BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 5, Guardians 4 - Paxton shines, gives bats opportunity for late comeback

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Guardians, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Big eighth inning buoys comeback: The Red Sox exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-2 lead, aided by RBI knocks from Rob Refsnyder and Pablo Reyes, after James Paxton went seven innings deep for a depleted pitching staff. Boston and Chris Martin clung to the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Cleveland cut it to 5-4, but Kenley Jansen closed the door in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win. Kiké Hernández had two RBI on 1-for-4 with a walk. 

Paxton cards best start of the season: It was Paxton’s longest outing since September 2019. After a 28-pitch first inning, Big Maple got loose and was much more efficient the rest of the way, pounding the strike zone and finishing with nine strikeouts and just two earned runs. 

TURNING POINT

Top of the eighth: The Sox offense continued to look anemic entering the eighth with just one run to show for themselves in the first seven innings. But the bats exploded, repeatedly cashing in with the bases loaded and no outs. Hernández worked a walk to score Justin Turner for the tying run, and a good piece of hitting to the opposite field from Refsnyder scored the go-ahead run. An RBI single for Reyes and a sacrifice fly for Alex Verdugo provided critical insurance. Verdugo's RBI was the eventual game-winner. 

FIVE UP

James Paxton: Paxton willed the Sox to a win in this one with perhaps the best outing of any Boston starter this season. Finished with nine strikeouts and threw 71 of his 106 pitches for strikes, falling short of a season-high 107 pitches in an additional inning of work compared to his start in San Diego. 

Kiké Hernández: Had an RBI single to score Masataka Yoshida and finally get Boston on the board in the sixth before his walk scored the tying run in the eighth. Finished 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run. 

Masataka Yoshida: Was virtually the only provider of offense before Hernández ended the shutout. Finished 3-for-5 with a run and a double. 

Rob Refsnyder: Went 1-for-2 with the go-ahead RBI single to continue to make Cleveland pay in the offensive onslaught in the eighth. Made a strong, sliding play in centerfield to haul in the first out in the bottom of the sixth after entering as a pinch-hitter in the top of the inning. 

Kenley Jansen: Strong bounceback for Kenley after a tough outing on Saturday saw him blow a game in the ninth when he allowed two runs on three hits. Strong on Tuesday, pounding the zone and earning a strikeout in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save and seal the win for Boston. 

TWO DOWN

Chris Martin: Martin nearly blew the lead in the eighth right after Boston’s bats finally woke up, allowing four hits and two runs and needing 25 pitches in the inning. Left a hanging slider on one of the RBI knocks he surrendered. 

Rafael Devers: Devers’ frustrating stretch at the plate continues. He finished 0-for-4 with a walk, a run and a strikeout. 0-for-2 with runners on base (0-for-1 RISP), going down looking in the sixth when the Sox appeared to have at least something going on offense.

NOTABLE

Opponents are hitting just 2-for-21 (.095) against Paxton in the third and fourth times through the order.

Yoshida remains red-hot. He has a .369 batting average with a 1.011 OPS since April 20. He is second in the American League with 24 multi-hit games. 

Refsnyder is riding an eight-game hitting streak (.429 with five runs, six RBI and a 1.115 OPS). He and Reyes each had RBI singles off the bench.

Triston Casas had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run, a walk and a double. Could have been two doubles if not for Turner’s misread on the bases. 

UP NEXT

Second of the three-game set will be at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday in Cleveland. RHP Kutter Crawford (1-2, 3.48 ERA) will face RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.20 ERA).