The Boston Red Sox offense finds its rhythm against New York
After losing the final two games of the Tampa Bay series last week, it felt like it could well be a very long weekend for the Boston Red Sox. Through Friday night it was just that. The Red Sox-Yankees series begun with a one-run loss Thursday, followed by a thumping defeat on Friday. The Sox pitching staff gave up 12 runs Friday night, and it looked to be going the exact same way the rest of the team’s divisional series’ have gone this season. Yet, this wasn’t to be the case this time out.
Over the weekend, the Red Sox rallied. Saturday night’s game saw the Sox put together a tremendous walk-off victory in the tenth inning. A 5-3 Yankee lead was overturned courtesy of Jeter Downs, and Alex Verdugo RBIs in what was a very integral Red Sox win.
Sunday saw the very thing this team needed to show the most – an offensive explosion. In the decisive game of the set of four, Boston’s offense managed to blow-up for 11 runs, as they constructed back-to-back wins, levelling a vital series against New York.
The gap between Boston and New York remains a monumental 14 games, but that’s why this series was so important. Winning the last two keeps the Sox there, in prime possession of a home Wild Card spot, proves they can beat good teams, and gives them the momentum boost they were looking for, especially from an offensive standpoint.
Boston’s star hitters have been just that to start the year. Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts have made the All-Star team, J.D. Martinez is still hitting .311 despite a bit of a cold streak, and Trevor Story is tallying 15 homers and 58 RBI. The Sox just need their stars to get hot at the same times, which will happen down the stretch. It’s also important then to get consistent help from the remainder of their lineup – which is what they got Sunday.
In a series where pitching has been far from a strength, the Red Sox gave up two runs in each of the first three innings of the game. Franchy Cordero hit a two-run bomb to center in the second. Christian Vazquez followed this up with another homer in the third, as his BA reaches a strong .292.
The four relievers that came in were able to shutout the Yankees through 5 2/3 innings, which laid the foundation for the Sox to go out and win this game. Over a three-inning stretch from the fifth, the Sox tacked on another eight runs, including RBIs from Martinez, Story, and a sacrifice fly from Downs. On a night where you’re giving your best hitter in Devers a rest, you’ll take 11 runs any day of the week. Against the Yankees? You’d bite your hand off for.
Everyone’s aware of the stretch of games the Sox have to go through in July. After a disappointing end to the Rays series, and a torrid start to this Yankees series, you can’t really ask for more promise than what came from the last two games. It really is a huge morale booster as the Sox go on to play the same two opponents again this week, but this time on the road. This seven-game stretch before the All-Star break will prove to be an important one both in terms of the standings, and the rhythm in which they are playing with.
Whilst the focus surrounds the Wild Card standings and targeting the home-field advantage, the Red Sox do not want to let that gap between them and the Yankees get any bigger – which means needing to rack up wins. It’ll be another trying week, but the Sox need to keep the intensity high, and keep the momentum moving at the plate.