BOSTON -- On the last day before the All-Star break, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told his team not to let their minds wander too far from baseball in hopes that the surge that was built in recent weeks could carry over.
By Thursday night, when the Sox held an optional workout, and, in Tracy’s estimate, 90 percent of the team showed up, it was clear his message got across.
Then came Friday’s opener of a day-night doubleheader, and the Red Sox got right back into the groove, stretching their winning streak to 10 games with 10-0 romp of the American League East-leading Rays that was punctuated by a six-run sixth inning that had a little bit of everything.
After a thoroughly frustrating first three months of the season, the Sox caught fire, and are 15-2 since June 25 to pull within a game of .500 (47-48).
Rookie Jake Bennett continued his recent mastery from the mound, firing six innings of one-hit ball. Masataka Yoshida stayed hot, falling a triple shy of the cycle.
Here were the things that mattered most in a successful return from the All-Star break.
1. Small ball becomes big
In the midst of that game-breaking bottom of the sixth inning, the Red Sox played small ball to perfection. A big-time rarity occurred as Boston dropped down back-to-back bunts that became RBI singles. First up was Carlos Narváez, whose bunt took a high chop on catcher Nick Fortes, who double clutched it before making a throw to first that was too late, as Romy Gonzalez scored.
Then it was Tsung-Che Cheng’s turn, and he put down a bunt that hugged the third-base line. Fortes tried to pick it up once he thought it had rolled just foul, but it was ruled a fair ball and Duran scored easily.
2. Bennett rolls on
Bennett, called up in early June to supplant the struggling Brayan Bello, has emerged into a force, particularly during this torrid run the Red Sox are on.
During the 15-2 roll, Bennett has made four starts, going 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA. This is the third time in Bennett’s past five starts he hasn’t given up a run. Acquired from the Nationals in December, Bennett hadn’t pitched above Double-A until this season.
3. Yoshida stays hot
Yoshida is another player who has gotten hot at the same time his team has. Since June 27, the left-handed hitter is 14-for-31 with nine runs, four doubles and three homers. In the fourth, good fortune was on his side when he rapped a homer around Pesky’s Pole in right field with an exit velocity of just 87 mph. The “drive” had a .010 expected batting average.