All you need to know about the Red Sox' win over the Mets, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Richards executes a big turnaround: Following a poor performance last time out -- one that included six walks -- Garrett Richards looked like a completely different pitcher on Tuesday night at Citi Field. From the beginning, Richards got ahead of hitters, and instead of using a sweeping slider as his primary breaking pitch, went with a 12-6 curveball that kept the Mets' hitters off-balance all night. Richards allowed seven hits, but critically, no walks and only twice all night -- in the fourth and again in the sixth -- did he have more than one baserunner on base at the same time. He also struck out 10, including Pete Alonso three times. "He can be really good,'' gushed Alex Cora. "He can give us a quality start (each time out) and give us a chance to win.''
Dalbec ends the homerless streak: After flashing plus power last September and again in spring training, Bobby Dalbec didn't have a homer in his first 58 at-bats. But with the Sox trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Dalbec connected on a pitch down in the zone and drove it out to center for his first long ball of the 2021 season. "Feels good,'' admitted Dalbec. "First one's always the hardest, so glad to get that one out of the way.'' The first baseman had been having much better at-bats of late and was making more consistent contact. It will be interesting to see if this is the start of a hot power streak for Dalbec, who last fall seemed to hit his homers in big bunches -- including at least one homer in five straight games at one point.
Barnes closes it out: This was not your routine save. The Sox had little margin for error, leading 2-1 in the ninth and the Mets had 3-4-5 hitters due at the plate for closer Matt Barnes. But Barnes, who, other than allowing a three-run homer during the recent homestand, has pitched with a much more aggressive approach this season and that was evident again Wednesday night. He struck out Alonso, got Michael Conforto on a pop-up then fanned J.D. Davis to record his fifth save. What's more, he did all of that on just 10 pitches, attacking the strike zone and not nibbling, as had been his habit in the past.
TURNING POINT
Richards was clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth when a two-out single by Michael Conforto put the potential tying run on second base and the go-ahead run at first. But Richards managed to get J.D. Davis to hit a routine flyout to left field, stranding two runners. Perhaps even more surprisingly, although he expended a lot of energy in that inning and his pitch count was up to 82 pitches, Alex Cora allowed him to go back out for the seventh inning.
TWO UP
Matt Andriese: It was something of a surprise when Alex Cora went to Andriese for the eighth inning in a one-run game, but the veteran righty validated the confidence his manager had in him with a strong 1-2-3 inning.
Rafael Devers: Of the Red Sox' five hits, Devers had two, including a bloop single into left that delivered what turned out to be the winning run in the sixth inning.
ONE DOWN
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez had a very rough night at the plate, striking out in all three plate appearances, though he did throw out a would-be base stealer from behind the plate.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"This is the guy we envisioned. We know stuff-wise, he's one of the best in the league and if he can repeat his delivery, stay under control, we know that he can do this every five days. He can be really good.'' Alex Cora on Garrett Richards.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- Xander Bogaerts saw his hitting streak snapped at seven games.
- The run-scoring single by Rafael Devers gave him 18 RBI in the last 17 games.
- The 10 strikeouts for Garrett Richards were the most in a single game since he fanned 11 April 21, 2018.
- The game marked the 12th straight meeting between the teams in New York that was decided by one or two runs.