All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox’ 8-1 win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
NEW ROLE FOR RICHARDS:
Garrett Richards spun one of his best outings all season in his bullpen debut, which felt more like a start with 48 pitches logging nine outs for a rare three-inning save. Richards struck out four, allowed four hits and no runs after working around two Orioles in scoring position in the ninth inning with a strikeout.
An 8-1 lead provided little leverage typical of a save, with only a technicality handing Richards a stat reserved for shutting down an opponent in a close game in the final inning. Still, Richards' control (70.8% strikes) and ability to work around a baserunner in each inning he pitched, while recording outs with a fastball, changeup and slider all provided a successful outing for Richards and spelled a tired bullpen. That's where the bar is at for now.
Will he save a stumbling bullpen? That remains to be seen.
SCHWARBER HELPS OFFENSE FLIP BACK ON:
A three-game stretch has now seen Boston post 20, 1 and 8 runs in a game, as Tampa's shutdown pitching effort on Thursday only staggered a recent offensive outburst that includes 30 hits over the Red Sox' last two wins. Kyle Schwarber made his Sox debut with two early walks that turned into runs. Most of the work happened through Renfroe, Schwarber and below, with the top-four only providing two of Boston's hits. Bobby Dalbec is seven for his last 10 at the plate in the nine hole, after a pair of doubles and a blast to center field. Xander Bogaerts and Hunter Renfroe hit home runs, the former barely touching the green monster ledge and the latter a 411-foot center field blast. Jurran Duran added an RBI single and double.
TURNING POINT
Hunter Renfroe turned on a first-pitch fastball to begin the second inning and the next four Red Sox batters followed him to reach base in a four-hit, four-run inning that put Spenser Watkins and Baltimore behind and out early. A Schwarber walk and Kevin Plawecki single loaded the bases for Duran and Dalbec to score three on an RBI single and two RBI double, respectively. The Orioles never drew closer than 4-1 after that.
THREE UP
Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec's streaky production at the bottom of Boston's order again ticked upward into a dominant 3-4 performance that helped create a sizable lead early for the Red Sox. He hit a two RBI double in the second inning and put the game away for good with a sixth-inning solo shot to dead center that made it a 7-1 game. He added another double in the eighth before getting stranded, bringing him to seven hits in his last 10 at bats with nine RBI. His success is came against righties tonight, who he had entered only hitting .175 against.
Nick Pivetta: Pivetta's sharp fastball and dunking knuckle curve struck out eight Orioles and worked two 1-2-3 innings. In the four other innings, Baltimore put a batter on base in the first at bat, before Pivetta battled back and record three straight outs each time.
Garrett Richards: It wasn't a high-leverage save, but a sign of Richards' potential ability to go long out of the bullpen after a disastrous stint as a starter this season in Boston. Richards put a runner on in each inning, working out of trouble each time including when two Orioles reached scoring position in the ninth. It resulted in his first save since 2013, since he closed the game with three straight innings of relief, regardless of the score. Only two saves in MLB before Richards' came via the three-inning route, according to Alex Speier. Alex Cora didn't commit to always go long with Richards, but it provided needed rest for his relievers.
ONE DOWN
Rafael Devers: Devers made a nice diving stop to record an out in the fifth inning to record an out at second base. At the plate, he hit 0-5 and left two runners in scoring position.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"(Pivetta) has a good fastball, at the end he was throwing 97, if he can mix his curveball, his slider and his changeup. He has a whole arsenal and that was a good one today. We needed him to go deep into the game. Garrett did an amazing job for three innings." - Alex Cora
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Richards recorded his first save since 2013 and only the third three-inning save in MLB relief this season.
- A 113 MPH exit velocity on Dalbec's home run marked the third-fastest hit of his career.
- Pivetta threw six innings with eight strikeouts and less than two earned runs allowed for only the sixth time in 96 career starts, marking the third time he's done so this season.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Orioles play their second game of the weekend series at 4:10 EST on Saturday. LHP Chris Sale will make his first start in two years against RHP Jorge Lopez (3-12, 5.75 ERA).