All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 9-5 win over the Mariners, complete with BSJ insight and analysis:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Porcello fixes things: The day did not begin well for Red Sox starter Rick Porcello. After fanning the first batter he faced, Porcello allowed five hits to the next six batters he faced -- including two doubles and a two-run homer -- to put the Sox behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning, requiring 32 pitches. But when Porcello returned in the second inning, he was a different pitcher. Porcello retired 18 of the next 20 hitters he faced -- allowing just a baserunner on his own error in the third and walking his final batter of the afternoon in the seventh -- to give the Sox 5.2 scoreless innings after his rough start. "That was great,'' said Alex Cora. "He didn't execute there for four or five batters and they were very aggressive. They're one of the most aggressive teams in the (strike) zone, early in counts and they made us pay. But after that, he made some adjustments with his command, changing the game plan and he was able to give us 6.2 (innings).'' Porcello knew he had to change things. "You've got to make an adjustment to stay out there and keep us in the game, especially after four in the first,'' he said. "To be able to settle down and give us a chance to win, I take a lot of pride in that.''
Leon's surprise power: The Red Sox had already gone ahead 6-4 and had runners at the corners with one out when they put the bunt play on for light-hitting catcher Sandy Leon. Leon fouled the bunt attempt off and then got the go-ahead to swing away. He clubbed a pitch into the Monster Seats for a three-run shot, effectively putting the game away with his first homer of the year and his first since last Aug. 14. "It felt good,'' said Leon. "We won the game and that's all I care about. Just win the game and do my stuff behind the plate and try to help the team win the game.'' Leon has had better success at the plate of late. In Baltimore, he had his first multi-hit effort since last July and he's lifted his batting average to a more respectable .222.
Bradley continues to make progress: Leon isn't the only one trying to climb out of an early-season rut. Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitting a mere .149, but he's had better at-bats of late -- he doubled in his first trip to the plate Friday -- while also increasing his walk rate, with four walks in his last five games before Saturday. He came to the plate in the third inning with the bases loaded, facing former teammate Roenis Elias -- lefty, no less -- and drilled a pitch up the middle for a two-run single. "Obviously, we know each other from being teammates,'' said Bradley of the at-bat, "but you still have to execute...I'm working to get better.'' Cora has said Bradley has been showing signs in batting practice this past week and feels a breakout is just around the corner. "You can see him trending in the right direction,'' Cora said. "He's trying to slow things down. He's quieter with his body.''
TURNING POINT: The Red Sox were building their comeback inning in the third, with three runs in already to tie the game. They had Xander Bogaerts on third and Rafael Devers on second when Michael Chavis worked a walk off starter Felix Hernandez. That resulted in Hernandez being lifted in favor of former Sox reliever Roenis Elias, who promptly allowed a two-run single to Jackie Bradley Jr. and a three-run homer to Sandy Leon.
TWO UP
Ryan Brasier: It was the ultimate low-leverage appearance -- with the Sox leading by five in the eighth inning -- but Brasier, coming off a rough road trip, had himself an 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.
Rafael Devers: The third baseman continues to wield a hot bat, collecting three singles and a walk in five plate appearances to lift his average to .326 for the season. He also swiped his fifth stolen base, tops on the team.
ONE DOWN
Andrew Benintendi: It's the outfielder's job to get on base and set the table for the rest of the lineup, but he failed to reach base in his first four plate appearances before working a one-out walk in the seventh.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"We're not the same team we were on March 28.'' Alex Cora, when asked how the Sox were able to overcome a big deficit early, as opposed to their inability to do so earlier in the season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The win gave the Sox their fourth straight series win.
- Xander Bogaerts has knocked in 18 runs in his last 18 games.
- Mitch Moreland has homered in four straight home games.
- The Red Sox worked 11 walks, their most since walking 13 times against Kansas City last July 7.
- The eight-run third inning was the second-biggest inning of the season; they scored nine in in the third on May 4 at Chicago.