All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 6-5 win over the White Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Hernandez feels a part of it all: Infielder Marco Hernandez has been through a lot in the last two years. He's undergone three separate shoulder surgeries just to make it back on the field. He's been part of the roster for the last few weeks and had his contributions, but Monday was his biggest night yet, as he beat out a bases-loaded infield single to plate the winning run. Inserted into the game as a pinch-runner, his spot came up with two outs and the bases jammed against Jace Fry. "It feels pretty good,'' acknowledged Hernandez. "It's been a blessing for me being here again and helping the team win, especially right now, because we need to win as many games as we can before the All-Star break. This was a huge win for us.'' Hernandez said he was focused on putting the ball in play. The ball, hit toward the shortstop hole, wasn't hit hard, but that gave him time to beat the throw from shortstop Tim Anderson.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1143353774452477952
Unorthodox call mid-at-bat: An unusual bit of strategy was utilized in the top of the eighth. Righthander Colten Brewer was facing lefty Jon Jay with a runner on first. Brewer ran the count full and James McCann swiped second base, only to have manager Alex Cora come out and summon lefty Josh Taylor. "We've been talking about it for a month and a half,'' said Cora smiling. "I don't want Jay to face a righty there (with a baserunner in scoring position and first base open). I didn't want him to flip a ball into left field. (Bringing Taylor in) was actually a matchup that was better for us, so we went with it. He made a good pitch and Jon took it (for ball four) and we moved on.'' Said Taylor: "I knew I had the next hitter (Yoan Moncada), but either way, I was ready to go at whoever I needed to.''
Two mistakes nearly costly: The Sox had a sloppy night on the bases. In the fourth inning, Rafael Devers, back in the starting lineup for the first time since Wednesday because of a hamstring strain, doubled and took third on a wild pitch. Jackie Bradley Jr. then flew to left, and Devers, a little too casually, was slow getting back to the bag as left fielder Eloy Jimenez fired to shortstop Tim Anderson covering third and Devers was picked off at third, ending the inning. Later, in the eighth, Bradley drew a leadoff walk and took off for second on what was supposed to be a hit-and-run. But Christian Vazquez either missed the sign or couldn't put bat to ball and Bradley was an easy out at second base as he pulled up just shy of the bag.
TURNING POINT
In the eighth inning, Taylor caught Yoan Moncada looking at a called third strike with two runners on, preventing the White Sox from adding on further to their lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Sox tied it, setting up the walk-off drama for the ninth.
TWO UP
Marcus Walden: Though Walden first yielded a run-scoring single to score one of the two baserunners he inherited in the seventh, he limited the damage with two more strikeouts.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley homered over the Red Sox bullpen and reached base three other times with walks.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Martinez went 0-for-4 -- stranding two runners in the process -- to extend his hitless streak to 14 at-bats.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It still counts as (just) two wins, but we feel good, that's for sure. Walk-offs just feel different and team morale is hopefully boosted.'' Jackie Bradley Jr. on two walk-off wins in the last four days.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox have had five walk-off wins, with the winning run delivered by five different players.
- Boston has now won four in a row against the White Sox.
- The Sox are 12-2 in Eduardo Rodriguez's last 14 starts.
- Mookie Betts extended his on-base streak to 15 games.