BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 9, Orioles 3 -- Sox keep rolling over O's

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

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Bogaerts, Hernandez get it going: When the Red Sox COVID outbreak first hit last month, both Xander Bogaerets and Kike Hernandez were hit, requiring lengthy hotel room quarantines and stays on the COVID-IL. Not surprisingly, it's taken a while for them to get their timing back at the plate since returning to action. Bogaerts had a big day when he returned in Chicago, but slumped thereafter. Hernandez, meanwhile, really scuffled, bringing a 0-for-14 skid into Saturday's game. But perhaps the win signaled a turning point for both at the plate. Hernandez had a double off The Wall in the first and later added a single in the sixth, scoring twice. Bogaerts, meanwhile, had a single in the first, another in the fifth and perhaps the biggest hit all afternoon with a three-run belt into the Monster Seats in the big four-run sixth inning. Given the importance of both players -- one as the leadoff hitter, the other as either the Sox' No. 3 or cleanup hitter -- their breakouts couldn't come at a better time, with the team coming down the stretch in their playoff chase.

Houck stars out of the bullpen: When starter Nick Pivetta stumbled and came out of the game in the fourth, Alex Cora knew that he would have to, again, on his bullpen. Darwinzon Hernandez got two big outs to get through the fourth, but the real key appearance came from Tanner Houck, who has been shifted to a relief role in the final weeks as the Sox look to take advantage of a number of off-days in the schedule and provide themselves with more arms in the bullpen. Houck turned in 2.2 innings, allowing just one and got credit for his first win of the season. Houck looked more comfortable pitching in relief that has at times as a starter, but said he didn't change his approach or his mindset. While it might be tempting to be more aggressive and throw harder, knowing the outing will be shorter, Houck said he tried to avoid that temptation, since trying to ramp up his velocity can sometimes lead to a loss of control. But whatever he did, it worked as he gave the Sox eight huge outs to bridge the gap from early in the game to late.

TURNING POINT

For the first half of the game, it was a back-and-forth affair between the two teams. The Orioles scored two in the first, with the Red Sox responding with three of their own in the bottom of the inning. Then, the Orioles tied it again in the top of the second. A run in the fifth helped give the Sox the lead again, but the real key came in the sixth, all with two out. After Hunter Renfroe doubled to center to score Hernandez, Bogaerts slammed a three-run homer to left-center, pushing the Red Sox lead to 8-3 and effectively putting the game away.

TWO UP

Rafael Devers: Devers had a three-hit game with two singles and a double helping to drive the Red Sox' 14 hit attack.

Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec has been crushing the ball, especially at home, and Saturday was no different with a Wall-ball double in the first and a single to right in the seventh, collecting two RBI in the process.

ONE DOWN

Nick Pivetta: In his last start, Pivetta allowed just one run in 5.1 innings in Chicago, but Saturday's start was nowhere near as effective. He fell behind 2-0 after just two pitches and couldn't get through the fourth inning, allowing seven hits and three runs.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"It was a complete game. We pitched, we played great defense and offensively, we did a lot of good things.'' Alex Cora.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* Hunter Renfroe leads the Sox with 44 RBI since the All-Star break.

* Xander Bogaerts matched a single-game season-high with four RBI.

* Over their last 19 games at home, the Red Sox are averaging 7.7 runs per game,

* Bobby Dalbec became the fifth Red Sox rookie to have at least 20 doubles, five triples, 20 homers and 75 RBI.

* The Sox bullpen has allowed two earned runs over the last 35.2 innings.

UP NEXT

The Red Sox and Orioles wrap up their weekend series at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.52) vs. LHP Alexander Wells (1-3, 7.76).