Red Sox rout A’s 10-3: Verdugo goes deep; Duran shines again
By Zachary McMahon
![BOSTON, MA - JULY 8: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a double during the sixth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics on July 8, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) BOSTON, MA - JULY 8: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a double during the sixth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics on July 8, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6dc4ed2e947fbaa53cf5115a1e2dc791e4c07b121c46eb33db92dd30c91a9eaf.jpg)
The Boston Red Sox blew out the Oakland Athletics on Saturday Afternoon by the score of 10-3 at Fenway Park.
This is the Sox’s 7th victory in the last 8 games, including on Friday night in the series opener.
Yu Chang did not start this game after playing his first game from the injured list on Friday night. Kike Hernandez started at shortstop where he would go 0-for-4 on the day including grounding into a double play in the 3rd inning.
Christian Arroyo would start at second base. However, Yu Chang would be a defensive substitution at shortstop, and then Kike moved to second base. Christian Arroyo took out Rafael Devers, while Jorge Alfaro made his Red Sox debut when he substituted for Connor Wong at catcher.
Also Adam Duvall took the game off, so that Yoshida would be back in his spot in left field and Duran would play center field.
James Paxton started for the Sox pitching six innings allowing six hits, 2 earned runs, walked one batter and struck out three. He was relieved by Brandon Walter who pitched a three-inning save, which made it his first career save at the major leagues.
Tristan Casas and Christian Arroyo both hit a pair of doubles each for the Red Sox
Tristan Casas went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and has scored two runs. The first double came in the 3rd inning, where he would later score on a sacrifice fly from Wong. The other one came as a ground rule double, then later he would be scored in by a RBI double by Arrroyo.
Arroyo on the other hand, Arroyo went 3-for-4 with an infield single and 2 doubles. The 2 doubles went into the 5th and 6th, and the 6th brought home Casas.
This is the 3rd game in Arroyo’s career that he has hit 2 doubles in a game. Those times came in the Soc 5-4 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 11, 2021 and when he was on the Tampa Bay Rays, he did it in the 14-3 rout of the Minnesota Twins on May 30. 2019.
Meanwhile, this is Casas’s 2nd game this season with 2 doubles which date back to the May 26 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Red Sox player of the game: Jarren Duran a triple away from the cycle
Red Sox centerfielder Jarren Duran went 3-for-5 with a 2-run homer, single and a ground rule double, with a triple shy of breaking the cycle.
The 2-run homer came in the 2nd inning which helped break out the Sox offense that made the score 5-0. The homer would bring also home Wong.
Jarren Duran.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 8, 2023
That's all. pic.twitter.com/D1O46bgIBO
Before the homer, Duran got a leadoff single in the first inning where he would be brought home by a Justin Turner RBI single.
His double came via a ground rule double in the 5th inning, which would bring home Arroyo to bring it to 8-1.
Red Sox play of the game: Dugie’s homer starts the blowout
In the 2nd inning, Alex Verdugo’s big shot that went to right brought the lead to 3-0, and would also score Turner home.
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This was Dugie’s 7th homer of the season that went off A’s pitcher Austin Pruitt who is partaking in his 2nd straight start although is usually in the bullpen. This was due to original starter Paul Blackburn getting scratched because of an illness.
"Please be ... fair." pic.twitter.com/I22MWw7hHf
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 8, 2023
Then, Dugie would be hit by Ryan Lovelady in the 4th and then a single in the 8th where he would go 2-for-4 in the game.
Next. Red Sox rumors: Justin Turner could be out of town by trade deadline. dark
The Red Sox will face off in the series finale on Sunday Afternoon for a 1:35 first pitch, which is expected to be another bullpen game as Tayler Scott will get the bump.