All you need to know about the Red Sox' win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Dalbec's turn to break out: Last week in Texas, it was Hunter Renfroe's time to break out of a long slump at the plate. On Thursday at Fenway, it was Franchy Cordero's turn, breaking out of a hitless streak that had lasted for a couple of weeks. And Friday, it was Bobby Dalbec's time to shine. Dalbec went into the game with the weight of a 0-for-27 skid. He singled in the third inning to end his slump, but saved his big hit for the fourth when he jumped on a hanging breaking ball from Matt Harvey and sent it deep into the seats in left field for a three-run homer. "I had been trying to make decisions too early and didn't really feel like myself attacking the ball,'' said Dalbec. "The last few days, I've been seeing the ball better.'' Dalbec credited current and former teammates as well as some past hitting coaches for providing support and some input. But Dalbec has discovered that when he gets in ruts at the plate, the problem is less about his swing and its mechanics and more about his timing and seeing the ball well.
Rodriguez is good enough: Before the game, Alex Cora had expressed hope that, with an overworked bullpen of late, the Sox could count on a deep start from lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. He didn't get that, with Rodriguez going just five innings. But there was a reason: Rodriguez didn't have his customary fastball command, and without it, had to depend on an assortment of secondary pitches to get the Orioles out. That translated into 50 pitches thrown between the second and third inning, and at 91 pitches after five, he was done. Still, Rodriguez did his job for as long as he was there, scattering seven hits and limiting the Orioles to a single run while improving to 5-0 on the season.
Sox add on late: More than a few times in recent weeks, the Red Sox have had the habit of squandering early-game scoring opportunities and failing to add on to early leads. Friday night, they did their adding on late, scoring one run in the eighth and another in the ninth. That proved important, too, since with a four-run lead, the Sox didn't have to utilize closer Matt Barnes in the ninth for a save situation. In general, Cora got to reset his bullpen, since he didn't use any of his high-leverage relievers (Barnes, Adam Ottavino and Darwinzon Hernandez), all of whom worked a lot on the last homestand and previous series in Texas
TURNING POINT
The Sox were leading 4-2 in the eighth inning with two outs when Christian Vazquez lofted a double to the left-field corner, scoring Rafael Devers with the first of two late-inning insurance runs. Before that run, the Sox had been held scoreless since the fourth inning and were asking for trouble going into the late innings, in a small ballpark, with just a two-run lead. But the RBI-double from Vazquez and another one from Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth, helped provide some needed breathing room.
TWO UP
Garrett Whitlock: After a couple of rough outings -- one in Texas last weekend and another against Detroit when he was tagged with the loss -- the rookie righthander bounced back nicely and gave the Sox two scoreless innings.
Rafael Devers: In addition to a double in the second, Devers made contributions on the bases -- stealing third base in the fourth inning and later, scoring all the way from first on a double by Christian Vazquez.
ONE DOWN
Hirokazu Sawamura: Ultimately it didn't end up costing the Sox, but coming in for the sixth inning, Sawmura allowed a homer to the first batter he faced -- his fourth allowed in just 14.1 innings. That can't continue if Sawamura is going to be a trusted reliever.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I love pitching, no matter where it is. I would say for the first couple of starts of my career, I was excited to be pitching here. But now it's just another ballpark, another team for me.'' Eduardo Rodriguez, who improved to 8-0 at Camden Yards since 2018.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- Alex Verdugo saw his on-base streak snapped at 24 consecutive games with an 0-for-5 night.
- With Kike Hernandez placed on the IL before the game, Marwin Gonzalez hit leadoff for the first time this season.
- The game marked the 26th time in 33 games that a Red Sox starter pitched at least five innings.
- The Red Sox improved to 4-0 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season.