Masataka Yoshida, right, celebrates with Justin Turner after hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning Sunday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press
CHICAGO — Masataka Yoshida hit a grand slam and a two-run triple, powering Kutter Crawford and the Boston Red Sox to an 11-5 blowout over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Rafael Devers and pinch-hitter Triston Casas also homered for the surging Red Sox, who have won seven of eight. Crawford allowed one hit in six shutout innings.
Yoshida launched the second grand slam of his rookie season in Boston’s five-run fifth against All-Star lefty Justin Steele. After the Red Sox put together four straight hits, Yoshida connected for his 11th homer on a 2-0 count, extending the lead to 6-0. Rob Refsnyder had an RBI single before Yoshida’s home run.
“It’s kind of like a video game,” Crawford said of Yoshida. “He’s unbelievable. He’s a great hitter, a great teammate and helping the team in a lot of ways.”
Yoshida added a two-run triple in the seventh and a single in the ninth off catcher Tucker Barnhart. Yoshida’s streak of eight straight multi-hit games ended Saturday – it was the longest by a Red Sox left-handed hitter since Ted Williams in 1940.
“Whenever I can hit, I want to hit – a lot,” Yoshida said through a translator.
Crawford (4-4) struck out nine and walked four.
“It definitely helps when the offense gives you a lead like that,” Crawford said. “It takes a lot of weight off your shoulders. At that point, all my job to do is to try to throw strikes. Being able to grind through that beginning half and still competing and not giving in in certain situations is very rewarding.”
Steele (9-3) allowed six runs and 10 hits over six innings after tossing a scoreless inning at Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“I felt pretty good today,” Steele said. “As far as all my stuff goes, I threw some good sinkers, some good sliders. I felt good with my four-seam. The pitch to Devers that he hit out, that was a pretty well-executed slider low and away. He just put a really good swing on it.”Devers hit his 23rd homer, a solo shot off Steele, in the first. Devers also connected twice Friday.
Casas hit a two-run shot off Adbert Alzolay in the eighth for his third homer in three games. That gave Boston an 11-0 lead before the Cubs scored five times in the final two innings.
Devers doubled leading off the fourth but was thrown out at home by left fielder Ian Happ while trying to score from second on a single.
ROSTER MOVES
Red Sox: Right-hander Jake Faria’s contract was selected from Triple-A Worcester and right-hander Tayler Scott (0-0, 7.45 ERA) was designated for assignment. Faria was 3-2 with a 6.47 ERA in nine starts and 10 relief appearances for Worcester. The Cubs scored three runs off Faria in the eighth on four straight walks, an infield single and a sacrifice fly. Faria gave up two more runs in the ninth.
Cubs: Catcher P.J. Higgins was reacquired from Arizona for cash. Chicago drafted him in the 12th round in 2015. Higgins played 83 games with the Cubs the last two seasons.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Left-handed reliever Richard Bleier (left shoulder inflammation) could return this week, Manager Alex Cora said. Bleier is rehabbing at Triple-A. … Right-hander John Schreiber (teres major strain), on a rehab assignment in Triple-A, needs to pitch on back-to-back days, Cora said. Schreiber could return for Boston’s series against the Mets, or more likely the series against Atlanta next week.
Cubs: Shortstop Dansby Swanson (bruised left heel) was eligible to be activated Sunday but remained on the injured list. He continued baseball activities.
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