In a span of eight days, Boston managed to wipe the slate clean — for the most part. Despite falling to the White Sox 4-1 on Sunday, the Red Sox won six of the seven games they played on the road.
As a result of the winning streak, the group entered Sunday sitting at .500, a mark the Red Sox didn't reach last season until May 20, 2011. While the Red Sox are back under that plateau at 10-11, they are poised to sustain the winning pace against the Athletics.
"We're a little more collective of a team," Valentine told reporters after the game. "We're playing well. We're confident. We went through a tough road trip … playing three night games in the [Chicago] cold, and here a day game. I believe they'll come out fighting [at Fenway] because they're a tough group."
It was a well-rounded effort from the Red Sox, but one that started with an offensive onslaught. During the seven-game stretch, Boston amassed 46 runs, including three games in which the Red Sox eclipsed double digits.
Led by Cody Ross, David Ortiz and Mike Aviles, the offense steamrolled through pitchers, combining to bat .286 with 11 homers and 26 extra-base hits.
"It gives us a lot of confidence going home," Ross told reporters. "We were figuring stuff out — each individual guy — how we're capable of doing things with other guys … hopefully now we can start rolling."
In five of the games on the road trip, the Red Sox' starting pitchers logged quality outings by lasting at least five frames while allowing no more than three runs. And every starter recorded a victory in that sequence.
Those wins could be credited to the bullpen's marvelous performance. Before Rich Hill — who was making his season debut — allowed a run on Sunday, the Red Sox relievers had only yielded one run and five walks during the road trip.
It's a complete transformation from the struggling staff and bullpen that took the mound at Fenway against the Rangers and the Yankees.
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