All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-1 win over the Dodgers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
ERod gets second half off to right start: In the first half of the season, Eduardo Rodriguez led all Red Sox starter with nine wins. In his first outing of the second half, he picked up his 10th, allowing a single run on five hits. For Rodriguez, it was his fourth straight win and leaves him three shy of tying his career-best of 13 victories, established last year. "He's been throwing the ball well,'' said Alex Cora. "Good fastball, good changeup and good command. He was in control all night.'' Cora said he thought Rodriguez's fastball was his best pitch on this night. He also complimented his ability to handle lefties, which has been an issue. The Dodgers loaded their lineup with four lefty hitters and while Alex Verdugo homered to produce the Dodgers' only run, together, the four were a combined 3-for-15 against Rodriguez with five strikeouts.
Devers, Vazquez keep mashing: Before the All-Star break, Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez were the two hottest hitters in the Red Sox lineup, launching homers and extra-base hits in the 10 days or so before the break. And sure enough, they resumed their hot streaks in the first game of the second half. Devers belted an opposite-field homer in the first inning and later doubled home a run in the sixth. Meanwhile, Vazquez hit a rocket into the Monster Seats in the second inning. Together, they accounted for three of the four runs scored by the Sox.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1149824577733844993
Devers continues to make strides defensively: In addition to wielding a power bat, Devers has also cleaned up things at third base. Friday night, he turned in one of the top fielding plays of the night, ranging behind the bag in the second to backhand a big hop, plant himself and make a strong throw across the diamond to easily nab Austin Barnes at first. It's easy to forget now, but after making nine errors in the first 31 games, Devers has made just three errors in his last 53 games. And it's not just cutting down on the errors -- Devers has played with far more confidence and shown improved range. He no longer airmails throws on routine plays, or bobbles grounders when he has plenty of time to make plays.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox were clinging to a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh when A.J. Pollock singles, and one out later, Enrique Hernandez singled to left, giving the Dodgers first and second with one out. But Eduardo Rodriguez fanned catcher Austin Barnes and got Corey Seager on an inning-ending groundout to strand both baserunners.
TWO UP
Josh Taylor: The rookie lefty continues to impress, facing the 2-3-4 of the Dodgers lineup in the eighth and retiring the hitters in order with a strikeout and two harmless flyouts.
Xander Bogaerts: With the Sox already comfortably up 5-1 in the seventh, Bogaerts made sure to put the game completely out of reach with a three-run shot that barely reached the Monster Seats.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: The second half got off to a slow start for Martinez, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We've been swinging the bats for a while. Overall, we're very balanced (throughout the lineup) right now.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox improved to 32-7 in their last 39 home interleague games.
- Including the World Series, the Sox have won their last seven games at Fenway vs. the Dodgers.
- For the third time in the last four games, the Red Sox endured a rain delay. This one lasted exactly one hour.
- The Sox improved to a season-high nine games over .500.
- Boston managed to score six or more runs for the fifth straight game.