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Boston Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez delivers post-All Star break hope

By Jason Haskins

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 12: Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox pitches at the top of the fifth inning during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park on July 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 12: Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox pitches at the top of the fifth inning during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park on July 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Red Sox started off the post All-Star break on the right foot thanks in part to a dominant performance by pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

Over the course of the last couple of seasons, there have been plenty of spurts where Eduardo Rodriguez has looked like a true ace for the Boston Red Sox.

An ace is what we saw on Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For the third-straight start, Rodriguez was in top form. He tossed seven excellent innings, fanning 10 while allowing only one run on five hits. His performance was more than good enough as the Red Sox won their fifth-straight and defeated the Dodgers 8-1.

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Rodriguez and his impressive start was preceded by a solid outing against the Detroit Tigers prior to the All-Star break. In that rain-shortened start, Rodriguez threw five innings while only allowing four hits.

Rain again interfered with Friday night’s game, though it was likely Rodriguez was going to be finished after the seventh inning no matter what. He was simply on fire most of the night, struggling only in the first. He walked two batters did not walk another the rest of the game. And the only blemish was a solo home run by Alex Verdugo in the second inning.

Verdugo had two of the Dodgers’ five hits.

The victory was the tenth for Rodriguez in 2019 as he improved to 10-4. The Red Sox are 10-0 when Rodriguez pitches six innings this season.

Rodriguez showed good command after the first inning and was helped by Dodger hitters chasing balls out of the zone. His ten strikeouts were the most since he struck out 10 against the Colorado Rockies on May 15.

More importantly, the quality start by Rodriguez kept the bullpen working at a minimum. Relievers for Boston pitched two scoreless innings.

Devers, Vazquez stay hot

A five-run seventh, interrupted by a one-hour rain delay, helped Boston put this game away late. But it was early home runs by Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez that put Boston ahead.

Devers launched an opposite-field shot in the first inning to get things going. Vazquez hit a solo-shot of his own in the second to give the Red Sox the lead for good.

Again hitting out of the two-hole, Devers added an RBI-double off the wall in the sixth. He now has 14 RBI in seven games in July.

Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run home run in the 7th and Mookie Betts added a sacrifice fly. Prior to the rain delay, Boston added a run on a Brock Holt double.

Holt has been on a tear since June 1. He hit .397 in that month and so far in July is batting .307.

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The Red Sox have two more games against the Dodgers before the nitty-gritty takes hold. Starting with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, the Red Sox face American League East opponents from then all the way up until August 4.

That’s when the really fun begins and we see just what Boston is made of.

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