Willson Contreras hits go-ahead homer in victory

Contreras was pulled from Friday’s game after being hit in the back of the helmet by a pitch and was then held out of Saturday’s lineup as a precautionary measure. He’s right back in there at first base on Sunday night and will bat cleanup against Dodgers’ right-hander Emmet Sheehan.

Contreras left Friday’s game after being hit on the back of the helmet by a pitch, but he seems to have cleared concussion protocol, and it looks like he’ll miss just the one full contest.

The Red Sox have Nick Sogard playing first base against the Dodgers tonight.

Manager Chad Tracy indicated that he was encouraged by the initial tests, so Contreras hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game just yet. If he can’t play, then it will lead to a start for either Nick Sogard or Romy Gonzalez.

Contreras remained in the game to run the bases for himself but was ultimately replaced when the Red Sox took the field in the home half of the inning. He’ll presumably have to pass through the concussion protocol before he’s cleared to return to action.

Contreras’ home run was his 22nd of the season. He hit a two-run shot off Shane McClanahan in the fifth inning. Contreras has six home runs in his last 14 games. He’s hitting .283 with a .931 OPS and 64 RBI.

The Red Sox extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games by sweeping Friday’s doubleheader against the division-leading Rays at Fenway Park. Contreras took Tampa Bay reliever Mason Englert deep in the opening frame of the nightcap affair, his first contest back following a five-game suspension for his on-field actions against the Nationals earlier this month. The 34-year-old has served as Boston’s primary offensive catalyst with 21 round-trippers through 89 games. He’s on pace to easily eclipse the 30-homer threshold for the first time in his career becoming the latest example of a veteran right-handed power hitting finding success immediately upon arrival at Fenway Park, much like J.D. Martinez did last decade.

This will be the fifth and final game that Willson Contreras is suspended for. When Contreras returns, Gonzalez will likely play more DH at second base, but he should remain in the lineup. He’s hitting .231/.302/.385 in 11 games since returning from offseason shoulder surgery.

Contreras added while speaking prior to the showcase in Philadelphia that he wants to finish his career in Boston. The 34-year-old first baseman put together an impressive 13-homer opening round during the Home Run Derby earlier this week and has been one of the main reasons that the Red Sox are within striking distance of a playoff spot coming out of the Midsummer Classic.

The five-game suspension begins on Thursday and will see Contreras back for the second game after the All-Star break, where Boston is taking on the Rays. Contreras fouled a pitch off his foot and was likely to sit today either way, so it makes sense to start the clock now. He’ll miss three games against Mets pitching over the weekend, reappear for the Home Run Derby, then return in the second half of a doubleheader against Tampa Bay on Friday.