All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 9-4 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Rodriguez gives Sox the start they needed: Until recently, it seemed fairly obvious that David Price was the team's most consistent and effective starting pitcher this season. But now, a case could be made for Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez gave the Sox seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits (both in the infield). In his last 11 starts, Rodriguez is 8-1 with a 3.03 ERA and in his last 19, he's 12-2 with a 3.52. He's now a 12-game winner and he's also become the Sox starter most likely to get his team through seven innings. He did it again Monday in the series opener, leaving just six outs for the bullpen, and for the fifth straight start, allowed two earned runs or fewer. Rodriguez has been more aggressive on the mound and no longer nibbles as much. He didn't face more than four hitters in any single inning.
Third-inning eruption: Go ahead and try to figure this team out. On Saturday, they pounded out 17 runs. On Sunday, they were limited to one hit and were shutout. Then, in the series opener with the Rays, they scored seven runs in one inning. The consistently inconsistent Sox beat up on former teammate Jalen Beeks, smashing three homers in the span of four hitters. They were aided and abetted by a couple of walks from Beeks, which provided baserunners. After a two-run double by Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez homered to right-center, a three-run shot. One batter later, Andrew Benintendi and Sam Travis went back-to-back. For Travis, it was his second homer in the last four games, and for Benintendi, it was his first homer in more than a month, dating back to June 10. The Sox looked like they had a specific game plan against Beeks and took full advantage. And while they added a run in the fourth and another in the ninth, their outburst in the third was itself enough to beat the Rays.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1153457720101670917
Benintendi busts out: The Red Sox have been waiting for much of the season for their left fielder to get going at the plate. First, they tried him in the leadoff spot and that didn't work. Then, they dropped him to the No. 2 spot, where he hit last year, and that didn't work either. Lately, he's been hitting either fifth or sixth, but again, with very little impact. Andrew Benintendi had a big night, though, with an opposite-field single in the second, a solo homer to right in the third, and an opposite-field double in the fifth. Seeing Benintendi go the other way is encouraging, as that's often a sign that he's seeing the ball well. But seeing him hit the ball with authority is an even better sign. The Sox offense has been firing on nearly all cylinders for the better part of the last two months, but it wouldn't hurt to have Benintendi becoming more of a contributor in the bottom half of the lineup.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1153496195706294273
SECOND GUESS
It's become all the rage -- position players pitching an inning of relief. It happened again Monday night with Rays infielder Michael Brosseau given the ball in the ninth in a five-run game. Not an eight-run game, or a 10-run game -- a five-run game. This is so common that it's the second time it's happened against the Sox in the last three games. Most teams now have a 13-man pitching staff. If you can ask one of your relievers to get three lousy outs, maybe you're not utilizing your staff properly. After a while, the novel "appeal'' of watching guys throw 59 mph fastball wears off.
ONE UP
Marco Hernandez: Getting the start at second base, Hernandez continued to contribute with the bat with two singles. He also turned in a couple of sparkling plays at second.
ONE DOWN
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley had a nice series in Baltimore, but was hitless in four plate appearances in the series opener.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"Big win. To come out right away and get it going in the third inning was huge for us.'' J.D. Martinez.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The home run for Martinez was just his second in the month of July.
- The three-hit game for Benintendi was his first with three or more hits since July 6.
- The Sox improved to 4-0 at Tropicana Field this season.
- Mookie Betts extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games.