All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Astros, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox fine tune approach at plate: For the past week, Alex Cora has been imploring his hitters to control the strike zone at the plate -- i.e. to not chase pitches outside the zone, or even, swing at pitches the edges of the zone. The plea has mostly fallen on deaf ears as the Astros beat the Sox five times in their first six tries and limiting them to just eight runs over the five losses. The game plan by the Houston pitching staff wasn't hard to discern, but that didn't help the Sox be any more successful at the plate. But in their last shot at the Astros in the regular season, the Sox finally struck the right balance. They struck out just three times while working four walks -- and two hits batsman. Moreover, the Sox were rewarded for their discipline, since when they did choose to swing, they made hard contact. The Sox piled up three doubles and two homers and produced 14 hits and a dozen runs. The production was especially welcome from the lower third of the order, with nine RBI from the final three hitters in the order.
Bullpen picks up slack: Having burned through a lot of pitchers in recent days, the Red Sox were hoping for a minimum of five innings from starter Eduardo Rodriguez, but with his pitch count soaring into triple digits and the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth, he was given the hook. It didn't get any better immediately, as Matt Andriese walked his first batter and yielded a bases-clearing double before finally recording the third out. But after that, Sox relievers were far more effective, contributing four more innings with the only black mark a solo homer by Jose Altuve off Darwinzon Hernandez. Still, four innings of one-run ball is plenty good enough and the final quartet of Hernandez, Adam Ottavino, Josh Taylor and Matt Barnes kept the Astros at bay while Red Sox hitters took the lead and then built on it.
TURNING POINT
The game had already see-sawed back and forth between the two teams when, with the Red Sox trailing 7-3, Christian Arroyo came to the plate with two on and two out. He swung at a 2-and-0 pitch and fouled it back, frustrating himself. But Arroyo was then rewarded with a hanging slider from Houston reliever Brandon Bielak and hit it over everything in left, easily clearing the Monster Seats. It may have produced the biggest reaction from the crowd at Fenway this season, and Arroyo soaked it all in as he rounded the bases, proudly pounding his chest. It was only the second homer of the season for him, but both have come against the Astros.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: It's been a tough few weeks at the plate for Vazquez, but he took more of "all field'' approach Thursday night and it produced the desired results -- three hits, all either up the middle or to the opposite field.
Kike Hernandez: Entrusted with the leadoff spot again, Hernandez reached base three times on a two doubles and a walk and also made a fine diving catch to take a hit away from Kyle Tucker leading off the ninth.
ONE DOWN
Eduardo Rodriguez: The Red Sox were hopeful that Rodriguez had turned a corner with his last start in New York, but this represented a step backward. He walked three in just 4.2 innings and twice gave up leads given to him in the early innings.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"It was a fun game. It was a cool game to watch, a tough game to manage. But in the end, it was fun.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
* The win was the Red Sox' 22nd comeback victory of the season.
* This marked the eighth time this season that the Red Sox have scored 10 or more runs, most in the American League.
* Alex Verdugo recorded his fourth outfield assist of the season and the 18th for the Boston outfield.
* The 106 pitches thrown by starter Eduardo Rodriguez was a season high for him.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox begin a four-game, wraparound series against Toronto at 7:10 p.m. Friday with RHP Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.88) vs. RHP Ross Stripling (2-3, 4.71)