All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the A's, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Anemic offense turns it around: You never know. In the previous three games, the Red Sox amassed just 13 hits and four runs and looked lost. Not only was the bottom of the order not contributing much -- nothing new there, really -- but the heart of the lineup looked oddly out of synch. That changed dramatically -- and in a hurry Thursday night, with the Sox pounding out 13 hits for the night and racing out to a 6-0 lead after two innings. The Sox got a first-inning homer from Xander Bogaerts and a two-run shot from Bobby Dalbec to straightaway center in the second and rolled from there. When it was over, five different members of the lineup had multiple hits and Dalbec and Bogaerts combined for five RBI as the Sox avoided the sweep. The same bats that seemed sluggish for the past few days were transformed on this night, making for lots of early run support for starter Garrett Richards.
Richards on a roll: A little over two weeks ago, Garrett Richards was a mess on the mound. He walked six batters in one game, and clearly needed an intervention. Pitching coach Dave Bush provided the tuneup to his delivery, getting Richards properly aligned, and ever since, he's been a different pitcher. Since then, Richards is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA and a strikeout to walk ratio of 26-3. More mechanically sound, he can let his stuff play in the zone more and challenge hitters, rather than walking them. On Thursday, he lasted six innings and allowed just five hits.
TURNING POINT
When the Red Sox scored six quick runs over the first few innings for Richards, he knew what to do. Despite some long waits in the dugout while the Red Sox smacked around Oakland starter Sean Manaea, Richards attacked the A's with a purpose, making for quick work and short innings. Through four innings, he faced just two batters over the minimum and did what a pitcher with support is supposed to do -- get his hitters back up to the plate quickly.
TWO UP
Michael Chavis: Placed into the leadoff role for the night, Chavis delivered two hustle doubles and scored two runs while helping to set the tone at the top of the lineup.
Garrett Whitlock: The rookie righthander earned his first major league save, and in the process, helped save the rest of the bullpen with three innings of one-run relief.
ONE DOWN
Alex Verdugo: Ordinarily one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup, Verdugo was 0-for-5 and is now hitless over his last 10 at-bats.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"That's amazing. I'd love it every single time. It makes the job a lot easier, for sure.'' Garrett Richards on getting six runs of support in the first two innings.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Sox had seven hits on batted balls with an exit velocity of 105 mph or greater in the first three innings. That's the most such hits within the first three innings of a game in 2021 for any team.
* Xander Bogaerts scored his 600th career run.
* The six shutout innings by Garrett Richards was the longest scoreless outing he's had since May 4, 2018.
* Bobby Dalbec is batting .351 with a .990 OPS against lefties this season.
* Hunter Renfroe recorded his fifth outfield assist of the season and second in as many nights.
UP NEXT
The Los Angeles Angels come to Fenway for the first of three with RHP Nick Pivetta (5-0, 3.19) vs. RHP Griffin Canning (3-2, 5.19).
