All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Guardians, complete with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Hill gets the win: The four walks he issued -- representing a season-high -- surely didn't please him, but other than that, Rich Hill was quite happy with his six innings, as well he should have been. He had a decent amount of traffic throughout the afternoon, with nine base runners over six innings, but except for a run in the sixth -- the result of a leadoff walk -- he kept the Guardians scoreless. He had to labor through a 21-pitch second inning, but was otherwise efficient, getting to 83 pitches over six innings. Manager Alex Cora said Hill had one of his best breaking balls of the season, even if it sometimes missed and contributed to the walks. He didn't have a one-two-three inning until the fifth, but managed to make some big pitches when necessary to get out of whatever minor jams he was in.
Defense plays a role: Both teams committed an error over the course of the game, with the Sox' error -- throwing, by Rafael Devers -- leading to an unearned run. But otherwise, the Red Sox defense was exemplary, helping to turn three double plays in the first four innings, helping Hill to stay out of any potential big innings. The Sox made the plays, while the same could not be said for the Guardians. Right fielder Oscar Gonzalez had difficulty tracking a couple of catchable balls in the fourth that both resulted in doubles and contributed to two runs in that inning. A second error could have been charged to Cleveland, too, as a poor throw from Andres Gimenez allowed Jarren Duran to wriggle away from a tag and somehow earn an infield hit.
Martinez remains consistent: DH J.D. Martinez went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored and is now hitting .329 for the season. That number shouldn't surprise anyone who's watched most of the season, as Martinez always seems to have a hit (or two), or least a walk. And, in road games this season, that's literally true. The Red Sox have played 37 road games, and Martinez has played in 30 of them. Remarkably, he's hit safely in all but one of them and managed to reach base in every road game in which he's played. He's in elite company in that regard -- the last two players to reach base in their first 30 or more road games in a season were Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski (31 in 1975) and Ted Williams (38 in 1946).
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox led 3-1 in the top of the sixth when, with two out, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts worked walks, giving the Sox two on and two out. Trevor Story then fought off a pitch into shallow left-center, and when Cleveland left fielder Ernie Clement made an unsuccessful diving attempt, the ball dropped in, and with two out and both runners going, Martinez and Bogaerts both scored. It was far from the hardest-hit ball of the afternoon for the Sox, but it stretched their lead to four runs and effectively put the game out of reach.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Fresh off a big game Saturday night, Verdugo reached base five times with two singles and walks. Verdugo reached base a total of nine times in the three-game series.
Rafael Devers: Devers was on base four times with a walk and three singles with one RBI.
TWO DOWN
Hansel Robles: Robles, appearing in his first game since June 18, was not sharp. Leading 5-1, Robles allowed a run on a couple of hits to the Guardians.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley had a poor day at the plate, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a walk, and stranding five baserunners in the process to dip his batting average to .215 for the season.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He's been everything we expected. He gives us a chance to win every five days. Pitching -- that's the name of the game for him, (by) changing speed, different angles, maneuvering the lineup. He's been great for us.'' - Alex Cora on Rich Hill.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox improved to 19-4 in the month of June.
* The sweep was the fourth of the season for the Red Sox and second on the road.
* Christian Vazquez has seven extra-base hits in his last seven games.
* Tanner Houck appeared in his third straight game.
* The Sox stranded 16 runners on base.
* With a two-run single in the sixth, Story reached 50 RBI for the season and 500 for his career.
UP NEXT: It's on to the second stop in their three-city road trip for the Red Sox with the first of three in Toronto. It will be RHP Connor Seabold (0-0, 0.00) vs, RHP Kevin Gausman (5-6, 3.19) at 7:07 p.m. on Monday night.