The Red Sox' offense has dominated the storylines for much of this team's current hot streak. But it has been another trend that should be prioritized.
The Red Sox pitchers -- both starters and relievers -- continue to answer the flurry of doubts regarding their ability to pace a legitimate contender. This time they did it while leading the Sox to their eighth straight win, with Alex Cora's club beating the Twins in Game 1 of the teams' doubleheader, 3-2, at Target Field.
Paving the way this time was starter Nathan Eovaldi, who is now 3-for-3 when ti comes to giving the Red Sox exactly what they need. Against Minnesota, which came into the day carrying the American League's third-best OPS, the righty allowed just two runs over five innings.
The outing marked the eighth straight time the Red Sox' starter has gone at least five innings, with the team obviously winning each of them. Once once during the stretch has the starter allowed as many as four runs.
Eovaldi's ERA dropped to 2.08 after his latest start, which included three strikeouts and not a single walk.
The five innings would be enough considering the game was just seven innings, with Darwinzon Hernandez and Matt Barnes coming on to pitch a pair of scoreless innings.
The Sox did need a diving catch from Alex Verdugo on the final out to prevent a hit, a play reminiscent of Andrew Benintendi's grab in Houston during the 2018 American League Championship Series.
"Of course," said Cora when asked if Verdugo's game-ender reminded him of Benintendi's grab. "That was a great play by Alex. That's what we talk about with our defense in the outfield. You guys talk about moving guys around late in games. We pinch-hit with Enrique for Franchy and our defense is still good. Alex had a great jump and made the right decision and he caught the ball."
Verdugo wins it - 8 in a row pic.twitter.com/lgJWMPXNMq
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) April 14, 2021
As for the Red Sox' offense, it did just enough this time around.
Perhaps the key play of the game was a subtle one, with Marwin Gonzalez taking second on a wild pitch after singling to lead off the second innings against last season's American League Cy Young runner-up Kenta Maeda.
The head's up play by Gonzalez allowed for the Red Sox' first run when Hunter Renfroe singled him in on the next at-bat. After a bloop single by Franchy Cordero, Maeda hurt his own cause by throwing away Kevin Plawecki's bunt, making it 2-0.
An RBI single from Christian Arroyo would cap the frame's scoring, giving the Red Sox all the offense -- which did strand 12 runners -- just enough.
The little things, such as Gonzalez's baserunning acumen and defense at first base later in the game, proved pivotal.
"He's a good player, man," Cora said of Gonzalez. "He's a good player. He's a grinder. He understands what it takes. Defense and baserunning is part of it. Right now he's not swinging the bat the way he's capable of, but he shows up in the other aspect of the game. That's why we love him. We love Enrique. Christian is doing an outstanding guy. Those guys are bringing that 'It' factor to the equation and we love it."
