All you need to know, in quickie form,, about the Red Sox' 4-3 win over the Astros, complete with BSJ insight and analysis
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bullpen finds redemption: It hadn't been the best wee for the Red Sox bullpen. On Tuesday night, Brandon Workman allowed a game-tying homer in the eighth inning against Colorado, then Ryan Brasier was tagged with the loss in extra innings. On Wednesday, the Sox claimed a split against the Rockies with another extra-inning game, bt the pen still had its issues, with Matt Barnes allowing all three inhertied runners to score. But Sunday was a far better effort from Boston's relievers. Marcus Walden got out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the seventh before Barnes retired the Astros in order in the eighth and Workman handled the ninth, earning the first save of his major league career. In total, the bullpen faced 11 hitters and retired nine of them. Over the last 23 games, Red Sox relievers have built a 2.21 ERA.
Sale grinds one out: Sunday's start was not the dominant Chris Sale who had fanned 44 hitters and walked just one in his previous three starts. Sale had to grind this one out. He was nicked for a run in the second and two more in the third. In his five full innings of work, he had only one 1-2-3 inning (the fifth) and when he left in the sixth, he left the bases full for the bullpen. Particularly uncharacteristic were the season high five walks. "It was kind of a weird day,'' acknowledged Sale. "I was kind of in-and-out of a rhythm and was trying to find a comfortable spot to be in. I felt like my body was over the place. There were times I felt like I was right where I needed to be and others when I was just trying to throw a strike.'' Front-line starters aren't always going to dominate, but Sale found a way to navigate through an imposing lineup while also limiting the damage done against him.
Bogaerts overcomes bad BP: Sunday morning, Xander Bogaerts took batting practice, then wished he hadn't. "He was so down after batting practice,'' said Cora. "He didn't like it. He was rolling over, he was jumpy. I've never seen him that way. He was so down.'' That didn't follow into the game. Bogaerts reached on a wind-blown popup to shallow right in the seventh, then with the game tied in the seventh, stroked a double to center, delivering what proved to be the winning run. "Obviously, I was a bit lucky with the first (hit) I got,'' said Bogaerts. "I think that kind of set the tone for that next at-bat. I was swinging with a little bit more confidence and trying to help the team. But it was a bad BP.'' Bogaerts has 28 RBI, tying him with J.D. Martinez for the second-most on the team this season.
TURNING POINT: After issuing a walk to Josh Riddick in the sixth, Chris Sale was lifted, leaving the bases loaded with one out. In came Marcus Walden, who, on his sixth pitch against Jake Marisnick, got the Astros infielder to hit into an inning-ending double play, preserving a 3-3 tie.
TWO UP
Michael Chavis: Inserted into the leadoff spot for the first time in his career, Chavis had a solo homer and a single in four trips to the plate.
Mookie Betts: Betts had his sixth three-hit game of the season this year and scored three of the Red Sox' four runs.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: A rare off-day at the plate for the Red Sox slugger, who was 0-for-4 and made the final out in the inning twice.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I left him a mess and he did about as good as you can do.'' Chris Sale, who departed with the bases loaded and one out in favor of Marcus Walden.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The victory was the 12th come-from-behind win of the year for the Red Sox.
- Christian Vazquez is batting .528 over his last 11 games.
- Chris Sale reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth straight start.
- Mookie Betts has scored 14 runs in his last 10 games.