BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 7, Orioles 2 - Sale sharp as Sox best O's again

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 7-2 win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Sale dominant again: Consider Chris Sale officially hot. Sale struck out 10 Orioles and walked only one as he scatted six hits in six innings of work (103 pitches, 68 strikes). This was the ninth time in his past 11 starts that Sale has reached double-digit strikeouts. But it looked like he was again going to be a victim of poor run support as the game went scoreless into the sixth inning. Sale's teammates, however, decided to give him a parting gift as they struck for three runs in the top of the sixth. Nine times in Sale's 15 starts, the Sox failed to score that many (three) runs in support of their ace. That's one reason why his record rose to only 3-7. “He’s been pitching great and he hasn’t won a game," said Alex Cora. "There’s been other guys around the league that they give up four or five in five innings and they get W’s. So that really doesn’t matter. He always talks about going out there as soon as possible and dominate. Tonight he did a good job.” Sale allowed back-to-back singles to start the sixth, and then an RBI double to Renato Nunez. After a sacrifice fly, Sale struck out Keon Broxton on a nasty slider to end the threat and his night.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1140046330041118725

Martinez rounding into form: Speaking of scorching hot, J.D. Martinez launched his fourth home run in the past three games. His solo shot in the seventh helped answer Baltimore's two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Martinez has come back well after missing four games against the Rays. “For how much we missed him during that weekend in Tampa, you have to be smart,” Cora said. “You can’t push your guys if they don’t feel right. We made the right decision. Obviously, we wanted him to play obviously because of what he brings on a nightly basis to our lineup. But it was a smart thing to do and now we see the benefits.”

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1140020803037290497

 

TURNING POINT

It got a little dicey there in the eighth inning with the Red Sox clinging to a 4-2 lead. Matt Barnes allowed a one-out single, and uncorked wild pitches around a strikeout to put runners on first and third with two outs. But with Chris David pinch-hitting for Broxton, Barnes settled down to punch out Davis looking on just four pitches.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1139694079057571840

THREE UP

Bullpen: Barnes' theatrics aside, the Sox' bullpen of Marcus Walden, Barnes and Brandon Workman combined to hold the Orioles scoreless in the final three frames with just two hits allowed and five strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts: His RBI double started the offense and led to the three-run inning. He added a sac fly in the ninth.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1140013851825586177

Brock Holt: Again showed his value (when he's not diving into the crowd) by going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.

ONE DOWN

Mookie Betts: Despite getting a night off on Friday, Betts continues to scuffle as he was 0 for 4 with five runners left on base, including two in scoring position. He's 1 for his last 11, and is batting .161 in his last 15 games.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"We’ve been talking about five over (.500) for a while. I think it’s been like a month, a month-and-a-half. So we’ve got a shot now.” — Cora.

 

UP NEXT

The Red Sox will look for the sweep as LHP Brian Johnson (1-0, 12.71 ERA) makes his first appearance since going on the IL with elbow inflammation on April 6. LHP John Means (6-4, 2.60) will toe the slap for Baltimore, and leads it in ERA.