All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-5 win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Red Sox play long ball: Coming into Tuesday's game, the Red Sox were tied for third for most homers in the month of May and they kept adding to that total in the win. In the first inning, J.D. Martinez ended a homerless streak of 62 at-bats when he went deep, scoring Mookie Betts in front of him. In the fourth inning, after the Orioles had tied it 2-2, Xander Bogaerts restored the lead with a solo shot to lead off the inning, his seventh of the season and third on this road trip. But the biggest blow of the game came in the fifth when Mitch Moreland stepped to the plate with two on and none out and drove a pitch the other way, easily clearing the fence in left for his 10th homer, most on the team. Maybe this power burst should have been expected. Not only are the Red Sox on a roll with the long ball, but Camden Yards is one of the coziest ballparks in either league, on a warm night -- game-time temperature was a summer-like 77 degrees -- but the Orioles have also been giving up homers at a record place. Before Tuesday, they had already allowed 75 homers in their first 35 games.
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Outfield defense plays a role: At times this season, the Red Sox' outfield defense has been less than advertised. With two Gold Glove winners in center and right and another Gold Glove nominee in left (Andrew Benintendi), the Sox haven't flashed the leather the way did for much of last season. Some balls that would have been caught a year ago have dropped in and Jackie Bradley Jr., for one, has disappointing defensive metrics. But Tuesday night, Bradley and fellow Gold Glove winner Mookie Betts turned in a number of brilliant plays. In the first inning, Betts raced back and had to reach well over his head to snag a soaring line drive by Chris Davis, taking away extra bases. Then, in the sixth, in the span of three batters, both Bradley and Betts shone. First, Bradley came racing in to make a diving catch on a sinking liner by Rio Ruiz. One out later, it was Betts's turn, sprinting to the right-center gap before laying out to make a terrific catch on a ball by Steve Wilkerson.
Velazquez stops short: Swingman Hector Velazquez got another start Tuesday, his fifth this season and for a time, it looked like he was finally going to carry the Sox into the middle innings. He was tagged for a two-run homer in the first, then escaped a first-and-second mess with two outs in the second. He then needed just 10 pitches to get through a 1-2-3 third and with his pitch count a modest 46 at that point, it appeared he could give the Sox another inning or perhaps more. Surely, the bullpen could have used it after needing to bail out another spot starter, Josh Smith, in the fourth inning in the series opener Monday night. Instead, Velazquez was lifted after just three innings, forcing the bullpen to get the final 18 outs. Initially, the short starts by Velazquez were because he hadn't been properly stretched out. But by now, that shouldn't be the case and it may well be that the Sox don't want him facing the lineup a second time, never mind a third. In his five starts, Velazquez has yet to finish the fourth inning and hasn't thrown more than 57 pitches.
TURNING POINT
After the Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the eighth, they had the potential tying run on first base when Matt Barnes took over for Ryan Brasier and struck out Wilkerson for the final out.
ONE UP
Christian Vazquez: The catcher continues to swing it, collecting two hits in four trips and now has multiple hits in each of his last three games.
ONE DOWN
Michael Chavis: The rookie appears mired in the first slump of his major league career. He was 0-for-3 and is now hitless over his last 11 at-bats.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"I feel like it always flies pretty good here, honestly. It doesn't really surprise me.'' J.D. Martinez on the Sox hitting three homers and the Orioles hitting two.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Martinez hit his 200th career homer and became the seventh-fastest active player to reach that milestone.
- Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless seventh and has allowed two hits in 49 at-bats this season.
- This was the first win in the last nine victories for the Red Sox with a margin of victory of fewer than four runs.