Diamondbacks Red Sox Final Score: Hector Velázquez and the Red Sox Pen Dominate in Boston

The Red Sox still have not been swept this year, so that's a good thing. That's about the only good thing we can get out of this road trip that is now a thing of the past, but it also involved a win on Sunday and a happy return flight. It was pitching, and the pitchers in particular did not really think about it when we were describing dominant performances. Hector Velázquez took the start, and although he was not wide enough to go to the back of the net, he was excellent for three innings of work. After him, Brandon Workman, Marcus Walden, Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier made the damn gesture. On the other hand, the attack was frustrated for most of the day, but Mitch Moreland hit a solo circuit and that was all the team needed. More of that, please.

It's hard to know where to start with this game, not because there were so many choices. In fact, it was the opposite since this game was dominated during the first two thirds of the match by quick strikes and a good throw. The clash between Hector Velázquez and Merrill Kelly did not give the obvious impression of a pitching duel, but those who attended Sunday's action in the desert had exactly that.

I guess we can start with Velázquez, who has not been able to get deep into this match, but not because of his performance. The right-hander, who took the start in place of the injured Brian Johnson, was not too long and managed only three innings. While he was on the mound, however, he was the most effective starting pitcher the Red Sox saw in 2019. The bar was low, of course, but while it was out, Velázquez was impressive. As always, its content was not compelling enough, but the right-hander located all his offers and displayed enough points for him to escape by mistake.

The results have been good. He managed the first two innings in order, without a fight of any kind. Any attempt at a perfect game was eliminated by a single back of J.R. Murphy in the third, but Velázquez retired the next two to complete his three innings of work without allowing a race. It was the first time that a Pitcher of the Red Sox launched three scoreless innings in 2019.

Unfortunately, he did not commit any offense. There is not really a book about Kelly, who played in the KBO last year and had never joined the majors during his last visit to the affiliate ball. The right-hander, like Velázquez, has no power too powerful, but it seemed difficult to be confronted. The fact that the Red Sox offensive is in the middle of a skid and their pitching staff certainly did not help much either. As a result, just like the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox found themselves in order in each of the first two rounds. They saw only 18 locations on these two frames.

In the third, Boston had the first real chance on either side. There was some hope here too, because it was around the game area where they had their strong symbolic sleeve in which they would take a lead while leaving a little on the table. Not this time. Jackie Bradey Jr. started with a single bloop that had just found some grass between three players, and after Velázquez did not manage to move it with a caress, Andrew Benintendi brought it third with a basic goal. With riders cornering, Xander Bogaerts had a chance in a big berth, but he instead hit a weak pop-up to go to the shallow straight ground and the Red Sox were left aimless.

After that, Boston hitters took over. They would be in order in each of the following three rounds, following this occasion.

So, with the offensive manhandled and Velázquez can only play three rounds, it was the job of the Red Sox to ensure that it was a win match. They have been very good as a unit this year, but if we are honest they have not had a lot of high pressure situations. Brandon Workman, probably the most impressive reliever to date, had the fourth inning and again, he looked great. The right-hander easily started a 1-2-3 run including a withdrawal to end the game. After Workman was Marcus Walden, who managed two scoreless innings in which he allowed a double in his first frame and a drive in the second, but no race between them. He had trouble in his first run when a runner came in third with less than two outs, but Xander Bogaerts had a big defeat to stop Arizona from being on the board.

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Finally, the seventh inning was held and the Red Sox offensive was entered on the board. The pitching had done its job to a degree never seen in 2019, and now they were launching with a lead. It was enough to beat Mitch Moreland for a flat shot in the area for the first throw of the inning and that he wasted no time. The first base player jumped on it and sent it a little higher than the Adam Jones glove in the right field for a solo circuit. Just like that, it was 1-0 Red Sox.

Now in the lead, Alex Cora has gone to Matt Barnes for the second half of seventh with some tough right-handers coming. He would get a 1-2-3 run that included a nine-length battle with Christian Walker before ending with a big draw. He would also return for the bottom of the eighth, and again, he was perfect. He's good, guys.

The Red Sox returned to the ninth to try to strengthen their lead, and they had a real chance. Benintendi started with a single, then with two outs, J.D. Martinez was forced to make an intentional walk and Rafael Devers drew a traditional walk to charge the bases. For some reason, Blake Swihart won himself and Mookie Betts went astray on the bench, which earned him a decisive pass.

So it was up to Ryan Brasier to take the ninth place – with Betts now come and play in the right field! – to protect a 1-0 lead. He had two outs in the lead at the beginning of the inning, but problems came up when David Peralta dug a double in the center left. This gave Jones a huge place, but Brasier needed only one shot to retire and finish the Red Sox win.

After eleven brutal games in eleven days, the Red Sox finally headed east and took a day off Monday, their first of two games over a three-day period. In the meantime, they will play their first home game on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Chris Sale takes the mound for Boston against Matt Shoemaker. The first launch is scheduled at 14:05 ET.

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