FINAL: Red Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 0 - Wong Homers Twice, Abreu's Hot Bat Leads to Sox Win

The Red Sox (14-11) even the four game series against the Cleveland Guardians (17-7) with an 8-0 win, on the backs of Connor Wong and Wilyer Abreu.

Wilyer Abreu continues his scorching hot streak, reaching base safely in twelve straight games. In that span, he's batting over .400, and he has seven doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, and seven walks, with an OPS of over 1.200. He went 4-5 tonight with two doubles and an RBI.

In his first game back from a short break, Rafael Devers had a double and a home run in a 3-4 night, as well as two RBI. Ceddanne Rafaela had a good night as well, going 2-4 with a double, and a stolen base.

The pitching was amazing tonight, as Cooper Criswell started the game and threw five shutout innings, giving up only three hits and striking out three. Joely Rodriguez came in after him, pitching two innings, and gave up a hit and struck out a batter. After being called up today when Brayan Bello was placed on the IL, Zack Kelly threw two hitless innings to close out the game, striking out three in his 2024 debut.

My Player of the Game: Connor Wong - Connor hit two home runs in tonight's game, both solo shots. It is the second time in his career that he hit two home runs in a single game, the last being in 2022. He now has four on the season. He also singled twice, and was hit by a pitch. A 4-4, three RBI night for the Sox backstop.

The four game series will continue tomorrow at 1:10 p.m.. The Red Sox starter is currently undecided, and the probable starter for Cleveland being Triston McKenzie (2-2, 5 ERA)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________________________________

WHO: Red Sox (13-11) at Cleveland Guardians (17-6)
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1, 1-4 in 2024
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Cooper Criswell (0-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.44 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN+, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers DH
Tyler O'Neill LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Connor Wong C
Pablo Reyes 3B
Bobby Dalbec 1B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Cooper Criswell

OPPONENT

Steven Kwan LF
Andres Gimenez 2B
Jose Ramirez 3B
Josh Naylor 1B
Will Brennan RF
Tyler Freeman CF
Estevan Florial DH
Bo Naylor C
Brayan Rocchio SS

SP Carlos Carrasco

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox lost to the Guardians last night, 4-1...The game was tied 0-0 after 6 innings. Tanner Houck did not allow a run over his first 6.0 IP (3 H, 2 BB, 4 SO), before allowing each of the first 3 batters to reach base safely in the 7th inning (2 H, BB, 2 R). Wilyer Abreu (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI) hit a solo HR in the top of the 7th inning to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

The Red Sox rank 2nd in MLB with 30 HR (1st: BAL-36). On the road, Boston leads MLB in HR (19) and ranks T-3rd in XBH with 43 (1st: ATL-50)...They also rank 2nd in the AL in SLG (.419) and OPS (.748). 

Wilyer Abreu is currently on a career-long 11-game on base streak in which he has posted a 1.113 OPS (13-for-36, 7 XBH, 7 BB). Additionally, he has hit safely and recorded an RBI in each of his last 5 games (9-for-20, 6 RBI, 3 BB)...Is the 1st Red Sox rookie outfielder to do so since Ryan Kalish in 2010. Beginning on 4/19 at PIT, he has given the Sox a lead in each of their last 4 games.

On an at-bat’s first pitch, Red Sox hitters have gone 36-for-87 (.414) with 9 2B and 8 HR. The Sox lead the AL and rank 2nd in MLB in first pitch AVG (.414) and OPS (1.214), trailing only ATL (.471 AVG, 1.315 OPS).

Boston leads the Majors with a 2.60 ERA (63 ER/218.1 IP)...It is tied with 1920 for the club’s 2nd-lowest ERA through 24 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920; 2.39 ERA through 23 games in 2001). The Sox have posted a 1.70 ERA (10 ER/53.0 IP) over their last 6 games, beginning 4/17. Boston’s 12 games with 10+ SO are tied for 2nd in MLB (1st-CLE and MIN with 13). The Red Sox rank 5th in MLB with 220 SO. Boston leads MLB in unearned runs (26) and errors (21).

Last night Tanner Houck recorded his 4th start of the season with 6.0 or more IP while allowing 3 ER or fewer. He is 1 of 5 AL starters with 4+ QS and ranks T-2nd in the AL (1st-José Berríos-5 QS). Prior to Houck the last Red Sox pitchers to make as many as 4 quality starts within the club’s first 24 games of a season are Rick Porcello and Chris Sale in 2018 (5 QS). In his last 6 starts, beginning 10/1/23, Houck is 4-2 with a 1.40 ERA, 38 SO, and a .197 opponent AVG (see below).

Starting Pitcher Brayan Bello was played on the 15-day IL this afternoon with the injury being "right lat tightness". RHP Zack Kelly was called up from Worcester to replace Bello. Bello is the third of the five opening day rotation pitchers to be placed on the IL, along with Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock.

Another big hit to the team is the injury to first baseman Triston Casas, who has a left rib fracture that was found in an examination on Monday. The injury occurred during Saturday's game in Pittsburgh after he took a swing on a foul ball. Alex Cora said that he is hopeful that Casas can return this season, and he couldn't give a ballpark as to when he could be able to return.