Red Sox snap longest skid of the season in blowout fashion

After the game, Alex Cora was asked how badly the Red Sox needed a game like this amid their mid-season slump.

“Obviously we needed it, but we’re not panicking. It’s part of the season,” Cora told reporters. “You’re [also] going to win five in a row, six in a row. This is going to happen. I think the timing of it — I think people made a bigger deal than what it is.”

The “timing of it” of course being the franchise-altering trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Fransisco. Boston’s offensive struggles coincided with dealing away their star hitter, and fans took notice. However, Saturday’s big win against the Blue Jays proved there’s plenty of offensive juice in the current Red Sox lineup — when everybody is playing at their best.

Abreu in particular had a good day at the plate; he went 2-for-6, recording four RBIs and scoring two runs of his own off his double and home run.

“We’ve been trying to talk to him about using the big part of the field, left-center,” Cora said. “That’s who he was his first year when he got here and he was able to pepper the ball off the [Green Monster]. He’s gotten away from that. I don’t know if it’s the homers and you become pull-happy. But he’s a complete player.

“We expect more from Wily. But I think the rest always helps, too. Those 10 days, working on a few things … it looks like he’s refreshed.”

Of course, as is almost always the case in such a blowout, there was plenty of offense to go around. Ceddanne Rafaela homered and had 2 RBIs; as did Romy Gonzalez. Abraham Toro had a very efficient day at the plate as well, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs while also drawing a pair of walks.