BOSTON — Thanks to the Mets, the Red Sox can clinch the AL East Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
They will have three shots at a celebration in the Bronx.
Clinching the division on the home turf of their bitter rival would be another highlight for the Red Sox, who have already rolled up 103 wins in a season of incredible success.
Chris Sale was asked what it would mean to celebrate in the Bronx and the ace did not hesitate.
“It would be awesome,’’ Sale said after pitching the first three shutout innings in a 4-3 win over the Mets on Sunday at Fenway Park that dropped Boston’s magic number to clinch the division to two.
“I think we all would like to do it here,’’ Sale added. “But the way it was set up, we weren’t able to do that, but going to one of your biggest rivals in the game would be fun.’’
“It definitely would be a cool experience. A lot of the fans wouldn’t like it,’’ slugger J.D. Martinez said with a smile.
The Mets sent their best, Jacob deGrom, against the Red Sox and he allowed three runs to the highest-scoring team in the majors (799 runs) over seven innings. All three came in the third. The Mets came back to tie it 3-3, but the Red Sox went ahead in the eighth against Seth Lugo to set the stage for a possible Yankee Stadium clinching.
Said first-year Red Sox manager Alex Cora, “We got three shots there. If we win one, we clinch. For me it’s going to be special if it’s New York, Baltimore or Tampa. This is a special group and we have a chance to finish it off. We’ve been talking about it for a month and a half and now we are right there. If it happens Tuesday, it will be a fun night.’’
Cora had high praise for deGrom, whose ERA stands at 1.78 with the no-decision, saying, “He should win the Cy Young, no doubt about it. He’s got poise on the mound, presence, fastball, slider, changeup, controlling the running game. We made up our mind before the game as soon as somebody gets on, we are going to put the hit-and-run on, you have to do that against him.’’
Christian Vazquez’s single sent Rafael Devers to third to set up Boston’s first run. That is a big part of the Red Sox offense.
“That’s what we do,’’ Cora said. “We try to put pressure on aces.’’
Brock Holt hit a fastball out, but then deGrom shut the door. Mookie Betts had to leave the game with a sore left side; a similar injury kept him out 12 games earlier this year, but said he should be fine to play in a couple of days.
Sale is making steady progress in his return from shoulder inflammation.
“This is all part of the building-up process,’’ said Sale, who threw 42 pitches. “My rhythm was better today.’’
Before the game, Sale crossed paths with deGrom, who hit a home run against Sale back in college.
“I asked him why he wasn’t in the lineup,’’ Sale joked. “I need my redemption against him. He’s a good guy. I think right now he is the best pitcher in the league. You saw today against one of the best lineups in the league. We stuck it out and scratched one across late.’’
Sale expects to be able to throw 100 pitches by the time the regular season ends.
“It’s not like I’m still injured,’’ he said.
Sale said he anticipated a great season from the Red Sox back in spring training.
“Looking around this clubhouse, we have some big names,’’ he said. “And the coaching staff, with the knowledge they bring and the culture they bring, play your best and go have fun, all the factors going in, none of us are surprised by the success.’’
The rampaging Red Sox can party at Yankee Stadium with one more win.