BOSTON — The Red Sox might never lose again — to the Kansas City Royals, at least.
The Red Sox improved to a Major League Baseball-best 10-2 against the Royals since the beginning of last season Friday night with a 7-2 win over Kansas City at Fenway Park. Boston, which also defeated the Cleveland Indians twice this week, has won four in a row and is 6-2 on its current homestand.
It’s probably too late for the Red Sox to make a playoff push — acting manager Torey Lovullo will tell you otherwise — but some encouraging things have been happening on Yawkey Way of late.
Let’s run down some notes from Friday.
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— Henry Owens shined in his fourth major league start. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over eight innings while striking out four and walking one.
It was the second-longest outing by a Red Sox pitcher within his first four big league games since 1994. Only Clay Buchholz’s no-hitter in his second career game on Sept. 1, 2007, was longer.
— Owens has a lot of familiarity with catcher Blake Swihart from having worked with him extensively coming up through the Red Sox system. They had an excellent rapport in Friday’s win.
“I feel really comfortable,” Owens said of working with Swihart. “He’s pretty much like a brother. I’ve been with him for four years.
“I’m also comfortable with (Ryan Hanigan), too, but the way the schedule has worked out, I haven’t been able to throw to him yet. But they’re both great catchers, they both have great minds behind the dish and it’s a pleasure throwing to both of them.”
— Swihart didn’t just help Owens behind the dish. He also thrived at the plate, matching a career high with four hits (4-for-4, two doubles, two singles, two RBIs, three runs scored).
Swihart was swinging a hot bat before landing on the disabled list with a foot injury July 3. He’s picked up right where he left off since returning. Swihart is hitting .344 (31-for-90) in 25 games since June 19.
“Doesn’t matter left- or right-handed, we know that he’s an offensive catcher,” Lovullo said of the switch-hitting backstop. “But I think he put that aside for a little while. He put that in his back pocket and said, ‘I’m here first and foremost to learn the idea of how to run a big league baseball game from behind home plate, work with the pitchers and be there for them first.’
“And we’re seeing everything come together for him very, very well. He’s a great student of the game, he pays attention and we feel like it’s a really good sign of things to come.”
Swihart has reached base in 14 of his 20 plate appearances on the homestand.
— Lovullo said he met with new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager John Farrell before Thursday’s game. According to Lovullo, the three seemed to be on the same page.
“I think (Dombrowski is) just trying to get a feel for our guys through our eyes,” Lovullo said. “That’s how it works in baseball. You sit down and try and get as familiar as you possibly can, as quickly as you possibly can.”
— Rusney Castillo continued his steady rise with two hits, including a triple. The Cuban outfielder has reached base in each of his last 12 games, the longest such streak of his career.
— Brock Holt received the night off because he’s a little banged up, according to Lovullo. It isn’t one area in particular that’s ailing Holt. He’s just dealing with some bumps and bruises.
Holt was available off the bench.
— Rick Porcello, currently on the DL with a triceps strain, made a rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket. The right-hander allowed three runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, hit a batter and threw 81 pitches (57 strikes).
— Steven Wright (concussion) is scheduled to be evaluated Saturday.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
