BOSTON -- The Red Sox were staggering a little as they got home last week, coming off a 2-5 road trip, not to mention seven losses over a nine-game stretch that immediately followed a franchise-record run of 27-3.
As they got ready to board a plane to Miami on Sunday night, you could consider them rejuvenated.
Taking full advantage of the buzz created by six consecutive sellouts at Fenway, Boston (71-59) capped its 5-1 homestand and three-game sweep of the Giants with a 5-4 victory that didn’t require any of the drama needed for Saturday’s furious comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
An early 3-0 deficit dissipated swiftly as the Sox charged back with single runs in the second and third, and three in the fourth.
Rookie lefty Jake Bennett, pitching on nine days' rest in the club’s effort to protect his workload, shook off some early rust to go seven innings and did not allow an earned run in the final five.
Here were some takeaways from the homestand finale:
1. Sogard stays hot
It remains to be seen what the playing time equation will be when shortstop Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa return from their Minor League rehab assignments. But at this point, Boston doesn't want Nick Sogard anywhere but in the everyday lineup.
Again making the start at second base, where he’s played regularly the past couple of weeks, Sogard belted a homer to get the Red Sox on the board in the second, and a double off the Monster that started the game-turning rally in the fourth.
Sogard also ripped a game-tying double to left in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday.
2. Wong ties it upon further review
When Connor Wong lofted a fly to left field with two outs in the fourth, the Giants hoped they were out of the inning. Left fielder Victor Bericoto tried to will it into existence, jumping high against the Green Monster as the ball landed in his glove. Bericoto sold it well, running off the field.
The only problem was that the ball caromed slightly off the wall before taking a subtle turn into Bericoto’s glove. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy called for a review, and it was overturned into a game-tying RBI double.
3. Moving parts at leadoff come through
Per usual, Jahmai Jones was in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher, and he took advantage, leading off the first with a single and ripping a triple that set up a run in the third inning.
With the fourth inning rally in progress, Tracy aggressively went to his bench when the Giants switched pitchers from lefty Matt Wilkinson to righty JT Brubaker, sending Mickey Gasper up to hit for Jones. Gasper stepped in and belted an RBI double to give Boston its first lead of the game.