sandoval said.

Tracy added, “Can’t overstate the job he did there.”

Chapman faced no small task going against Wilson and McNeil, who are the two hardest hitters in the A’s lineup to strike out.

Among major league hitters, Wilson ranks in the 96th percentile in strikeout percentage (10.8%) and the 95th percentile in whiff percentage (14.2%). McNeil, meanwhile, ranks in the 95th percentile in strikeout percentage (11.5%) and the 91st percentile in whiff percentage (15.9%).

Tracy played the infield in with Wilson at the plate.

“I mean, you’re hoping for a strikeout but you know he puts the ball in play,” Tracy said. “So (Chapman) ramped it up there to punch him out.”

The Red Sox had tied the game 2-2 in the sixth inning thanks to both Durbin and Sogard.

Durbin singled to lead off the inning, then tagged up to second base on Romy Gonzalez’s 303-foot flyout down the right field line.

“He’s done it a couple times this year where he’s seen a ball where it’s going to be deep enough or at least driving an outfielder away from the play,” Tracy said. “And he recognizes it and takes it. So huge. Massive.”

Sogard knocked in Durbin with a two-out RBI single to center field.

“Big spot,” Tracy said. “This series, we’ve had some runners. We’ve had some trouble getting them in. You only get so many chances.”

Boston left 13 men on base Wednesday but Sogard took advantage of his opportunity.

“Just a really, really good at-bat,” Tracy said.

Sogard received word on Tuesday afternoon that he would be recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take injured second baseman Curtis Mead‘s spot on the active roster.

The WooSox were playing in Norfolk, Virginia, and his flight was delayed before leaving around 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. He then missed his connecting flight in Dallas and spent the night at a hotel before boarding a flight Wednesday morning. He landed in Sacramento at approximately 10:30 a.m. PT.

“The boys fight,” Sandoval said. “If we give up a lead, there’s no quit. The bullpen comes in and locks it down.”

Tyron Guerrero, Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, Chapman and Greg Weissert each pitched a scoreless inning. Weissert recorded his first save, not allowing the extra-inning automatic runner to leave second base.

“I truly believe we have the best bullpen in baseball,” Slaten said.