BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 3, A's 2 (10) - Streaks runs to eight straight in extra-inning thriller

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the A's, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Hernandez does it all: First, Kiké Hernandez put the Red Sox ahead. Then, he made sure they stayed there. Hernandez supplied a broken-bat single to right-center in the top of the 10th inning, scoring Michael Chavis from second base, snapping a 2-2 tie and putting the Sox ahead by a run. The Sox had seen a one-run lead slip away in the bottom of the ninth, but with the automatic runner on second to start the inning and Hernandez leading off, the game didn't stay tied for long. But the single wasn't Hernandez's only contribution in the inning. In the bottom of the inning, with Oakland outfielder Seth Brown on third base and Jed Lowrie on first, Oakland catcher Sean Murphy hit a shallow fly ball to center. Hernandez came charging in, and with all the momentum he could muster, uncorked a strike on one-hop to the plate. Christian Vazquez caught the ball and slapped the tag on Brown for a double play. Adam Ottavino then got Frank Schwindel to fly to left for the final out.

Rodriguez continues strong starts: It would seem that Eduardo Rodriguez is out of the woods. He turned in his third straight impressive outing, limiting the A's to just one hit over six scoreless innings. Rodriguez has thrown six innings in each of his last three starts, but he's seldom been as sharp as he was Friday night. Over his six innings of work, he pitched to just three hitters over the minimum. Both Rodriguez and manager Alex Cora agree that over the last two weeks, Rodriguez is throwing better than he was in April, when he won his first four starts of the season. "His stuff was there, but it was about making adjustments,'' said Cora of the turnaround. "The pitch mix has been outstanding. You can see him on the mound. There's a lot of conviction. I think that was the last step.'' Especially as Garrett Richards struggles to remake himself on the fly and the season reaches the halfway point, Rodriguez's return to form is most welcome.

SECOND GUESS

In the sixth inning, the Red Sox used a single, a fielder's choice and a walk to load the bases with two outs. Oakland manager Bob Melvin went to the bullpen for J.P. Wendelken. Michael Chavis came to the plate, and curiously, swung away at Wendelken's first pitch. It wasn't a good pitch to swing at in the first place, and secondly, why be so eager to swing with a new reliever coming into the game and the bases loaded -- make him throw at least one strike. The pressure's all on him. Instead, Chavis popped out weakly to the catcher in foul territory and the A's were out of a major jam as the Sox failed to extend their lead. It's precisely that kind of approach at the plate which has limited Chavis's playing time.

TWO UP

Rafael Devers: The Red Sox managed just six hits all night, but the All-Star third baseman had two of them -- a single, and a run-scoring double.

Alex Verdugo: A two-out single in the fourth from Verdugo accounted for the team's second run of the night, scoring Danny Santana from third base.

ONE DOWN

Matt Barnes: Entrusted with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Barnes couldn't hold it and was charged with his fourth blown save of the season.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"I told Carlos (Febles, third base coach) in Spanish....'He's out...He's out....He's out,' like, five times.'' Alex Cora on what he was thinking as Hernandez's throw came to the plate.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* With a fourth-inning walk, Xander Bogaerts extended his on-base streak to 27 straight games.

* Adam Ottavino's appearance was the 500th of his career.

* With his run-scoring double, Rafael Devers now has knocked in 21 runs in his last 17 games.

* The win improved the Sox' record against AL West teams to 9-13.

UP NEXT

The Red Sox and A's play the middle game of their series at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, with RHP Garrett Richards (4-5, 4.96) vs. LHP Cole Irvin (6-7, 3.64)