All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Verdugo, Duran lifts Sox to 6th straight win
Letting Shane Bieber work his way through the Red Sox lineup a third time proved to be the charm for Boston on Saturday night, as Alex Verdugo put Boston on the board — and give his team the lead for good — with a three-run moonshot in the sixth inning.
Verdugo’s fifth home run of the season was all that the Red Sox needed to best the Guardians, 4-2, and secure their sixth victory in a row. With the win, the Red Sox are now 10-2 in their last 12 games and sit a season-high 10 games above .500 (41-31).
Verdugo’s blast erased what was a quiet evening at the plate for the Red Sox, but rookie Jarren Duran was a fly in the ointment of the Guardians all night — with the leadoff batter going 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and two stolen bases.
The Red Sox have often been stuck in an uphill climb in the AL East standings this season, but with Saturday’s win (and a loss for the Blue Jays), Boston now sits alone in second place in the division and in first place in the AL Wild Card standings.
Winckowski steady again
Verdugo and Duran might steal most of the headlines in this one, but Sox starter Josh Winckowski once again turned in a solid performance on the mound — with the rookie holding Cleveland to six hits and two runs over 5.1 innings of work.
After a shaky debut against Baltimore back on May 28, Winckowski has now tossed at least five innings and issued one walk or fewer in each of his last three starts.
Add in another clutch hold from John Schrieber and a much more routine save from Tanner Houck (1 IP, 7 pitches), and the Red Sox have to be pleased with what they got from their pitching staff against a Cleveland lineup that has a knack for taxing pitchers (18.5% strikeout rate).
TURNING POINT
Before Verdugo’s big fly, the sixth inning was looking more and more like a massive missed opportunity for the Red Sox.
After Duran led off the inning with a double, the rookie took himself out of scoring position while aggressively looking to steal third — only to get thrown out by Austin Hedges.
Duran’s failed steal attempt was looking extremely costly after both J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts managed to connect on singles against Bieber with two outs in the inning — but Verdugo eventually made the 2020 Cy Young Award winner pay with his momentum-shifting blast out to right-center field.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: It looks like Verdugo is heating up at the perfect time. The Sox outfielder is now in the midst of a six-game hit streak, batting .348 during that stretch with six RBI and five runs scored.
Jarren Duran: Yes, getting tagged out at third base on that steal attempt was a gaffe, but Duran still made a sizable impact in this win with his 4-for-5 showing at the plate. Duran has now reached base in 10 of his last 12 games.
ONE DOWN
Eighth inning: Duran added an insurance run with an RBI base knock in the top of the ninth inning, but the Red Sox could have really given themselves a lot more breathing room after loading the bases with no outs in the eighth inning. Alas, the Sox were unable to capitalize — with Bogaerts and Verdugo both grounding into force outs before Trevor Story fanned to end the inning.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
11 of the Red Sox’ last 18 games have been decided by two runs or fewer.
With Saturday’s win, the Red Sox have clinched their 7th consecutive series win.
Alex Verdugo’s home run (447 feet) was the second-longest homer hit by a Red Sox batter this season. Franchy Cordero (448 feet) beat him by a foot.
John Schrieber has given up no runs in 12 appearances so far in June.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will close out their three-game set against the Guardians on Sunday afternoon, with Rich Hill (3-4, 4.35 ERA) set to battle against Aaron Civale (2-3, 7.25). First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m.