All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Wacha spins another gem: Michael Wacha's outing wasn't quite as impressive as his last one, when he blanked the Yankees over seven dominant innings. But it was still more than good enough. He provided 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just four hits and extending his own scoreless streak to 12.2 innings while improving to 8-1 and lowering his ERA to 2.38 for the season. He recorded just four strikeouts, but because he was inducing a lot of soft contact, resulting in groundouts and pop-ups. Last offseason was not a good one overall for Chaim Bloom, but signing Wacha to an affordable one-year deal is clearly among his best moves.
Hernandez HR proves big: The Sox were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning when Kike Hernandez pulled a ball in the air down the line, sending it just inside the left field foul pole for a two-run homer. Hernandez, in his first week back in the lineup following a length IL stay for a hip injury and a core issue, has six RBI in his last four games. He has the ability to get hot and carry a team, and with the Sox getting so little production of late from their Big Three of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez this month, Hernandez's return as a sparkplug for the offense couldn't have been better timed. Also, of course, he gives the Sox elite defense in center field, something has been sorely lacking since the release of Jackie Bradley Jr.
Arroyo leads the way: Another big contributor of late has been Christian Arroyo, who hitting leadoff Saturday in the absence of Tommy Pham, chipped in with three hits, including a huge run-scoring double in the ninth inning that plated what turned out to be the game's winning run. It was his third three-hit game in the last four. Since returning from the IL at the end of last month, Arroyo is hitting .397 with six doubles and nine RBI in those 19 games. And whether he's hitting in the lower third of the order, or, temporarily at the top, Arroyo has been providing professional at-bats, putting the ball in play and making his hits count. The Sox have certainly missed Trevor Story, but given Arroyo's performance as his fill-in at second, the dropoff in performance hasn't been anywhere near what it might have been.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox led by a single run in the top of the ninth when Jarren Duran pushed a bunt to the right of the pitcher's mound and beat it out for a leadoff single. He then went first-to-third on a nicely executed hit-and-run with Kevin Plawecki, and from third base, scored a huge insurance run when Arroyo lashed a double into the left field corner. The Sox have been urging Duran to find a way to maximize his speed, and in the ninth inning, he did, leading to a critical pad run.
TWO UP:
Alex Verdugo: Moved out of the cleanup spot the last two games, Verdugo has continued to contribute. Batting second Saturday, he had two more hits and another RBI.
J.D. Martinez; Finally, some signs of life at the plate from the veteran DH, who, after a night off Friday, returned with two hits and also scored a run.
TWO DOWN
John Schreiber: A rare shaky appearance from Schreiber, who allowed two hits and two runs in an inning and a third, including one on a wild pitch
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts hoped that getting ejected Friday night would help unload some frustration, but it didn't seem to help much Saturday. Bogaerts was 0-for-5, failing to get the ball deep enough in the fifth, then mishanding a throw from the outfield that led to one of the Orioles' runs in the seventh.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"You look up and the numbers are real. He's been great. It's five, six, seven innings, and when it matters, too. We missed him for a while.'' Alex Cora on winning pitcher Michael Wacha.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Alex Verdugo extended his hitting streak to five games, during which he has 10 hits.
* Garrett Whitlock earned his fifth save of the season.
* J.D. Martinez snapped an 0-for-10 skid with a second-inning double.
* The Red Sox improved to 4-2 in their last six games against A.L. East opponents.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox and Orioles shift their series to Williamsport, PA. for the LIttle League Classic Sunday night at 7:10 p.m. It will be RHP Nick Pivettta (9-9, 4.28) vs. RHP Dean Kremer (5-4, 3.58)