All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sale improves to 3-0: Chris Sale pitched into the sixth for the first time since returning to the Red Sox earlier this month, even though he recorded just one out in the inning. He left after 80 pitches, as the Sox continue to carefully monitor his workload. Still, while he's in the game, Sale mostly dominated. The only two hits against him were back-to-back: a swinging bunt, followed by a two-run homer from Willans Astudillo. That homer got Sale worked up, however. Before allowing that shot, his fastball was mostly 93-94 mph; after Astudillo went deep, Sale got "pissed,'' and began reaching back for a little extra velocity, occasionally hitting 97-98 mph with his fastball. Another encouraging sign was that his slider, which had been inconsistent in each of his first two post-surgery outings, was far sharper with more of its customary bite. Sale was also pleased with his mechanics and believes progress continues to be made.
Bats power up at home: The game marked the end of the homestand for the Sox, and they'll leave Fenway reluctantly. In the last 11 home games, the Sox have scored 95 runs and hit 23 homers. That translates to nearly nine runs per game and two homers each time. On Thursday, the big bats were swung by Bobby Dalbec, who had three hits (two homers) and knocked in seven runs. Rafael Devers, who had been just 3-for-20 coming into the game, also broke out, belting a two-run homer into the bulllpen and also singling home another run. Together, the two combined for 10 RBI of the 12 runs the Sox scored.
Barnes gets the ninth...in a different role: With the Sox up by 10, this was the perfect scenario that Alex Cora spoke of Wednesday to get Matt Barnes to work through some things: a big lead in the ninth. The inning, however, didn't exactly go smoothly. Barnes showed good life on his fastball, hitting 95 mph and above regularly, but he couldn't command it very well and ended up hitting one batter and walking another while also uncorking a wild pitch that moved the baserunners up. Clearly, more work needs to be done before Barnes can reclaim the closer's role and be trusted in a closer game in the ninth.
TURNING POINT
After the Twins cut the Red Sox' lead in half with the two-run homer from Willans Astudillo in the top of the fifth, the Red Sox responded right away, answering with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. With runners on first-and-second and one out, Rafael Devers snapped an 0-for-7 with a sharp line single to right, scoring Kike Hernandez, giving the Sox some additional breathing room. The real explosion came the following inning when the Sox doubled with run output with a five-run sixth.
TWO UP
Kyle Schwarber: Schwarber is an on-base machine. He had a double and four walks in five plate appearances.
Garrett Whitlock: Whitlock hadn't been as sharp of late, but this was more like it. He took over for Chris Sale in the sixth, faced five hitters over two innings and retired them all.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: It's officially a major slump for Martinez, who was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and a double play and is now without a hit in his last 20 at-bats.
Garrett Richards: Here's what you need to know about how his mop-up outing went: He issued consecutive walks with a 10-run lead.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Tonight, as a whole, was the best I've felt coming into a start, coming out of a start, during a start. I felt strong throughout.'' Chris Sale.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Rafael Devers stole second base in the fifth inning and it was the first steal by a member of the Red Sox since Aug. 3.
* Devers became the second player in franchise history to have multiple 30-homer seasons before the age of 25. Ted Williams is the other.
* Chris Sale became the second pitcher in MLB history to record three "immaculate innings'' -- striking out the side on nine pitches -- in his career. Sandy Koufax also did it.
* The Red Sox won the season series with the Twins, 5-2.
* The Sox have multiple homers in each of their last four games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox begin a seven-game road trip with a game in Cleveland at 7:10 p.m. it will be LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-7, 5,19) vs. TBD for the Indians.