What happened
Willy Adames blew the game open with one swing, launching a grand slam to left field in the top of the fifth inning. The four-run shot scored Casey Schmitt, Rafael Devers, and Luis Arraez ahead of him and pushed the lead to 11-3.
Why it matters
What had been a manageable deficit became a rout in a single at-bat. By driving in three baserunners plus himself, Adames flipped the momentum and put the contest out of reach in the middle innings. Power production like that from the heart of the order changes the complexion of a game on one pitch.
By the numbers
The home run was No. 8 on the season for Adames. The slam cleared the bases — Schmitt, Devers, and Arraez all crossed the plate — and turned a one-sided inning into an 11-3 advantage in the top of the fifth.
What to watch next
The question now is whether the cushion holds through the late innings. Keep an eye on whether Adames stays hot at the plate in his next trips to the box.