With Red Sox ‘on the brink,’ four players come through with ‘huge’ moments

MIAMI — Anthony Seigler was in the Red Sox lineup Monday for the first time since Aug. 16. And he took full advantage of the opportunity.

“A massive swing,” interim manager Chad Tracy described it.

Seigler capped off Boston’s 33rd comeback win with the go-ahead RBI triple in the ninth inning. The Red Sox won 4-2 over the Marlins at LoanDepot Park on Monday.

Seigler delivered the decisive hit — but he was one of four players who made equally crucial plays throughout the final three innings.

“There was a lot of execution late in the game that helped us win that game,” Tracy said.

The Marlins had just taken a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning. They threatened to break the game open against reliever Brayan Bello with the bases loaded and one out.

But first baseman Willson Contreras ranged to his left to knock down Jakob Marsee’s 83 mph liner. Contreras stayed with it, picked up the ball in foul territory and threw home for the force-out.

“To have the awareness to go home with that was huge,” Seigler said.

Contreras kept the Red Sox within one run as Bello got the next hitter, Javier Sanoja, to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

Mickey Gasper added about Contreras’ throw: “It’s a huge play. We’ve gotta limit the damage and we were able to do that. Bello, ground ball pitcher, we’re expecting him to keep it on the infield and he did. And for Willson to get that out, keep it a one-run game, big sigh of relief as an offense knowing that we just have to scratch across two to get the ball to Chappy (closer Aroldis Chapman).”

The Red Sox tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning when Wilyer Abreu doubled to lead off the inning, reached third on Adley Rutschman’s flyout and scored on reliever Josh Ekness’ wild pitch.

Boston then was in jeopardy of falling behind again in the bottom of the eighth inning but reliever Erik Miller didn’t let that happen.

Left fielder Jarren Duran bobbled Leo Jiménez’s single with one out, allowing Jiménez to reach second base. Otto Lopez then bunted for a hit.

With runners at the corners, Miller fielded Heriberto Hernández’s comebacker and threw home, catching Jiménez in a rundown. Rutschman tagged out Jiménez as he retreated to third base.

“Miller catching the ball above his head — if that gets over his head, we’re not turning a double play and we’re not getting the runner at the plate,” Tracy said.

Hernández hit it softly — just 64.8 mph off the bat — too slow to turn a double play.

“It’s a huge, huge moment,” Tracy said. “At that point, where the game had gotten there, again we’re on the brink. And they’re in a spot where there’s a lot of different balls in play there that can score a run. ... So we got a soft hit ball right over his head. He’s able to snare it and then obviously you got a left on left and you feel good about that.”

Miller won the left vs. left matchup, striking out Kyle Stowers to end the inning.

“It’s a big momentum shifter toward us,” Seigler said.

Gasper drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning against Marlins reliever Pete Fairbanks, who then left the game with an injury.

“Really good pitcher in Fairbanks and I felt like I had a good plan, looking in a certain zone and was able to work a walk,” Gasper said.

Gasper reached base in all four of his plate appearances. He went 2 for 2 with a double, single and two walks.

Gasper is 8 for 19 with three homers, three doubles, 10 RBIs, four walks and one strikeout since Boston recalled him from Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 16.

“Huge,” Tracy described Gasper’s walk. “He had great at-bats all night. It gives us the opportunity to get Eli (White) out there.”

White — who has 99th percentile sprint speed — pinch ran for Gasper.

“Seigler there with a two-strike hit in the corner is about the perfect place to put it for him (White) to be able to score because he can really run,” Tracy said.

Seigler wasn’t looking to do too much.

“Mick had a great at-bat so really get him over, get him in scoring position, just get a good pitch to hit and that’s really all I was trying to do,” Seigler said.

Seigler connected on a 2-2 curveball on the inside bottom corner from Marlins righty Tyler Zuber — who replaced the injured Fairbanks.

“It was just a pitch that I knew that I could put a good swing on,” Seigler said. “Honestly, he had me with the fastball so I just really had my timing on a fastball that whole at-bat. And then lucky enough he threw a (curveball). I think it was in a good spot, but I just tried to put a good swing on it.”

Seigler had gone eight days without a plate appearance. He said he tried to stay sharp over the past week using the Trajekt pitching machine, which can simulate any major league pitcher’s windup and repertoire for hitters to prepare.

“I’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes Trajekt with all my hitting coaches, so I mean they’ve helped me prepare,” Seigler said. “It’s how it is. Everybody’s playing really well right now. So my role has changed a little bit, which is fine. We’re still winning.”

• Who Red Sox’ Chad Tracy called a ‘godsend’ after Monday’s win
• Red Sox’ Chad Tracy explains strategic late-game decision to play infield in
• Red Sox reactions: Boston’s ‘spark plug’ hits go-ahead RBI triple in ninth for 33rd comeback win
• Red Sox give latest injury updates on Roman Anthony, Garrett Whitlock, Trevor Story, others
• Red Sox lineup: Utility man receives first start in 8 days; Nick Sogard at SS

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