If there are any mentions of Joe Kelly’s stuff or its quality in the recap tomorrow, know that it was added by the editor.

— Matt Collins (@RedSox_Thoughts) August 25, 2015

Even Jean Machi couldn’t blow this one. Break up the Red Sox

Top Play (WPA): No surprises here. The top play in this game was the three-run home run that Rusney Castillo blasted to center field (.283), putting the Red Sox up by two. It was yet another encouraging sign from the Cuban outfielder, who has been raking this month while getting consistent playing time.

Bottom Play (WPA): The bottom play came when the White Sox couldn’t finish off their comeback attempt off the immortal Jean Machi. After closing the gap to two, Alexei Ramirez came up with men on the corners and hit a fielder’s choice to third, scoring Avisail Garcia (-.116). Then, Carlos Sanchez hit a fly ball in foul territory, but there was enough room for Jackie Bradley to make the catch and finish end the game (-.098). If we’re being honest, the Machi deserved to blow that save.

Key Moment: Castillo’s home run in the second was probably the key moment if we’re being honest, but that’s boring. So instead, we’ll call Castillo’s other big hit the key moment. With the Red Sox still up by the same 3-1 margin in the 5th, Castillo ripped a two-run double that put Boston up by four. Of course, he ended up sliding past second base and was tagged out, ending the inning, but the damage was done. Given how poor the Red Sox bullpen is, every run counts, as we saw later in he game.

Trends to Watch: First and foremost: Castillo is out of control right now. We’re still dealing with a small sample, so it’s too early to pencil him in for strong production in 2016, but he’s looking the part. He’s raw and makes boneheaded plays, but we’re finally seeing why the Red Sox were willing to pay so much money for him last year.

Also on fire: Joe Kelly. He’s been spectacular over his last four starts, pitching to a 1.85 ERA in 24.1 innings. The strikeouts aren’t there, but that may be a good thing. He’s inducing ground balls, and mixing up his pitches much more often. I’ll need to see a lot more out of him to be confident in him as a starter moving forward, but this is certainly a good start. [Definitely Matt’s writing and not an editor’s note: Joe Kelly has great stuff.]

It’s not all good though. The bullpen is still a dumpster fire. Robbie Ross came on in the eighth and pitched very well recording two outs. That’s part of the problem, though. Ross should not be pitching in the eighth inning of close games. Then, Jean Machi – JEAN MACHI – came in for the save, and did his best to blow it. Boston held on to the lead, but this bullpen is still A Problem.

Coming Next: The Red Sox continue their series in Chicago tonight with Wade Miley taking on Jose Quintana. The three-game set ends on Wednesday before the Sox travel to New York to take on the red-hot Mets, where they’ll be forced to play by dumb/bad/terrible/unholy NL rules.

Photo by Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports Images

Top Play (WPA):

The Red Sox appeared to catch a break on what ended up being the top play of the game. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the second inning, Mookie Betts swung and missed at an 0-2 pitch in the dirt. The strikeout would have been the second out of the inning, getting Indians’ pitcher Trevor Bauer closer to squirming out of the jam. But, luckily for the Red Sox, the umpires got together and ruled that Betts had actually fouled the pitch. Replays on the NESN broadcast showed pretty clearly that this was not the case. Regardless, Betts lined the next pitch to the wall in left-center field for a bases-clearing double, pushing the Red Sox lead to 4-0 (WPA: + .149).

How about an off-the-field top play? Yesterday was the first of the two-day Jimmy Fund radio-telethon. For those unaware, the Jimmy Fund supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer institute by raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research. Each year the radio-telethon is a great fundraising event, and this year, perhaps, takes on a little more meaning for the Red Sox with the recent news about John Farrell. Donate if you can!

Bottom Play (WPA):

The bottom play of the night came in the bottom of the first inning. After Brock Holt tripled, Xander Bogaerts hit a hard, high chopper down the third base line that was caught by Indians’ third baseman Mike Aviles right at the bag. Unfortunately for the Red Sox the ball got to Aviles quickly enough that Holt was unable to retreat safely to third after having taken his secondary lead on the pitch. Xander ends up with a fielder’s choice on your scorecard (WPA: -.072).

Key Moment:

Eduardo Rodriguez pitched really well last night. I felt that a key moment came in the top of the seventh inning. The first batter of the inning, Michael Brantley, took Rodriguez deep on a 1-0 slider, and then the second batter of the inning, Carlos Santana, ripped a 2-0 fastball to right field for a single. The middle of the Indians’ order was getting to work their third time seeing Eduardo, or so it seemed. After those first two batters, he got Ryan Raburn to roll over on a 3-2 changeup for a 6-4-3 double-play, and then got Roberto Perez to ground out to Xander ending the inning. It might seem silly to suggest that the key moment was late in a 7-0 game, but it was really nice to see Rodriguez avoid having things go off the rails quickly and force the shaky Red Sox’s bullpen into the proceedings.

Trend to Watch:

Blake Swihart was thrown into a difficult situation this season. He was probably slotted to spend the year at Triple-A Pawtucket continuing to develop as a player, but then injuries happened to the Red Sox’s planned catching duo and he was called up. Over his first 101 plate appearances he hit .208/.240/.292, striking out in 26.7 percent of the time. Over his next 105 PA he has posted a .296/.343/.388 line, although still striking out too often (24.8% K%). A hundred plate appearances is too small a sample to make any strong conclusions, but it appears as though Swihart is much more comfortable hitting major league pitching. The power numbers are still a little ugly, but even in the minor leagues Swihart’s game was never really driven by power. In last night’s game he worked a walk against Bauer, eventually scoring on Betts’ top-play double, and then collected two hits off Indians relievers. He looked quite comfortable at the plate.

Coming next:

The Red Sox will finish up their series with the Indians tomorrow night before the Royals come to town for the weekend. On paper the pitching matchup is supreme, as the Sox will send Joe Kelly to the mound, while the Indians counter with 2014 American League Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber. Despite his great stuff, Kelly has yet to consistently show why the Red Sox think he can be part of the rotation going forward, but his last two outings have been better. Taken together he has pitched 11.1 innings, allowing only three runs on 11 hits, while walking four and striking out 13. Kluber hasn’t been quite as great as he was in 2014, but his numbers this season (3.34 ERA, 2.58 FIP) are still very impressive. The Red Sox offense has a tough test coming. Ideally, tomorrow brings a well-played ballgame and positive news about John Farrell’s first chemo treatment.

Photo by Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports Images