BALTIMORE -- For all the talk of who is out (manager Alex Cora and six coaches) and who is in (interim manager Chad Tracy), the rest of this Red Sox season will be determined by the players, and how they respond to the sudden changes.
Sunday was a good first impression by the men between the lines to prove that there is still time to reverse course from a disappointing first month of the season.
Behind a strong pitching performance by rookie lefty Connelly Early and some well-rounded offense, the Sox (11-17) took the rubber match of the three-game series at Camden Yards with a 5-3 victory over the Orioles.
“We’ve got a job to do,” said shortstop Trevor Story. “If this shows us anything, it's we're here to play baseball, and that's it. We don't make decisions. We don't have any input on that. We're here to play baseball, and our job is to win games. And think that's the message, is that we have to find a way to win games.”
Early went a career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while walking one and striking out four.
Prior to the game, Tracy said he wanted the team to lean into its athleticism. To that end, the Sox stole four bases. Ceddanne Rafaela flew around the bases with his second triple of the weekend. Marcelo Mayer dove into the tarp along the first-base line for an outstanding catch on a foul ball.
And Willson Contreras provided the power, belting a two-run homer in the fifth.
A happy flight to Toronto was a nice way to end a tumultuous 24 hours.
“We're still gonna be held to the same standard by the fans, by the people around us and within ourselves,” said Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony. “I think regardless of who's here and who's not here, when we take the field, we hold ourselves to that standard. And if we continue to do that, things are going to turn and things are going to be just fine. Obviously this is weird, but at the same time, it's gonna be all right.”