All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Royals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Perez rebounds: Martin Perez's last start wasn't nearly as bad as it looked in the box score. In fact, had Xander Bogaerts not committed an error that led to three unearned runs, Perez might have actually gone fairly deep against the Yankees last Friday night in the opener of the Sox' homestand. But it wasn't just that one -- he had thrown fewer than four innings in three of his four previous starts, and if it's one thing the Red Sox didn't need Wednesday night, it was another short outing from the lefty. The bullpen has been operating on fumes because of heavy usage of late. So even though Perez couldn't make it through the sixth, he did get 16 outs and limited the bullpen's exposure. Over the first three innings, he allowed just one baserunner -- a leadoff homer to Salvador Perez to start the second. He helped himself with a nicely turned 1-4-3 double play in the fourth, and another double play came in handy the next inning when the Royals strung together two singles to start the inning. He began to wobble in the sixth, allowing hits to the first two batters he faced and after recording the first out, Alex Cora wisely decided not to allow him to face Perez again -- especially with two on.
Relief in hand: The Red Sox bullpen may be tired, but it continues to operate like a machine. Brandon Workman got a double play of his own to get out of the sixth-inning jam in relief of Perez. From there, the Sox trotted out three relievers, who retired nine of the 10 batters they faced. The only baserunner came with with one out in the ninth when Perez singled off Rafael Devers' glove. Over the last four games, the bullpen has combined to throw 13.2 innings of scoreless ball; over the course of the six-game homestand to date, they've yielded just one run. In the last seven games, dating back to the last game of the previous road trip, their collective numbers are one earned run allowed over the 23.1 innings. They've also successfully stranded the last 16 inherited runners -- including one in the sixth inning Wednesday night. Finally, over the last 15 games, the bullpen has a 2.02 ERA -- a big reason the Sox finished up the month with an impressive 18-10 mark.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning with two baserunners on as J.D. Martinez came to the plate. Fresh off a four-RBI night Wednesday, Martinez got a fat changeup over the heart of the plate from Kansas City starter Mike Minor and drove it to straightaway center, landing a few rows up in the center field bleachers. From there, the Red Sox never looked back, tacking on runs along the way. Once Martinez rounded the bases, even though it was just the third inning, considering how the Sox have dominated the series, the game already had a finished quality to it.
TWO UP:
Hunter Renfroe: The hits just keep on coming for the outfielder, who belted a long homer over everything in the eighth inning, his third homer in the last three games.
Matt Barnes: Whatever hiccups Barnes had earlier this month seem to have gone away. He attacked the Royals aggressively, picking up two strikeouts in the ninth, giving him five in his last two innings of work.
ONE DOWN
Christian Vazquez: It was an unproductive night at the plate for the catcher, who was hitless in four plate appearances including a strikeout and two infield popups while stranding two baserunners.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"The bullpen has been amazing. We've got to keep praising these guys, because they've been so good.'' -- Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
* This is the 15th season that the Red Sox have won at least 50 of their first 81 games.
* Xander Bogaerts extended his on-base streak to 25 games and J.D. Martinez stretched his to 19 games.
* Red Sox relievers have stranded their last 16 inherited runners.
* Josh Taylor extended his string of scoreless games to 24 in a row, three shy of the club record.
* Hunter Renfroe has 12 RBI in his last nine games.
UP NEXT: The Sox and Royals wrap up the series -- and the homestand -- with a 1:10 afternoon start. It will be RHP Nathan Eovaldi (8-4, 3.67) vs. TBA.