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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2022 16:51:52 GMT -5
A's @ Red Sox Tuesday, 13th June 2022 7pm @ Fenway
Koenig 0-1/9.00
Pivetta 5-5/5.75
Back home, sizzling Red Sox take aim at A's FLM
Following a 10-game road trip to remember, the Boston Red Sox return home to begin a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
The Red Sox won eight games on a West Coast trip for the first time since 1995, capping the 8-2 swing by taking two out of three from Seattle. Their 18-7 record since May 18 is MLB's best.
On Sunday, a Rafael Devers two-run home run in the eighth inning was all the offense Boston needed for a 2-0 win over the Mariners. The star third baseman's 14th homer of the season came on a high fastball outside the strike zone.
"You cannot take away his aggressiveness. And he can do that with bad pitches," Boston manager Alex Cora said of Devers, who leads the majors in hits (83) and extra-base hits (38). "Two-strike approach, he went the other way. Us humans, we hit line drives the other way. He hits homers the other way with two strikes."
After Nathan Eovaldi was placed on the injured list with low back inflammation, Kutter Crawford stepped up and pitched five shutout, one-hit innings with seven strikeouts and four walks in only his second career MLB start.
"(Crawford's) stuff was really good," Cora said. "He made some good pitches on two strikes. He was under control, throwing hard."
With Boston's pitching plans still to be determined for multiple games this week, Crawford could make another start before Eovaldi is eligible to return.
Tuesday's start will go to Nick Pivetta (5-5, 3.78 ERA) who is 5-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his past seven starts. He had a streak of five consecutive winning starts snapped in Thursday's 5-2 setback to the Los Angeles Angels, though he struck out a season-high 11 in five innings.
"I think it came down to the two walks to lead off the sixth inning, that kind of screwed everything up," Pivetta said. "Uncompetitive. Not good."
Pivetta has pitched seven shutout innings in each of his two career starts against Oakland, both of which have come within the past two seasons. He struck out seven and allowed just two hits during Boston's 8-0 win on June 4, which was the second game of the recently completed trip.
On the opposite side for Oakland will be Jared Koenig (0-1, 9.00), a left-hander who allowed four earned runs in four innings while making his MLB debut last Wednesday in Atlanta in a 13-2 loss. He had previously pitched two seasons in the A's system and three in independent leagues.
"You see the competitiveness, you know he's a grinder," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "That's another thing you can take away from him being on the mound, he didn't shy away from it and made some pitches when he needed to. But, ultimately, (the Braves) lineup did a great job of seeing pitches and getting to him once they had been through the lineup."
The A's snapped a 10-game skid with Saturday's 10-5 win in Cleveland, but they were unable to continue the positive trend and dropped a 6-3 decision to the Guardians to conclude the four-game series.
Ramon Laureano's first-inning homer gave Oakland a 1-0 lead before the Guardians used big innings to build a 6-1 advantage at the end of seven innings. Christian Bethancourt and Seth Brown hit back-to-back homers in the eighth, but the Athletics didn't score again.
Bethancourt went 9-for-17 during the series, hitting three of his four homers on the season.
"I think guys are getting more confident, taking better at-bats," Kotsay said. "We've known the power is in there for the guys that hit the home runs. (Sean) Murphy, Brown, Bethancourt once he got the first one out of the way."
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2022 16:53:58 GMT -5
SP Probables
15th- 7pm....Kapriellian 0-3/5.75 vs TBA
16th...7pm....Blackburn 5-2/2.31 vs TBA
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 3:13:51 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo is hitting well again, but his power outage continues By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated June 13, 2022, 6:23 p.m.
After a dismal first two months of the season, June has offered some hope for Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo.
Verdugo is hitting .333 with an .831 OPS since the calendar flipped, a vast improvement. But where has his power gone?
It has been 186 at-bats and nearly two months since Verdugo hit his last home run on April 16. His slugging percentage is 133d among 162 qualified players in the majors.
Verdugo’s .247/.288/.353 slash line suggests that of a utility infielder, not an outfielder in the American League East.
“It’s strange,” Verdugo said. “I’ve hit a lot of balls hard but haven’t got much for it.”
He’s onto something. Verdugo’s 88.7 mile-per-hour average exit velocity is only 1.3 m.p.h off from last season when he had 32 doubles and 13 homers.
Verdugo, who has struck out only 25 times in 233 plate appearances, puts the ball in play. He just doesn’t get much out of it. His batting average on balls in play is .262, a significant drop from the .327 it was in 2021.
“He’s put [together] good at-bats. You don’t see the results,” manager Alex Cora said.
Cora sees Verdugo as being similar to Andrew Benintendi, who he replaced in left field.
“Hit for average, spray the ball around, more doubles than homers. That’s the type of hitter he is,” Cora said. “He doesn’t strike out. He puts the ball in play. He understands who he is.”
Still, the Sox need more from a player who has hit fourth or fifth in 37 games so far this season.
Sox coaches say Verdugo has worked hard in the batting cage to find a more productive swing. But when he has it’s been fleeting.
“Consistency. I need more of that,” Verdugo said. “I feel like I’m close but you’d like to see more extra-base hits. I get it. I’m a line-drive hitter. But I want line drives that reach the wall.”
Sale heats up
Chris Sale faced hitters for the first time since February on Monday, throwing live batting practice at the team’s complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
According to a league source, the session went “extremely well,” with another noting the lefthander’s fastball topped out at 96 m.p.h.
Sale is scheduled to fly to Boston to join the Sox on Tuesday. He’ll continue his rehab with the team.
The 33-year-old lefthander has been sidelined since suffering a stress fracture in his right rib cage while throwing live batting practice to college hitters in late February during the owner-imposed lockout.
While he’d initially been on track to return to the rotation by early June, an as-yet-unidentified medical issue — described by the team as neither baseball- nor COVID-related — delayed his rehab by several weeks. A stomach malady last week further set him back.
The Sox have not defined a timetable for Sale’s return, or even for the start of a rehab assignment. Given that he’s just started facing hitters and has yet to pitch in a game since last October, a buildup of several weeks seems likely.
The fact that he’s progressed to facing hitters represents progress for Sale, currently in the third season of his five-year, $145 million extension.
Over the last several weeks, team officials have not ruled out the possibility Sale would return initially as a relief pitcher depending on both need and the state of the pitching staff, though as of Monday, one team source said that no determination has been made about Sale’s role whenever he is ready to return.
Enough steps remain before he is ready to contribute — and enough uncertainty exists about the state of the rest of the Red Sox rotation, with both Nate Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock now on the injured list — that such a decision is likely premature. Refsnyder chips in
Rob Refsnyder has played five games in two stints for the Sox this season. He’s had two doubles, a single, two runs, two walks, an RBI, and one of the best catches of the season.
He’s also twice been hit by a pitch and the Sox have won three of the four games he’s started.
In a 2-0 game on Sunday, Refsnyder robbed Seattle’s Ty France of at least a double with a diving catch in right field.
“I just try and be a small piece of the puzzle,” Refsynder said. “[Cora] put me in some pretty good spots. Just trying to get on base for the big guys.”
Refsynder, 31, was in the Yankees organization from 2012-17. He has since been with, in order, the Blue Jays, Guardians, Rays, Diamondbacks, Reds, Rangers, Twins, and now the Sox. Follow the leader
Through Sunday Rafael Devers led the majors in hits (83) and extra-base hits (38). He was second in at-bats (248) and total bases (150), third in batting average (.335), and fourth in runs (47) … The Athletics arrive at Fenway for a three-game series starting Tuesday. Their scheduled starter is 28-year-old rookie lefthander Jared Koenig, who was signed out of an independent league in 2020. He faced the Braves on Wednesday and allowed four runs over five innings in a 13-2 loss. The Sox are starting Nick Pivetta, who beat the Athletics in Oakland on June 4, going seven scoreless innings.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 3:50:32 GMT -5
A's at Red Sox Tuesday, at 7:10 PM EST Clear According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 75° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 13:20:41 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 3h Sox back at Fenway tonight for the start of a long homestand. Bogaerts has hit 5 of his 6 homers at Fenway, and him finding his power stroke would be huge for both the Sox and his contract drive.
His isolated power trend: .234 -> .246 -> .202 -> .198 -> .158
League avg: .150
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 13:27:26 GMT -5
Game 62: Athletics at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 14, 2022, 2 hours ago After a day off following an 8-2 road trip out West, the Red Sox return to Fenway for a nine-game homestand, beginning Tuesday with a three-game series against the Oakland A’s, followed by a pair of three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. Nick Pivetta will be on the mound for the Sox Tuesday. Here is a preview. Lineups ATHLETICS (21-41): 1. Tony Kemp (L) 2B 2. Ramon Laureano (R) CF 3. Christian Bethancourt (R) 1B 4. Seth Brown (L) LF 5. Chad Pinder (R) RF 6. Elvis Andrus (R) SS 7. Stephen Vogt (L) DH 8. Sean Murphy (R) C 9. Jonah Bride (R) 3B Pitching: LHP Jared Koenig (0-1, 9.00 ERA) RED SOX (32-29): 1. Rob Refsnyder (R) CF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Trevor Story (R) 2B 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Christian Vazquez (R) C 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Christian Arroyo (R) RF Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (5-5, 3.78 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Athletics vs. Pivetta: Elvis Andrus 1-8, Luis Barrera 0-2, Seth Brown 0-6, Tony Kemp 1-6, Ramón Laureano 1-5, Jed Lowrie 0-6, Sean Murphy 0-3, Cristian Pache 0-1, Chad Pinder 0-4, Stephen Vogt 1-1 Red Sox vs. Koenig: Has not faced any Boston batters Stat of the day: The Sox are 9-2 in their last 11 games and an MLB-best 18-7 in their last 25. Notes: Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is hitting .335 with 23 doubles, 14 homers, and 35 RBIs. He drove in nine runs on the West Coast road trip. … Pivetta is 5-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his past seven starts. Pivetta has pitched seven shutout innings in each of his two starts against Oakland. He struck out seven and allowed just two hits during Boston’s 8-0 win June 4. … Koenig allowed four earned runs in four innings while making his MLB debut last Wednesday in Atlanta in a 13-2 loss. … The eight wins were the most for the Red Sox on a road trip since 2017 and marked their best West Coast swing since an 8-3 trip in 1995. … The Sox are 7-1-2 in their last 10 series. … During their West Coast trip, the Sox posted four shutouts and a 2.31 ERA. Song of the Day: Def Leppard- Pour Some Sugar on Mewww.youtube.com/watch?v=0UIB9Y4OFPs
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 16:41:32 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h Red Sox will name Wednesday starter based on how things go today. Could be a bullpen day or someone from Worcester. Cora said Brayan Bello probably not an option. Sounds like Winckowski is.
Rich Hill pitches Thursday.
Cora says the Sox hope to have Hernández, Whitlock and Eovaldi back as soon as their IL stints are done. Sale is with the team here. So is Paxton. Barnes remains in Fort Myers.
Red Sox rotation through the next two series:
Tue: Pivetta Wed: TBA Thu: Hill
Fri: Wacha Sat: Crawford Sun: Pivetta
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 16:48:58 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1h Cora described Trevor Story as “becoming a force” defensively at 2B. Talked at length about @markasimonsays article on Red Sox IF transformation. “It feels different this year.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 16:57:00 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey 34m Injured player updates -Sale threw a live BP Monday and is doing well today. He'll throw another Thursday. -On Wednesday, Josh Taylor has a live BP and James Paxton has a bullpen -Barnes is playing catch but no bullpens yet
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 16:59:05 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h Pivetta's curveball
Started the year: 13 for 32, 2 HR, 7 K, .406 BA, .625 SLG, 23% Whiff
and since: 5 for 37, 17 K, .135 BA, .216 SLG, 30% Whiff
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 18:17:16 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 2m Cordero is in right field to start the game, not Arroyo.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2022 18:27:07 GMT -5
Did not know that it was Dress Like a Seat night.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 14, 2022 19:22:44 GMT -5
Did not know that it was Dress Like a Seat night. Can't really tell about the upstairs seats out in LF, but it looks like a decent crowd. Tuesday night against Oakland might not be the best draw.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 14, 2022 19:24:22 GMT -5
Someone has to tell Dalbec that he can't walk away from the plate on that 0-2 count. It was probably a strike, but if you just walk away, there is a -0- chance you get the doubt from the ump. If you act like it was a ball, maybe he gives it to you.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 15, 2022 2:57:16 GMT -5
Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez homer as Boston Red Sox beat Athletics, 6-1; Nick Pivetta dominates for 8 innings Updated: Jun. 14, 2022, 11:08 p.m. | Published: Jun. 14, 2022, 9:56 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Just 10 days ago, Nick Pivetta shut out the Athletics for seven innings. On Tuesday night, he almost did one better.
Pivetta allowed just a single run in eight innings as the Red Sox beat Oakland, 6-1, behind big home runs from Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez. Boston won its 10th game in 12 tries and improved to 33-29.
As Pivetta cruised early (he faced the minimum through three innings), Boston got on the board with runs in each of the first three innings. Xander Bogaerts opened the scoring with a broken-bat RBI single off Austin Koenig in the first, then Rob Refsnyder made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second. In the third, Martinez’s third homer in four games gave Boston a three-run advantage.
The Red Sox broke things open in the fourth. After Franchy Cordero and Refsnyder led off the frame with singles, Devers hit a mammoth, 439-foot blast into right-center field. The third baseman’s 15th homer of the season had an exit velocity of 107.3 mph.
Stephen Vogt did Oakland’s only damage of the night with a solo shot off Pivetta to lead off the ninth.
Pivetta, who is 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA in his last eight starts, pitched past the fifth inning for the eighth straight time. He went eight innings, allowing a single run on three hits while striking out three batters. Pivetta threw 100 pitches before Phillips Valdez relieved him for the ninth.
Pivetta has lowered his ERA from 7.84 to 3.50 in his last eight outings. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
Arroyo scratched
Christian Arroyo was in the original lineup as the right fielder, batting ninth. But when the game started, it was Cordero -- and not Arroyo -- who took the field for Boston. The Red Sox announced Arroyo was scratched with an illness. It’s unknown if it’s COVID-related.
Refsnyder has 3 hits
Refsnyder, who led off and started in center, continued to make the most of his opportunity with the Red Sox. He went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI while making an impressive catch in the outfield. Xander Bogaerts (2-for-2) was the only other Sox starter with multiple hits.
Red Sox look to keep it rolling Wednesday
Righty Josh Winckowski (0-1, 12.00 ERA) will make his second career start for the Red Sox on Wednesday night. Righty James Kaprielian (0-3, 5.73 ERA) will be on the mound for the A’s. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET
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