All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Red Sox continue to take series: The season is just 29 games old, but the Red Sox have, especially of late, gotten into the habit of winning series. After being drubbed by the Rays earlier this month, the Sox have rebounded nicely to take four of their last five series and are 6-3 overall in the nine series to date. By contrast, a season ago, the Sox were 1-7-1 in their first nine series and succeeded in burying themselves by the time May began. To put this in perspective, the Red Sox didn't win their sixth series win last year until the first week of June. At Fenway, the Sox are 4-1, with the only blight so far a sweep at the hands of the Pirates in the second series of the season.
Sale back in line: Starter Chris Sale made some adjustments between starts and they sure seemed to help. Sale focused on being a little looser in his delivery and more athletic in general, and the results were much improved over his last outing when he failed to record even one strikeout. On Sunday, Sale fanned five and ran his fastball up as high as 98 mph toward the end of his start, which carried 6.1 innings. He retired 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced and through five innings allowed just one hit. He also finished with 98 pitches, his most in a game since Aug. 13, 2019.
Offense spreads out: For much of the first month of the season, it seemed the Sox relied heavily on either Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers to provide offensive support. Yesterday, they got contributions from other spots in the order. Yes, Verdugo helped with three RBI, but the Sox also got two RBI from Connor Wong and two more from Christian Arroyo. Wong has supplied some pop of late, with seven hits and four RBI over his last five games while hellping to lengthen the order. Of the nine hits the Sox collected on the afternoon, all but two of them came from the final five spots in the lineup.
TURNING POINT
The two teams were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel in the bottom of the fifth inning when Alex Verdugo came to the plate with runners at second and third and one out. Verdugo. Getting his third look at Cleveland lefty Logan Allen, Verdugo felt more comfortable in this at-bat and eventually served a line drive into left, scoring both baserunners. The Red Sox would go on to add five more runs, but the two produced by Verdugo would have been enough on this afternoon.
TWO UP
Christian Arroyo: He produced a big two-run double in the seventh and now has five RBI in his last two games after knocking in just three runs over his previous 19 games.
Brennan Bernardino: He worked a perfect ninth inning and has emerged as a dependable second lefty in the bullpen with four scoreless appearances in the last week.
TWO DOWN
Rafael Devers: Devers had a walk, but was otherwise 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. And, though it didn't impact the game, he also committed his first error of the season in the fifth inning.
Justin Turner: Turner has cooled in recent days and was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He was moving better on the mound. He was under control, made some pitches. Little by little, getting to that point. Now, we just gotta keep it going.'' Alex Cora on Chris Sale.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox are 5-0 this season when their starter goes six or more innings.
* Connor Wong snapped a 36-game homerless streak, dating back to last Sept. 2.
* Masataka Yoshida extended his hitting streak to 10 straight, which currently stands as the secon-longest active hitting streak in either league.
* Jarren Duran leads the AL in doubles (nine) since his season debut on April 17.
* The Sox improved to 4-1 in five home series.
* Alex Verdugo has 11 RBI over his last 12 games. He's hitting .367 with runners in scoring position this year.
UP NEXT
The Sox begin a big four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays Monday at 7:10. It will be RHP Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.75) vs. RHP Jose Berrios (2-3, 4.71).