All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-1 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Price turns stopper again: Last weekend, the Red Sox had dropped the first two games of their series with the Yankees before David Price stepped up and put the brakes on their losing streak. On Saturday night, it was more of the same as the Sox had lost the first two games to the Rays. Again, Price stepped up and held Tampa Bay to a single run over six innings, dropping his ERA for the season to 2.70. "They won the game (Friday night) and they won the first game of the doubleheader,'' said Price, "so (the nightcap) was a big game for us, just to keep moving forward. We don't want to lose three games in a row, especially to a team that's ahead of us in the standings. So that's big ... I don't look at it (as being a stopper). I expect us to win every time I touch the baseball. If we've lost a couple of games before I pitch, I want to turn it around.''
Hernandez delivers on promise: Marco Hernandez has missed about two years battling a shoulder injury which necessitated two major surgeries. He's been patiently waiting to contribute again at the major league level. Before he began his minor league rehab assignment more than month ago, he told Price that he would soon arrive and serve as a spark plug. It didn't take him long to fulfill that promise. After being called up Saturday morning, he made a pinch-hit appearance in the afternoon game and knocked in a run in the ninth with a pinch-hit double. Then, getting the start in the nightcap, he delivered another double -- this one, to the opposite field, scoring two runs. "That was awesome,'' said Price of Hernandez's exploits. "For everything he's been through, to be able to bounce back and contribute the way that he has, I'm happy for him.''
Chavis breaking out: It's no secret that Michael Chavis has struggled mightily at the plate over the last 10 days. But he had a much better day Saturday, collecting two singles in the afternoon game, then knocking a double off The Wall in the third inning, driving in the first two runs of the game. That double gave him 30 RBI since April 20, and during that span, only two Red Sox teammates (Rafael Devers with 37 and Xander Bogaerts with 34) have driven in more runs. He also turned in a nice play in the field, snaring a grounder by Kiermaier in the fifth and throwing a strike to Christian Vazquez, cutting down a potential run at the plate at a time when the Sox were clinging to a two-run lead.
TURNING POINT
In the sixth inning, nearing the end of his start, Price had the bases loaded with two outs, facing former teammate Kevin Kiermaier. He ran the count full before getting the outfielder to hit a pop-up just beyond second base, with shortstop Xander Bogaerts drifting back to make the catch, strand the runners and end the inning. The Rays never really threatened again.
ONE UP
Mookie Betts: When Betts took a called third strike in his first at-bat, he fell to 3-for-31. But he singled and scored in his next at-bat, doubled and scored in after that and worked a walk, suggesting he was perhaps ready to bust out of the slump.
ONE DOWN
Rafael Devers: Devers was hitless, going 0-for-4, stretching his current skid to 0-for-14. He also committed his first error since May 2.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He's in a good place. His command was great, the mix of the pitches...he's been great for us.'' Alex Cora on David Price.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Sox snapped a season-long four-game losing streak at Fenway.
- The win was just the third this season for the Sox in games in which they don't hit at least one homer.
- When the Sox score five runs or more, they're 28-7.
- Brandon Workman has made 31 appearances this season and 28 have been scoreless.