All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-0 win over the Royals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sale records second immaculate inning of season: As a snapshot of his dominance over the course of his complete game shutout, let's take a look at the eighth inning in which Chris Sale posted his second "immaculate inning'' -- that is, three strikeouts on nine pitches in an inning -- of this season. Sale had already thrown 82 pitches by then, but showed that he still had plenty in the tank. He began the inning by getting rookie Kelvin Gutierrez looking at a called third strike. He then did the same with Nicky Lopez, before ramping it up to overpower catcher Martin Maldonado, getting him to flail at a third strike. Throughout the inning, Sale, deftly mixed his changeup, slider and fastball to overpower the Royals. No Red Sox pitcher had ever recorded an "immaculate inning'' twice in his Boston career, much less in the same season. And just for good measure, he was pumping his fastball at 96-97 mph ... in the eighth inning.
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1136463809986666496
Offense scores eight runs for third straight time: After periods of inconsistency throughout the first two months, the Red Sox' offense has achieved peak performance over the last three games. Granted, two of the three came against the Royals, surely one of the handful of worst teams in the game. But the Sox also scored eight in the final game in New York, too, so maybe this isn't all about the quality of the opposition. Another good sign: for the second night in a row, after the Red Sox kept adding on runs late in the game, providing a sizable cushion for themselves. It was a balanced attack, too, with two different hitters (Brock Holt, Andrew Benintendi) supplying three hits apiece and two others (Rafael Devers and Jackie Bradley Jr.) providing three RBI. Perhaps most impressive was the fact that all of the runs came about with very little input from their two top hitters, J.D Martinez (0-for-5) and Mookie Betts (0-for-4, walk, run scored).
Benintendi heating up in No. 2 spot: Andrew Benintendi never seemed to get comfortable in the leadoff spot, where he was placed at the beginning of the season. He had only four hits in the first inning and seemed to be overly passive in a spot in the order where the Red Sox were seeking a more aggressive approach. But since being returned to the second spot in the lineup, Benintendi has begun to take off at the plate. He had a two-hit night Sunday in New York, followed that with a double and a walk in the series opener Tuesday night, and broke out with a three-hit performance in Wednesday's lopsided win. Benintendi stroked a single to right in the first, a run-scoring single to center in the second and then doubled to right-center to lead off the fifth. The main intent in the batting order switch was to get Betts going -- while allowing him to run more. But so far, Benintendi has been the big beneficiary of the change.
SECOND GUESS
Michael Chavis snapped an 0-for-7 skid with an opposite-field single, but he also fanned three more times in five plate appearances and is obviously lost at the plate. Even allowing for the fact that the Sox are without both Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce -- both sidelined on the IL with back issues -- it would do Chavis some good to get a game or two off. The Sox can use Eduardo Nunez at second and Brock Holt at first. Chavis needs time.
TWO UP
Sandy Leon: The catcher continues to provide more competitive at-bats. He supplied a double in the second inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Rafael Devers: The third baseman did it all -- he turned in a spectacular fielding gem, gloving a high backhand; he stole a base; and he hit his ninth homer while also adding a double and a run-scoring fielder's choice.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1136448817467932672
ONE DOWN
Mookie Betts: Since being returned to the leadoff spot in New York last Friday, Betts has yet to get acclimated. It was more of the same Wednesday night with an 0-for-4 night with a walk.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"The slider was good, the changeup was good and I think fastball command was elite. It was one of his best.'' -- Alex Cora on Sale.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The win was the seventh in the last eight tries for the Red Sox against the Royals.
- Brock Holt has reached base six times in eight plate appearances in the series.
- The Sox have scored seven runs or more in each of their last five games at Kauffman Stadium.