Red Sox 4, Mets 2: Christian Vazquez’s two home runs power Sox to victory

It was just two days ago that the Red Sox’ 60-game shortened season was already running on thin ice before July was even over after a disastrous opening homestand.

But what a difference 48 hours, and a change of scenery, can make.

After a dramatic victory Wednesday, the Red Sox made it two in a row. Christian Vazquez had another big night and Martin Perez was terrific to lead the Sox to a 4-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

Even though it’s still early, the win was huge as the Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium for a three-game set with the Yankees before a series with the Rays in Tampa next week. Here’s how it happened:

Vazquez continues to be unstoppable

The Red Sox catcher seems to like playing at Citi Field.

A night after blasting a homer and adding a big two-run hit to lead the Red Sox to a win, Vazquez outdid himself Thursday. The catcher hit two homers in his first two at-bats against Steven Matz, including a two-run shot in the fourth inning that gave the Red Sox back the lead. The first one, a solo shot to left, came on a hanging changeup from Matz, and the second was a high fastball that Vazquez deposited just over the left-field wall.

If that wasn’t enough, Vazquez had maybe the best defensive play of the night in the second inning, when he threw out Michael Conforto trying to steal second — a perfect throw he made from his knees, and the sixth time in his career he’s hit a homer and caught a runner stealing in the same game. Vazquez left Citi Field with three homers and six RBIs in the two games, and he’s tied for the major-league lead with four home runs this season — which he’s done in five games.

A year after breaking out offensively with 23 homers, the defensive-minded Vazquez is locked in again at the plate to start this season.

“Vazqy has put himself in the category with the best catchers,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said after Wednesday’s win. “Defensively, we know he does a good job. Offensively last year he really stepped it up. He showed us what he can do. And it’s looking like he’s that type of player again. Great for him. He works hard. I know he wants to be out there every day. He’s not happy when I give him a day off. So that’s really good to see when guys work hard and it shows up in your game.”

Perez was much better in his second start

The Red Sox’ new left-hander had a disastrous first start in his team debut, giving up five runs in his first two innings en route to a 7-2 loss to the Orioles, but he redeemed himself in a big way.

Perez started strong with two scoreless innings on 28 pitches on Thursday. He ran into danger in the third, loading the bases with one out and giving up a two-run single to Jeff McNeil, but he limited the damage and was mostly in control from there. After Vazquez’s two-run homer in the fourth gave the Sox a 3-2 lead, Perez responded with a shutdown inning, retiring the side on seven pitches, and ultimately set down nine of the final 11 batters he faced.

Though he had some command issues with four walks, Perez was much improved from his first outing, an encouraging sign after the Red Sox looked lost unless Nathan Eovaldi was on the mound through the first six games. With rotation spots 3-5 still big question marks right now, the Red Sox need to take advantage of any good start they can get.

The bullpen barely hung on — again

A night after Brandon Workman narrowly evaded danger in the ninth to preserve victory, the Red Sox bullpen walked on tightropes again. This time, it was Matt Barnes.

After Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless seventh, the Red Sox turned to Barnes in the eighth with a 3-2 lead. The right-hander did everything but give up the tying run, hitting Pete Alonso to begin the inning before he advanced to third on J.D. Davis’ one-out single.

But Barnes barreled down, trusting his curveball and fanning Conforto with a 96 mph fastball. After walking Yoenis Cespedes to load the bases, Barnes’ 37-pitch odyssey finally ended when he got Andres Gimenez to ground out to first.

But it was mostly smooth sailing from there. After the Red Sox tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, Workman appeared in his third consecutive game and closed the win much easier, ending it with a strikeout of Alonso.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2XcNkKq