All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Rangers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox give it away and take it back: This one had the potential to make the shortlist of the worst losses of the season. The Red Sox blew a two-run lead in the ninth and seemed on the verge of losing two-of-three to one of the worst teams -- and worst road teams -- in the game before they loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 11th inning and got a walk-off grand slam from Travis Shaw. First, the Sox needed a run in the bottom of the 10th to just force another inning. Then, after holding Texas off the board in the top of the 11th, the Sox got a sacrifice bunt and resulting error plus an intentional walk to fill the bases for Shaw. Shaw got ahead of Rangers reliever Dennis Santana 3-and-1 before swinging away on a full count. Once the ball left Shaw's bat, it was evident that the Sox had won, since the ball was plenty deep enough to score the winning run from third even if had been caught. But the ball continued to soar and landed past the Boston bullpen for a grand slam, Shaw's first hit for the Red Sox before being claimed on waivers last week. It was Shaw's first hit for the Sox since the 2016 season and it couldn't have been any bigger or timed any better.
Eovaldi sets up win: As often happens when bullpens can't preserve late-inning leads, starter Nathan Eovaldi got cheated out of what should have been his 11th victory of the season. That he lost the personal win, however, didn't detract from the job that Eovaldi did, going seven innings while allowing just one unearned run. He didn't walk a single batter and gave up just four hits -- all of them singles. While Chris Sale has returned from the IL and given the Sox two wins in two tries, both of which came after losses, it's been Eovaldi, from the start of the season, who has been the Red Sox' most valuable starter. He used his five-pitch mix well against the Texas lineup, consistently getting ahead of the hitters and making them earn everything they got.
Sox held "players only'' meeting before game: Winning pitcher Garrett Whitlock mentioned in a post-game radio interview that veterans Chris Sale, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts called a meeting prior to the game to emphasize the urgency with which the Sox have to play over the final six weeks. "It was just great to have those guys lead us and push us forward,'' said Whitlock. "To have them leading us and pushing us, it's a great team and there's no place I'd rather be. (The message) was, 'This is our group and this is who we are and we have each other's backs and we're going to take it one day at a time and win each day.''' The case could be made that such a meeting should have been called a while ago. Additionally, had the Sox not come back in extra innings, the message would have rung pretty hollow. But the fact that the Sox came back to pull out one that almost got away, coupled with the message, could serve as an emotional springboard for the team when they need it most.
TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the 10th inning, the Red Sox were literally a strike away from suffering one of their most humiliating losses of the season -- a second straight loss to one of the worst teams in the league. The Sox blew a two-run lead in the ninth and gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. With two out and the potential tying run on third base and 0-and-2 count, however, Rafael Devers, who had come into the game with an 0-for-17 hitless streak, crushed a pitch to the deepest reaches of the ballpark, just eluding the leaping effort by Texas center fielder D.J. Peters. In most any other MLB ballpark, the ball would have gone out, but the Sox had to settle for a double. Hunter Renfroe then fanned to strand Devers at second, but the Sox would get another chance the following inning and not miss that one.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo was in the middle of everything all afternoon, collecting three hits -- including a huge two-run homer in the second inning -- and scoring two runs.
Garrett Whitlock: After Matt Barnes blew the save in the ninth, Whitlock came in and got the Sox out of the inning with a tie, then tossed two more scoreless innings to pick up the win.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Being back in his normal DH slot didn't help the veteran slugger, who was 0-for-5 with three flyouts and two strikeouts while stranding baserunners left and right.
Kevin Plawecki: Getting the start behind the plate, Plawecki showed that his hot streak at the plate is over, taking an 0-for-4.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"That was pretty cool....glad that I could help out. Pretty cool moment.'' Travis Shaw, who won the game with an 11th inning grand slam.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
* The walk-off win was the fifth of the season for the Red Sox.
* The Sox improved to 8-3 in extra innings this year.
* The walk-off grand slam was the first for the Sox since Xander Bogaerts had one on July 14, 2018.
* The start marked the sixth time this season that Nathan Eovaldi had pitched at least seven innings.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. with RHP Tanner Houck (0-3, 3.12 ) vs. RHP Griffin Jax (3-1, 5.11)