All you need to know about the Red Sox' 6-1 win over the Rangers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sox power their way out of slump: In their previous three games, the Red Sox had scored a grand total of four runs. The wonder was that they actually won two of those three games -- thanks to their pitching. But no matter how good your pitchers are, you're not going to win a lot of games averaging a little more than a run per night. The Sox took that to heart in the first inning when, three batters in, they led 3-0 on a three-run homer by J.D. Martinez, whose first swing resulted in a blast to left. Immediately after, Xander Bogaerts added a solo shot of his own, and after just four batters, the Sox had equaled their output from the previous three games. But wait -- there's more! In the third, the home runs kept coming as Martinez hit yet another -- this one, a majestic belt, well over 430 feet, to straightaway center, followed two batters later by Rafael Devers. That's four homers from the first 14 hitters of the night. From there, they cruised the rest of the way.
Eovaldi gets back to attack plan: By his own admission, Nathan Eovaldi wasn't as aggressive in his last outing and it's probably not coincidence that it was his worst outing of the season. Friday night started with more of the same, as Eovaldi did too much nibbling in the early going. But backed by a big lead, he felt determined to change that, and following the credo that Alex Cora has been preaching since spring training, went back to attacking the strike zone. The deeper Eovaldi went in the game, the tougher he got as he filled up the strike zone and dared the Rangers to put the ball in play. He retired seven of the last eight hitters he faced and improved to 4-2.
TURNING POINT
Having been staked to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Eovaldi really labored in the second inning. Some of his struggles were related to the uncertain strike zone of D.J. Reyburn, who appeared to squeeze him on a couple of pitches. Nonetheless, Eovaldi threw 28 pitches in that inning alone, and with a big lead already, wasn't being economical. After just two innings, he was already at 40 pitches. After the second, he made it a point to be more aggressive and get quicker outs, and he was far more economical, needing just 51 pitches over his final four innings of work.
TWO UP
Darwinzon Hernandez: For the second straight night, Hernandez was both overpowering and in command. On Thursday, he struck out all three hitters he faced. On Friday, he got nicked by a two-out single, but still registered three more strikeouts in an inning of work.
Christian Arroyo: Filling in the leadoff spot for the night, Arroyo reached base twice with a walk and a single, and also turned in the defensive gem of the night in the sixth when he went sliding to make play on Adolis Garcia, then, throwing across his body, made the throw to first from his knees.
TWO DOWN
Franchy Cordero: If we're giving out brownie points, Cordero managed to make contact in his first two plate appearances. But he still went hitless in three trips and is now 0-for-16 with just one hit in his last 22 at-bats.
Austin Brice: Brice ultimately got through the ninth inning without giving up a run, but there are no excuses for back-to-back walks with a five-run lead and one out to go.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Seventeen wins is seventeen wins. You do that consistently over the course of the season -- win 17 games in a month -- you put yourself in the conversation. It was a great month.'' Alex Cora on the Red Sox' play in April.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The Red Sox improved to 14-0 when they score four or more runs this season.
- Nathan Eovaldi reached 1,000 innings for his career.
- J.D. Martinez has more homers in the first month of this season (nine) than he had all of last season (seven).
- The Sox improved to 9-2 on the road and have won nine of their 11 road games to start the season for only the fifth time in franchise history.