CLEVELAND -- All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-4 loss to Cleveland, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Devers comes alive: With Eduardo Nunez missing some time as a tight hamstring heals, Rafael Devers has been the beneficiary of more playing time of late and he's making the most of it. For the second time in as many nights, Devers belted a home run, displaying the raw power that he showed last year, and occasionally, earlier this year. He has now hit safely in five straight, during which he's 7-for-21 with two homers and six RBI. "I feel good,'' said Devers. "I'm getting better with each game I get to play. No big changes -- I just kind of closed up my stance a little bit. But the swing is still the same. The reason for (adjusting the stance) was, I was opening up a bit too quickly. I feel like I can see the ball better and keep the ball in play when I do make contact.'' Devers seems to have benefited from more consistent playing time, since, like most young players, he can find it difficult to maintain his timing when he's not in the lineup on a daily basis. "These last few days, I've been able to take advantage (of the regular at-bats),'' he said, "and it's helped a bit.''
https://twitter.com/brendan_camp/status/1043652856593694721
Porcello not sharp: Rick Porcello didn't factor into the decision, but this was hardly one of his better starts of the season. After a scoreless first in which he allowed a one-out single, it seemed that Porcello working out of the stretch constantly, with lots of action on the bases. He got tagged for two runs in the second -- with a potential third run gunned down at the plate -- then gave up solo runs in both the third and fourth before finally realizing a 1-2-3 innings in the fifth. "I never really got into a groove,'' confessed Porcello. "I felt like I was behind in a couple of counts. They swung the bats well and did a nice job getting hits in timely situations. But overall, it was another start, I'll make the adjustments I need to make and then move forward.'' Going into the game, Porcello was limited to five innings -- though with 84 pitches in those five, it was unlikely he would have pitched more than one more. Porcello said his goal for his final start of the season will be to make better pitches with runners on base -- something he didn't do well Saturday night.
Bullpen better: While it's true that most -- if not all -- of the relievers the Red Sox used after Porcello will be excluded from the postseason roster, the Sox got strong performances from the bullpen. Robby Scott, Brian Johnson and Joe Kelly combined to give the Sox five scoreless innings from the sixth through the 10th inning before the Indians finally broke through against Drew Pomeranz. Scott allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in one-plus inning of work, followed by Johnson, who gave the Sox some length in turning in three shutout innings. Johnson struggled with his command at times, issuing four walks, but managed to get out of trouble every time and didn't allow a hit over the course of his outing. Finally, after Johnson had issued consecutive walks in the bottom of the 10th, putting the potential winning run in scoring position with no out, Kelly came in and punched out two before ending the threat on a soft tapper to third.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox had plenty of chances to cash in against Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger in the early innings. But they stranded two with two out in the first, two with none out in the second and two more with two out in the third, allowing him off the hook on multiple occasions. A big hit in one of those innings may have built an early lead for the Sox and changed how the game played out thereafter.
TWO UP
Joe Kelly: Kelly entered the game with an ERA of 11.12 in the month of September, but after inheriting a two-on, no-out jam in the 10th, got two strikeouts and a soft groundout to keep the game tied.
Blake Swihart: Swihart, getting his first start behind the plate in a while, contributed with the bat, too, belting his first homer in almost two months -- a solo shot to lead off the fourth.
ONE DOWN
Ian Kinsler: It was a long -- and unproductive -- night at the plate for the second baseman, who was 0-for-6 with and only got the ball out of the infield once.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"To see those guys, you never know -- we might face them later on in October, so it's good to face them and also good to be successful.''
— Alex Cora on the fact that the Sox managed to score a run against both Andrew Miller and Brad Hand, Cleveland's two best relievers.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The loss was one of just three walk-off losses for the Red Sox this season and the first since May 11 at Toronto.
- Andrew Benintendi is batting .331 with RISP this season.
- The extra-inning contest was the first for the Red Sox since Aug. 7.
- Blake Swihart is hitting .333 (4-for-12) on the current road trip.