All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-0 win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sale looks more like himself: It took until 97 games into the season but, finally, Chris Sale recorded his first win at Fenway Park this season, and indeed, his first home win in more than a calendar year. Sale allowed only two hits over six innings while striking out 12 -- the 11th time this season that he's fanned 10 or more hitters in an outing. As Sale noted, it's been a very up-and-down year for him. "This year's just kind of been all over the place,'' he said. "I've been as bad as I've ever been in my career and I've also had some of the best games I've ever in my career. It's been more confusing than anything. I was kind of all over the map. I've had 17 strikeouts, a complete-game shutout and then I've had games where I wasn't getting out of the fourth inning.'' But Thursday, Sale had command of all three of his pitches and improved fastball location, leading him to the kind of start he was looking for.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1151951828449464320
Devers keeps hammering: There may not be a hotter hitter in the game than Rafael Devers. In 13 games this month, Devers has seven homers and 23 RBI. And since moving to the No. 2 spot in the lineup, Devers is 29-for-73 (.397) with 16 extra-base hits. "He's staying in the zone and he's not chasing pitches,'' offered Cora. "Lefties, righties...it doesn't matter. He's been able to slow down the game. At the plate, there's a lot of confidence and it feels like, whenever he's at the plate, you feel like something big is going to happen. The Red Sox were scoreless in the fifth inning and for a time it seemed like this was going to be another start in which they provided no offensive support for Sale. Then, Devers cranked a fastball over the middle of the plate and drove it out into the Red Sox bullpen. "That,'' said Cora, "was a big swing for us today.''
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1151925424714391553
Eovaldi (almost ready) to go: Nathan Eovaldi, who has been on the Injured List since mid-April, took a big step toward returning to the roster with a successful rehab appearance for Pawtucket while the Sox were wrapping up their homestand at Fenway. Eovaldi came on in the second inning, recorded a strikeout, walked the second batter (and then committed a balk), he then struck out the next two hitters he faced. The plan is for Eovaldi, who traveled with the team to Baltimore, to likely be activated either Saturday or Sunday. "I felt really good,'' Eovaldi said later at Fenway. "My fastball felt good, cutter felt good. I didn't throw any splits today, but I threw two curveballs and they felt really good coming out of my hand.'' Eovaldi said the biggest challenge will be getting ready to throw every day. "I've been trying to get my mind right for it,'' said Eovaldi, "but until you get that in that situation and actually go through it, we'll see how it goes then.''
https://twitter.com/MikeMonaco_/status/1151877921402998784
TURNING POINT
Sale wasn't in trouble often, but the Jays posed a threat in the fifth after a leadoff walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a two-out single by Brandon Drury gave them two on with two out. After throwing his fastball no harder than 92 mph in the first four-plus innings, Sale suddenly revved it up and blew a few past Freddy Galvis at 96 mph, striking him out to end the inning. The Jays never got another baserunner past first the rest of the way.
TWO UP
Mookie Betts: Betts finished off a strong homestand with two hits, including a solo homer. He's up to .284, the highest his average has been since May 29.
Darwinzon Hernandez: Making his second relief appearance since being recalled earlier this week, the rookie overpowered the first two Jays he faced before getting a weak groundout to end the game.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Playing right field for the day, Martinez had a rough afternoon at the plate, going hitless in four at-bats.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He made some adjustments throughout the week and he went out there and executed. He was great today.'' Alex Cora on Chris Sale.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The two hits allowed were a season low for the Red Sox
- The Red Sox improved to 15-3 in their last 18 getaway games.
- The Sox have at least one homer in 17 of their last 18 games.
- Devers has 28 RBI against the Blue Jays, the most RBI for any player ever vs. Toronto in a single season.