Tigers @ Red Sox Game Threads/ 20th-22nd June 2022

RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Red Sox give Jeter Downs a debut surprise as he starts at third base, not shortstop
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 23, 2022, 2 hours ago

Xander Bogaerts originally had an off day for Wednesday’s series finale against the Tigers. The plan was for Jeter Downs to make his big league debut at shortstop in place of Bogaerts; Trevor Story, meanwhile, would remain at second. But Bogaerts doesn’t like missing games, especially at Fenway, so he pushed manager Alex Cora to play.

Cora and the Sox coaching staff finally gave in. The Sox penciled Bogaerts in at his usual position.

Rafael Devers had his own scheduled off day Wednesday, so the Sox shifted Downs over third base instead.

One small thing: Downs hasn’t played third since high school. Making your big league debut produces some jitters. Making your big league debut at a position you haven’t played since amateur ball? That’s another level of angst, or at least it should be. Prior to the first pitch, though, Downs played down that notion.



“I’m trying to think in my head that I’m at shortstop,” Downs said before the Sox’ 6-2 win against the Tigers Wednesday that sealed a series sweep at Fenway. “Catch it and throw it over to first or second.”

With fewer bunts in the game, you’re beginning to see many third basemen play deeper. That’s something the Sox allowed Downs to do so he could get some of the same shortstop feel.

“He’s a good defender, so we expect him to put him in the right place and make plays,” Cora said.
Related: Derek Jeter offers best wishes to his namesake, Jeter Downs ... most of the time

Andy Fox, the Sox’ major league field coordinator who works closely with the infielders, echoed Cora’s sentiments.

“He’s such a good athlete,” Fox said. “That’s going to take over instead of all the other stuff that comes with it, and we got him out there the last couple of days, so that should help.”

The ball didn’t waste any time finding Downs. With two outs in the first frame, Harold Castro hit a soft grounder toward Downs. He fielded it cleanly and threw it over to first, recording the first out of his big league career.


Downs went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts on the night. He converted two outs total at third. Despite the lost night at the plate, Downs called his debut the coolest moment of his life.

“I can’t believe it happened. I still can’t believe the game’s over. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted but oh well. We got the win and that’s the most important thing.”

Derek Jeter, who Downs is named after, congratulated Downs via Twitter. During the eighth inning, the Fenway crowd began chatting Downs’s name while he was at-bat.

“I had to step out and take a deep breath,” Downs said. “Never had something like that happened before.”
Hernández suffers setback

The Red Sox didn’t want to call it a setback just yet Tuesday. But after another day of still feeling some pain in his strained right hip flexor, Kiké Hernández is coming along slower than expected, Cora said Wednesday.

“We were hoping that today he was going to go out there and move around and swing the bat,” Cora said of Hernández. “But it hasn’t happened yet. So it slows him down. And now we just got to see what’s next.”
With Kiké Hernández on the shelf, Rob Refsnyder, left, is one player who will likely see more time. Refsnyder got a big hand from teammate Christian Vazquez after his fourth-inning homer Wednesday night.


The Sox hoped Hernández would be eligible to come off the 10-day IL once he was eligible, which would have been June 18. That, however, proved to be too optimistic and makes the Sox’ outfield situation a bit murky when the team goes to Toronto next week. Jarren Duran is unvaccinated against COVID-19, thus, he’s ineligible for that trip to Canada. That leaves the Sox without two outfielders, and though Christian Arroyo, who will likely rejoin the team for their upcoming road trip after his bout with COVID, has some experience in right field, putting him out there for the course of a series wouldn’t be ideal. That leaves the Sox choosing between Franchy Cordero and Rob Refsnyder at the position with Jackie Bradley Jr. in center.

Cora said even if Hernández progressed to a point in which he could play in Toronto, they don’t want to rush him.

“He needs at-bats at this point,” Cora said. So [returning without a rehab stint] is a non-negotiable. We need him right.”
On the mend

Josh Taylor (back) came out of Tuesday’s rehab game feeling good. He will pitch again Thursday. Arroyo played shortstop for the WooSox and could rejoin the team in Cleveland ... Former Sox pitcher Roger Clemens was on hand at Fenway to see his son, Tigers infielder Kody Clemens. The rookie did not start on Wednesday ... Bogaerts will get an off day in Cleveland, likely the first game Friday, Cora said ... The Sox will start Nick Pivetta, Josh Winckowski, and Rich Hill on the mound this weekend against the Guardians.

Red Sox notebook: Ryan Brasier finds relief in a second chance


By Rich Thompson | richard.thompson@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: June 22, 2022 at 7:59 p.m. | UPDATED: June 22, 2022 at 8:03 p.m.

Ryan Brasier is rapidly atoning for a bad start to the season.

Brasier has been one of the Red Sox most effective middle innings relief pitchers since being recalled from Triple-A Worcester on May 28.

A bad inning waiting to happen out of the bullpen in the opening weeks of the season, the right-hander began the campaign 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA and 10 runs allowed in 14 1/3 innings that included five home runs.

Those numbers compelled Red Sox manager Alex Cora to assign Brasier to Worcester. Brasier’s repentance in Triple A came at a juncture in the season where he had plenty of time to identify and remedy the problems.

“Some times when they kick your butt and you get demoted, you get something and you get going,” said Cora prior to Wednesday night’s series finale with the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. “I don’t believe that’s the case but maybe. Last year the same thing, a similar thing, happened although he didn’t pitch in Triple A. But when he came back, he was close to what we saw in ’18.

“This year he was getting hit hard and now he’s using his fastball a little bit different compared to a month ago. His slider is better and you can see the confidence.”

Brasier owns a 2.25 ERA in his last 10 appearances with three earned runs in 12 innings. Brasier has been good locating the strike zone with only one walk in his last 12 outings. In 11 outings at Fenway, Brasier has allowed four earned runs in 15 1/3 innings and a 2.38 ERA.

“It’s the early work and trying to get back into being who I am when I’m good and not being who I am when I’m bad,” said Brasier. “I’m trying to get my mechanics to be where I need them to be and let everything else to fall into place. It just took me a little bit to find my right stuff and luckily I found it sooner rather than later.”

Brasier did his longest stint of the season in Tuesday night’s 5-4 victory over the Tigers, equaling his career high with two scoreless innings against the Tigers.

He entered the game in the sixth and retired six of the seven batters he faced. Brasier has pitched two innings six times in his career and five of them have been scoreless. He has retired 19 of the last 21 batters he’s faced.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) was huge for us and for him to go two innings,” said Cora. “Especially now that the rules of the tournament have changed, we need guys who can do that on certain days, especially when we are short. That was good to see.”
Second Story

Trevor Story brings a shortstop’s athleticism to second base.

A shortstop in his six big league seasons with the Colorado Rockies, he shifted to second when he signed with Boston as a free agent on March 22.

Story has picked up the basics and the nuances of fielding second base, but Cora encouraged him to work the position in a manner that plays to his strengths with the glove. He is third in MLB with defensive runs saved with six.

“The first thing we told him is don’t think too much here, just be you,” said Cora. “If you have to throw off balance, throw off balance and if you want to underhand it, underhand it and just be an athlete. Get to the ball and throw it.

“Little by little you can see him make some adjustments and the way he moves is impressive. I’ve seen a lot of good second basemen but this guy, I do believe he is going to win the gold glove this year. For me, he is the best defensive second baseman in the game.”

For the record, Cora said that Robbie Alomar was the best fielding second baseman he ever saw.

Kiké not ready

Red Sox center fielder and leadoff hitter Kiké Hernandez remains out with a hip flexor strain and is unlikely make the trip to Cleveland. Hernandez was placed on the 10-day injured list back on June 8.

Cora is hopeful he will be back in the lineup for the Red Sox three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning on Monday night at the Rogers Centre.