Rafael Devers is an easy one. So is Michael Chavis.
You knew those guys were becoming something of note for these Red Sox. That was hard to find and became even more difficult to downplay after the Red Sox' 12-5 win over the Indians Monday afternoon at Fenway Park. Devers came away with a key RBI double that keyed a six-run fifth inning, and Chavis notched two more hits along with an intentional walk. They are two of the straws that are stirring this drink.
But other key elements of the Red Sox' equation are subtly emerging, some of which figure to be key heading into the third month of the season. Alex Cora's team is 18-8 in its last 26 games, and 5 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. But big picture? These are the takeaways that should add optimism for the long haul:
RICK PORCELLO
It wasn't as much of a lock-down performance as the righty had been accustomed to of late, but it still represented exactly what the Sox need. Porcello threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (3 earned), extending his streak of six or more innings to seven starts, tying him for third-longest such run of any American League pitcher this season.
In those past seven starts, the righty is 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA. He has been an anchor in a starting rotation that has the fifth-best ERA in baseball (3.44) since April 14.
"I think just attacking," the pitcher said when asked about the key to his recent success. "Being aggressive. Recognizing what I had and what I didn't have. Sandy (Leon), the instincts that he has and what he sees, he called the game accordingly. He knew I didn't have a good slider or curveball and we went with our best pitches. It was two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball to a lot of guys. So again, I'll be better next time out, but our guys definitely did a hell of a job of stepping up and the offense took over and won that ballgame for sure."
SANDY LEON
It was a bonus that Leon hit a home run Monday. But that obviously wasn't where the catcher's bread was buttered.
He once again served as the perfect batterymate for Porcello, who has managed a .208 batting average against in the seven games he has thrown to Leon this season. The catcher has had a similar impact on Chris Sale, whose opponents' batting average is .176 with Leon catching, with the ERA dipping to 2.68 in six starts. Without Leon? Sale's ERA sits at 6.39 in his other five appearances.
What is remarkable is that Bradley Jr. started turning his season almost exactly a year ago from when it seemed some things were figured out this time around.
On May 19, 2018, the outfielder hit his low point, with his average dropping to .161. From that point on things only went up. It's the same trend we're seeing now.
Bradley Jr. claimed two doubles and a walk in the Sox' latest win, making him nine for his last 31 with seven of those hits going for extra bases (4 doubles, 3 homers). Also, for the first time this season he hasn't managed a single strikeout in three straight games.
His ground ball rate is down over the recent stretch, with less foul balls and more hard hit offerings. It's more alomg the lines of what Bradley Jr. and the Red Sox were looking for.
BROCK HOLT
People forget how good Holt was for a significant stretch last season. Remember that? Before he hurt his hamstring in Toronto on April 26 he was hitting .340 over his first 16 games of the 2018 season. He carried a .301 average all the way up through the end of June.
The point is that Holt can be a valuable entity, which he showed once again Monday afternoon in his first game back from the injured list.
Not only did he manage the hit that put the Red Sox' up for good, but the second baseman executed a key diving play up the middle on a two-out grounder from Jason Kipnis that would have given the Indians the lead if it got through. Instead, the play kept the game tied, allowing the Red Sox to go on their bottom of the fifth outburst.
The quality lefty bat is one thing, but as the play on Kipnis exhibited having the option of more of a pure second baseman is a solid complement to what the Sox already have in Michael Chavis.
"It just feels good to be back," Holt said. "Whenever you’re away from your teammates, from the guys it gets to you a little bit. So just being back in this atmosphere, in his clubhouse, part of the group it just feels good. To go out there and get a win like we did today is pretty cool."
J.D. Martinez mashed home runs in the sixth and eighth innings, giving him 11 for the season. He is slightly off the pace from a year ago, when he had 16 homers through May 27.