All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox win over the Tigers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Rodriguez gives the Sox what they need: It wasn't exactly a complete game. In fact, it was barely enough to qualify for the win. But at the very least, Eduardo Rodriguez gave the Red Sox five innings -- scoreless, as a matter of fact -- and that's something the Sox haven't been getting much of lately. In the previous eight games, in fact, only once had the Sox had a starting pitcher get through five innings. So the fact that Rodriguez got more than halfway through the game was a step forward. Moreover, Rodriguez was dominant at times, racking up 10 strikeouts in his five innings, with at least one recorded in all five of his innings. Most of the strikeouts came on Rodriguez's four-seamer, a positive sign since Alex Cora had identified fastball command as a key for Rodriguez to begin to turn things around. The start was far from perfect. Rodriguez had just one 1-2-3 inning among his five, issued four walks and needed 99 pitches to record 15 outs. But again, this was a low bar to clear given recent performances from the rotation and Rodriguez gave the Sox enough.
Sox turn the tables on strikeouts: As the Sox suffered through their recent five-game losing streak -- and six losses in the last seven games -- they were often unable to make contact and put the ball in play. In their previous four games before Wednesday night, all losses, the Sox had struck out 42 times, reaching double-figures in strikeouts in three of those defeats. But on Wednesday, it was time for the Red Sox pitchers to pile up the swing-and-miss. After Rodriguez struck out in just five innings, four Red Sox relievers combined to fan eight more Tigers, giving the Red Sox staff a season-high 18 strikeouts, two over their previous high for 2022.
Barnes returns with a flourish: For the second time in 2021, closer Matt Barnes had a COVID scare. Near the end of spring training, a false positive triggered some panic in the Red Sox camp and Barnes was quarantined for several days, not knowing if he was infected or if he had infected teammates. Then earlier this week, Barnes had cold symptoms, prompting team-wide testing and a period of uncertainty for Barnes. But on Wednesday morning, Barnes got a negative test result, was activated off the IL-COVID list and thrown into a save situation. Pitching for the first time in a week, Barnes was surprisingly sharp, striking out two of the three batters he faced for his 24th save of the season.
TURNING POINT
This one may have taken a turn right in the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers used a one-out walk from Jonathan Schoop and a single to right from Robbie Grossman to put runners at the corners with the heart of the order due. But A big inning in the first would have been highly demoralizing for a team fighting to break a five-game losing streak, but Eduardo Rodriguez fanned both Miguel Cabrera and Eric Haase to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard. It wouldn't be until the seventh inning that the Tigers managed their first (and only) run of the night.
TWO UP
Xander Bogaerts: After an extended cold spell at the plate, Bogaerts may have turned the corner with a single, double and walk in four plate appearances.
Kike Hernandez: Hernandez got an extra day to rest Tuesday after he was a little sore from a slide and came back refreshed with a two-run homer, a triple and a walk.
ONE DOWN
Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec pinch-hit for Franchy Cordero in the sixth and struck out in each of his two at-bats the rest of the way.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We didn't do much with men in scoring position, but at least it was the beginning of something we've been talking about. Baby steps, I guess.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Christian Vazquez had a single to extend his hitting streak to six straight games.
* Matt Barnes has recorded a save in four straight outings.
* After allowing seven runs over his previous four appearances, Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings.
* The Red Sox improved to 57-8 when they score four or more runs.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Tigers conclude their series at 1:10 Thursday with LHP Martin Perez (7-7, 4.56) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (6-10, 4.53)