He was 2 for 2 with a double, 4 runs scored, 3 walks, 2 RBI, and a stolen base.
“All around probably one of his best, if not the best, game of the season,” Cora said.
With Campbell filling up the box score, the Sox took two of three from the Guardians.
“That was a lot of fun,” said Campbell, who is hitting .305 with an .886 OPS.
Campbell’s best play of the game came in the second inning. With the Sox leading, 1-0, he was standing on third base with one out when Ceddanne Rafaela popped to center field.
Angel Martinez made the catch as Campbell dutifully tagged up and faked coming to the plate. The throw back to the infield was high and ticked off the glove of first baseman Carlos Santana.
Campbell broke for the plate as the ball fell to the grass. Santana made a quick toss to the plate but Campbell slid around the tag of catcher Bo Naylor, stealing a run.
That earned Campbell a slap on the helmet from teammate Alex Bregman as he returned to the dugout.
“I just took off,” Campbell said. “Just really making up my mind. Don’t be hesitant when it comes to base running. Making good decisions and if I’m going to do it, don’t get stuck in the middle.”
Campbell was asked what structure means to him.
“Giving me an idea of what you want me to do,” he said. “Just make it straightforward. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. Don’t beat around the bush.”
In other words, Campbell wants to be coached.
“Just learning what I need to do to get ready for games and how early I need to be on the field and learning my own routine and what makes me successful every day,” he said. “I think that’s what it’s about.”
Bregman has challenged Campbell to beat him onto the field for pregame stretching. Other players have spoken to him about how best to study video or scouting reports.
A month into the season, Campbell admitted he has surprised himself at times. He didn’t know what to expect after playing only 19 Triple A games last season then making the team out of spring training this year.
“I really just try and make it as simple as possible,” he said. “Take it one game at a time, one pitch at a time, one play at a time.”
That approach helps explain why the Sox were comfortable signing Campbell to an eight-year, $60 million extension earlier this month.
“He’s changed the team,” said Rafaela, who was 2 for 4 with a homer and drove in five runs. “We can play faster and score in different ways. I think it’s a way we can play all season.”
Another member of the team’s young core, righthander Brayan Bello, carried a three-hit shutout for five innings before allowing a three-run homer to Nolan Jones in the sixth.
Bello has won both his starts since coming off the injured list last week. He went six innings Sunday, scattering six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
“I feel great. I feel like I threw the ball better than the first outing,” Bello said via a translator. “I worked on the things I needed to work on.”
The Sox collected 15 hits — six for extra bases — and drew five walks. Rafael Devers and Rob Refsnyder also homered.
Cora was pleased that a trip to Progressive Field came early in the season because he knew it would be good for Devers. In 23 career games at the ballpark, he is 64 of 103 (.351) with nine home runs, 18 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.112.
“We need to get him going,” Cora said. “It’s going to happen.”
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.
