|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 3:32:11 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Halos Wednesday, 8th June 2020 930pm @ Angel Stadium
Nasty Nate 3-2/3.41
Detmers 2-2/4.20
Boston Red Sox vs.Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 9:38pm EDT Written by Chris King
A pair of American League teams trending in opposite directions continue a series on the diamond in the City of Angels. The Boston Red Sox are on the road as they play the third game of a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday night. In the opening game of the series Monday night, it was Boston scratching out a 1-0 victory to draw first blood in the series. That defeat extended the Angels’ losing ways and led to the franchise parting ways with manager Joe Maddon. Can Los Angeles get back on track and pick up a victory here or will Boston extend the Angels’ misery? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the second game of the series Tuesday night at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Boston Red Sox Looking to Maintain Momentum Boston won their fifth straight and their 14th in the last 19 games to climb over .500 with a win in the opening game of the set Monday night. The Red Sox entered Tuesday fourth in the AL East, 11.5 games behind the Yankees for the top spot in the division. On Monday night, Boston got two hits from J.D. Martinez while Christian Vazquez drove in the game’s only run in the second inning with help from a throwing error from Max Stassi. Michael Wacha (4-1) earned the win as he went the distance in the complete game shutout. He allowed three hits with one walk and six strikeouts, tossing only 105 pitches.
Nathan Eovaldi is on the mound for the Red Sox as he takes the ball for the 12th time this season. He is 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.089 WHIP, 10 walks and 67 strikeouts while giving up a league-high 16 homers in 63.1 innings of work this year. Eovaldi earned the win in his last start, which came against the A’s on the road Friday. He threw six innings, allowing no runs on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in a game the Red Sox went on to win 7-2. In his last three starts, Eovaldi is 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, three walks and 25 strikeouts over 21.2 innings of action. Eovaldi faces the Angels for the 11th time in his career in this contest and logs his ninth start. He is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA, a 1.674 WHIP, 16 walks and 43 strikeouts over 43 innings of action against them. Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA, a 1.80 WHIP, six walks and 24 strikeouts over 18.1 innings in four career starts at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Los Angeles Angels Trying to Climb Out of Turmoil Los Angeles got a stellar outing on the mound but their bats failed to deliver anything offensively, sending them to a 12th straight loss. The Angels entered Tuesday second in the AL West, 8.5 games behind the Astros but the team will continue on from here without Joe Maddon, who was relieved of his duties Tuesday afternoon. Phil Nevin will take over on an interim basis. In Monday’s contest, the Angels finished with only three hits with no player having more than one. The Angels were zero for two with runners in scoring position. Noah Syndergaard (4-4) pitched well but took the loss on the mound. He threw six innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
The Angels have yet to name a starting pitcher for this contest but the expectation is that Shohei Ohtani may get the call for his 10th start of the season in this contest. He comes in 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.162 WHIP, 11 walks, 65 strikeouts and a league-high six wild pitches in 47.1 innings of work. Ohtani took the loss in his last start, which came against the Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday on the road. He threw three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in a 6-1 Angels loss. In his last three starts, Ohtani is 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, four walks and 19 strikeouts over 15 innings of work. Ohtani makes his fourth career start against the Red Sox in this contest. He is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.063 WHIP, two walks and 16 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. Ohtani is 9-3 with a 2.45 ERA, a 1.073 WHIP, 49 walks and 161 strikeouts over 128.2 innings of work in 23 career starts at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 6:16:34 GMT -5
Tanner Houck making a case to become a Red Sox' game-ender
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago
There was a hint Friday night.
With the Red Sox' clinging to a two-run lead heading into the final inning in Oakland, Alex Cora had got up Tanner Houck in his team's bullpen to potentially close things out. The moment never presented itself thanks to another layer of runs by the Sox, but did surface an interesting notion.
Was Houck trending from being a long relief, follow-the-starter-type of guy to one of the missing pieces on this Red Sox roster?
"His stuff late in games is hard to square up," Cora said the next day of Houck. "The sinker, four-seamer, four-seamer and split. The mentality he’s not afraid. He came out of the bullpen last year and was huge for us. He’s one of those guys, we see him as a weapon back there and we’ll use him the right way."
Well, "the right way" now sure looks a lot like something which can help accomplish what has been a somewhat elusive feat for these Red Sox - the art of getting some of those final few outs.
Houck's new role was put on display in the Red Sox' 6-5, 10-inning win over the Angels Tuesday night, with the righty coming on to pitch a scoreless eighth and ninth innings. He struck out three while getting five whiffs (all on his slider) while throwing 30 pitches.
After the game - in which Matt Strahm closed things out by striking out two of his three batters - Cora made it official: Expect to see Houck as one of the game-enders going forward.
"That’s what we’re looking for," Cora told reporters after his team's sixth straight win. "We’re going to use him in high-leverage situations and will try to avoid the three-inning, four-inning stints. Maximum, he’ll go two.”
"I had a lot of fun in that situation. It gets the blood boiling a little bit. Heart rate up. Living in the moment," said Houck, according to MLB.com.
Houck's resurgence hasn't been a coincidence, with the pitcher rediscovering his most lethal pitch - the slider - with help from a new grip taught to him by teammate Austin Davis.
Since the implementation, Houck has not surrendered a single run over 14 innings (six outings), striking out 15 and walking just four.
The Red Sox have been uncovering a lot of good lately, and late-inning Houck might be one of their best discoveries, yet.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 6:21:53 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Christian Vázquez likes when ‘blood is going fast’ in clutch spots, delivers again Tuesday Updated: Jun. 08, 2022, 5:03 a.m. | Published: Jun. 08, 2022, 5:00 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Christian Vázquez delivered a one-out, RBI single to the opposite field in right to put the Red Sox ahead for good in the 10th inning Tuesday.
The Red Sox won 6-5 over the Angels here at Angel Stadium. It marked their first extra-inning win on the road this season.
“I love those situations,” Vázquez said. “Somebody needs to do it so why not me? The blood is going fast. So I like that. It’s fun.”
Vázquez is 6-for-17 (.353 batting average) with a .400 on-base percentage in late-and-close situations. He’s 14-for-44 (.318) with a homer, double and 19 RBIs with runners in scoring position.
Vázquez has had many memorable clutch hits, from his go-ahead homer vs. then-Yankees fireballer Dellin Betances in 2016 to his walkoff homer in the 13th inning of Game 3 of the 2021 ALDS vs. the Rays.
He was trying to go to the opposite field Tuesday and he did with a 96 mph single to right.
“I was trying to hit that hole. There was a big hole (at) second base,” Vázquez said.
Manager Alex Cora added, “Christian with a great at-bat. Stayed inside that ball and going the other way. That was huge for us.”
Boston is 5-0 on the trip
The Red Sox are 5-0 on this 10-game West Coast road trip.
They have won 15 of their past 20 games. They are 19-8 in their past 27 games.
“Every win matters,” Vázquez said. “We’re playing very well. I think we’re playing collectively, everybody bringing something to the table to win. And it’s awesome to see that.”
Houck escapes ninth-inning jam
Tyler Wade led off the bottom of the ninth against Tanner Houck with a 71.5 mph double down the third base line that beat the shift.
But Houck escaped. He retired Matt Duffy on a pop-out to second base and struck out Luis Rengifo swinging.
After an intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani, Houck struck out Jo Adell looking to escape the jam.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” Cora said about Houck’s two scoreless innings. “We’re going to use him in high-leverage situations. We’ll try to avoid the 4-inning, 3-inning stints. The maximum he’ll go is 2 (innings). Kind of like the way we used Garrett (Whitlock) last year. He’s been throwing the ball great for us. ... His stuff is really good late in games.”
Did Cora consider Houck for the 10th?
Was Cora tempted to bring back Houck for the 10th with a 6-5 lead after he threw a scoreless eighth and ninth?
“No,” Cora said. “We made a decision, ‘This is where we’re going.’ He’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish. We’ve got Hansel (Robles) back soon. Strahmy (Matt Strahm) threw the ball great. (Jake) Diekman, the stuff was good. Sawa (Hirokazu Sawamura) has been throwing strikes. So we’re trending in the right direction.”
Bogaerts leaves early
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts exited in the ninth inning because of left shoulder tightness.
Cora said Bogaerts’ shoulder has bothered him at times since his collision with Alex Verdugo at Fenway Park on May 20. Bogaerts was backpedaling to catch a ball and Verdugo ran into him.
“It’s been kind of on-and-off bothering him,” Cora said. “We’ll see tomorrow. He’s begging to play. We’ll see how it goes.”
Strahm locks down save in 10th
Matt Strahm locked down the save in bottom of the 10th. He struck out Jared Walsh swinging and Max Stassi looking.
Kurt Suzuki then grounded out to Kiké Hernández who made a strong play to end the game.
“Stuff was really good,” Cora said. “Attacked the zone. Offspeed pitches were good. And it was a great one for us.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 9:50:32 GMT -5
Angels look to snap 13-game skid behind new skipper FLM
The Los Angeles Angels will host the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., the third game of the four-game series and the second contest of the Phil Nevin "era."
Nevin was named the Angels' interim manager Tuesday after the club fired manager Joe Maddon earlier in the day, and the Angels responded with their 13th consecutive loss, 6-5 in 10 innings.
Nevin managed in the minor leagues and coached third base in the majors, and according to some, he will bring a different attitude to the game than the mild-mannered Maddon.
"He's an intense competitor," Angels first baseman Jared Walsh said. "He'll be giving the umpires hell sometimes if he disagrees with something. But overall, I think he's done it. He (coached) in New York -- that's a pretty big market, he had a lot of experience there, third-base coach -- and managed a lot in the minor leagues, played in the big leagues for a long time. So I think he's got the track record."
Nevin, though, might have to manage without three-time MVP Mike Trout, who left Tuesday's game in the third inning because of a tight left groin. Trout, who injured himself running out a double, remained in the game for a few pitches before summoning a trainer and Nevin onto the field.
Trout will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.
Left-hander Reid Detmers (2-2, 4.20 ERA) will make his 10th start of the season for the Angels, his fourth since throwing a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10.
In the three starts since the no-hitter, Detmers is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. He held the Yankees scoreless in 4 1/3 innings in his last start but did allow five hits and three walks while making 86 pitches.
He faced the Red Sox on May 4, getting a no-decision after allowing three runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 3.41 ERA) will make his 12th start of the season for Boston, coming off one of his better starts of the season. He shut out the Oakland A's for six innings, allowing four hits. In his past three starts, Eovaldi has allowed just four earned runs in 21 2/3 innings. That includes his first career complete game on May 28 against Baltimore.
Eovaldi had pitched eight innings eight times during his 11-year career, so getting those final three outs were meaningful to him.
"It definitely means a lot to me, especially with the way the game's trending now and the injuries I've had in the past," Eovaldi said. "I know they have the best interests for me to protect me, but it means a lot to go out there and (pitch nine innings). Every starter wants to go out there and finish the start."
He is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) against the Angels.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts left Tuesday's game, lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth inning because of tightness in his left shoulder. He is day-to-day.
--Field Level Media
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 9:52:33 GMT -5
Mike Trout Exits Game With Groin Tightness
By Anthony Franco | June 8, 2022 at 7:55am CDT
June 8: Trout told reporters after the game that he cramped up while legging out his double and felt it better to be cautious (link via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times). Trout called the injury “nothing crazy,” and the Angels, notably, do not have an MRI scheduled for today. They’ll see how Trout is feeling this morning before taking any further steps.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 9:56:43 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 10m Red Sox playoff odds are above 50% for the first time since April 24th. The Sox and Angels have had weirdly mirrored seasons.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 9:59:03 GMT -5
J.P. Long @soxnotes · 30m The Red Sox have won their last 6 games, matching their longest streak of the season.
They are an MLB-best 15-5 (.750) since May 18. During that time, they lead the majors in run differential (+58), runs scored (133), AVG (.296), and OPS (.865), and have posted a 3.33 ERA.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 13:40:28 GMT -5
Game 57: Red Sox at Angels lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 8, 2022, 9:53 a.m. They had to work a little overtime, but the Red Sox managed to extend their winning streak to six games Tuesday with a 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Angels, who dropped their 13th in a row and also fired manager Joe Maddon. The Sox, who moved to a season-high two games above .500, will look to extend both streaks against the Angels Wednesday. Nate Eovaldi will face Reid Detmers. Detmers is making his fourth start since throwing a no-hitter against the Rays on May 10. In the three starts since, he is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. Eovaldi is coming off one of his better starts of the season, when he allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings. In his last three starts, Eovaldi has allowed just four earned runs in 21 ⅔ innings. That includes his first career complete game on May 28 against Baltimore. He is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) against the Angels. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (29-27): 1. Christian Arroyo (R) RF 2. Christian Vazquez (R) 1B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Trevor Story (R) 2B 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 3B 8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C 9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF Pitching: RHP Nate Eovaldi (3-2, 3.41 ERA) ANGELS (27-30): 1. Shohei Ohtani (L) DH 2. Jo Adell (R) RF 3. Jared Walsh (L) 1B 4. Matt Duffy (R) 3B 5. Juan Lagares (R) CF 6. Brandon Marsh (L) LF 7. Jack Mayfield (R) 2B 8. Kurt Suzuki (R) C 9. Tyler Wade (L) SS Pitching: LHP Reid Detmers (2-2, 4.20 ERA) Time: 9:38 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Detmers: Christian Arroyo 0-0, Xander Bogaerts 0-2, Bobby Dalbec 0-1, Rafael Devers 0-3, Kiké Hernández 1-2, J.D. Martinez 1-2, Trevor Story 2-3, Alex Verdugo 0-2, Christian Vázquez 0-2 Angels vs. Eovaldi: Matt Duffy 3-3, Juan Lagares 5-10, Luis Rengifo 1-4, Max Stassi 3-5, Kurt Suzuki 1-10, Mike Trout 6-17, Andrew Velazquez 0-2, Tyler Wade 0-4, Jared Walsh 2-6 Stat of the day: The Red Sox are 10-3 in their last 13 road games. Notes: Phil Nevin was named the Angels’ interim manager Tuesday after the club fired manager Joe Maddon earlier in the day. …The Red Sox are in a stretch of playing 25 games in 27 days from June 3 to 29, including 19 games in 20 days June 3-22. … The 10-game road trip is tied for their longest trip of the season (April 22-May 1). … Manager Alex Cora recorded his 313th win Tuesday night, moving ahead of Ralph Houk for 10th most in franchise history. … The Red Sox feature five pitchers with at least 35 innings pitched and a sub-3.75 ERA, tied with the Yankees for the most such pitchers in MLB. They are Michael Wacha (1.99), Nate Eovaldi (3.41), Nick Pivetta (3.50), Garrett Whitlock (3.51), and Tanner Houck (3.72). Song of the Day:Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridgewww.youtube.com/watch?v=GLvohMXgcBo
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 18:00:06 GMT -5
Ken Laird @kenlairdweei · 4h .@ac13alex tells @mfmonweei that Devers is off tonight, Bogaerts is a maybe, & Vazquez is at 1B
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 4h Also, "Whitlock, yeah he wasn’t moving great yesterday, it’s something we have to pay attention to. He felt better after the game, he got some treatment. As of now, he’ll be ready to make his next start.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 18:58:17 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 35m Kiké Hernández is going to the IL with a hip strain. Jonathan Arauz recalled.
Arauz over Duran right now because they want to give the infielders some days off.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 8, 2022 19:00:44 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 40m Kikè is going on the IL with a right hip flexor strain. Araúz en route to take his spot on the roster. Also, interesting lineup tonight will have Vàzquez at first and Dalbec at third and Arroyo leading off
Why Araúz over Duran to replace Kikè? Cora said this is a stretch he wants to get his infielders some rest. Reading between the lines, Duran could surface at some point before Kikè returns.
He wanted to give Devers a rest.
Another reason no Duran for now. Sox face a lefty tonight and two in Seattle. Don't be surprised if he surfaces at Fenway next week.
|
|
|
Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 8, 2022 21:40:56 GMT -5
I appreciate JBJ trying the bunt, twice, but I am trying to figure out what the difficulty is. Any of the Alou brothers could bunt a ball into a golf hole. As much as they shift, JBJ could hit .500 on his bunts.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 9, 2022 2:23:59 GMT -5
Bobby Dalbec’s RBI double leads Boston Red Sox to second 1-0 win on their perfect 6-0 road trip so far Updated: Jun. 09, 2022, 2:02 a.m. | Published: Jun. 09, 2022, 12:48 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bobby Dalbec’s RBI double in the sixth inning drove in the game’s lone run.
The Red Sox won 1-0 over the Los Angeles Angels here Wednesday at Angel Stadium to improve to 6-0 on their West Coast road trip.
Boston has won seven straight games and 16 of its past 21 games.
This marked the Red Sox’s second 1-0 win on this road trip.
Alex Verdugo walked with two outs in the sixth before Dalbec ripped his RBI double to right field.
Diekman, Vázquez come through in seventh
Tyler Danish, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning, returned for the seventh. He hit the first batter, Kurt Suzuki.
Manager Alex Cora then replaced Danish with lefty Jake Diekman who got Max Stassi to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.
Trevor Story’s throw to Christian Vázquez at first base bounced. But Vázquez made a nice pick to finish off the double play.
It marked Vázquez’s eighth career big league start at first base. The seven other starts came in 2019. He entered Wednesday’s game having recorded just 6 innings at first base since the start of 2020.
He did make seven starts at first base in winter ball this past offseason.
“When he went to Puerto Rico, he didn’t play too many games behind the plate,” Cora said before the game. “He played a lot of first base. Christian’s first appearance at first base was in the (2018) World Series. Game 3. It was an extra-inning game. They hit a ground ball to him and he moved his feet and made the out. He likes it. He does infield work to work (on) his footwork. At the same time, he enjoys it. He has great hands. The fact that we can do this tonight is because of who he is and what he can do.”
Eovaldi’s velo down
Eovaldi pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out five.
HIs velocity was down. He threw 32 four-seam fastballs, averaging 94 mph and topping out at 97.1 mph, per Baseball Savant.
His fastball averaged 96.7 mph in his first 11 starts.
He recorded 14 swings-and-misses but just one with his four-seam fastball. He got seven with his splitter, three with his curveball and three with his slider.
Series finale Thursday
The Red Sox and Angels will play the final game of their four-game series Thursday. Shohei Ohtani will start for Los Angeles.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 9, 2022 2:28:14 GMT -5
Why not Jarren Duran? Boston Red Sox recall Jonathan Araúz instead to take Kiké Hernández’s spot, Alex Cora explains Published: Jun. 08, 2022, 9:06 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Red Sox have recalled Jonathan Araúz from Triple-A Worcester to take Kiké Hernández’s spot on the active roster.
Boston placed Hernández on the 10-day injured list with a right hip flexor strain.
Araúz is batting .185 in 24 games at Worcester this season.
Why promote Araúz and not Jarren Duran (.916 OPS at Worcester)?
“Right now we’re trying to take care of the infielders,” manager Alex Cora explained. “And we feel short in a sense. So having him around is going to help us.”
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts left Boston’s win Tuesday with left shoulder tightness. He will play Wednesday but Cora said he expects to give Bogaerts an off day Thursday.
Third baseman Rafael Devers will receive a scheduled day off Wednesday.
Second baseman Trevor Story is expected to receive an off day against a right-handed starting pitcher in Seattle. The Mariners have not yet announced their starting pitchers for the series.
Jackie Bradley Jr. will start in center field for now with Hernández out.
“Let’s take it day-by-day,” Cora said.
It sounds as though Duran could be recalled Monday when the Red Sox return to Fenway Park to play the Athletics.
Devers, Bogaerts and Story all will have received a day off by then.
Cora also expects the Red Sox to face two left-handed starters in Seattle. And so Duran, a left-handed hitter, likely will be recalled after that series.
Who will lead off with Hernández out? Will Cora rotate hitters through the spot?
“I have no idea,” Cora said. “Today it’s Christian Arroyo. ... We’ll figure it out. We always do. Let’s see where we go the next few days and all that. Somebody has to lead off.”
If and when Duran takes Araúz’s spot, he likely will serve as Boston’s leadoff hitter.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 9, 2022 2:29:19 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Christian Vázquez makes ‘bear-trap pick’ at first base in big seventh inning Updated: Jun. 09, 2022, 2:00 a.m. | Published: Jun. 09, 2022, 1:58 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Red Sox gave Rafael Devers a day off Wednesday and so first baseman Bobby Dalbec started at third base.
Catcher Christian Vázquez made his first big league start at first base since 2019 and Kevin Plawecki caught Nathan Eovaldi.
It all worked out as Vázquez made the game’s key defensive play on a 6-4-3 double play in the seventh. Second baseman Trevor Story’s throw to first bounced but Vázquez picked it to complete the play.
The Red Sox won 1-0 over the Angels here at Angel Stadium to improve to 6-0 on their 10-game West Coast road trip.
“The bear trap pick,” Dalbec said.
Dalbec, who used his hands to imitate how Vázquez caught it in the same way a bear trap closes, said the catcher “is great over there” at first base.
“He’s put over there, he’s got great hands,” Dalbec said.
Tyler Danish, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning, returned for the seventh but he hit the first batter, Kurt Suzuki.
Manager Alex Cora replaced Danish with lefty Jake Diekman who got Max Stassi to ground into the double play that Vázquez finished off with his bear trap.
It marked Vázquez’s eighth career major league start at first base. The seven other starts came in 2019. He entered Wednesday’s game having logged just 6 innings at first base since the start of 2020.
He did make seven starts at first base in winter ball in Puerto Rico this past offseason.
“He’s a good infielder,” Cora said. “He’s got great footwork. Good hands. He knows the game. He does it a lot behind the plate. He picks a lot (as a catcher). So that was big. I was telling the guys that the first time I used him at first base was in the World Series (extra innings, 2018 Game 3). He’s that good of a defender. He’s that good of an infielder and he did an amazing job.”
|
|