All you need to know, in quickie form. about the Red Sox' win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Hill does the job: Rich Hill navigated his way through the lineup a couple of times and held the Orioles scoreless for the first five innings. He allowed just six baserunners -- two hits, a hit batsman and three walks -- and stayed out of trouble. Per usual, Hill mixed speeds and arm angles, working at a quick tempo, and sometimes quick-pitching the O's hitters, and keeping them off balance. In recent outings, Hill has begun to mix in a cut fastball more often, giving him one more weapon -- along with his four-seamer, curveball and occasional slider -- against hitters. At 42, he's still evolving and adapting, and while the ERA for the season isn't anything to get excited about (4.56), the Red Sox have won 12 of his 22 starts this season and he's kept them in the vast majority of his outings.
Offense makes a little into a lot: On Saturday, the Red Sox banged out 21 hits and scored 17 runs -- both season highs -- to beat the O's in the second game of the series. Perhaps they should have saved some offense for Sunday, when they were limited to a single run -- in the first inning, no less -- but it was enough to eek out a victory. The Sox played some small ball early. In the first, a single from Tommy Pham, stolen base, groundout and sacrifice fly was enough to produce a run. In the third inning, following a leadoff walk to Kike Hernandez, the Sox played for a single run again, bunting Hernandez into scoring position. He remained there, however, and the Sox didn't collect another hit until the seventh inning when Rafael Devers had a one-out single. But never mind the box score or the hit total -- the Sox got the only run they needed.
Story leaves with ankle injury: There was one negative aspect to the win -- in the seventh inning, as Trevor Story was trying to beat out the back end of a double play, he rolled his ankle a bit as he came down on the first base bag. He could be seen limping a bit as he slowed down, and was replaced by Christian Arroyo in the bottom of the inning. (Initially, the Sox announced that Story had left the game with a heel injury, before Alex Cora said after the game it was more of an ankle injury). He'll get a day off Monday to rest it, before the Sox make the call about his availability for Tuesday. The Sox will be understandably cautious with him, now that there are just over three weeks remaining in the season.
TURNING POINT
With the Sox clinging to a 1-0 lead in the seventh, the Orioles had a baserunner in scoring position after Rougned Odor was drilled in the hand to lead off the inning, then took second on a balk by reliever Matt Strahm. The Sox had Rafael Devers in on the grass and even with the bag at third, and Devers had to dive to his left to make a stop on a hard-hit ball by Ryan McKenna. Devers then scrambled to his feet and threw McKenna out at first, all the while keeping Odor anchored to second. If that ball had gotten through the infield, the Orioles likely would have tied the game.
TWO UP
Tommy Pham: In a low-scoring game, Pham scored the game's only run after singling to lead off the first, stealing second, moving to third on a groundout and coming around to score on a sac fly from Xander Bogaerts. He also made a fine catch to take extra bases away from Ryan Mountcastle in the bottom of the first.
Boston bullpen: Four different relievers had to cover the final 12 outs after Hill was lifted after five and did the job well, allowing just three baserunners -- one hit, one walk and one hit batsman -- the remainder of the way.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Martinez continues to slump at the plate, going hitless in four plate appearances. He came up in the ninth with the bases loaded and a chance to create some breathing room but flied to left, stranding three.
Triston Casas: As might be expected for a rookie getting his introduction to the big leagues, Casas is struggling. He was 0-for-3 and is without a hit over his last 12 at-bats
QUOTE OF NOTE
"The craft of pitching and that's why I do believe he can pitch until whenever he wants to, or his family lets him.'' Alex Cora on Rich Hill.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The win was the third 1-0 shutout win of the season for the Red Sox.
* The Sox have won seven of their last 11 series overall.
* Boston's series win against an AL East opponent was just the third series win in series longer than two games this season.
* Since coming off the IL on Aug. 4, 14 of Matt Barnes' 16 outings have been scoreless.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox have an off-day on the schedule Monday before the final visit of the Yankees to Fenway starts Tuesday. It will be RHP Nick Pivetta (9-11, 4.29) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (11-7, 3.20) at 7:10 p.m.