All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 9-4 win over the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight...
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sox make sure to add on: Too often this season, the Red Sox have managed to score some runs early, but then stop producing, making for rocky finishes, especially given some of the issues with their bullpen. But this wasn't one of those nights. After the Sox overcame a one-run deficit in the fifth with three runs to take the lead, they didn't coast the rest of the way. In the eighth inning, they parlayed four straight hits -- three of them for extra bases -- and then two walks into three huge insurance runs. In addition to providing some separation on the scoreboard, it gave Alex Cora a chance to do something he's been wanting to do more often: provide Matt Barnes with some work in non-high leverage situations. After going 17 innings the night before, the Sox eighth-inning eruption guaranteed that this one was not going to get away from the Sox.
Rodriguez answers the call: The Red Sox used a total of nine relievers in Tuesday's endless 17-inning defeat -- including a pitcher who had started two days prior -- so the bullpen was pretty spent coming into Wednesday. Eduardo Rodriguez knew that and provided the Sox with seven innings, throwing 111 pitches, nearly matching his season high (he threw 114 pitches last Friday night in Baltimore). It didn't look promising in the beginning as Rodriguez allowed a run in the first, another in the third and two more in the fourth. Even in a scoreless second inning, Rodriguez faced five hitters and needed 18 pitches. And then there were the walks -- three in the first three innings, or one more than he had thrown in his previous three starts combined. But after allowing two solo homers in the fourth, something clicked for Rodriguez. He got the final two hitters to finish out that inning, then set down nine of the next 10, getting the Sox through seven and leaving just six outs to the taxed bullpen to cover.
Devers leaves with hamstring: One negative to the win came in the fifth inning when Rafael Devers, who had already singled and scored in the second, beat out a slow roller to third. As Devers crossed the first base bag, he grimaced and appeared to have pulled a muscle in his leg. He remained in the game, but when Xander Bogaerts followed with a double to left, Devers stopped at third, and it was clear that something wasn't right. He was removed from the game, and not long after the Red Sox announced that he had a hamstring strain. He was replaced by Eduardo Nunez, who performed well contributing two doubles and a run scored while making all the plays at third. Cora said after the game that Devers was day-to-day and likely wouldn't play Friday; the Sox can ill-afford to be without Devers for an extended stretch of time. Since May 1, he's knocked in 39 runs and has become a mainstay in the Red Sox lineup, often batting cleanup.
TURNING POINT
The Sox trailed 4-3 heading into the top of the fifth, but of the first five hitters they sent to the plate in that inning, four reached base and the other delivered a sacrifice fly. The Sox scored three runs, took the lead for good and never looked back.
TWO UP
Brock Holt: Holt ended Tuesday's marathon with three straight hits over his final three plate appearances and picked up right where he left off, adding a run-scoring hit, a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk.
Michael Chavis: The first baseman extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits and two RBI.
ONE DOWN
Sandy Leon: Leon seems to be back in a funk at the plate and is now hitless in his last 11 at-bats, going 0-for-4 Wednesday, though he did have a walk.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I think we're starting to play like we should. We've had some blips here and there, but we're not getting down on our ballclub. We're staying positive.'' Michael Chavis.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The game marked only the second time in Rodriguez's career that he pitched at least six innings in consecutive starts.
- The win was the Red Sox' ninth in the last 10 road games.
- Brock Holt has 13 RBI in his last 18 games.
- Boston has won 12 of its last 13 getaway games.