PHOENIX — Entering Sunday’s series finale in Arizona, Nick Sogard had made just seven major league plate appearances in the last two-plus months . He was a curious choice, then, for a key pinch-hit plate appearance in the ninth inning of a close game.

But with Boston’s roster limited and Alex Cora looking for a good matchup against Diamondbacks righty Jordan Rashi, it was Sogard who was called upon. Appearing as a pinch-hitter for just the third time as a big leaguer, the 27-year-old utility man stepped to the plate in place of Connor Wong with two men on and two outs in a 4-4 game. He answered the call by roping a Rashi splitter into the right field gap for a two-run double that gave the Red Sox the lead for good in a 7-4 win .

With Roman Anthony (oblique) and Wilyer Abreu (calf) bo

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