BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 5, Giants 4 - 3 Things We Learned

The Red Sox closed out their homestand with a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants, averting a sweep. Here are three things we learned:

1. Bogaerts, Devers battle for team supremacy.

The Red Sox scored five runs in the win and all were knocked in either by third baseman Rafael Devers or shortstop Xander Bogaerts. In the first inning, Devers knocked in one run with a single and, one batter later, Bogaerts did the same. In the second inning, Devers singled home the third Boston run before Bogaerts came through with a two-run single. Here's how the two matchup with 10 games remaining: Devers has 110 RBI, Bogaerts has 109. They each have 50 doubles. Bogaerts has 31 homers, Devers has 30. Devers has a .555 slugging percentage while Bogaerts is at .549. There's very little difference -- statistically speaking -- between them. No, Bogaerts said, they're not conspiring to finish with the exactly same numbers. "But it does seem like that,'' said Bogaerts with a chuckle. "It seems like when I get one of something, he gets one of the other. Then, the next day, we kind of switch it up and it kind of evens out. We don't have much chatter about that. I think the doubles (and the race to get to 50) was one of the things we kind of talked about. But it's been so far, and especially with me being the chaser, it's been a little fun.''

2. Workman growing into role.

It was hairy for a time when Brandon Workman filled the bases with a two-run lead, then walked his second batter of the inning to force in a run, shaving the lead to a single run. But ultimately, on a full count, Workman got Evan Longoria swinging on a 3-and-2 curveball, preserving the win and leaving the bases full of Giants. Workman noticed that the Giants were sitting on his breaking pitch, so he used his fastball to get ahead in some counts. For Workman, it was his 15th save opportunity, and while he's blown six saves, he's had just two since July 4. "That's what he's been doing all season -- avoiding the damage,'' said Alex Cora. "It was a tough (inning) today because we didn't make a play (error by Chris Owings to put the leadoff man) and then he walked a couple. But he made some good pitches with the fastball and he has one of the best breaking balls in the big leagues.''

3. Wren out as restructuring continues.

Without any sort of formal announcement, the Red Sox have dismissed Frank Wren, senior vice president of player personnel. Wren was a loyalist of Dave Dombrowski, having worked with him before in earlier stops in Montreal and Miami. He's also served as GM of the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. Dombrowski hired Wren not long after being appointed president of baseball operations and, along with Tony La Russa, was one of Dombrowski's closest and most trusted advisors. In fact, there's been speculation that part of what spelled the end for Dombrowski, fired almost three weeks ago, is that he excluded others in the Baseball Operations department while forming a close circle with Wren and La Russa. Wren had another two years remaining on his contract. La Russa's future is unknown, but he continues to be around the club and still watches games from the executive box where he once sat with Dombrowski. Wren is the second known person to be let go this week. Jon Heyman was the first to report Wren's firing. Earlier this week, the Sox informed special assistant Eddie Bane that he would return for 2020. Bain, however, was hired by Ben Cherington, Dombrowski's predecessor.