BOSTON -- The narrative that the Red Sox had become anemic offensively since the June 15 trade of Rafael Devers wasn’t just a narrative. It was true.
But Boston’s batting attack created a much different storyline in Saturday afternoon’s 15-1 victory over the Blue Jays at Fenway Park, putting together an 18-hit barrage that included quality starter Chris Bassitt turning in the shortest non-injury related start (two-plus innings) of his career.
While Bassitt stumbled, Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito dominated for the fourth straight start, giving up one unearned run over seven innings.
“A game like this is just fun, because we get that early lead,” Giolito said. “The offense was so locked in, so it just kind of allowed me to relax.”
Among the hitting heroes were Wilyer Abreu (homer, double, four RBIs), Roman Anthony (three hits, including two doubles for his first career multi-hit game) and Romy Gonzalez (three hits, including a homer).
Boston’s outburst couldn’t have come at a better time, snapping a season-high six-game losing streak at a time the Red Sox are trying to stay afloat as an offense until Alex Bregman and Masataka Yoshida return from the injured list in July.
After scoring nine runs in their previous four games, the Sox matched that total by the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs in each of the first three frames.
“Well, obviously we needed it, but we're not panicking,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s part of the season. You’re going to win five in a row, six in a row. [The opposite] is going to happen. I think the timing of it [following the Devers] trade had people making a bigger deal than what it is.”
It was certainly an about-face performance, coming on the heels of a 9-0 loss to the Jays on Friday night when the offense had just four hits and the pitching staff walked eight.
The at-bat of Saturday’s game came early when Abraham Toro belted a single on the 10th pitch of his at-bat in the bottom of the first.
Two batters later, Abreu mauled a three-run homer.
“I think the whole stadium was able to breathe,” Cora said.
Abreu is a hitter the Red Sox can get more out of in this waiting stage for Bregman and Yoshida to return to action. Since his 10-day stint on the injured list, the right fielder is 9-for-27 with an .876 OPS. Abreu opened the season as Boston’s hottest hitter, then he went cold before suffering a left oblique strain at Yankee Stadium the second week of June.
The time off allowed him to reset.
“We've been trying to talk to him about using the big part of the field, left-center,” Cora said. “That's who he was his first year when he got here [in 2023], he was able to pepper the ball off the wall. He’s gotten away from that. I don't know if it's the homers and you become pull happy, but he's a complete player.
“We expect more from Wily, but I think the rest always helps, too. He had those 10 days to work on a few things and he looks refreshed.”
Abreu’s nagging oblique injury paved the way for Anthony (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect) to be called up for his first stint in the Majors on June 9.
Though Anthony has been consistently drawing walks and hitting the ball at a high exit velocity, he didn’t get much in the way of results until Saturday.
Cora gave the lineup a different look by batting Anthony in the No. 2 spot. The Sox have had a hard time generating offense in that spot since a certain star slugger was traded nearly two weeks ago.
“He’s going to keep hitting the ball hard, because he dominates the strike zone -- he does. And I like that 1-2 [punch with Jarren Duran and Anthony],” Cora said. “That gets [Anthony] an at-bat right away. He was leading off in the Minor Leagues. So we'll see where we go with that. JD got on base, he took two walks today. That was a positive.”
While Anthony could well be a team leader someday, he is taking his cues from the veterans at this point.
“I think just the energy when we got here today and as a team all day was great,” Anthony said. “And I think that just translated onto the field. And it's super contagious. And I think today was a prime example of just a great team win.”