BOSTON -- Due to mechanical issues on the team charter following Wednesday afternoon’s game in Denver, the Red Sox didn’t land in Boston until after 5 a.m. on Thursday.
It was hardly an advantageous way for a slumping team to start a four-game series against the Yankees, particularly with their phenom, ace Cam Schlittler, on the mound.
But after being shut down by the fireballer in the first four innings, the Sox got up off the mat for a four-run bottom of the fifth that paved the way for a 6-3 victory in the opener of a rivalry weekend series.
“You get down to Cam, and you get to the middle innings. And we didn't quit,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “We didn't give it away. Just keep pushing and see if we can get the game tied. And we did. So I know they're tired. I'm tired. We're all going to go home and sleep today. We may even come in late again [Friday] just to catch up, but I think it was a good job today.”
This is what mattered most:
1. Cashed-in opportunity
Sure, the Yankees created an opening for the Red Sox when third baseman Amed Rosario allowed a 112.8 mph ground ball by Willson Contreras to go through his legs for an error that allowed Boston’s first run to score in the bottom of the fifth. But unlike many other occasions this season, the Sox maximized the opportunity Rosario provided them.
The slumping Jarren Duran hit a 243-foot fly ball to left, and third-base coach Chad Epperson got aggressive, sending Ceddanne Rafaela, who slid in safely on a bad throw by left fielder José Caballero.
“You’ve got a really good baserunner in Rafaela that can get good jumps, and you can close quickly. So it was worth the try,” said Tracy. “And the throw’s a little off line. But we have an idea of who we want to test and who we don't.”
Then came the big swing by Caleb Durbin, who launched a two-run homer that just cleared the Green Monster to cap the damage in the four-run frame.
2. Rotation continues to sizzle, with some history
Thanks to a strong performance by rookie lefty Connelly Early, who faced Schlittler in a rematch of Game 3 of last year’s AL Wild Card Series (won by the Yankees), the Red Sox extended their streak of quality starts to eight straight games.
And this time, they turned such quality into a victory, which was not the case in three of the previous four games.
Not only that, but the Sox made some history along the way. Early’s nine-strikeout night meant that this was the first time Boston has had the starting pitcher strike out nine or more in four consecutive games. Jake Bennett started the streak with nine punchouts on Monday in Colorado. Sonny Gray had 11 strikeouts on Tuesday, followed by nine from Ranger Suarez on Wednesday.
Over six innings, Early allowed five hits and two runs, walking one and punching out nine.
And unlike his teammates, Early flew home ahead of the club along with Friday starter Payton Tolle and got a full night of rest.
“I got a FaceTime call from Sonny while they were sitting outside of the plane, just on the grass, and I know a couple guys ordered some food to the airport to stay up with the calories before getting on the second flight. I was lying in bed at that time, so I got lucky.”
3. This time, the bullpen comes through
The Red Sox very well could have swept the Rockies, but instead lost two out of three due to blown leads in the late innings on Monday and Wednesday.
This time, a combination of Greg Weissert, Danny Coulombe, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman got the job done, and Boston opened a seven-game homestand in victorious fashion.
Coulombe got the dangerous Ben Rice to tap one back to the mound with the tying run on base with two outs in the seventh. Whitlock ripped through a 1-2-3 eighth on just 10 pitches, putting the ball in Chapman’s left hand for the ninth.
After seeing a streak of 29 consecutive saves broken on Monday, Chapman wasn’t sharp in this one either, allowing two hits and a walk. But he got Rice on a grounder back to the mound to end the game, stranding the bases loaded.
“It hasn’t been my best two outings. Obviously, I think the other team has made an adjustment as well, but I just keep going out there, keep working and keep trying to get better,” said Chapman.