Talk about an absence of drama: the Red Sox scored three times in the bottom of the first, then added five more in the second. And, they had Chris Sale on the mound.
Mix the big early lead with one of the best pitchers in the game, and you get a predictable result. The Red Sox smashed the Tampa Bay Rays 9-0 Saturday night, posting their fourth straight win and eighth shutout of the season.
The Sox pounded out a total of 15 hits, but really, all they needed were the first two – a leadoff single by Eduardo Nunez and a two-run homer into the Monster Seats by Dustin Pedroia.
Sale made that stand up, tossing six shutout innings while fanning eight and recording his 16th win of the season.
Andrew Benintendi and Mitch Moreland each contributed three RBI. Benintendi knocked in two with a Wall double in the five-run second and added a run-scoring single an inning later while Moreland delivered one run with a groundout in the first and two more with a Wall single in the second.
GAME NO.: 142
WHO: Red Sox (80-61) vs Tampa Bay Rays (70-72)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN/MLBN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Chris Sale (15-7, 2.85) vs. Matt Andriese (5-2, 3.78)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- After struggling some in the last two weeks, Rafael Devers has seemingly figured some things out at the plate. He's got a single, double and walk in his first three trips to the plate tonight and over the last two games is 5-for-6 with a walk. What's more, he's gone back to using the whole field, with his single hit up the middle and his double off The Wall in left.
- If you're the Rays, it's bad enough being down 8-0 after just two innings. But being down 8-0 and having to face Chris Sale? That's not fun.
- Eduardo Nunez got banged up when he stole second in the first inning, and when he beat out an infield single in the second, hobbled as he reached first. He came out of the game and was replaced by Xander Bogaerts. It appeared as though Nunez has strained a hamstring going down the line, but the Red Sox later announced that Nunez left with a right knee contusion. For their sake, the Sox had better hope that the injury isn't serious. Nunez's arrival just before the non-waiver trade deadline sparked an offensive turnaround for the club, which is 24-14 since his arrival. And with Dustin Pedroia still needing some occasional rest and Bogaerts slumping, Nunez is needed more than ever.
- Smart move getting Sale out of the game after six. He'd already thrown 97 pitches, which is plenty, and with a blowout win, there was no need to send him back out. Additionally, Sale had the benefit of pitching with an extra day of rest thanks to the off-day Thursday and will get another extra day in his next turn since the Sox are also off this Monday.
- After sitting out Friday night with back spasms, Eduardo Nunez was back in the lineup Saturday, playing shortstop, with Xander Bogaerts sitting. The plan calls for Bogaerts to return Sunday, with Nunez shifting to second and Dustin Pedroia getting the series finale off. Bogaerts was given three days off last week in New York to rest some nagging physical issues and get him back on track at the plate. To date, there hasn't been much in the way of improvement for Bogaerts, who is just 2-for-17 since his benching. "You see some good swings, some good balance and addressing pitches in the strike zone,'' said John Farrell of Bogaerts. "(But then) you'll see at-bats where he comes out of the strike zone. We're doing what we can to create a little momentum with him offensively.''
- Farrell noted that there's some internal competition underway with the playoffs just over three weeks away. One pitcher who is emerging for consideration who wasn't in the picture as recently as a few weeks ago is reliever Austin Maddox. Maddox tossed an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief Friday night and since being recalled, has pitched 5.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while fanning five. "You begin to pay attention to guys with the hot hand when certain roles are being filled,'' said Farrell. "All that's being closely watched right now. He's throwing the ball real well. He's shown a tremendous competitiveness and a mound presence that is strong.''