All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 9-4 win over the A's, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
A's open door, Red Sox walk through: The Oakland A's were spotted a 4-0 lead, but then invited the Red Sox to climb back into the game. In the bottom of the third inning, the A's committed two glaring errors and the Sox took full advantage. First, with one out and one on, Tzu-Wei Lin hit a tailor-made double play ball to A's second baseman Jurickson Profar, who seemed to freeze, then inexplicably threw the ball past shortstop Marcus Semien. Instead of an inning-ending double play, the A's gave the Sox first-and-second one out. Then, compounding things, when Andrew Benintendi hit a chopper to the right side, starter Frankie Montas was late covering first and couldn't get his foot on the bag, enabling Benintendi to reach and the other runners to advance. That loaded the bases and Montas came unglued thereafter, allowing three straight hits. By the time the inning was over, the Sox had scored six runs -- every one of them unearned.
Chavis keeps hitting: Moved over to first base for a game as slumping Mitch Moreland (0-for-16) got the night off, Michael Chavis continued to wield a hot bat. After hitting into a double play in the second inning, he singled home two runs with a sharp single to center to put the Red Sox ahead to stay, part of the team's six-run third inning. Then, in the fifth, he placed a bloop single into shallow right, enough to score Rafael Devers from second base. In nine games since being promoted, Chavis has now delivered eight runs and has an OPS of 1.072. At a time when the Red Sox lineup had been a bit top heavy, his presence in the middle of the order has helped to lengthen the lineup and provide some punch in the lower half. Equally as impressive was that both of Chavis's run-scoring hits were either up the middle or to the opposite field.
Poor second inning dooms Rodriguez: Eduardo Rodriguez turned in a shaky start, costing himself a win, and very nearly doing the same for the Red Sox. In the top of the second inning, Rodriguez had 0-and-2 counts to the first two A's hitters he faced; he went on to walk both hitters -- first Chad Pinder, then Kendrys Morales -- and both came around to score as the walks paved the way for the A's four-run inning. To his credit, Rodriguez made some adjustments and retired seven in a row at one point But the long second inning ran his pitch count up so high that when he got into more trouble in the fifth -- allowing three hits to the first four batters he faced -- Alex Cora had no choice to lift him at 97 pitches, an out shy of qualifying for the victory.
TURNING POINT
There were two out in the third, with the Sox having come back to tie the game 4-4. And just when it seemed like the A's were going to get out of the inning without further damage Chavis drilled a two-run single up the middle, putting the Sox ahead to stay.
TWO UP
Rafael Devers: Devers had a rough afternoon, committing an error that led to two unearned runs. But he handled all his chances without incident Monday night and added two hits and two runs scored at the plate.
Mookie Betts: His hot streak continued at the plate with a walk and three more hits. Betts has a five-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games.
ONE DOWN
Brandon Workman: On the one hand, Workman continues to be almost impossible to hit, allowing two hits all season. But control continues to be an issue. He walked two hitters last night -- giving him 12 in 12.2 innings this season.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"It's just one game; I'm not going to get caught up in 'we're getting better.''' - Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Seven of the Red Sox' 12 wins this season have come from behind.
- After going 0-for-11 with RISP in the last two games, the Sox were 6-for-14.
- Mookie Betts has reached base 25 times in his last 10 games.
- Ryan Brasier earned his first win of the season.
- Rafael Devers is hitting .366 at home this year.