All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Tigers, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Winckowski continues to settle in: With each successive start, pitcher Josh Winckowski continues to look the part more and more. After struggling with control in his first start last month, Winckowski has appeared more confident and it shows on the mound. On Monday, he pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just two runs on seven hits. The early run support (three runs in the first four innings) helped, but Winckowski also nicely mixed his changeup and two-seamer to get a lot of soft contact. He struck out just two, but nine of his 20 outs came on the ground. It also helped him that he's been with the team for the last 10 days -- rather than a cameo appearance in his first start -- which has allowed him to perform all of his in-between work as part of a normal routine. Allowing just two runs over his last 11.2 innings has also guaranteed that he'll make at least one more start this weekend in Cleveland as the Red Sox wait for some injured starters to rejoin the rotation.
Cordero bounces back: After a torrid stretch on the team's recent West Coast trip, Franchy Cordero has cooled considerably in the last 10 days, falling into prior habits where he was being less selective at the plate and failing to control the strike zone. After work with some coaches, Cordero looked more like the hitter he was a few weeks back, producing a three-hit night that featured a big two-run single in the fifth. He also went the other way for an opposite-field double in the second and added a single in the fourth. Even an out -- a long flyout to the warning track in center in the eighth -- was well-struck.
Duran makes an impression: When Kike Hernandez returns -- possibly as soon as this weekend -- it's likely Jarren Duran will be returned to Triple-A Worcester. But for now, he's making his presence known. Hitting leadoff, he reached base three times with a walk, double and single, and also stole two bases. He's scored six runs in nine games this year, and is a more confident runner on the bases. "I think last year, I had this fear that I didn't want to get thrown out and take RBI away from J.D. (Martinez) or Raffy (Devers). I'm just trying to pick the right times and not be dumb running and not take off because I think I'm fast. Just picking my right spots.''
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox led 3-1 in the fifth, but had missed out on some earlier opportunities to expand their lead. Then, after a one-out single by Alex Verdugo and a double into the left-field corner from Trevor Story, the Tigers lifted starter Alex Faedo and called on lefty Tyler Alexander to face Cordero. Cordero responded with a hard liner up the middle, scoring both baserunners, and the Red Sox never looked back, extending their lead to four.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: At the plate, he had a single and a run scored, but his biggest contribution came in the field when he made a sliding catch to snare a line drive with a runner in scoring position and two out in the seventh.
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly, but also drew raves from Winckowski for his game-calling, with the pitcher shaking his catcher off only a handful of times.
TWO DOWN
Xander Bogaerts: For the second straight game, Bogaerts failed to get a hit, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley had been hitting well on this homestand, but on Monday, was 0-for-4 at the bottom of the order.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"At some point, we've got to sit David (Ortiz) somewhere else. I mean, it's non-stop. It's not Fort Myers, bro.'' -- Alex Cora, on the distraction of having Ortiz sitting right next to the dugout during games.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox improved to 14-4 in the month of June and are now a season-high six games over .500 for the season.
* They've won the opener in a series 11 times in their last 13 tries.
* The Red Sox wore their City Connect uniforms and improved 3-0 this year and 9-2 since last season.
* Tanner Houck has saved five of the last seven Red Sox wins.
* Rafael Devers has reached base multiple times in eight of his last 10 games.
UP NEXT
The two teams continue their series Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m., with LHP Rich Hill (2-4, 4.42) vs. RHP Beau Brieske (1-5, 3.79)