All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Orioles, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox lineup produces: For several weeks, Alex Cora has been lamenting the Red Sox' offensive approach at the plate, decrying their lack of patience (reflected in the low walk total) and bemoaning their propensity to chase pitches on the outer edges (and beyond) of the strike zone. That was not, however, a problem Tuesday night as the Sox not only bashed out 11 hits but also, uncharacteristically, took eight walks. In the third inning, the Sox scored six runs despite collecting just two hits. Instead, the Sox took five walks (one intentional) and added a hit batsman to produce their six runs. It had to be maddening for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde watch his team, still officially in contention for a wild card spot, issue so many free passes and gift-wrap a big inning for the Sox, who weren't doing a lot of damage on their own.
Wacha tagged: From a statistical measure, Tuesday was probably the worst start of the season for Red Sox starter Michael Wacha, who couldn't get through four innings and was charged with six runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings. Cora said the issue was Wacha's changeup, ordinarily his best pitch. But Wacha later said he had difficulty commanding most of his pitches to the glove side. "It was a struggle, for sure,'' he said. "Command to that glove side just wasn't there all night. I felt like a lot of balls were leaking back to the middle of the plate and they were putting really good swings on it and they did not miss any of the mistakes tonight.'' It may be that Wacha has hit something of a wall in the final few weeks of the season. Before Sept. 10, Wacha had allowed three earned runs or fewer just twice all season; in the last four outings, however, he's done so three times.
Balanced attack: Say this about the Red Sox -- they spread their offense around. Of the nine starting position players in the lineup, seven had at least one hit while seven different players knocked in at least one run. The amazing thing was, the Sox scored 13 runs with the help of just two extra-base hits all night. They got one homer from Triston Casas and one double from Alex Verdugo; the other 11 hits were singles. The Sox were also relentless. Though the game featured two innings in which they sent the minimum number of hitters to the plate (thanks to a couple of double plays), not once were the Red Sox retired 1-2-3 in order in any single inning.
TURNING POINT
In the early innings, there was a lot of back-and-forth craziness, with the two clubs taking turns exchanging leads. The Sox appeared to have taken control of the game with a six-run third, but the Orioles answered back with a five-run fourth, tying the game at 8-8. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Sox sent 11 batters to the plate, scored five times and this time, the Orioles didn't have a response. From that point on, just one more was run scored between the two teams.
TWO UP
Triston Casas: Casas banged out three hits -- including a homer -- and knocked in three runs and also walked, reaching base four times.
Tommy Pham: Pham had just one hit but knocked in three runs with a single, two walks and a hit batsman.
TWO DOWN
Matt Strahm: Even though he was credited with the win, Strahm was not sharp, allowing two runs on three hits in his inning and two-thirds of work.
Xander Bogaerts: Only two members of the starting lineup failed to get a hit, and one was Bogaerts, who was 0-for-4 as he continues to battle for the American League batting lead.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Long.'' Alex Cora, asked for a one-word description of the game, which ran three minutes shy of four hours.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The 13 runs tied a season-high for a home game for the Red Sox this season. They also scored 13 on Sept. 18 vs. Kansas City.
* For the 58th time this season, the Red Sox collected double figures in hits.
* The Red Sox have batted around seven times this season and four of those occasions have come against Baltimore.
* Rafael Devers is batting .382 over his last eight games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Orioles play the third game of their series Wednesday at 7:10 with LHP Rich Hill (7-7, 4.81) vs. RHP Dean Kremer (8-5, 3.07).