All you need to know, in quickie terms, about the Red Sox' 7-5 win over the Royals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bullpen grinds one out: It wasn't pretty, and the individual line scores look a little ugly. But collectively, the Red Sox bullpen managed to save the day on an afternoon when the Sox got just an inning and a third from their starting pitcher, Ryan Weber. Six different Red Sox relievers paraded out of the bullpen and while they allowed nine hits and three runs, they were able to stitch it together to help give the Red Sox their fourth straight win. Of the relievers who worked, only Colten Brewer (two innings), Ryan Brasier (one inning) and Heath Hembree (one inning) were unscored upon, but again, the relievers were able to limit the damage. Kansas City hitters were just 1-for-11 off the Boston bullpen with runners in scoring position and while they had only one 1-2-3 inning -- provided by Brewer in the third inning -- they got the big outs when they needed them. In all, the Royals stranded 10 baserunners, including six in scoring position.
More balance from the lineup: The Red Sox have any number of hitters in their everyday lineup capable of carrying the team with a hot stretch at the plate. Mookie Betts has done it, J.D. Martinez has, too, and so have both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. But on Thursday -- and indeed, for the duration of the three-game series - the Red Sox got contributions up and down the batting order. Thursday was yet another example of that. Every member of the starting lineup except slumping Michael Chavis had at least one hit and for the third straight time in the series, the Sox had multiple hitters knocking in multiple runs. Betts, Devers and catcher Christian Vazquez all knocked in two apiece, with the other run scoring thanks to a wild pitch. The more contributors, the better, since teams which are overly dependent on one or two hitters on a daily basis inevitably hit a wall when those featured hitters encounter slumps.
Martinez exits with back issues: If it hasn't already, this is starting to become a concern for the Red Sox. Recall that J.D. Martinez missed three games in Toronto on the last road trip in Toronto back of back spasms and the problem continues to occur periodically. He was held out of a game as a precaution in Houston after Toronto, but they've had to monitor it along the way. This isn't anything new for Martinez - he battled the same condition last summer and still came close to capturing the American League Triple Crown while contending for the league MVP. But there are times in recent weeks where Martinez looks uncomfortable at the plate, and you can tell that he's not symptom-free because Alex Cora hasn't played him in the outfield. He's started just 16 of the first 62 games, off the pace of a year ago. Of course, his primary value is at the plate, and even there, he's not having the kind of year he had a year ago, with an OPS below .900 and a batting average of only .228 in his last 15 games.
TURNING POINT: The game seemed in danger of getting away from the Red Sox early after the Royals pieced together four straight hits off Ryan Weber in the second, scoring twice and putting runners at second and third with one out. But Colten Brewer came out of the bullpen and struck out Whit Merrifield for the second out and got Adalberto Mondesi on a flyout to center, stabilizing things for the Sox.
TWO UP
Mookie Betts: Betts reached base in each of his first three trips to the plate with a couple of walks sandwiched around a two-run homer to left in the third inning.
Eduardo Nunez: Getting a rare start at second, Nunez continues to show life at the plate, contributing three singles in four plate appearances. He also stole a base.
ONE DOWN
Ryan Weber: Making his third spot start for the Red Sox, Weber lasted just four outs, leaving too many pitches over the middle of the plate as the Royals connected for four straight hits in the second inning.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Obviously, it wasn't perfect. It is what it is and we feel that going into the weekend, we should be fine.'' Alex Cora on his bullpen.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The game marked the sixth straight game in Kansas City in which the Red Sox have scored at least seven runs.
- Michael Chavis finished the series with eight strikeouts in the three games.
- Eduardo Nunez enjoyed his first three-hit game of the season.