All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-3 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
The little things mean a lot: With the game tied in the top of the 11th, the Red Sox pulled this one out with good execution. After Rafael Devers dumped a single into center to lead off the inning, Michael Chavis worked a walk, giving the Sox two on and no out. Jackie Bradley Jr. then put down a near-perfect bunt just up the third base line, forcing pitcher Jose Alvarado to come off the mound and make a strong throw to first, just nipping Bradley, as both baserunners advanced. From there, it was up to Christian Vazquez, who hung in against the hard-throwing Alvarado, driving a fly ball deep enough to right to deliver Devers with the go-ahead run as Chavis tagged and took third. The Sox couldn't plate an insurance run with two outs as Andrew Benintendi rolled out to second for the third out, but they had taken the lead, then held on.
Bullpen (mostly) does the job: With David Price through after just five innings thanks to a climbing pitch count (100), the Red Sox once asked a lot from their relievers, and for the most part, that trust was answered. Brandon Workman turned in a perfect sixth and Colten Brewer did the same in the seventh. Matt Barnes hit a speed bump in the eighth when he left a curveball at the top of the zone, which Tommy Pham hit out -- just barely -- to right to tie the game. But Marcus Walden stepped in with two strong innings, allowing just one infield single while getting four outs on the ground and two strikeouts. For the last two games, Walden faced nine hitters and allowed just one to reach while striking out four. Finally, there was Ryan Brasier, who set down the side in order in the 11th to pick up the same. The homer allowed by Barnes forced extra innings for the team, but overall, the bullpen gave the Sox six innings with just one run allowed on only two hits -- a performance the Sox will take every time.
Price delivers: From the beginning of the season, David Price has been the most consistent starter the Sox have had. In the early going, he didn't nosedive when the others did -- his "lesser'' outings at least kept the team in the game and gave them a chance. And over his last two outings, Price has now pitched 12 innings and allowed only two runs. The only issue for him Sunday was a lack of economy -- he needed 20 or more pitches to get through three different innings, and those 100 pitches over five frames resulted in an early exit. Still, while Price was in, he was dominant, racking up 10 strikeouts, with a 94 mph fastball and a strong changeup. He only walked two and the only ball hit hard against him was a two-out double to Daniel Robertson, which resulted in two runs scoring.
SECOND GUESS
As big as this game was for the Sox, you could certainly take issue with Alex Cora going to Barnes for a third straight game. Barnes seemed tired, too, relying more on his curveball than his fastball -- and it was the curveball that Pham hit out for a game-tying homer in the eighth.
TWO UP
Xander Bogaerts: The shortstop put the Sox ahead 3-2 in the sixth when he drilled a line single to center, scoring two baserunners.
Marcus Walden: Walden turned in his second straight strong performance, giving the Sox two scoreless innings, allowing just an infield single while fanning two.
ONE DOWN
Matt Barnes: Barnes was charged with his second straight blown save, giving up the game-tying homer to Pham in the eighth.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We know the type of team we have in this clubhouse and I think we showed that these last three days.'' - David Price
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games and has reached base in 21 of 22 games this season.
- Mookie Betts has his fourth straight multi-hit game.
- Mitch Moreland continued to improve a personal best with his seventh homer of the year before May.
- Ryan Brasier earned his fifth save of the year.