All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-2 win over the Angels, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Outfield defense shines: Everywhere you looked, the Red Sox were getting sterling defensive play from their trio of outfielders. In the first, Jackie Bradley raced back to the deepest part of the park, and timing his leap perfectly, took away sure extra bases from Justin Upton. "Incredible,'' marveled starter Brian Johnson. "I've been seeing that since college, so I would say it's surprising, but it's not. I'm just grateful he's on my team.''
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Then, in the eighth, right fielder Mookie Betts came racing in to snare a sinking liner from Andrelton Simmons. But the biggest catch of the night happened one batter later. With a run in and two Angels on base, David Fletcher lined a ball to left. Andrew Benintendi tracked it to just in front of the scoreboard, and extending his arm like a wide receiver, grabbed the ball saving a couple of runs. "When it was hit, I didn't think he was going to get it, honestly,'' acknowledged Alex Cora. "That play was a game-changer.''
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Johnson steps up: In need of a spot starter after knuckleballer Steven Wright went on the disabled list earlier this week, the Sox turned to lefty Brian Johnson who last started a game on the first weekend of April. Johnson knew he wasn't going to give the Red Sox six because he hadn't been stretched out, but was hoping to provide five. Instead, he gave them four, allowing just one run - a solo homer to Simmons in the fourth. When he was finished, Hector Velazquez piggy-backed with two more innings. "I think Hector and I knew going into the year that our role was going to be bouncing back and forth between spot starts and the bullpen,'' Johnson said. "Whatever it takes to help the team.''
JBJ continues to heat up: For every dip Bradley experiences at the plate, there's usually a corresponding hot streak and we may be witnessing it now. Bradley had a three-hit game Sunday, another three-hit game with a homer Tuesday, a hit on Wednesday and on Thursday, he delivered a huge two-run homer in the seventh that ended up providing the margin of victory for the Red Sox. "I think I've hit some harder this year,'' said Bradley, when told of the exit velocity of 110 mph, "but it felt good coming off the bat.'' Bradley is now batting .202. It's the first time he's been north of .200 since hitting the same mark on April 29.
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TURNING POINT
In the seventh, with the Red Sox holding on to a 2-1 lead, Brandon Workman struck out the first two hitters of the inning before issuing a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Kole Calhoun. That brought Ian Kinsler to the plate representing the go-ahead run. Worse, Mike Trout was on deck. But Workman retired Kinsler on a flyout to left, ending the inning, and enabling Trout to come up the next inning with the bases empty.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: The Sox catcher has two hits, giving him multiple-hit games in three of his last games.
Hector Velazquez: Coming on in relief of starter Johnson, Velazquez pitched two scoreless innings to get the game into the hands of the late-inning relievers and in so doing, ran his record for the season to 6-0.
ONE DOWN
Joe Kelly: Kelly continues to struggle. One night after allowing two runs in the seventh inning, he gave up two hits and two very hard-hit outs in the eighth inning.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"You're going to have bad nights ... But we trust the guy.''
— Cora on reliever Kelly.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox have six of their last seven overall.
- Boston is now a season-high 28 games over .500.
- This was the Red Sox' seventh sweep of the season.
- The Sox hit 20 homers in their six-game season series sweep of the Angels.
- Jackie Bradley Jr. is 8-for-14 with six RBI in his last four games.
- Rafael Devers has 10 RBI in his last 10 games.
- Xander Bogaerts extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games.
