The Red Sox poured on eight runs Thursday night, after Richards’ six innings allowing just a run led the way to an 8-1 victory.
Xander Bogaerts had a big day at the plate, after going just 1-for-9 in the midst of a three game losing streak, as well as a base running gaffe Wednesday. The shortstop went 3-for-3, just a triple shy of the cycle while tagging along three RBI’s.
Bogaerts belted a two-run shot in the first inning, to make it 3-0 early.
“It was good to see him hunting first pitch, and put a good swing on it,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said afterwards. “And then he just kept adding on.”
Bogaerts added a single and a double later on, as well as another RBI. Bogaerts would come up to bat just a triple shy of the cycle in the sixth inning, and with a 3-2 count he took his base, on a pitch that he might’ve been able to poke down the line for a triple to get the cycle. He instead decided to take his walk – he would not get up again.
“I think the walk tells you who he is,” Cora later said. “If it was somebody else, they’ll try and hit the ball into the corner and see what happens, and go for the cycle. But he took his walk and it was a solid night for him.”
Bogaerts joined several others in having great nights: Garrett Richards went six innings allowing just no runs, Michael Chavis went 2-for-5 in the leadoff spot, JD Martinez went 3-for-4 with two RBI’s, and Bobby Dalbec went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run.
It was a great all-around effort from the Red Sox, as they move to 23-16. They’ll take on Mike Trout and the Angels for a three game set at home.