Three things we learned from the Red Sox’ 10-2 win over the Tigers in Detroit...
1) Rick Porcello’s consistency has trickled down to the entire rotation
It can’t be stated enough that Porcello has been a model of consistency.
And now the other four starters have caught on, too.
The week started with Drew Pomeranz facing the team that drafted him and ended with Porcello pitching at his old home field for the first time as the opposition.
In that five-game span, Boston saw four quality starts -- with the one exception being Eduardo Rodriguez’s injury-shortened start, which was a no-hit bid until he left with a hamstring issue.
Red Sox starters pitched 30 2/3 innings in the last turn through the rotation, accumulating a 2.05 ERA.
David Price mentioned, “it’s all on the starting pitching,” after his six-inning start in Wednesday in a rain-shortened win in Baltimore.
Boston Red Sox
Well he got that right.
With this impressive run, the Red Sox have won seven of their past eight -- and the loss was an outlier because of the bullpen.
If the starting rotation maintains this pitching top-to-bottom, the bullpen shouldn't become a major issue and the Red Sox can position themselves to not only make the playoffs, but make a deep run.
2) The offense just needed some beauty sleep
Had this offense been given ample rest before Thursday’s game, there’s no question they could’ve had similar production to the 10-run onslaught on Friday night.
They still should’ve won, but there’s no reason to beat that dead horse -- not after this win at least.
David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia were reinserted into the starting lineup after a night off and both had multi-hit performances.
Hanley Ramirez had one of his best games of the season, Sandy Leon continues to stay hot and the other five hitters in the lineup each had at least one hit, too.
This all came against Michael Fulmer, who had already had an impressive outing against Boston this year, and entered Friday with a 2.25 ERA through 19 starts.
“I think you want to come out here and be aggressive [against] a very aggressive pitcher who attacks the strike zone,” Jackie Bradley Jr. said on facing Fulmer. “We kind of wanted to match his intensity.”
Bradley, along with Ramirez, has flown under the radar of late thanks to Mookie Betts' and Leon's hitting.
While Ramirez is 15-for-45 (.333) in August, JBJ has been on a power surge, launching a two-run home run in the first inning Friday -- his fourth in his past six games.
There might be one hole in the lineup with the revolving door of Brock Holt, Aaron Hill and Travis Shaw, but all in all, the Red Sox offense is getting hot right when it’s needed.
3) The Red Sox are ready to give Heath Hembree opportunities again
The righty made his first appearance for Boston since July 23 and retired the side in order -- albeit again a scuffling Erick Aybar and two bats off the bench.
Although Hembree was only effective against righties prior to being optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, he had several clutch extended relief appearances in the first half and could provide that for Boston, again.
John Farrell wants to move Matt Barnes into the eighth inning role, which he’s best suited for.
Hembree is a key piece, given his fellow relievers have failed in multiple circumstances.
He started his redemption tour on the right foot, by addressing his major flaw right away -- making quick work of the two left-handed hitters he faced.
Now, Hembree has to build off the performance in order to be the effective middle-reliever he was briefly before the All-Star break.