The Red Sox broke out of their hitting slump in a big way, erupting for six runs in the first two innings, en route to an easy 8-1 victory over the Oakland A's, snapping a three-game losing streak and averting a sweep at the hands of Oakland.
The Sox rode homers from Xander Bogaerts and Bobby Dalbec as part of a 13-hit attack. Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez had three hits each.
Garrett Richards went six shutout innings to improve to 3-2.
WHO: Red Sox (22-16) vs. Oakland A's (23-15)
WHEN: 7:10 pm.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: Oakland 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Garrett Richards (2-2, 4.54) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (3-1, 3.07)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network; WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
A's
Canha LF
Moreland DH
Laureano CF
Olson 1B
Lowrie 2B
Chapman 3B
Brown RF
Murpphy C
Andrus SS
RED SOX
Chavis 2B
Verdugo CF
Martinez LF
Bogaerts DH
Devers 3B
Vazquez C
Renfroe RF
Dalbec 1B
Arauz SS
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
T7: Another highlight play originating in right field. Hunter Renfroe fields a double off the bullpen wall, fires to Jonathan Arauz, who uncorks a laser to the plate, where Sean Murphy is tagged out. That's five outfield assists for Renfroe this season.
T7: That's it for Richards, with Garrett Whitlock taking over. Richards had one of his best outings of the season - 6 IP, 5 H, O ER, 3 BB, 4K. Not as good as his start against the Mets, when he went seven and allowed a run with 10 strikeouts.
T5: Upset that Mark Canha had the habit of sticking his elbow out over the plate (and claiming to have been hit), Richards buzzes the tower and throws up and in to him. Dangerous precedent.
T4: Even with some long waits as the Sox tee off on Oakland pitching, Gartett Richards has attacked hitters and been relatively efficient with just 47 pitches through four innings.
B2: Bogaerts isn't messing around tonight -- swung at first pitch of the at-bat in the first and homered and now takes aim at the second on his second at-bat and rips a double to left, scoring another run. Two hits, three RBI after coming in 1-for-12.
B2: Bobby Dalbec busts out with a homer to straightaway center field, scoring Hunter Renfroe. That snaps an 0-for.5
B1: Down the line in left and a two-run homer from Xander Bogaerts, who jumps on the first pitch. And already, four batters in, the Red Sox have as many runs as they had in the first two games of the series combined.
B1: Hustle double by Michael Chavis, who never slowed down as he rounded first and slides head-first into second base with a leadoff double. Good boost of energy for the Sox, looking for offense. Line single by J.D. Martinez scores him from first.
WHAT's UP: The Red Sox are in the middle of a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season since being swept in the opening series..Despite the losses, the Sox still own the fourth-best record in the American League, behind the White Sox, A's and Indians...In the last four games, the Red Sox have scored just eight runs total after a stretch of play that saw them score 45 runs in the five previous games...Over the last 12 games, the Sox have hit 17 homers, third-most in the majors during that time..J.D. Martinez leads the majors in RBI with 32 and total bases (85)..He's also ranked in the top three in the following categories: runs scored, homers, hits and extra-base hits....In the last 21 games, Xander Bogaerts has seven homers, tied for the most in that stretch....Despite dropping the first two games of the series, the Sox have still won 12 of the last 17 meetings with the A's at Fenway...The Sox are seventh in ERA in the AL (.3.95) and 14th in MLB...In 16 of their last 17 games, the Sox have gotten at least five innings from their starters....During that stretch, Boston starters have pitched to a 3.76 ERA while averaging 0.56 homers per nine innings...The Sox have allowed the third-lowest home run rate for the season (0.75 per nine innings)...The Sox have used just 30 players to date, the fewest of any MLB club -- 14 position players and 16 pitchers...The Sox lead MLB in outfield assists with
NOTES:
* Alex Cora decided to give Xander Bogaerts a night off his feet from shortstop and will utilize him as the DH, with J.D. Martinez in left field.
* Cora remains hopeful that Christian Arroyo (hand) and Kike Hernandez (hamstring) will be back soon. Both are currently on the IL. Arroyo had plans to take live batting practice Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the tentative plan is for Hernandez to spent Saturday and Sunday on a brief rehab assignment with Worcester.
* Nick Pivetta, who had a bad reaction to the COVID vaccine Wednesday, reported improvement Thursday and would seem on track to male his scheduled start against the Angels on Friday night. Pivetta was activated Thursday and reliever Eduard Bazardo was optioned back to Triple A Worcester.