All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 6-3 win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Easy decision on Perez: The Red Sox have some tough choices to make this winter as they go about trying to rebound from a last-place finish and attempt to become a contender in the division again. But one call is an easy one: they should absolutely pick up the option on Martin Perez. The Sox signed Perez to a one-year deal last winter, with a $6 million salary for 2020 and a team option for $6.25 for 2021. Perez's numbers this year -- 3-4, 4.33 ERA -- don't jump off the page, but he's consistently kept the Red Sox in games, which is more than can be said for almost anyone else in the Boston rotation. Sunday was a case in point: Perez went five innings and allowed just two earned runs. He did his job, even as his defense committed three errors behind him. It's also worth noting that Perez was signed as a back-end starter, but was forced to become the No. 2 starter -- and No. 1 while Nathan Eovaldi missed three weeks with a calf pull. Viewed through that lens, he's been a bargain and should return.
Vazquez ends homers drought: Catcher Christian Vazquez began the season right where he left off last year - mashing extra-base hits and looking like he had become one of the game's best hitting catchers. But then Vazquez quieted at the plate for a long time, as both the power dried up and the average dipped considerably. That's changed of late and Vazquez, in the first inning Sunday, finally ended a homer-less drought that lasted almost six weeks. Hitting second in the lineup, he crushed a pitch in the top of the first for his first homer since July 30. It was Vazquez's first homer in some 123 at-bats and presented the Sox with a 2-0 lead on the scoreboard. "He's been getting a lot of hits, his swings are good, his at-bats are tough at-bats,'' said Ron Roenicke. "And I think once you do that, you gain confidence.''
Sox hang tough on trip: The Red Sox will get no medals for their play as finish out this stretch, but at least they've completed well on this 10-game road trip, which had them playing teams seemingly headed for the playoffs. First, the Sox got themselves a split of the doubleheader in Philadelphia. Then, they came to Tropicana Field and got a split in the four-game set with Rays, who own the best record in the American League. The win Sunday typified how hard the Sox have played of late. After falling behind with some sloppy play in the field, the Red Sox fought back to re-take the lead in the fifth and then added on in the sixth. Obviously, there's no pressure on the Red Sox at this point in the season and they're not playing for anything concrete, having essentially eliminated themselves from the race long ago. But they deserve at least some credit for not mailing the final few weeks of the season in, and instead, continuing to play hard against more talented teams.
TURNING POINT:
In the seventh inning, Ryan Brasier inherited a mess -- first-and-second and the Sox clinging to a three-run lead. Brasier fanned Nate Lowe to escape the jam, then set down the Rays in order (with two more strikeouts) in the bottom of the eighth to get the ball to closer Matt Barnes in the ninth.
TWO UP
Christian Arroyo: For the second straight game, Arroyo contributed a late-inning homer. Unlike Saturday, this one stood up as the two-run shot hit in the sixth gave the Sox a 6-3 edge.
Yairo Munoz: Another late-season addition to the roster, Munoz continues to make things happen with the bat, with a single and double to go along with a stolen base.
ONE DOWN
Tzu-Wei Lin: It was a rough afternoon all around for the utility man, who was hitless in four trips and also charged with two errors in the field.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Today, I was attacking the zone more, especially with first-pitch strikes -- attacking the hitters and not give them too much credit.'' - Martin Perez.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- J.D. Martinez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with an infield single in the fourth inning.
- Rafael Devers has knocked in 32 runs in his last 32 games.
- Ryan Brasier turned in his fifth straight scoreless appearance.
- When Yairo Munoz stole second base in the fifth, it gave the Sox seven straight successful stolen base attempts in the series.