All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Giants' 3-2 win over the Red Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Boston’s offense was only able to collect three hits through the first eight innings and were on the verge of being shutout for the seventh time this season. With Camilo Doval coming into the game, having converted 31 of 33 saves this season, it was looking bleak for the Sox.
Masataka Yoshida was summoned to pinch-hit and worked a leadoff walk, then Jarren Duran crushed a double off the right field wall giving Justin Turner a chance to play hero.
The veteran delivered a clutch hit to tie things up 2-2 with a two-run single up the middle.
What else did you expect?! pic.twitter.com/JqKwDPPlSJ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 30, 2023
James Paxton scuffled out of the gate for the Sox and allowed just one run through five innings. He allowed eight hits while striking out five batters. His box score will tell one story but overall he wasn’t sharp during his start. Paxton worked into multiple jams in the contest, allowing the Giants to have runners in scoring position. The southpaw was able to work through the traffic on base and avoid any major damage on the scoreboard.
The Giants attacked Paxton’s fastball all game, especially to open the game. Austin Slater jumped on the first pitch he saw for a single to left field. Wilmer Flores (3-for-5) smoked a double to right-center, that would score Slater. Davis made it three consecutive hits with a single to left.
Paxton settled down and struck out catcher Patrick Bailey followed by back-to-back ground outs to end the first. The third and the fourth innings were more of the same for Paxton, but he was able to maneuver out of the jam to limit the damage.
TURNING POINT
With momentum on the Red Sox side, Alex Cora opted to have Kenley Jansen pitch the bottom of the ninth.
On the first pitch from the All-Star closer, J.D. Davis (2-for-4) crushed a solo shot down the left field line to send the fans at Oracle Park home happy.
Davis’ blast traveled 387 feet and had an exit velocity of 103.1 mph off his bat. His game-winning homer was the third dinger allowed by Jansen this season, who fell to 2-5.
With the loss, the Red Sox are now 56-48 on the season and are 2.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.
UP
Ryan Walker kept the Sox guessing, the Giants opener tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings while punching out three and allowing one hit.
When Sean Manaea faces the Red Sox, the left-hander seems to unlock something extra and the lineup struggles to figure him out. The southpaw tossed 4 2/3 scoreless frames giving up two hits and striking out five batters.
DOWN
Richard Bleier came in relief for Paxton in the sixth inning and surrendered an insurance run to the Giants. After allowing the first two runners to reach (single and hit-by-pitch), Mike Yastrzemski advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt before Slater made it 2-0 with a groundout.
San Francisco was 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base.
NOTABLE
New Red Sox righty Mauricio Llovera made his team debut in the eighth inning. Michael Conforto greeted his former teammate with a double into right field.
Llovera quickly struck out the Giants' next two batters (Marco Luciano and Casey Schmidt). After intentionally walking Yastrzemski and walking Slater, the new Sox hurler struck out the red-hot Flores looking to end the inning.
UP NEXT
The Sox and Giants will conclude the series at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Brennan Bernardino will be the opener for the Red Sox and Nick Pivetta is expected to follow the lefty. The game can be seen on NESN and heard on WEEI 93.7 F.M.