All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-2 win over the New York Mets, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Vazquez keeps mashing: Gone, apparently, are the days when Christian Vazquez was regarded as a defense-only catcher. Last season, he took a big step forward as a hitter, and in the first week of this season, he's picked up right where he left off. After a homer and single in the series opener Wednesday, Vazquez continued to wield the hot bat Thursday, cracking a solo homer in the second and a two-run homer in the fourth, accounting for three of the four runs the Sox scored. "Obviously, Vasky's always been a very good defensive catcher, one of the best in the game,'' said closer Brandon Workman. "Over the last couple of years, watching him come into his own offensively, it's awesome to watch. He's now gone from a defensive catcher to the complete package. He can drive the ball out of the ballpark, hits for average and he's still elite behind the plate.'' In seven games this season, Vazquez has now homered four times.
Perez takes a big step of improvement: The first start for Martin Perez with the Red Sox was entirely forgettable, as he allowed five runs on six hits in just five innings against an inferior Baltimore lineup. Perez couldn't command his cutter early in that one, and that spelled trouble. But Thursday night, Perez was far better, giving the Sox six strong innings while allowing just two runs on two hits. "I threw strikes, attacked the hitters and used a lot of off-speed,'' recounted Perez. "I was able to use my changeup a little bit more. I pounded the zone in, then went outside. Everything was OK. I had fun out there.'' Perez doesn't have the stuff to overpower lineups, and in his defense, he wasn't signed to be the No. 2 starter in the rotation, though injuries and other factors have put him in that spot. But what Perez delivered Thursday is what the Sox were hoping for -- keep hitters off-balance, stay out of the middle of the plate and get them into the sixth with a chance.
Baserunning sloppy in spots: In the early going, the Red Sox were a little too aggressive for their own good on the basepaths. In the second inning, Alex Verdugo tried to advance on a dirt ball that didn't get nearly far enough away from catcher Wilson Ramos and got himself thrown out at second. "We had talked about being aggressive on balls in the dirt. Ramos just got (to the) ball early and made a good throw,'' said Ron Roenicke, "so I'm fine with that.'' An inning later, Jose Peraza unwisely attempted to steal third with two outs and cleanup hitter Xander Bogaerts at the plate and was thrown out to end the inning. "I'm OK with guys stealing,'' Roenicke said, "it's just (a matter) of picking the time to do it. Two strikes, two outs, Bogie's hitting. I think you just look at the situation and probably could have picked a better time.''
TURNING POINT
In the third inning, the Mets touched Perez for a couple of runs, thanks to an error, a hit batsman and two walks. But with two on and one out, Perez got locked in, retiring J.D. Davis on a flyout to deep center before striking out Yoenis Cespedes. Perez didn't allow another hit through the next 2.2 innings.
TWO UP
Heath Hembree: For the second straight night, Hembree was a key contributor out of the bullpen. He came on in the sixth with one on and two out and fanned Yoenis Cespedes, then chipped in with another scoreless inning in the seventh.
Michael Chavis: Chavis came into the game hitless in nine at-bats but broke through with a single in the fourth, then nicely executed a hit-and-run to right in the ninth, helping to set up an insurance run.
ONE DOWN
Jose Peraza: With Rafael Devers getting a night off, Peraza got a start at third base and it didn't go well. He made one throwing error and another one fielding, giving the Red Sox five errors at the position through the first seven games of the season.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I didn't want to hit ninth anymore.'' Christian Vazquez, semi-jokingly talking about his growth as a hitter over the last two season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Mets were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 4-for-23 for the series.
- Even with his two hits, Michael Chavis has struck out seven times in 13 at-bats this season.
- The game was the first in which Kevin Pillar has gone hitless since joining the Sox.