BALTIMORE -- While a good deal has been made of Red Sox opponents making 23 errors in 16 games, contributing to 19 unearned runs, the Sox themselves have been sharp, committing just nine errors, and none in the the last six games heading into Friday night.
"One, we've got good athletes,'' said manager John Farrell. "But it's impressive to watch guys go about their individual routines. Even in our advance meetings, the tendencies that we're able to detect, slight adjustments positionally to shift...Defense and baserunning are controllable and that comes through preparation. The work has clearly been there and we're proud of the way they go about it.''
In particular, Farrell raved about the recent play of third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who made a leaping stab of a liner way above his head Wednesday and then went sprawling to his left to make a diving stop on a hard-hit ball Thursday night.
"Don't let your eyes be fooled by the body type,'' said Farrell of Sandoval. "Focus on his feet and how they move and how quick they are. That's what's the true indication of a good athlete.''
The current errorless streak is the longest for the franchise since they went errorless in seven game, beginning with the final six games of 2013 and continuing into the first game of 2014.