All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Rodriguez shines in start: If there's one thing that's driven the Red Sox improvement of late, it's been the starting pitching. Mostly, that's been thanks to Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi, who have combined to post a 2.17 ERA over their last eight starts combined. But lately, Eduardo Rodriguez has nearly matched them. For the second straight time, Rodriguez pitched into the seventh inning on Thursday and allowed no runs. And in four of his last six starts, Rodriguez has allowed two earned runs or fewer. Rodriguez was efficient from the beginning, needing just 52 pitches through the first four innings and through the first six innings, he had pitched to just one batter over the minimum. Rather than nibble around the strike zone as he sometimes does, Rodriguez got ahead against most hitters, allowing him to control the at-bat. It didn't hurt that he had some of his most consistent velocity of the season, regularly hitting 95 mph with his fastball. He also had a plus changeup and cutter to go with his curveball. Add it all up, and there was no taking issue with Rodriguez's own assessment that this constituted his best start of the season.
Richards stars in new role: When Garrett Richards was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen last month, the thinking was he'd be used mostly in mop-duty, providing some length when the Red Sox were either up big or down big on the scoreboard. Instead, Richards has turned into an essential high-leverage set-up man. He came on in the seventh when Rodriguez allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach and quickly shut down any notions the Rays had for a comeback, getting two strikeouts followed by a flyout to right field. He then handled things for the final two innings, too, giving the rest of the bullpen a night off and allowing Alex Cora to re-set for the start of a new series Friday. Richards has now pitched seven times in relief and allowed just a solo earned run 13.1 innings for a 0.67 ERA with 16 strikeouts and four walks. The ability to count on Richards to get big outs in the latter half of the game while Matt Barnes, Josh Taylor and Hirokazu Sawamura sit on the COVID list is huge for the Sox.
TURNING POINT
The Sox led 2-0 in the top of the fifth when Jonathan Arauz led off against Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan. Though he supplied a huge-three-run homer in Cleveland to win the road trip opener, Arauz is not in the lineup for his bat, but rather, his athletic play in the middle of the infield. But he battled McClanahan for an 11-pitch walk to start the inning, and three hitters later, rode home from second when J.D. Martinez pulled a single to left field. It provided a more breathing room from the Sox and it came from the unlikely spot in the order.
TWO UP
Hunter Renfroe: Given another crack at the leadoff spot, Renfroe fared better this time, with two hits in his first two trips, including a run scored and an RBI.
J.D. Martinez: It's been an up-and-down road trip for Martinez, but he contributed two hits Thursday night, including an RBI single in the fifth inning which scored the team's fourth run.
ONE DOWN
Christian Vazquez: A night after one of his best games of the season at the plate (three hits, including a game-tying homer), Vazquez took a big step back with an 0-for-4 night.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It a total team effort. We played good defense again behind our starter and we were able to save the series.'' โ Alex Cora
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox saw their streak of 10 consecutive games with at least one home run come to an end.
* The winning road trip was the first for the Red Sox since they went 3-2 in mid-July in New York and Buffalo (Toronto).
* Kyle Schwarber had two singles and has now reached base 35 times in 17 games since joining the Sox.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox return home for their second-to-last homestand and host Cleveland at 7:10. It will be RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.71) vs. RHP Cal Quantril (4-2, 2.93)