All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Garrett Whitlock in control: Whitlock was impressive in his first start off the injured list. The right-hander tossed 5 innings surrendering three hits, one earned run, no walks, one homer (Ketel Marte in the first). Whitlock threw 92 pitches, 58 for strikes and retired his last 13 of 14 batters.
Masataka Yoshida’s bat comes alive: After going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts on Friday night, Yoshida finished 2-for-3, setting up the fourth inning that gave Boston the lead. Yoshida also worked a walk in the eighth inning off D-backs reliever Scott McGough. The D-backs righty faced Yoshida while playing in Japan said that he struggled getting the Sox outfielder out.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve faced him, maybe 10 times. I bet he’s got eight hits off me,” said McGough to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “I can remember getting him out one time in an All-Star Game. That’s pretty much it. Otherwise, I remember closing a game, a regular-season game over there.”
Red Sox pitching was the story: The Red Sox pitching staff was impressive holding the D-backs to a season-low three hits and retired 25 of the last 26 batters they faced in the game. Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth inning and picked up his 11th save this season.
TURNING POINT
Top of the fourth: Yoshida led the inning off with an infield single to third baseman Josh Rojas. After Zach Davies struck out Jarren Duran, Triston Casas singled a ground ball back up the middle moving Yoshida to third. With runners on the corners, Kiké Hernández extended his hitting streak to three games with an RBI single to left field. Hernández’s single tied the game 1-1 and chased Davies from the game.
The D-backs brought in southpaw, Kyle Nelson, Alex Cora countered by pinch-hitting Enmanuel Valdez for Pablo Reyes. The Sox infielder would walk to load the bases. Reese McGuire laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt, scoring Casas, Sox took a 2-1 lead.
TWO UP
Kutter Crawford cold-blooded in relief: Prior to the game, Cora told Crawford if he were to pitch after Whitlock, he needed two innings from him. The 27-year-old was surgical in relief, tossing 2 1/3 innings, striking out three and retired all seven batters he faced.
Kutter Crawford Web Gem: In the eighth inning, Crawford made a remarkable play after getting hit with a Gabriel Moreno comebacker off his right foot. The ball kicked off his foot into foul ground on the first base side. He would retrieve the ball and flip it to Casas to retire the runner. Crawford left the game following that play with a right ankle contusion and was replaced by reliever Chris Martin.
TWO DOWN
Challenge Wasted: The Sox used their challenge on the second pitch of the game. Ramiel Tapia thought the ball hit him but the home plate umpire called it a foul ball that went into the catcher's mitt of Moreno. Cora used his challenge and subsequently lost. In the process, Boston lost the ability to challenge calls the remainder of the game.
Bonehead base running: While in the first inning, Yoshida reached first after a base hit into right field and then attempted to steal second. D-backs’ Moreno threw down to second to throw out the runner, Alex Verdugo who was at third, ran home, but was cut down at the plate. Boston squandered an opportunity with the attempted double steal.
UP NEXT
Boston will look for the three-game sweep to conclude the west coast trip from Chase Field. First pitch will be at 4:10 p.m. and the game can be seen on NESN and heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
Pitching Probables:
Sunday: RHP Tanner Houck (3-3, 4.99 ERA) vs. RHP Merrill Kelly (5-3, 2.98 ERA).