All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 14-6 victory over the Marlins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
https://twitter.com/tlott33/status/1034947588976508929
Price left game with wrist injury: Just when it seemed like the Red Sox starting rotation was coming back together, the Red Sox got a scare in the top of the third inning. A comebacker off the bat of Austin Dean caught David Price just below the base of the left wrist. Price was struck hard enough -- exit velocity had it at 102 mph -- that the ball caromed to first baseman Steve Pearce, who tossed to Price covering for the final out. Price went from the first base bag, down the runway to the clubhouse and didn't return. The Sox termed it a "contusion'' and said x-rays were negative. "I think it will be alright,'' said Price. "I've been hit a couple of times this year. I think I'll be OK. I knew it hit me flush and it caught bone. I knew it was hit hard. I put my hand up as a reaction so it didn't hit me in the face.'' Price's next start is scheduled for Monday in Atlanta, and he's been looking forward to it, since it will provide him with an opportunity to hit under National League rules. But that's the very reason why Alex Cora may want to skip him, to protect the wrist further. "We'll see how it goes,'' said Cora. "We expect him to pitch (soon).''
The inning that wouldn't end: When the bottom of the seventh inning began, the Red Sox were trailing 5-3 and had just three hits. When it was over, finally, they were leading 14-5, thanks to an offensive explosion that saw them pound out 12 hits and score 11 runs. In that inning alone, the Sox went 12-for-13 with a sacrifice. Five different hitters collected two hits as the Sox sent 15 hitters to the plate. It was somewhat reminiscent of a 2003 game against the Marlins at Fenway when the Sox scored 14 runs in the first, including 10 before they made an out. On Wednesday, the first six hitters reached base safely, and after a sacrifice, seven more reached consecutively. The 11 runs are the most in an inning for a major league team this season. Since 1984, it marked only the second time that the Sox had at least 12 hits in an inning. "Hitting is contagious,'' said Mookie Betts with a bit of understatement.
Betts gets his groove back: When the Sox dropped six-of-eight games recently, a slump by leadoff hitter and offensive catalyst Betts was cited as one of the reasons. Betts was alternately passive -- falling behind in the count -- and overly aggressive, chasing pitches out of the zone. But over the last few days, Cora saw some positive signs. "Since Tampa, he's been swinging the bat well,'' insisted Cora. "He just didn't get results, but (I could see) he was getting close.'' Things started to turn Tuesday night when Betts had a single and drew three walks. Then, on Thursday, Betts exploded, with a homer in the third -- his first in 59 at-bats -- followed by a walk in the sixth and then two hits in the seventh -- a two-run double and a single. "It feels good just to go out and help the team win,'' said Betts. "It was just one of those times where you go through those phases, man. You've got to continue to work through it.''
TURNING POINT
The Marlins thought they were playing the proper percentages when they brought in lefty Adam Conley to turn around switch-hitter Blake Swihart. After all, while Swihart was hitting .250 from the left side, he was batting only .125 as a righty. But the move was foiled by Swihart, who singled to left to score the first of the 11 runs the Sox would plate that inning -- and the comeback was on.
TWO UP
Eduardo Nunez: Nunez continues to surge in August with a three-hit night, and a season-high three RBI and belted his second homer in as many nights.
Jackie Bradley: Bradley, too, remains hot, with yet another double -- his 26th of the season -- keying a late-inning comeback, just as he did in Tuesday's come-from-behind win.
ONE DOWN
Andrew Benintendi: Someday, Benintendi will be the answer to a trivia question: who was responsible for all three outs the night the Sox scored 11 runs in an inning (sacrifice bunt, double play)?
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's not the way we wanted to win these two games, but I think it was good for us -- to come out, get behind and come back late in the game (Tuesday) and to be able to come back today, the way that we did.''
— David Price
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- This was the Red Sox' MLB-leading 13th series sweep of the season.
- The win marked the seventh win this year when they've trailed after six innings.
- Boston improved to 48-18 at home.
- The Sox are 22-4 in their last 26 interleague games.
- Betts had his 15th game with three or more hits.
- Betts has nine homers in his last 26 interleague games.