CHICAGO - Making his first start in the big leagues in six weeks, Eduardo Rodriguez looked like he never missed a day. Activated earlier in the day, Rodriguez allowed only a run on three hits over 5.1 innings while fanning 12, leading the Red Sox to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Rodriguez was almost untouchable in the early going, retiring the first dozen hitters in a row, 10 by strikeout.
Meanwhile, the Sox used solo homers from Eduardo Nunez and Jackie Bradley Jr. in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.
After the White Sox managed their lone run in the sixth and Rodriguez was lifted after 90 pitches, the Sox kept adding on, scoring three runs in the seventh on run-scoring hits from Steve Pearce and J.D. Martinez and a throwing error by Chicago starter Carlos Rodon.
Ian Kinsler's solo homer -- his first since joining the Red Sox -- closed out the scoring in the eighth.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
8:56 That's all for Rodriguez, who goes 5.1 innings and allows one run while being responsible for a man on second. In virtually every aspect, it was a resounding success for Rodriguez, who allowed three hits, one walk and posted 12 strikeouts. The only negative: not covering first on a ball hit to the right side to start the sixth, opening the door for the White Sox' rally.
8:27 The White Sox finally have their first baserunner and first hit off Rodriguez as Matt Davidson fights off a fastball in on his hands and punched a blooper into shallow right. Alex Cora might secretly be the happiest guy in the ballpark, since, this being Rodriguez's first game back, he didn't want to have to deal with lifting his pitcher from a potential no-hit bid because of a pitch count.
8:14 It's official -- Eduardo Nunez is red hot. After a second look by the umpires and replay crew, Nunez gets credit for his third homer in the last five games.
8:11 The Red Sox could not be anything but ecstatic with what they've seen from Rodriguez through four innings -- he's shown precise command and the ability to overpower hitters at will. He's retired all 12 hitters he's faced, 10 by strikeout and he's done it with a reasonable pitch count (54 pitches).
8:00 Steve Pearce takes a pitch on his front (left) foot and collapses at the plate. Looked bad for a minute, but he's up, and trotting down to first base.
7:35 It's early yet, but you have to be impressed with the life on the fastball - both the two-seamer and four-seamer -- shown by Eduardo Rodriguez. He's fanned five of the first six hitters he's faced and every one of the strikeouts has come on a fastball.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox saw their three-game winning streak snapped Friday night with a rain-delayed, 6-1 loss to Chicago. With August done, the Red Sox have a winning record in each of the first five (full) months of the season. Their lead is at 7.5 games over second-place New York in the A.L. East standings. Boston comes into Saturday with an influx of additional players, the result of rosters expanding past their normal limit of 25. The arrival of lefty relievers Bobby Poyner and Robby Scott should help ease the burden on an overworked bullpen. Saturday marks the return of Eduardo Rodriguez, who last pitched on July 15 and was sidelined for about six weeks with an ankle injury.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-3, 3.44) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (6-3, 2.70).
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Pearce 1B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 3B
Kinsler 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
WHITE SOX
Anderson SS
Delmonico DH
Garcia RF
Davidson 1B
Moncada 2B
LaMarre LF
Navvaez C
Sanchez 3B
Engel CF
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Chris Sale, in the immediate aftermath of five straight throw days, felt good enough Saturday afternoon to throw a bullpen session here, an encouraging sign for the pitcher -- and the team -- as he attempts to come back from his second DL stint due to mild shoulder inflammation. "He feels good,'' said Alec Cora. "I know we have to be careful, but at the same time, we have to trust the player. We've got time and we have to take of him, but he's been feeling great.''
- David Price, who was knocked out of his last start on Wednesday when he took a comebacker off the base of his left wrist, played catch for the first since the incident. "He feels OK,'' said Cora. "He's going to try to pick it up (Sunday) and see how he feels. Hopefully, (he'll return to the rotation) during (next) weekend; if not, whenever he's ready. He was just playing catch, it wasn't full blast. But it was a good first step. He feels he'll be OK to let it fly a little bit (Sunday) and we'll go from there.''
- The Red Sox seem to be sending something of a message to third baseman Rafael Devers by not recalling him from his rehab assignment on the day that rosters expand. Eduardo Nunez has hit .306 in his last 29 games and shown solid defense at third. "One thing's for sure, Raffy has to play better,'' said Cora. "We knew that. The whole season, offensively, he's been up and down. Defensively, he's made his errors. But he needs to be better, that's the bottom line. We're here to win games and whoever's playing best is going to play.''
- With Nathan Eovaldi, coming back early to start Monday after he threw just two innings in the rain-delayed game Friday, the Sox are in need of a starter for Wednesday and may turn to Drew Pomeranz, who tossed four shutout innings Friday night.