All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 7-3 win over the Athletics, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
The Red Sox took care of business on Friday night scoring five runs in the second inning en route to a 7-3 win over the Athletics at Fenway Park.
Nick Pivetta (5-5) was the star of the game out of the bullpen, tossing five strong innings while striking out eight batters.
Pivetta was summoned out of the bullpen to replace opener Brennan Bernardino in the third inning. The right-hander dominated a weak A’s lineup, retiring the first eight men he faced, including striking out the first four batters.
The A’s managed to score three runs off Pivetta (two earned) after seeing Seth Brown walk and later score on a Rafael Devers throwing error. Two frames later, Shea Langerliers hit a fly ball down the left field line that Jarren Duran lost and was ruled a double. In the next at-bat, Brown hit a two-run blast over the fence in right.
Boston's offense was effective again, notching 10 hits in the win. Duran, Alex Verdugo and Justin Turner had two hits apiece; which also includes Duran’s triple in the seventh inning.
Jarren Duran is fast. Really fast. pic.twitter.com/wGzZxe29w3
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 8, 2023
The win was the Sox’ sixth in their last seven games, and in the process improved the club to three games above .500 (46-43).
TURNING POINT
The Sox started the scoring in the second inning, scoring five runs off five singles and one walk. Boston pummeled A’s opener Sam Long (0-1) and then hit long-man Luis Medina hard.
Yu Chang made the A’s pay after two singles and a walk loaded the bases. The Sox shortstop opened the scoring with a two-run single back up the middle. Duran and Turner both followed with RBI singles of their own and then Rafael Devers drove in a run after he grounded out making it 5-0.
UP
Bernardino was strong, tossing two scoreless frames as the opener. It was the second time this week that the left-hander worked in this role, and he has been quite effective for Alex Cora. The 31-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.51 and while striking out three batters.
DOWN
After reaching base four times and going 3-for-3, Connor Wong was hitless on Friday night. Wong struck out twice and in the process snapped his modest three-game hitting steak. Jorge Alfaro is expected to see time this weekend in the series behind the dish.
NOTABLE
Turner remains hot at the plate, he had two singles to extend his hitting streak to seven games. The veteran now has an RBI in each of his last seven games, the longest active streak in MLB.
UP NEXT
The Sox and A’s will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. James Paxton (4-1, 2.70 ERA) returns to the rotation after being reinstated off the Paternity List. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET on NESN and WEEI 93.7 F.M.