All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Astros, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Pivetta brilliant from first to ninth: Nick Pivetta turned in one of the best pitching performances of the season with a complete-game two-hitter, allowing just one run. That one run came when leadoff hitter Jose Altuve outlasted him on a 10-pitch at-bat to open the game, sending the ball into the Monster Seats for a quick 1-0 lead for the visitors. But Pivetta rebounded from that and proceeded to retire the next 18 hitters in a row. The Astros didn't get another man on base until Michael Branley doubled to right to open the seventh inning. Also, Pivetta didn't issue a single walk and has now walked just one hitter over his last four starts combined. The complete game was the first for a Red Sox starter since 2019, when Chris Sale recorded one in Kansas City.
Offense continues to show improvement: The Red Sox didn't put on the kind of power display that the Astros did on Tuesday night when they launched six homers, including five in one inning. In fact, the Sox managed just five hits overall. But they got contributions from up and down the lineup -- from a run-scoring single from leadoff man Kike Hernandez, to an RBI hit from No. 9 hitter Christian Vazquez. The only homer of the night for the Sox was hit by Xander Bogaerts. But where it matters most, the Sox did enough: on the scoreboard. Though it wasn't an explosive night, the five runs did the trick. This season, when the Sox score four or more, they're 13-6. It would seem that getting four or five runs a night isn't too much to ask, and yet on 18 occasions, the Sox have scored three runs or fewer -- and gone 2-16 in such games.
Streaks snapped: J.D. Martinez came into Wednesday with the longest active hitting streak in the big leagues and a 34-game on-base streak, dating back to last season, also the longest among current players. But following an 0-for-3 night to go along with a sacrifice fly, both streaks came to an end. Martinez had also reached base in every one of his games this season -- again, until Wednesday. In the seventh inning, Martinez had a roller to short on which Houston rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena made a fine play, firing to first to barely nab Martinez. The Sox challenged the call, arguing that first baseman Aledmys Diaz had pulled his foot from the bag as he took the throw from Pena. It was likely a courtesy for Martinez, with the Sox, up by four with just an inning to play, determined to use the replay challenge in an effort to get a base for Martinez. But after review, the call stood and Martinez's two streaks were coming to an end.
TURNING POINT
In the fourth inning, leading 3-1, the Red Sox had themselves an extended inning that resulted in two big runs scoring. As important, the push came from a few hitters who hadn't contributed as much. Christian Vazquez drove in the first one with a sharp single up the middle, and Kike Hernandez, who continues to struggle, pulled a line drive into left field, good for another run.
TWO UP
Christian Vazquez: The catcher had a big run-scoring single in the fourth inning, and also did a fine job calling the game and working successfully with Pivetta.
Xander Bogaerts: For the second time in the last three games, Bogaerts homered. He also hit the ball hard two other times -- once on a flyout to the triangle and another with a hard liner to right.
TWO DOWN
Franchy Cordero: After doing a better job of making contact and putting the ball in play of late, Cordero was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Trevor Story: Wednesday night represented a step backward for the embattled infielder, who was hitless in four plate appearances, including two strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"The way he was looking at me, I was like, 'Let me stay away -- he might kill me. He had that look.'' -- Alex Cora, on the decision to allow Nick Pivetta to go back out for the ninth inning and a shot at a complete game.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Christian Vazquez has an RBI in five of his last seven games.
* J.D. Martinez saw two streaks come to an end -- his 18-game hitting streak and his 34-game on-base streak.
* Rafael Devers extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games with a triple and a double.
* Devers has reached base safely three or more times in three of the last four games.
* Red Sox starters have allowed two runs or fewer in 18 of their last 25 games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox host the Seattle Mariners in the first of four Thursday night at 7:10 p.m., with LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 2.89) vs. RHP George Kirby (0-0, 0.90).