Let’s do a little dive into what I think was the most important frame of the entire ballgame.
Top of the third inning, things could have gone off the rails and fast. Nick Fortes leads off with an infield single—advancing to second on a balk by Connelly Early. Taylor Walls loops a single to left field on a pitch that leaks a little back towards the middle of the plate with some cut, and Yandy Diaz gets hit on a back foot curve to load the bases.
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This could have been absolute chaos.
Early said no way. Ryan Vilade, sit back down on a nice strikeout to settle things down a hair. Junior Caminero then saved Boston’s skin. First pitch, bounding bouncer to Caleb Durbin: 5-4-3 double play. The Rays frankly didn’t threaten any other time in this ballgame.
Not only did this cool off Connelly Early, it completely changed his tempo. He dialed in and got six more strikeouts after that—eight total—and ate his way through seven frames.
You don’t need a ton of offense when your starter dominates like he did. Better rebound start for him and a nice Friday night win for the Red Sox.
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Studs
Connelly Early (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
Nuff said above. This was an absolutely stellar start for Early.
Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R)
What a needed homer for Rafaela and a good game for the center fielder overall.
Wilyer Abreu (1-f0r-2, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB)
Wilyer’s deadlock breaking solo shot is the longest home run of his career at 427 feet. Working two walks showcases how big a threat Abreu is at the dish.
Aroldis Chapman (1.0 IP, 2 K)
…how is he still this good? Did he drink the Tom Brady defy father time juice?
Duds
Masataka Yoshida (0-for-4)
Just an eh day but it happens! I’m starting to find a warm spot for Masa again.
Trevor Story (0-for-3, 3 Ks)
The hat trick of strikeouts drops Story’s season batting average to .199, and that’s a big yikes for this lineup.
Play of the Game
You don’t win if you don’t score!
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