All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-0 win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Second shutout: As poorly as the Red Sox have pitched as a staff this season, Sunday marked the second shutout of 2019 and second in the last week. (The Sox also got a 1-0 win in Arizona a week ago in a bullpen game started by Hector Velazquez). This also marked the second quality start in the last three games for the Sox, so maybe there's hope yet for a rotation which began the year in such inauspicious fashion. A big improvement has been made when it comes to limiting the long ball. After Red Sox pitchers seemingly allowed them by the bushel on the first three series, they have not allowed any in the last two games or five of the last seven. Starter David Price bore down when it was necessary, holding the Orioles to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, then got scoreless innings in relief from both Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes.
Bogaerts supplies all the necessary offense: With a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a three-run homer in the eighth, Xander Bogaerts was responsible for all four runs that crossed the plate for the Sox on Sunday with a season-high four RBI. "I'm not going to say I was up there trying to hit a homer, because that's definitely not what I was doing,'' offered Bogaerts. "But I've been going up there with a plan and sticking to the plan. I was looking off-speed the whole at-bat. After (reliever Josh Lucas) threw that first slider, that was pretty tough. But that last one, he just left it in the middle (of the plate).'' Then again, Bogaerts is accustomed to having big games against the Orioles: his last three four-RBI games have all come against the Orioles.
Benintendi gives Sox a scare: In the third inning, Andrew Benintendi fouled a ball off his right foot and went down in a heap. He remained there for a few minutes, wincing in pain before eventually getting up and gingerly testing the foot by first walking, then jogging, down the first base line. After a long delay, he remained in the game and stroked a double to left. But he was limping noticeably into second after the inning was over, the Sox moved Blake Swihart into left and took Benintendi out. This marked the third time in the first two and a half weeks of the season that Benintendi has fouled a ball somewhere off his right leg -- twice, on the opening road trip, he fouled balls off his right knee. "I got nobody else to blame but myself,'' he said. "You're pulling off (pitches when that happens) or something. It's definitely been some bad luck but I'll wear some protective gear and hopefully it's better (Monday).''
TURNING POINT
In the seventh inning, with the Sox clinging to a 1-0 lead, Price allowed a leadoff double to Trey Mancini, with the middle third of the Baltimore lineup due next. But Price got a flyout, a groundout and an infield popup and Mancini never advanced from second.
TWO UP
J.D. Martinez: He reached base three times and has now hit safely in 15 of the Red Sox' 16 games this season.
Ryan Brasier: He picked up an important hold with a scoreless eighth inning, stranding the potential tying run at third.
ONE DOWN
Dustin Pedroia: Serving as the DH, Pedroia was 0-for-4, coming to bat with four runners on base in his first three at-bats and failing to deliver any of them.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Stuff-wise, he's way ahead of where he was last year at this point.'' Alex Cora on David Price.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Matt Barnes issued his first walk of the season.
- The Sox improved to 21-4 in their last 25 games against the Orioles.
- J.D. Martinez has four doubles in the last five games.
- Mookie Betts (eighth-inning single) has reached base against Baltimore in 27 games straight.