Abreu, Devers, Wong combine for 11 hits as Red Sox shut out Guardians, 8-0

“(I) swung at better pitches,” Wong explained. “Grabbed pitches I could handle.”

Even though the lineup couldn’t make it through an inning without stranding a baserunner — they were 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base — it didn’t matter. They were going against a Cleveland lineup that only managed four hits the entire night.

Because as has been the case so far this season, the pitching staff continued to defy and dominate. The Red Sox starting rotation entered Wednesday’s contest leading the Majors with a 1.80 ERA. It’s their best mark through 24 games in the Live Ball Era, and according to the club’s media relations, it’s also the lowest for an American League team through that span since the 1978 Oakland A’s, and third-best by any MLB team since 2000.

Cooper Criswell only improved upon the already-sterling ERA with a five-inning start in which he held Cleveland to three hits, struck out three, and didn’t issue a walk.

The pitching staff as a whole was already leading the majors with a 2.60 ERA, and Joely Rodriguez and Zack Kelly further improved upon that with two shutout innings apiece. Called up from Triple-A to replace Bello on the roster, Kelly struck out three and didn’t allow a single Guardian to reach base in his season debut.

“Coop was amazing,” Cora said. “Joely was great, Zack threw excellent. That’s probably the best I’ve seen him in the years I’ve been here.”

Improved defense continues to be the cherry on top, putting together another error-free game. Since Trevor Story’s season came to an abrupt end, Ceddanne Rafaela has saved the middle infield. His impressive barehanded throw to first was originally ruled a single, but the Red Sox challenged successfully.

“The kid at shortstop has done an amazing job slowing everything down,” Cora lauded. “Pablo (Reyes) had a good game at first, Bobby (Dalbec) at first … everybody talks about the struggles in the offense, but defensively he’s really good.”