All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 6-4 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Devers giveth and taketh away: Rafael Devers can be frustrating at times and Friday perfectly encapsulated why. At the plate, Devers came alive with a big double in the fifth, delivering the Red Sox' first hit and first run of the game with one swing. In the bottom of the same inning, he went sprawling to his right to knock down a hard-hit grounder, and from his knees, began an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to keep the Sox tied. The play showed his athleticism and good instincts. But the very next inning, Devers didn't get his glove down fully on another ball hit to his right, and instead of starting another huge 5-4-3 double play, gave the Rays runners at first and second with no out. The next hitter, Daniel Robertson, pulled a double down the left field line, scoring two, the first of which was unearned thanks to the misplay by Devers. That error was his sixth in 20 games, a pace that can't continue if Devers is going to remain the team's everyday third baseman. There's a lot to like about Devers -- his raw powers and ability to occasionally make spectacular plays at third. But he's got to be more consistent and cut down on the errors.
Starting pitching continues improvement: It fell short of qualifying as a quality start, but Eduardo Rodriguez took the Sox into the sixth, allowing four runs -- just three earned -- as the string of better turns from the rotation continued. Rodriguez didn't qualify for the win and wasn't nearly as impressed as he was last time out when he allowed just two runs 6.2 innings while racking up eight strikeouts. But Rodriguez worked out of a first-and-second, no out jam in the first. He yielded a solo homer that barely snaked out in right field near the foul line in second and gave up a run in the fourth. But he deserved a better fate in the sixth when Devers's miscue paved the way for two runs. Again, it wasn't a masterpiece by any means. But of late, Red Sox starters are at least doing what they failed to do over the first two weeks: give the team a chance by getting into the sixth and keeping the opponent within reach.
Sox move on from Swihart: The Blake Swihart Era officially came to an end just before game time when the Sox announced that they had sent Swihart to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league outfielder Marcus Wilson. The move was hardly unexpected given that Swihart had been designated for assignment earlier in the week as the team promoted veteran catcher Sandy Leon. The hope was that the Sox could something/anything for Swihart, rather than have him claimed on waivers. Dave Dombrowski was able to work out a deal with Arizona, an organization flush with former Red Sox people -- GM Mike Hazen, manager Torey Lovullo and assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye, who originally drafted Swihart for the Sox. This should give Swihart a chance to play more while also moving him closer to his New Mexico home. As for Wilson, he's a 22-year-old outfielder who was a former second-round pick listed as the Diamondbacks' 20th best prospect this spring. At Double-A this year, he had an .879 OPS. In the past, he's had difficulty making contact. It's unclear whether he's a true prospect still, or merely an organizational player.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: The Red Sox catcher supplied a big two-run homer fifth -- his fourth homer of the year - added a single in the eighth and also threw out a would-be base stealer.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1119398747740495872
Matt Barnes: Once more inserted in the biggest high-leverage spot of the game, Barnes made quick work of the Rays 3-4-5 hitters in the eighth, retiring the side with two strikeouts.
ONE DOWN
Brandon Workman: For the second straight outing, Workman struggled with his control. He issued two walks in the seventh and has now walked four of the last eight hitters he's faced.
TURNING POINT
After the Rays rallied to tie the game in the sixth and Eduardo Rodriguez was lifted, Workman got a huge double-play to bail the Sox out of a first-and-second, one-out jam.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"We got two shots to win the series and that's the first time I can say that this season. It's good to feel that way.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to nine straight games. He's reached base in all 20 games this season.
- Xander Bogaerts extended his hitting streak to five games.
- Barnes has struck out exactly half of the batters he's faced -- 14-of-28.
- The win marked only the second time this season that the Sox have won the first game of a series.
- Boston has allowed 12 unearned runs this season.