BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 9, White Sox 8 (10) - Sox roar back after blowing 5-run lead

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the White Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Shaw makes his presence felt: An hour before gametime, Travis Shaw wasn't in the starting lineup, though he was told that could change. Sure enough, when J.D. Martinez was scratched for the second straight night because of back spasms, Shaw became the DH. After striking out in his first at-bat, he walloped a three-run homer to right in the third to stake the Sox to a 7-1 lead. Chicago ate away at that lead, however, sending the game to extra innings. In the 10th, with Alex Verdugo at third and one out, Shaw stroked a single to right, scoring Verdugo with what turned out to be the winning run. That's four RBI from a spare part on the bench, exactly the kind of contribution the Red Sox need these days with nearly half the roster either on the COIVD list, or, like Martinez, battling a nagging injury. Shaw said this is the first season he's been asked to contribute coming off the bench and is learning how to handle the new role. He's spoken to some other veteran players about handling the job, and decided that his best strategy is to prepare every day as if he's going to be in the lineup. That way, even when he's not in the starting lineup, he's mentally and physically ready when called upon.

For a change, Red Sox play some defense: It's amazing what happens when you catch the ball. Early in this crazy back-and-forth game, the Sox saw how costly a misplay can be when with a runner on first and one out, Rafael Devers, playing toward short, got what appeared to be a perfect double-play ball. But the ball clanged off his glove and instead of being out of the inning, a nightmare unfolded for the Sox, with the White Sox scoring five unearned runs. Things, however, got cleaned up after that. Alex Verdugo made a spectacular leaping grab in center to take a likely homer away from Brian Goodwin in the sixth. In the eighth, Bobby Dalbec made a terrific stop of a hot shot, then fed Garrett Whitlock covering for an out. Xander Bogaerts turned in one of his best plays of the season in the ninth (see below) and in the 10th, Kike Hernandez went sprawling to stop a ball hit by Goodwin from going into right field, as Dalbec kept his foot on the bag as lunged to pick a throw in the dirt as the game's final out was recorded.

TURNING POINT

In a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, Chicago's Cesar Hernandez led off with a sharply hit ball up the middle that looked like it was ticketed for center field. But Xander Bogaerts raced over from the shortstop side of second base, made a sprawling stop of the ball and then immediately got to his knees to fire a strike to first to record the out. The play was spectacular enough and became bigger still when Luis Robert followed with a double to right, which might have been a game-winner had Hernandez reached safely.

TWO UP 

Kike Hernandez: After a few games under his belt following a COVID stint, Hernandez looked more like himself with two hits and the game-tying sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

Josh Taylor: With the Sox running out of available bodies in the bullpen, Taylor came on for the 10th and, after a leadoff single, recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to close out the win.

TWO DOWN

Rafael Devers: Chalk this up as a bad night all around, with a costly error leading to five unearned runs and a 1-for-4 night with three strikeouts.

Garrett Richards: Bounced from the rotation last month, Richards had adapted well to his new role in the bullpen, but this was an off night as he allowed five runs -- all unearned -- thanks to two hits, two walks and an error behind him.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"That was a good one. Like I always say, that's a big-league win. One less day on the calendar and we added a win, which is great.'' Alex Cora.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* Josh Taylor recorded his first major league save.

* Christian Vazquez collected his 100th career double in the eighth inning.

* The win represented the 41st comeback win of the season -- or slightly more than half their victories.

* Travis Shaw has two four-RBI games with the Red Sox since joining them a month ago.

UP NEXT

The Red Sox and White Sox conclude their season series Sunday at 2:10 p.m. with RHP Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.67) vs. Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.59)