In back-to-back starts against the Yankees and Rays, David Price had to bail his team out to stop a skid. On Thursday night against the Rangers, it was his teammates’ turn to return the favor.
With Price exiting after just 1 1/3 innings having given up six runs, a consistently inconsistent bullpen had to get its act together quickly, combining for 7 2/3 scoreless innings to give the Red Sox a chance.
At the plate, a recently quiet Boston lineup suddenly found its groove, belting a season-high five homers to pick up Price and a pick up a 7-6 win to split the series. (For a complete recap, click here.)
"Gave up more runs than outs I got,” Price said. “But the bullpen came in, did an unbelievable job getting the last 23 outs of that ballgame and held them right where they were. Our offense bailed me out and helped us win that game, and that's the kind of game we can rally around and get stuff going.
“Those guys pick me up all the time, and for them to do that tonight and salvage the series, 2-2, that’s big for us.”
Mike Shawaryn was Price’s initial replacement, and the rookie right-hander threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to keep the Red Sox in the game early, walking two but striking out two. Colten Brewer got the last out of the third, before Travis Lakins, Marcus Walden, Brandon Workman, Matt Barnes and Josh Smith each threw a scoreless frame to hold Texas without a run after Price’s departure.
The seven gave up four hits and walked eight batters combined, but all that mattered were the seven consecutive zeros that finished out the top row on the Fenway scoreboard.
Smith was in an especially unusual role, taking the ball for the ninth after Heath Hembree — dealing with forearm tightness — suddenly became unavailable, pushing the usual setup back an inning and forcing Cora to burn Barnes in the eighth.
Smith had an eventful inning, plunking Ronald Guzman to open the ninth, before forcing Rougned Odor into a fielder’s choice. Odor swiped second and Smith nearly caught him leaning on a quick pickoff move, eventually striking out Nomar Mazara at the end of a long at-bat and getting Delino DeShields to fly out to shut things down.
"That was a lot of fun,” Smith said. “First save... it's a big win for us, hopefully, it carries some momentum. I'm just glad to get out there and help out whatever way I can.”
Meanwhile, the Red Sox bats were very homer-happy on Thursday night, as J.D. Martinez, Jackie Bradley Jr., Rafael Devers, Michael Chavis and Xander Bogaerts all went yard to give the pitching staff all the run support it needed.
Adrian Sampson was responsible for four of the five homers, grooving a fastball to Martinez that ended up in the bullpen, leaving another fastball over the plate for Bradley Jr. to hammer for a three-run shot, before capping things off with a pair of hanging breaking balls to Chavis and Devers, which were fittingly planted in the seats.
Peter Fairbanks took the blame for the last one, hanging a curveball for Bogaerts to blast into the Monster seats.
Seven runs on five homers — a three-run shot and four solo jobs — was just enough run support for Boston’s bullpen committee.
"[The bullpen> did an outstanding job,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We went to some guys in different roles today because of the circumstances and they did an outstanding job. They kept the game in check.
“The offense, it was fun today hitting the ball out of the ballpark, putting up good at-bats. We found a way to win today instead of finding a way to lose."
Thursday night was one where Price needed a little bit of help, and the rest of the Red Sox roster obliged from top to bottom.
"It was amazing for them to come out and make pitches when we needed them to," Price said. "I think overall, as a team, it took everyone, and we were able to prove that tonight."
Asked what was different about Thursday’s performance compared to the stellar outings he’d posted throughout the season, Price only needed two words:
“I sucked.”
BOGIE'S TURN! -- pic.twitter.com/C1IDzc2RJ0
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) June 14, 2019
Bradley Jr. has been getting hot, as his three-run homer showed Thursday night. In his last 23 games the outfielder is batting .307 with a 1.055 OPS. Of his 23 hits since May 20, 14 have gone for extra bases (8 doubles, 6 homers).