All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Reds, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Whitlock locks down Reds: The more games he starts, the more comfortable Garrett Whitlock is becoming in the role. On Wednesday, he didn't necessarily have his best fastball -- topping out at 94 mph, down a few ticks from his usual velocity -- but he was plenty effective, attempting to get weak contract rather than trying to overpower the Reds. He didn't have a single strikeout in six innings, but neither did he have a lot of damage done against him. Whitlock allowed just five hits -- all of them singles -- and let his defense do the rest of the work, inducing inning-ending double plays three of his first innings. "Lot of quick outs, and the defense played great,'' said Whitlock. "I got to be a little more efficient.''
Verdugo gets a few to fall: Alex Verdugo has been one of the unluckiest hitters in the game for the first two months, reflected in his .237 BABIP reflecting that. "Some days, it's tough,'' he acknowledged. "You hit one right at a guy, but it's an out and it's like, 'Here we go again.' The biggest thing is trying to flush it, try to take it with a grain of salt. You'd rather be barreling up balls (and making outs) than striking out or rolling over balls. I just try to stay positive in that regard.'' But he broke out a bit Wednesday night, with a two-run double to right in the fourth and adding another double in the sixth inning. He now has 10 RBI in his last nine games.
Sox stay patient with Greene: Reds starter Hunter Greene was consistently hitting 100 mph or 101 mph with his fastball in the early going, striking out the side in the first and adding two strikeouts each in the second and third. But after that, his velocity came down a little, providing little separation between his fastball and slider. That, and the Red Sox also had seen the fastball enough that they could better time it, or, at the very least, make him throw the ball in the strike zone where they could make better contact. He came unraveled quickly in the fourth, with the Sox scoring four times and chasing the starter.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox led 4-1 in the eighth inning, but the way their bullpen has struggled much of this season, that didn't feel entirely secure. But in the eighth inning, facing Cincinnati reliever Jeff Hoffman, the Sox were able to successfully pad their lead. Hoffman helped with some wildness, walking three straight hitters to load the bases. After Christian Vazquez struck out for the second out, Jackie Bradley Jr. lined a ball to left center that Nick Senzel made a diving attempt on, only to have the ball roll to the wall. All three runners came around to score and Bradley slid in safely with a triple.
TWO UP
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley knocked in a run in the four-run fourth, then put the game away in the eighth when his bases-loaded triple tacked on three more runs.
Tanner Houck: The Sox went with the tag-team approach, following Whitlock with Houck, who retired six of the seven batters he faced.
TWO DOWN
Bobby Dalbec: After having better at-bats of late, Dalbec took a step backward with an 0-for-4 night at the plate, including two strikeouts.
Franchy Cordero: Inserted into the leadoff spot for the night, Cordero failed to reach base in four plate appearances, striking out three times.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"I feel like after the first time through, second time seeing him, we had a better understanding and forced him into the strike zone.'' Alex Verdugo on the team's approach to flamethrower Hunter Greene.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* After starting the season 1-7-1 in their first nine series, the Red Sox have won or tied six of their last seven series.
* Tanner Houck has an 11-inning scoreless streak over his last four outings.
* Xander Bogaerts reached base safely three or more times for the 14th time this season, tops in the American League.
* Six of Alex Verdugo's last 12 hits have been doubles.
* Jackie Bradley Jr's four-RBI night was the 10th of his career.
* Garrett Whitlock induced three double plays in the span of five innings. Before tonight, in 57 career outings, he had induced just five.
UP NEXT
Following an off-day Thursday, the Red Sox begin a three-game series in Oakland Friday with RHP Nate Eovaldi (2-2, 3.77) vs. RHP James Kaprellian (0-2, 5.93) at 9:40 p.m.