Sale, Sox Cruise Past Rays 9-0 [VIDEO]

The Green Monster is no match for @15Lasershow. #RedSox pic.twitter.com/uJC2WXyTWk

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 10, 2017

With Chris Sale on the hill, plenty of early offense and great defense all night the Red Sox cruised past Tampa Bay 9-0 at Fenway Park Saturday night.

The Yankees also won their game so the Sox lead in the AL East stay 4.5 games. Boston's magic number to clinch drops to 17.

Red Sox batters clubbed nine runs in the first three innings. It all started with a Dustin Pedroia two-run home run. Andrew Benintendi had three hits and three RBI. Mitch Moreland had two hits and three RBI.

Chris Sale pitched the first six innings, giving up no runs, six hits, a walk and he struck out eight. Sale is now 16-7 with an ERA of 2.76 as he battles Cleveland Corey Kluber for the Cy Young Award.

The Sox match a season-high 20 games over .500 with a record of 81-61. There are 20 games left on the schedule, including an afternoon game vs Tampa Bay today. Rick Porcello will start for the Sox.