BOSTON — It was going so well for Kyle Gibson. Pitching in a ballpark where he’s excelled, staked to a three-run lead against a former Cy Young Award winner, backed by a defense that turned a pair of double plays to wipe out his only mistakes, Gibson entered the fourth inning with the path cleared to the signature victory he’s so desperately sought.
It took only two pitches for reality to block that path, and kick Gibson in the gut once again.
Mookie Betts belted the second pitch off the light tower atop the Green Monster, setting the tone for Gibson’s second trip through the lineup.