All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Finally, a win: After dropping the last five games -- most of them in non-competitive fashion -- and losing nine of their previous 10, the Red Sox were desperate for a win. Any kind. What they got, in a 3-1 victory over the Guardians, was one that featured all the elements that had been missing from their game in the last two weeks -- strong starting pitching, timely hitting, quality defense and an effective bullpen. Unlike recent games, in which the Sox have resembled the Bad News Bears in the field, they didn't commit an error, and in fact, turned in a couple of flashy plays in the field. They had one double play, and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. made a couple of tough, deep balls look like routine outs. And though three runs isn't exactly an onslaught offensively, it was enough, with the Sox going 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Pivetta bounces back: In his three previous starts leading up to the All-Star break, Nick Pivetta looked spent, allowing 20 runs in those three outings, while lacking much life to his fastball. The Sox came up with their rotation plans so that Pivetta could get a little extra rest before making his first start of the second half. He also made some adjustments so that his delivery out of the windup was far more compact, looking almost like he was pitching out of the stretch. The result? Pivetta's fastball was consistently back up to 94-95 mph, and his trademark 12-6 curveball was also sharp. It wasn't all positives -- he threw some flat sliders and issued three walks in 5.2 innings. But it was a marked improvement over his last three starts.
Just enough offense: Six hits didn't exactly represent a breakout performance, but the Red Sox did just enough to accumulate three runs. Yolmer Sanchez came up big in the No. 9 spot, singling home Jackie Bradley Jr. in the third inning with the first run. Then, in the sixth, the Sox strung together a walk and three consecutive hits. Alex Verdugo used an inside-out approach to slam a run-scoring double high off the wall before singles from Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez accounted for another run. Currently missing four everyday players in their lineup, the Sox have a depleted batting order, but on this night, they made do and scored just enough.
TURNING POINT
In the sixth inning, with the game tied 1-1, Nick Pivetta fanned the first two hitters he faced. But then, after getting ahead 0-2, he issued a walk and then a single to left, giving the Indians two on and two out. The Sox went to the bullpen and brought in John Schreiber, who, on one pitch, got Myles Straw to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice. Schreiber has been good with traffic all season, stranding 17 of 19 inherited runners this season. And on a night when it felt like the game hung in the balance, his one-pitch effort was huge.
TWO UP
Garrett Whitlock: With the Sox leading 3-1 after seven, Alex Cora entrusted Whitlock to take it the rest of the way and the righty retired all six hitters he faced in order.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: At the plate, Bradley pounded a double off the left field wall and scored the first run of the game, while in the field, he handled a couple of hard chances in right, twice hauling in balls on the warning track.
TWO DOWN
Bobby Dalbec: Dalbec continues to struggle to make contact at the plate, going 0-for-3 with two more strikeouts.
Jarren Duran: Duran did have an infield hit in his final plate appearances, but fanned twice in his first three hitless at-bats.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Hopefully, this is the beginning of something good. It's a 'W.' It's a big league 'W,' and you know how I feel about that.'' Alex Cora on the win.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox improved to 6-0 when wearing their yellow and blue City Connect uniforms.
* The win was the first for the Sox since June 12 without scoring more than three runs.
* For the eighth time this season, the Sox didn't allow an extra-base hit.
* Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his hitting streak to five straight games, tying his longest such streak of the season.
* Yolmer Sanchez collected his second RBI in the last two games.
UP NEXT: In the second game of the four-game series between the clubs, the Red Sox will send RHP Josh Winckowski (3-4, 4.38) to the mound against TBD at 7:10 p.m.