Exciting 5th inning kick-starts convincing Sox win

BOSTON -- Can defensive wizardry in the top of an inning lead to an offensive eruption in the bottom of the frame?

There is no scientific evidence to prove the correlation, but it was there for everyone to see at Fenway Park on Monday afternoon, as the Red Sox used a lethal defense-offense combo in the fifth inning en route to a 12-5 victory over the Indians.

“I needed some help out there and I got it,” said winning pitcher Rick Porcello. “We made some great defensive plays. Brock HoltBrock [Holt], Mookie BettsMookie [Betts] in that one inning. Then the offense absolutely took over and put up nine runs.”

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In the middle of the action was Betts, who got the fifth-inning fun started when he raced over to the gap in right-center and fully extended to make a diving catch to take extra bases away from Jason Kipnis.

The drive by Kipnis, which led off the fifth, looked like it was almost behind Betts as he stretched his glove back to corral it.

Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who is used to making plays like that, enjoyed his front-row view of watching his teammate make this one.

“Full extension,” said Bradley. “He did everything he possibly could to get it and he made a great play. I got a great view of it as I was going to back him up.”

Porcello took off his cap and doffed it in the direction of Betts as a sign of his appreciation.

“I've been watching him play long enough now that there's not many things that he does that surprise me,” Porcello said. “You don't take it for granted. He's as special as it gets.”

According to Statcast, Kipnis had an expected batting average of .710 on the snag by Betts. It was a 3-star catch with a catch probability of 65 percent. Betts had to go 63 feet in 4.1 seconds with the sun shining brightly in his direction.

“The closing speed on that ball, I mean, that thing was in the gap and he closed down on it and made a hell of a play,” Porcello said. “I mean, that was the leadoff hitter of the inning. That's a huge play for myself and our ballclub.”

Later, with a runner on second and two outs, Mike Freeman stung a hard grounder up the middle that looked like it would be a sure RBI single. But second baseman Holt, playing in his first game since returning from the injured list, made a diving stop and fired to first baseman Michael Chavis for the out that kept the game knotted in a 3-3 tie.

“Get us back in the dugout. Keep the game tied,” said Holt. “I think there was a guy at second base there. When he hits it, I’m just trying to keep it on the infield. I was able to catch it cleanly and get up and make a good throw, get Rick out of that inning and get us back.”

The Fenway faithful roared after that play, just like they did for Betts a few minutes earlier.

And fittingly, it was Betts who started a six-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth when he hammered a single off the Green Monster. After Betts moved to second on a balk, Rafael Devers continued his recent tear with an RBI double to center to give the Sox their first lead of the day after trailing 3-0 early.

From there, the hits kept coming. Xander Bogaerts, Boston’s RBI leader, ripped a double down the line in left to bring home Devers. Bradley Jr., finally out of his deep slump, lofted an RBI double to make it 6-3.

And then came a three-run homer from the unexpected source -- the bat of Sandy León -- to make it 9-3 heading into the sixth. J.D. Martinez made it a three-homer day for Boston with two solo shots; one in the sixth off Oscar Mercado's glove and one in the eighth to give him 11 on the season.

“To the Red Sox’ credit, they keep coming at you once they kind of smell some blood,” said Indians manager Terry Francona.

This is especially true when the bottom of the order comes through. On Monday, that was Holt (two runs and an RBI single), Bradley (two doubles) and Leon.

“I’ve been feeling all along that offensively we’ve been getting close,” said manager Alex Cora. “Offensively, when Jackie starts swinging it, we become that dangerous. Sandy, his at-bats have been a lot better than last year. Forget the results. He’s been hitting the ball hard, putting good at-bats together and obviously when they do this, then that happens. It was a good offensive game for us.”

Especially after the defense performed their heroics.