For a change, the Red Sox won a laugher, beating the Detroit Tigers 11-1 to snap a two-game losing streak.
The Sox lead 4-1 in the eighth and took advantage of five walks and a hit batsman by the Tigers bullpen to tack on seven runs and blow the game out.
Eduardo Rodriguez limited the Tigers to just three hits and a single run over five innings while striking out seven en route to his second win of the season.
J.D. Martinez led the way with three hits while three others in the lineup had two hits.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Detroit 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 7.20) vs RHP Tyson Ross (1-2, 3.38)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:54 With the bases full, Barnes fans Ronny Rodriguez on three straight curveballs.
9:51 Matt Barnes got the first two outs quickly (both strikeouts) but has since loaded the bases with a walk and two singles.
8:55 Over the last inning or so, Rodriguez hasn't been as sharp with his command. He's issued two walks and allowed two hits over the last seven hitters he's faced, and now, with runners on first and second and no out, finds himself in trouble for the first time.
8:44 Martinez had a highly atypical game in the second game of the doubleheader Tuesday, hitting into a double play and striking out twice. But you knew that wouldn't last -- tonight, he's bounced back with three hits and his line single there scores Betts from second.
8:37 Betts, having taken a called strike to start off each of his first two at-bats, takes a more aggressive approach this time and it pays off. Ross throws an 89 mph four-seamer over the middle and Betts crushes it, high off the Wall in left, scoring Benintendi.
8:24 Gordon Beckham drives a line single to center on an 0-and-1 pitch for the Tigers' first hit of the game. Rodriguez has runners on first and second with one out as he faces his first jam of the night.
7:56 Rodriguez is on a roll. He's retired eight in a row and has needed just 26 pitches for the last two innings.
7:51 One of the things that Christian Vazquez does well is put the ball in play consistently and control the bat well. with Jackie Bradley Jr. off for second and the Beckham drifting toward the bag to cover, Vazquez saw an opening on the right side of the infield and a shot a chopper through to right, scoring a run.
7:42 Red Sox take a 1-0 lead as J.D. Martinez scores from second on a grounder through the right side by Rafael Devers. Detroit second baseman Gordon Beckham didn't get his glove down in time, though he might have had a tough play anyway.
7:23 The first pitch to Mookie Betts - a 90 mph cutter over the middle of the plate -- was the best he saw in the at-bat. He took it for a called strike, soon found himself down 0-and-2 and then took a marginal pitch later in the at-bat for a called strike three. Still passive on occasion.
7:18 Eduardo Rodriguez finishes the first by getting Niko Goodrum to chase a changeup down and away. Rodriguez kept the ball out of the middle of the plate -- too much so with Nick Castellanos, whom he walked on four straight. He also needed 18 pitches.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Betts RF
Moreland 1B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Chavis 2B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
TIGERS
Candelario 3B
Castellanos RF
Cabrera 1B
Goodrum LF
Dixon DH
Rodriguez SS
Beckham 2B
Greiner C
Jones CF
WHAT'S UP: Last night marked the first time the Red Sox had two pitchers (Darwinzon Hernandez, Travis Lakins) make their major league debut in the same game since April 26, 1995 when Frankie Rodriguez and Jeff Pierce threw an inning each...The Sox have hit 10 homers in the last six games after hitting just seven in their previous nine...The Sox have homered in each of their last games, tying their longest such streak of the season...The Sox recorded four OF assists in the two games Tuesday. In the opener, J.D Martinez had one from right field and in the nightcap, Andrew Benintendi had two while Mookie Betts had one...It was their most in a game since 2005 when Manny Ramirez had two and Trot Nixon had one against the Orioles on May 30...Betts has five outfield assists this season, tying him for second most in the majors...Since the start of 2017, Benintendi has 25, the most of any outfielder in the American League...Betts has reached base in 12 of his last 25 plate appearances over his last five games. After going 3-for-32 in a 10-game stretch, Betts is 7-for-18 with five walks in his last five games... Benintendi is hitting .358 with a .973 OPS with four doubles and two homers in his last 14 games...Christian Vazquez has thrown out the last four runners attempting to steal. Among catchers with 100 or more career starts, his caught-stealing percentage of 39.4 is the best in baseball...In his career, Eduardo Rodriguez is 14-1 with a 2.81 ERA when receiving three or more runs of support...The Sox are 18-3 in those games, including 11-0 since the start of 2017....After posting a 12.38 ERA in his first two starts of the season, Rodriguez has a 3.75 in his last two...In three career home starts against the Tigers, Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA...JaCoby Jones is 3-for-4 lifetime against Rodriguez while Nicholas Castellanos is 1-for-12 with a homer and RBI....Only two players on the Red Sox roster have ever faced Ross: Mitch Moreland is 1-for-4 against him while Steve Pearce is 2-2 with an RBI.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Alex Cora on rookie Michael Chavis: "The offensive upside is there. He understands a lot of things about hitting and what he needs to do to be successful. Honestly, there are going to be some swings and misses but he understands what they're trying to do against him. He's a good hitter. Little by little, he's going to understand that he can drive the fastball to right-center and whenever they hang something soft, like they did (Tuesday), he's going to hit it off the wall or hit it over the wall. I think he has a pretty good idea of who he is as a hitter and what he's trying to do...He's going to be a good offensive player.''
- Cora said he remains positive despite the team's struggles. "It's part of my job (to be positive), but it's just me. I'm not positive because it's my job; I'm positive because that's who I am. I know a lot of people see the glass half empty; I don't. I learned that a few years ago. It's not because of what happened last year or what's going on right now. It's who I am. I'm not going to change. I'm the same guy who went into that interview room in New York (before the Red Sox hired him). Whether you're 20 games over (.500) or 10 games under, that's the way I am.''
- Brock Holt, (scratched cornea) who took part in practice with the Northeastern University baseball team Wednesday morning, will go out on a rehab assignment this weekend. He also took ground balls Wednesday. "I think one more day of BP in here is going to get him to the point where he's comfortable.''
- Dustin Pedroia (knee) hit outside Wednesday and "looked OK,'' according to Cora. He ran Tuesday and is scheduled to take ground balls soon. "We'll see how he reacts and then we'll talk about it tomorrow and see what the next step is.''
- Eduardo Nunez (back) took 300 swings Tuesday during the doubleheader and hit outside Wednesday. He was scheduled to take ground balls. "He feels better,'' said Cora. "It wouldn't surprise me if he went on a rehab assignment the next couple of days.''
- Brian Johnson (elbow) threw from a distance of 60 feet. "He's feeling better,'' said Cora. "We're very excited with him.''