All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Royals, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Offense comes to life: The Red Sox had been pretty punchless of late with the bats, amassing just nine runs over the previous four games of the road trip and for the first three innings, it looked like that slump was about to continue as the Sox managed just one on two hits. But in the fourth inning, the bats started to come alive. J.D. Martinez drove a two-run double off the wall in left, and the following inning, the Sox tacked on another, after two were already out. On the night, the Sox banged out 13 hits and worked at-bats in a way they hadn't in a while. They drew five walks, showing a discipline they had been lacking in the past week, and three of those walks led directly to runs scored. The seven runs were the most the Sox had managed since last Sunday, the final game of their homestand.
Winckowski earns second straight win: Last weekend, rookie righthander Josh Winckowski appeared in danger of pitching himself out of the rotation. But since then, he's twice turned in solid outings, solidifying his spot in the rotation while picking up two wins. That's particularly impressive when you consider that, since the end of June, Red Sox starters have picked up just four victories -- and Winckowski has two of them. What was different about Friday night was that Winckowski induced more swing-and-miss than usual. Ordinarily, he's a pitch-to-contact starter who's not going to overpower many hitters. But when the ball gets put in play, there's always the danger of balls falling in or plays not being made by the fielders. Winckowski had four strikeouts in five innings, which isn't about to make anyone forget about Nolan Ryan, but the ability to get at least some misses is important.
Newcomers contribute: For the first time since the trade deadline, the Red Sox had all three of their new acquisitions in the lineup together, and all three helped out for the win. Tommy Pham, who will soon get a look-see in the leadoff spot, drew a two-out walk in the fifth and scored a run. At first base, Eric Hosmer turned in a few nice plays in the field and also had an RBI-double in the second to account for the team's first run. He later walked and reached on an error and scored two of the runs. Finally, there was Reese McGuire, who guided Winckowski through a few tough stretches and also drove a run-scoring single up the middle while later working a walk and coming around to score the final Boston run of the night.
TURNING POINT
The Royals were threatening in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out against Winckowski. But he got Kyle Isbel on a soft comebacker to the mound and flipped the ball with his glove to catcher Reese McGuire for the forceout at the plate for the second out. Then, after running the count full against Nicky Lopez, Winckowski threw a wicked slider that Lopez swung through for strike three, stranding three baserunners. Winckowski let out a roar of approval as he stormed off the mound.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo was put ahead of J.D. Martinez in the order as Alex Cora changed things up and came through with a three-hit, one-walk night at the plate.
Hirokazu Sawamura: Sawamura, who has pitched very well on the road, handled the sixth after Winckowski was lifted, and racked up three strikeouts.
TWO DOWN
Austin Davis: The lefty looked fatigued in relief -- his usage has been up of late -- and was unable to find the strike zone, issuing two walks in just a third of an inning, leading to three runs.
Rafael Devers: It was an uncharacteristically quiet night for the slugger, who, in five plate appearances, reached base just once (walk) and was otherwise hitless in four trips.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We've got to stay in the (strike) zone. When we do that, we become a really good offensive club.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox improved to 37-22 in games in which they score first.
* Xander Bogaerts had his second four-hit game of the season.
* Yolmer Sanchez snapped an 0-for-26 skid with two straight hits.
* Josh Winckowski had a season-high nine swing-and-misses.
UP NEXT
In the third game of the four-game set, the Red Sox will send RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 4.11) out to face LHP Daniel Lynch (4-7, 4.70) at 7:10 p.m.