DENVER — Tyler O'Neill homered twice, Cooper Criswell pitched seven shutout innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 6-0 on Tuesday night to snap a four-game skid.
O'Neill hit a two-run shot in the first inning and then crushed an 89 mph sinker from Ty Blach (3-6) 465 feet to the concourse in left field in the third inning to give the Red Sox a 6-0 lead.
''It always feels good when you tag one pretty good,'' O'Neill said. ''As long as it clears the wall and helps the team, that's all that matters.''
He came to bat in the fourth with the bases loaded but reliever Anthony Molina struck him out with a 2-2 curveball to end the inning.
Criswell (4-4) struck out four, scattered five hits and threw a career-high 105 pitches. Colorado started the sixth with two singles but Criswell got Brendan Rodgers to hit into a double play and Brenton Doyle to ground out.
''He kept the ball down, produced a lot of grounders,'' Rockies manager Bud Black said. ''We just couldn't solve him.''
The longest outing of Criswell's career gave Boston's tired bullpen a needed break, and he got a loud ovation from the numerous Red Sox fans as he walked to the dugout after the seventh inning.
''The offense got going early, scoring three in the first and two in the second, so the game plan was attacking the strike zone and hoping they put it in play and get some outs,'' Criswell said. ''The mindset was solo shots can't beat you.''
