All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Verdugo third hit of the night the big one: In a tie game, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Alex Verdugo pulled a single down the right field line that -- eventually -- was ruled fair, scoring Reese McGuire with the winning run. It was the second walk-off win of the season and the first in extra innings for the Sox this season, who have already, through their first 18 games, had some bizarre victories. Earlier in the inning, the Sox had tied things with a pinch-hit, two-run single to left from McGuire. The inning saw them use pitcher Kutter Crawford as a pinch-runner. The walk-off RBI for Verdugo was the sixth of his career and the three-hit night gave him seven multi-hit games already this season. And all of it wasn't official until a replay review showed that his ball hit into the right field corner, just beyond the right field foul pole, was, indeed, fair.
Sale looks like old self: By the time the Red Sox were celebrating on the field, Chris Sale's start was probably a distant memory -- but it deserves to be remembered. After three poor starts and an ERA of 11.25, Tuesday night, Sale looked more like his old self. He gave the Sox six strong innings, allowing just one while racking up 11 strikeouts -- the most he's had in an outing since August of 2019. Sale's fastball command was far sharper than it had been in the first three starts and got a lot of swing-and-misses at the top of the zone. His slider also showed some more bite and his changeup was effective, too. But it all came down to being able to locate his No. 1. "It doesn't matter how hard you throw anymore,'' said Sale. "You've got to have command and then your other pitches work off of that.''
Early inning chances wasted: It took the Red Sox 10 innings and some bizarre plays to pull this one out. In reality, it shouldn't have been that hard. But in the early going, the Sox missed opportunity after opportunity to score. In the first inning, they had runners at second and third and no out and couldn't plate another run. In the second, they loaded the bases with two outs and again came away empty-handed. More? A leadoff double in the fourth went for naught. And finally, in the eighth inning, after they scored a run to tie it, they had a chance to go ahead, but instead, the inning ended with runners at both first and second. In all, the team was a woeful 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position -- and a few of those hits came in the bottom of the 10th. They also left 13 runners on base.
TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the 10th inning, with the automatic runner on second and trailing by two, the Red Sox began their comeback in an unorthodox fashion. Kike Hernandez swung at strike three, but the ball got away from catcher Christian Vazquez and Hernandez instinctively headed for first at full speed and reached safely to give the Sox runners at the corners and no out. From there, the weird inning continued to unravel further, but it's rate that a game-winning rally begins with a strikeout.
TWO UP
Reese McGuire: McGuire came off the bench to deliver a huge two-run single to left in the bottom of the 10th, hitting a line drive the opposite way.
Rafael Devers: Devers singled home a run in the first, then doubled in the seventh, continuing to be the Red Sox' best offensive weapon.
TWO DOWN
John Schreiber: The reliever was on the hook for the loss as he hit one batter and walked another, leading to two runs allowed in the top of the 10th before the Sox rallied in the bottom of the inning.
Triston Casas: It was a rough night for the rookie first baseman, who struck out in each of his first four plate appearances before drawing a walk in the bottom of the 10th.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It was just a weird walkoff, that's all. Just a weird walkoff.'' - Alex Verdugo
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox are 3-4 in games decided by a single run.
* The 13 men left on base represented a season high for the Sox.
* Over the last eight games, catcher Reese McGuire is hitting .454 (10-for-22)
* Kenley Jansen has not allowed a run in six appearances this season.
* Chris Sale became the first Red Sox starter to reach double figures in strikeouts since Rich Hill fanned 11 on Aug. 27, 2022.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Twins play the middle game of their series Wednesday night at 7:10 with RHP Corey Kluber (0-3, 6.92) vs. RHP Joe Ryan (3-0, 2.84).