All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-4 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sale labors through six: In what was something of step back from his previous start, Chris Sale gave the Red Sox six innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The only real damage done against Sale came in the form of a two-run homer by Travis d'Arnaud in the third inning. Sale went asking for trouble after getting two quick outs before walking No. 9 hitter Mike Zunino, who had never gotten a hit off Sale in 11 career at-bats. After the walk to Zunino, d'Arnaud struck, hooking a slider just inside the left-field foul pole. It was the 18th homer allowed by Sale this season after yielding just 11 last season. While Sale proved efficient in the first two innings (27 pitches), he needed 89 for the final four frames as the Rays fouled off pitch after pitch and extended at-bats. One issue for Sale was that he again had little feel for his changeup and had to rely almost exclusively on his fastball and slider.
Vazquez comes through in a pinch: Since the start of the season, when the catching situation was in flux, Christian Vazquez has emerged as an offensive weapon. Which is why, with the game tied at 2-2 after six and lefthanded-hitting first baseman Mitch Moreland due against lefty reliever Colin Poche, Alex Cora called on Vazquez to pinch-hit. Vazquez then made Cora look prophetic when he hammered a pitch deep into the left-field seats for his second pinch-homer of the season and the fifth for the team. It would have been unimaginable as recently as a few months ago to use Vazquez in that situation, but he's earned the trust of the manager and coaching staff with his development at the plate. He's got 16 homers this year and since May, has been one of the steadiest hitters in the lineup. Additionally, he's made himself more valuable by being able to play first base, and at least occasionally, second, giving Cora more options, especially late in games.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1153838331035209728
Sox take advantage of some gifts from Rays: Clinging to a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth, the Red Sox -- with considerable help from the home team -- managed to add two insurance runs, which proved big indeed when the Rays made the Sox sweat in the bottom of the ninth by scoring twice and loading the bases. In the eighth, the Red Sox themselves loaded the bases with no out and the Rays brought the infield in. Andrew Benintendi hit a hard grounder directly at Mike Brosseau and it appeared as though the Rays were going to get an out by cutting down a run at the plate. But Brosseau twice bobbled the hard-hit smash and had to settle for an out at first as a run crossed the plate. Then, after intentionally walking Vazquez one out later to get a matchup with Jackie Bradley Jr., Adam Kolarek hit Bradley, forcing in another run. It didn't exactly qualify as a big rally, but at the very least, the Sox made the Rays pay for their mistakes and took full advantage.
SECOND GUESS
This qualifies as hindsight of course, but it might have been better to utilize someone else in the seventh -- with Tampa's 8-9-1 hitters due -- other than Matt Barnes. Barnes got the Rays in order, but then that left Brandon Workman with six outs to get and Workman needed help from Marcus Walden to get out of the ninth-inning mess. If Cora had gone with Walden for the bottom of the order in the seventh, Barnes in the eighth and saved Workman only for the final three outs, things might have gone smoother.
TWO UP
Andrew Benintendi: Benintendi made it a point recently to go back to his college swing and it seems to be working. Following a three-hit night Monday, Benintendi kept it going Tuesday with two more hits and two RBI.
J.D. Martinez: Count Martinez as another regular who may be heating up. He followed up a two-hit night in the opener with three more hits in this one.
ONE DOWN
Brandon Workman: After making quick work of the Rays in the eighth, Workman was a hot mess in the ninth, needing 32 pitches to get two outs while walking two and needing Walden to bail him out.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"It seemed like it's been an eternity to get to 10 (games over .500).'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The Sox improved to 5-0 at Tropicana Field this season.
- Mookie Betts extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
- Boston is 17-4 in its last 21 road games.
- Chris Sale posted his 12th start with double figures in strikeouts, tying him for the league lead with Gerrit Cole.