All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Renfroe does it all: You name it and Hunter Renfroe did it Wednesday night. In the fourth inning, he fielded a bloop hit that rolled into foul territory and came up firing, throwing a dart to second base to cut down Manuel Margot attempting to stretch a single into a double, recording the final out of the inning. Then, in the eighth inning, with the Sox trailing 1-0, he pulled a slider on the outer half from J.P. Chargois and drove it over everything in left for his 27th homer of the season, putting the Red Sox up 2-1. Finally, for an encore, Renfroe alertly backed up Danny Santana in center in the top of the ninth after Santana made a diving but unsuccessful attempt at a sinking liner off the bat of Joey Wendle. Tracking the ball down in deep center, Renfroe barely had time to plant himself before sending another missile that reached Bobby Dalbec at third, where he put a quick tag on Wendle for the final, dramatic out of the game. "Anytime you can help the team win, that's huge,'' said Renfroe, who now has an MLB-leading 16 assists. In addition, since Aug. 1, he's been the Red Sox' most productive hitter with a 1.036 OPS, 12 homers and 29 RBI.
Eovaldi kept Sox in it: If you'd like another example of how meaningless wins are for a starting pitcher, consider that Nathan Eovladi has a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts, and though the Red Sox are 5-1 in those six, Eovaldi has just one win. He got another no-decision Wednesday night, but it would be difficult to pitch better than he did. Over seven innings, he limited the Rays to just three hits -- all singles, one a swinging bunt -- while walking two and fanning eight. Eovaldi had his entire pitch mix working, mixing in curveball, slider and cutters with his fastball, recording 20 swing-and-misses along the way, the most for a Red Sox starter since 2019. Just once over seven innings did the Rays put a baserunner in scoring position, and on that occasion, he went no further. Eovaldi gave the Sox 98 pitches and bought them time for the bats to erupt.
TURNING POINT
Eovaldi kept the Rays off the board for all seven innings he pitched, but found himself in an early jam. Among the most consistent strike-throwers in the league this year, he atypically walked two of the first three hitters he faced in the third inning. That looked like trouble, especially with the heart of the Rays order due up. But Kike Hernandez ranged over to make a play in front of the wall on the warning track for the second out, and Eovaldi reached back for something extra and fanned Nelson Cruz, stranding two runners and keeping the game scoreless.
TWO UP
Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec didn't have a hit in four plate appearances, but he turned in a handful of terrific plays at first base, with three assists in the seventh inning alone.
Hansel Robles: Robles appeared to be an odd choice to close out a one-run game, but he struck out the first two hitters he faced before allowing a sinking liner that wasn't caught by Danny Santana and emerged with the save.
TWO DOWN
Garrett Richards: Richards has been highly effective since transitioning to the bullpen, but he struggled Wednesday. After inheriting a runner at first, he walked the first batter he faced in the eighth, then gave up a go-ahead single to Nelson Cruz.
Kevin Plawecki: Getting a start behind the plate, Plawecki went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts while allowing a stolen base.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Big swing....big throw....what he's done for us this season has been amazing.'' Alex Cora on Hunter Renfroe.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The win was the fifth this season for the Red Sox when trailing after eight innings.
* Hansel Robles is 12-for-14 in save opportunities this season.
* The win was also the 40th come-from-behind win this year.
* Over his last six starts, Nathan Eovaldi has a 1.91 ERA.
* Hunter Renfroe became the sixth Red Sox outfielder to have at least 25 homers and 15 assists in the same season, and the first since Jason Bay (2009).
UP NEXT: The Red Sox are off Thursday. On Friday, they begin a six-game road trip in Chicago, with RHP Tanner Houck (0-3, 3,26) vs. TBD at 8:10 p.m.