BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 6, Orioles 2 - Rodriguez, Sox sweep O's

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox’ 6-2 win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Rodriguez cruises through six innings as Red Sox complete sweep

Yes, we’ll add a qualifier to this sweep by reminding everyone that this was the Baltimore Orioles.

The same Orioles team that has now lost 11 games in a row and been outscored, 104-34, during that stretch. 

But a win is a win — and a sweep is a sweep — and the arrival of the O’s to Fenway came at the perfect time for the struggling Sox to get back on track.

Boston took care of business during the weekend series, with Eduardo Rodriguez closing out the sweep on Sunday with a tidy six-inning performance — setting the tone in what was eventually a 6-2 win for Boston against the O’s. 

After a shaky couple of innings (three walks), Rodriguez settled into a groove — relinquishing just one (unearned) run over six innings before eventually getting the hook after throwing just 83 pitches.

It was the first time that Rodriguez had logged at least six innings in a start since July 2, and he very well could have gone deeper into the game. But in the grand scheme of things, it was exactly the type of clean outing the Red Sox needed from the southpaw as he looks to complement a rotation that looks far more imposing than it was just a few weeks ago. 

J.D. Martinez did most of the damage with a three-run shot in the first inning, while Boston added another three runs in the sixth off of an RBI single from Kiké Hernandez, a bases-loaded walk from Hunter Renfroe and a force out by Xander Bogaerts. 

You won’t get many brownie points for sweeping the Orioles, but Boston did what it needed to do during this three-game set — and now enters a critical three-game series at Yankee Stadium with plenty of momentum.

Sox claim Travis Shaw off waivers

The Red Sox are bringing a familiar face back into the fold, as the team announced Sunday afternoon that it claimed Travis Shaw off waivers from the Brewers and was placing him on the 40-man roster. 

Shaw, 31, spent the previous five seasons with the Brewers — batting just .191 with a .279 on-base percentage, six home runs, 28 RBIs and 14 runs in 56 games with Milwaukee this season. 

Shaw’s game has declined from his first few seasons with the Brewers (he averaged 31.5 home runs and 93.5 RBI from 2017-18), but he could serve as a left-handed option at first base alongside Bobby Dalbec. 

Shaw played in Boston from 2015-16, swatting 29 home runs and driving in 107 runs over 210 games. 

With a Dalbec/Shaw platoon at first, it remains to be seen if Boston will permanently pencil Kyle Schwarber into one set spot in the field — with the Sox deadline pickup getting reps at DH during his first two games at Fenway Park. 

Adam Ottavino exits after scary comebacker

Back on the mound for the first time since August 8, Ottavino had a rough re-introduction in his 0.1 inning of work — exiting the game after a comebacker from Baltimore’s Jorge Mateo struck the righty square in the shoulder. 

The line drive — clocked at 105.2 mph off the bat — clanged off of the reliever and ricocheted into right field for a run-scoring single. 

Ottavino exited the game and was diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion — adding injury to insult in what was already a rusty appearance. Ottavino walked a batter and also threw two wild pitches in his short time on the mound.

TURNING POINT

The Orioles got off to a quick start against Rodriguez, who put two of the first three Baltimore batters on base in the first. Anthony Santander followed that up with a single into left — with a throwing error from Martinez allowing Austin Hays to cross home and give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

But after his miscue in the field, Martinez ensured that Baltimore would not carry that momentum for long — hammering a flat slider from Keegan Akin into the Monster for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, giving Boston a lead it would not relinquish. 

FOUR UP

J.D. Martinez: It didn’t take very long for Martinez to absolve himself from his throwing error in the top of the first — with his three-run shot in the bottom of the frame sailing into the National Car Rental sign above the Monster seemingly in a split-second. Martinez now has 11 hits and 11 RBI in his last six games.

Kyle Schwarber: In his second game in a Red Sox uniform, Schwarber was productive from the No. 6 spot in the lineup — lacing a pair of doubles into right and center field. He eventually scored in the sixth off of Hernandez’s RBI single.  

Eduardo Rodriguez: Despite a bit of a slow start, Rodriguez regularly got himself out of trouble in the early going against Baltimore — eventually retiring the last nine batters he faced in order. 

Garrett Whitlock: After getting tagged for two runs and four hits during his last outing on Tuesday, Whitlock returned to form on Sunday — stranding a pair of Baltimore baserunners in the seventh after taking over for Ottavino. Whitlock remained in the game for the eighth, ending his outing by promptly striking out the side. 

TWO DOWN 

Bobby Dalbec: After a scorching stretch over the last few games, Dalbec came back to earth on Sunday — striking out twice and leaving five men on base. 

Adam Ottavino: Ottavino had some bad luck with that comebacker from Mateo, but he also looked like a reliever that hasn’t pitched in a week — with his lack of control apparent before exiting the game. Matt Barnes also wasn’t particularly sharp in the ninth inning, giving up both a single and double in his inning of work. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

‘We feel like we have a complete pitching staff.’ - Alex Cora

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Over the last nine games, Red Sox starters have a 2.39 ERA and a 66-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

The Red Sox have won each of Eduardo Rodriguez’s last 10 starts against the Orioles...Since the start of 2018, he is 9-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) vs. BAL. 

The Red Sox had a +29 run differential through 115 games; they have a +30 run differential in their last 5 games (51-21).

UP NEXT

The Red Sox will have an off day on Monday, but will then head down to New York for a compressed three-game series. Boston will take part in a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees on Tuesday — with no starters announced yet for the matchup.