All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 7-3 win over the A's, complete with BSJ analysis and insight.
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Walden continues strong start: On a day in which the Red Sox needed to rely on their bullpen -- especially after spot starter Hector Velazquez lasted only two innings, thanks to 43 pitches -- the Sox got terrific work from Marcus Walden, who has been one of their most dependable relievers this season. Walden pitched three scoreless innings and was nearly perfect, his outing blemished only by a two-out single in his first inning of work. Walden is unscored upon in 10 of his 11 appearances this season and sports a 1.65 ERA. "He's been great,'' said Alex Cora. "He's been outstanding in different roles. He has good stuff -- good velocity, good movement. I think his slider usage has been a little different this year and he's gaining confidence. You use him in spots where it's high leverage and he gets outs and he feels better about himself.'' As a journeyman who's spent a lot of time in the minors, Walden is relishing the opportunity he's been given and the success he's enjoying. "I'm just trying to enjoy it, honestly,'' he said. "It's been a long road.''
Moreland riding hot bat: The Red Sox first baseman has traditionally not been a fast starter, but that's changed this year with a team-high nine homers and 19 RBI. In the last two games of this series, he had two homers and four RBI. Coming into this season, he was averaging one homer per 23.18 at-bats; this year, it's been one every 10.22 at-bats. Why? "I don't know,'' chuckled Moreland, "because it doesn't really feel like (a great start). I've hit a couple of more homers. I'll take it. Whatever I can do to help us get runs on the board and win games.'' Part of his success might be a willingness to go the other way more. In his first three times to the plate Wednesday, he hit the ball hard to left field -- a sacrifice fly in the second, a homer into the Monster Seats in the fourth and a long out to the warning track in the seventh.
Sox willing to go small: Maybe it had something to do with this being a bullpen game, but the Red Sox showed a willingness to do the little things to get ahead early. In the fifth inning, leading 2-1 with Tzu-Wei Lin on second and no outs, leadoff hitter Andrew Benintendi got a bunt down to move Lin to third, from where he scored on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts. "We felt, where we were in the lineup, that run was huge for us, to go up two with the bullpen and all that,'' explained Cora. "We needed (Benintendi) to get the guy over regardless -- if he wants to bunt, pull the ball, whatever.'' Three innings earlier, Moreland had delivered a sac fly with no out to make sure the Sox got a run. The Red Sox have five sacrifice bunts this year; they had seven all of last year.
SECOND GUESS
In the second inning, with a run in and runners at first and second, Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to right, but third base coach Carlos Febles held Michael Chavis at third base with the No. 9 hitter. With the Sox looking to do all they can to get runs early, that would have been a good spot to send the runner. As it turned out, the Sox didn't score again that inning.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez belted his fifth homer of the year in the eighth inning after hitting just three all of last season.
Tzu-Wei Lin: Given a rare start at shortstop, Lin contributed from the No. 9 spot in the lineup, doubling and scoring in the fifth, then beating out an infield single as part of the three-run sixth.
ONE DOWN
Tyler Thornburg: For the second straight day, the Sox brought in Thornburg to get some work in a low-leverage spot and for the second straight day, it nearly blew up. Thornburg was rocked for three doubles and two runs before finally getting the last out of the game.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's always nice to get three against a team we really haven't played great against the last couple of years.'' — Moreland.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox pitching staff didn't allow a single walk for the first time this season.
- Rafael Devers (2-for-4) is batting .407 over the last seven games.
- Mookie Betts has driven in a run in six of his last seven games.
- Jackie Bradley Jr. has seven walks in his last 10 games.