Dominic Smith’s go-ahead run: On Tuesday, the Red Sox got another win over the Royals thanks in part to the base-running of first baseman Dominic Smith.
Smith, 29, doubled to begin the top of the sixth. After advancing to third, he ran home when right-hander Seth Lugo threw a pitch that bounced away from Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez.
Though Smith is perhaps not known for his speed or agility, he was eventually credited to have evaded the attempted tag from Lugo. Initially, however, Smith was called out.
It led to a challenge from Red Sox manager Alex Cora, though Smith was skeptical at first.
Dom Smith with the swim move! 🏊🙌 #RedSox pic.twitter.com/0BvDkyl0H4
— NESN (@NESN) August 7, 2024
“Dom wasn’t too sure, he thought he was out,” Cora told reporters, per MLB.com’s Jackson Stone.
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“You kept looking and looking at [the replay] and it was like, ‘Man, he got that in him — the swim move,’” Cora added. “Hesitation on the ball, you don’t want to make the out at the plate, but when you got to go, you go.
Cora noted that his team “needed every inch tonight.” Boston emerged as one-run winners, with Smith’s proving to be crucial.
Smith acknowledged he’d gotten a belated start.
“I didn’t really take off until I heard everybody screaming ‘Go!’ and then seeing the ball finally roll to the wall,” he said. “Way too late. If you’re taking off when the coaches are saying go, nine times out of 10 you’re going to be out. So I guess it’s that one time when you’re not.”
As for how he managed to evade the tag, Boston’s latest clutch base-stealer relayed his secret.
“My slide is a little bit slower than other people’s, so I might have a little bit more time to move,” Smith humorously explained. “I think it’s just something where you’re trying to see his glove. You’re trying to touch the base before he touches you, and I was able to do that right there.”
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox defeated the Royals 6-5 on Tuesday. Boston will go for the sweep in Kansas City tonight at 8:10 p.m.
Also from Tuesday, the Revolution earned a 1-1 home draw against Nashville SC to clinch the top spot in Leagues Cup Group I. New England will now face New York City FC in the Round of 32 on Friday at home at 7:30 p.m.
And at the Olympics, the United States pulled ahead in the gold medal count, with action continuing apace on Wednesday.
More from Boston.com:
- 3 takeaways as the Revolution advance in Leagues Cup following draw with Nashville SC
- Dominic Smith scores go-ahead run on wild pitch, helps Red Sox beat Royals 6-5
- Drake Maye will make his preseason debut Thursday, and other takeaways from Day 11 of Patriots camp
- Patriots out on Brandon Aiyuk after star WR reportedly says no to New England
- Why Fabian Lysell might be one of the most consequential players on 2024-25 Bruins
- Why Andrew Raycroft isn’t fretting over Jeremy Swayman’s contract talks with Bruins
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Elmo share heartwarming interaction on social media
An emphatic gold medal performance: Harvard graduate Gabby Thomas dominated a talented field (including 100-meter champion Julien Alfred) to win the 200-meter gold medal on Tuesday:
Mission accomplished for Gabby Thomas with a GOLD medal in the 200m! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/O7wQjNquCi
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024
Here’s one more look at Thomas’s masterpiece:
The replay of the women’s 200m shows just how DOMINANT Gabby Thomas is! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/gB5mQlQWG0
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
On this day: In 1932, Medford’s Mary Carew (later Mary Carew Armstrong) won gold as part of the U.S. in the 4×100-meter relay at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Leading off, Carew — who overcame difficult childhood circumstances and a lack of opportunities for female athletes — showed off world-class speed to give the U.S. an early lead. The race came down to the last few feet, with teammate Billie Von Bremen running an incredible anchor leg to barely defeat the Canadian team. Both teams finished in world record time, with the U.S. standing atop the podium.
Daily highlight: In a major upset, U.S. runner Cole Hocker grabbed gold in the men’s 1500-meter. Hocker only led for a few feet, winning in dramatic circumstances.
