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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 29, 2022 20:13:22 GMT -5
Not the word I used to describe it Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Interesting that Story, who hit a homer last night, is out of the lineup. What does he think? That managers change the players' days off based on the result from the previous game? He's had one game off in about the last month. So Cora gives him a day off, as he often does on the turf in TO. These things are probably planned weeks in advance.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 29, 2022 20:46:03 GMT -5
Last night's loss was crushing, to say the least. This is the exact situation that I was hoping we could avoid, because I knew there would be many tweets like this.
I still don't blame Houck. I wish he were vaccinated, but I'm not going to hold it against him that he's not.
I am a huge Bloom fan, but if anything, this is a testament to the lack of bullpen depth if the Sox cannot survive a series without their closer. Yes, I understand that in this case it was avoidable, but that's beside the point.
I am just irked that we can't beat the Blue Jays. There was never going to be an easy answer, but I was hoping to see Schreiber in the 9th. I can't argue against using him against Vlad, Hernandez & Gurriel, but I also don't like out 9th inning options. And here we are again. Used Schreiber in the 7th to good effect. I'm about 'okay' with Brasier, just barely, in the 8th. But now who in the 9th?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 1:33:14 GMT -5
Not the word I used to describe it Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Interesting that Story, who hit a homer last night, is out of the lineup. What does he think? That managers change the players' days off based on the result from the previous game? He's had one game off in about the last month. So Cora gives him a day off, as he often does on the turf in TO. These things are probably planned weeks in advance. christ, he should know that all the line up questions should be directed to analytic team
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 1:34:20 GMT -5
There was never going to be an easy answer, but I was hoping to see Schreiber in the 9th. I can't argue against using him against Vlad, Hernandez & Gurriel, but I also don't like out 9th inning options. And here we are again. Used Schreiber in the 7th to good effect. I'm about 'okay' with Brasier, just barely, in the 8th. But now who in the 9th? a win in spite of the Gas Can Gang this falls at the feet of Bloom and has all year
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 1:34:45 GMT -5
Red Sox, Blue Jays benches clear after Nick Pivetta hits Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. takes issue Updated: Jun. 29, 2022, 8:57 p.m. | Published: Jun. 29, 2022, 8:55 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
TORONTO — For the first time in a few years, the Red Sox were involved in a benches-clearing altercation Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.
With two outs and a runner on first base in the third, Sox starter Nick Pivetta hit Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk in the forearm with a 94 mph first-pitch fastball. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo came out to check on Kirk, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came out of Toronto’s dugout with his hands raised, questioning Pivetta’s intent. Pivetta screamed in Guerrero’s direction that he wasn’t trying to hit Kirk, then (not so politely) told Guerrero to be quiet. Guerrero charged toward the mound as Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers went toward him to tell him to go back in the dugout. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
From there, the benches cleared as the umpiring crew tries to keep the teams away from each other. George Springer held Guerrero back while Franchy Cordero and Christian Vázquez worked to calm Pivetta down. There was lots of jawing but not much physical action. The bullpens even jogged in to join in on the fun.
Click here to view the full video of the incident from Sportsnet.
Warnings were issued to both teams, so any further hit-by-pitches in Wednesday’s game could result in an ejection. Toronto leads, 2-1, in the sixth inning.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 1:35:43 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo’s big night leads Boston Red Sox to dramatic 6-5 win over Blue Jays in extras; Matt Strahm gets final 6 outs Updated: Jun. 29, 2022, 11:04 p.m. | Published: Jun. 29, 2022, 11:03 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
TORONTO -- For the Red Sox, it was almost déjà vu all over again Wednesday night in Toronto. Alex Verdugo had other thoughts.
Verdugo hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth and added a two-run double in the 10th inning as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays, 6-5, in extra innings and avoided a three-game sweep. Boston almost squandered a three-run lead in the 10th -- Toronto scored twice -- but Matt Strahm got George Springer to pop out with two runners in scoring position to end the game.
Boston’s Tanner Houck-less bullpen couldn’t hold on to a late one-run lead for the second straight night but the Sox still eeked out a win and improved to 43-33 thanks to a three-run 10th inning on a wacky night that included a benches-clearing altercation and both big swings and bullpen meltdowns by both teams.
After Verdugo’s go-ahead homer off Jays starter Alek Manoah in the sixth, Toronto came back and tied the game when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Raimel Tapia hit back-to-back doubles in off Ryan Brasier in the eighth. Both teams had chances to score in the ninth but failed to scratch across runs. Toronto reliever David Phelps issued back-to-back walks to start the 10th before Tim Mayza hit J.D. Martinez with a pitch and forced in the go-ahead run. With two outs, Verdugo lined a two-run double into left field to give the Sox a three-run lead.
Strahm, who wasn’t used in Tuesday’s disastrous loss, got the win, striking out three while allowing two runs in two inning. With the win, the Red Sox overtook the Jays in the standings and now hold second place in the AL East by a half-game.
Toronto opened the scoring in the second when former Red Sox farmhand Santiago Espinal drove in Alejandro Kirk with an RBI single. In the third, after Franchy Cordero bunted for a base hit, a Rob Refsnyder sacrifice fly tied the game, 1-1.
Tensions between the division rivals then came to a head in the fourth, when Pivetta hitting Kirk with a first-pitch fastball led to a benches-clearing altercation. After Kirk took the 94 mph pitch off the forearm, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. emerged from Toronto’s dugout to question Pivetta’s intent and Pivetta snapped back at him. Rafael Devers walked toward Toronto’s side of the field and both dugouts (and bullpens emptied), though there wasn’t much in the way of pushing and shoving.
The third-inning kerfuffle led to drama later in the game. After George Springer put Toronto up, 2-1, with a solo shot off Pivetta in the fifth, Verdugo blasted a two-run homer to give the Red Sox the lead in the sixth. Verdugo, ever the showman, took his time rounding the bases and even stared into the Jays’ dugout as he rounded third base.
Pivetta tossed 6+ innings, allowing two runs on five hits while recording five strikeouts. Manoah lasted seven frames, striking out six while allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
Rare trip to Wrigley up next
The Red Sox are off Thursday before starting their first series at Wrigley Field in 10 years on Friday afternoon. Here’s how they’ll match up with the Cubs:
Friday, 2:20 p.m. ET -- LHP Rich Hill (4-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. TBA
Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET -- RHP Josh Winckowski (3-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. TBA
Sunday, 2:20 p.m. ET -- TBD (likely RHP Connor Seabold) vs. TBA
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:08:29 GMT -5
Plenty of fight left in Sox for 20-win June Verdugo's clutch hits, Strahm's gritty relief work foil Blue Jays in finale 3:05 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
TORONTO -- The beauty of baseball is that an agonizing loss one night can be avenged with a thoroughly-satisfying win the next.
And for the Red Sox, a 6-5, nail-biting victory over the Blue Jays in 10 innings on Wednesday was the definition of a grind-it-out performance on the heels of a crushing defeat.
“I think that’s the biggest thing is we showed fight in the game. Bullpen did a tremendous job,” said red-hot righty Nick Pivetta, who fired six-plus strong innings. “We showed fight the entire way through and it was just an all-around, good team win.”
There was a point when it seemed like the series finale was going to be another heartbreaker, especially when Ryan Brasier surrendered the lead for Boston’s 16th blown save of the season in the bottom of the eighth.
But the Red Sox didn’t buckle. And neither did reliever Matt Strahm.
After the lanky lefty issued a leadoff walk to George Springer in the bottom of the ninth, he had to deal with Toronto’s fearsome 2-3-4 combo of Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk.
Any one of those dangerous hitters could have given the Blue Jays a walk-off win and sent the Sox to their off-day in Chicago looking back at an unsettling sweep. Instead, Strahm struck out Bichette and Guerrero, and everyone on the Red Sox exhaled when Kirk belted one to the warning track in right and into Rob Refsnyder’s glove.
“Strahmy, he was well-rested,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s pushing to the limit and he made some pitches.”
Of course, Strahm’s stellar effort in the ninth might not have mattered if not for the hitting heroics of Alex Verdugo. The fiery left fielder mauled a two-run homer against Blue Jays phenom Alek Manoah in the sixth to give Pivetta and the Red Sox the lead.
And in the 10th, after J.D. Martinez was hit in the back with the bases loaded to put Boston on top again, Verdugo added what wound up the biggest hit of the game, a two-out, two-run double to the gap in left-center that gave Strahm some insurance.
“It’s huge,” Verdugo said. “You see how it played out in the [bottom of the] 10th.”
Playing this three-game series in Toronto without Tanner Houck, who was on the restricted list due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19, Boston’s bullpen had one last heart-pounding adventure in the 10th.
The Jays did what they do and kept battling on offense and Strahm -- who threw a season-high of 41 pitches -- looked to be on fumes. He let three straight batters reach after being one out away from the win. Strahm at last got Springer on a popup, leaving the potential tying and go-ahead runs on second and third.
Despite the chaotic scene around him, there was no panic in Strahm.
“Just get that last out. If it would have taken 60 pitches or whatever it is, I was just out there to get that last out,” he said.
Though the Red Sox have mostly been on a roll for the last six weeks, going 33-13 since May 10, the one thing they haven’t done yet is play well against American League East foes.
That trend continued when Boston came to Toronto with a 19-4 record in June, only to lose the first two games of this series. On the strength of their getaway night victory, the Sox improved to 8-16 in divisional play this season.
“It was one of those things where we’re happy to get the ‘W’, avoid the sweep and get one of three,” Verdugo said. “In our minds we should have won two of three. We had a good game yesterday. Didn’t have one of our guys to close it out or whatever it may be. But to pull this one out is huge.”
In a way, this game belonged to Pivetta, who was able to go toe-to-toe against Manoah.
“It was a really big game for me,” Pivetta said. “I wanted to beat these guys. They’re a really good baseball club and they do the right things every single day. They’re really good, [1 through 9]. They have a really good approach, really good hitters. They always go to battle. They battled tonight and we did better.
“What really shows is that last night was last night, but we were able to move on and get a win here tonight which was really important.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:09:57 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Whitlock could move back to 'pen June 29th, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
June 29: RHP Garrett Whitlock could move back to bullpen Whitlock took another key step toward returning from a right hip injury with his second bullpen session in three days prior to Wednesday's game in Toronto. While Whitlock had been used exclusively as a starter from April 23-June 7, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said it's possible the righty will go back to a relief role when he is activated.
Whitlock will throw off the mound again on Saturday at Wrigley Field, while also doing some PFP. Whitlock could go on a Minor League rehab assignment as early next week, and that could certainly be shorter if he is pitching in the bullpen.
"We’re talking about it," Cora said. "Obviously health is the most important thing. We’ll see how it goes on [Saturday], which is the next one. He threw the ball well and now it’s a meeting of the minds with [chief baseball officer] Chaim [Bloom] and [trainer] Brad [Pearson] and everybody, and we'll see how we feel about him starting or him coming out of the bullpen. It’s more actually about the player. The most important thing is to have him out there healthy. We’ll see." -- Ian Browne
June 29: RHP Nathan Eovaldi throws bullpen session at Fenway For the first time since he went on the injured list three weeks ago, Eovaldi threw off the mound on Wednesday. The session took place at Fenway Park. Boston's ace has been sidelined with low back inflammation.
LHP Josh Taylor (lower back strain) Expected return: July Taylor completed a key step towards a return to action when he pitched on back-to-back days for Double-A Portland on June 28-29. After giving up three hits, including a homer, in his appearance in the first outing, Taylor bounced back with a scoreless inning the next day. It has been a long climb back for the lefty, who hasn't pitched in the Majors this season due to his balky back. Taylor was dominant against lefties for the Red Sox in 2021. -- Ian Browne (Last updated: June 29)
"Twenty-eight pitches," manager Alex Cora said. "He felt good. Fastball, split. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and we’ll plan for the weekend. But nothing yet. He still has to get through the process." -- Ian Browne
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:11:05 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h
Red Sox are 43-33. Felt like they really needed that one after Tuesday's mess.
Gritty from Nick Pivetta and Matt Strahm carrying the load on the mound. Alex Verdugo was clutch at the plate.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:15:14 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 4h The #RedSox have mostly reverted to their early season form in Toronto, so it's only natural Alex Verdugo would save the day offensively.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:17:41 GMT -5
Red Sox have bounced back recently, now they just have to figure out the American League East By Dan Shaughnessy Globe Staff,Updated June 29, 2022, 9:35 p.m.
The Red Sox started this kooky season 11-20 before bouncing back against a conga line of baseball bums from Oakland, Seattle, and Detroit. The Sox also managed to take two of three from the estimable Cardinals, then swept the better-than-average Guardians last weekend, giving them seven straight wins and 11 of 13. They turned a horrible start into a legit wild-card candidacy.
Now if they can just figure out the American League East.
In a wild game that somehow typifies this strange season, the Red Sox outlasted the Blue Jays, 6-5, in 10 innings Wednesday night at Rogers Centre. It never felt secure and wasn’t sealed until lefthander Matt Strahm — who staggered through the bottom of the 10th — retired George Springer on a popup into short center field with the tying and winning runs on third and second.
Yeesh.
Man, are these guys glad to be out of Canada.
Must have been quite a scene when the Red Sox crossed the border back into the US.
“Anything to declare?”
“Yes. We can’t seem to beat anybody in our division but are glad to be playing the Cubs this weekend.”
“It seems like the last 10 games here have been close until the end,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “But finally, we got one.”
Beating AL East teams has been Kilimanjaro for Boston this season. The Sox are 8-16 against division rivals, 3-7 against the Blue Jays. The Sox have played seven series against AL East teams and lost all seven.
Division games mean something. In 2021, the Sox, Yankees, and Jays finished within one game of each other. Boston and New York made the postseason. Toronto did not.
The Blue Jays series finale felt like a rare “must-win” in June, especially after the way the Sox coughed up a ninth-inning lead on Tuesday. That one was an especially demoralizing defeat, owed largely to the selfishness of closer Tanner Houck (6 for 6 in save opportunities), who has chosen not to be vaccinated and was home in the Hub when Boston’s bullpen could not record a single out in the ninth.
Generally affable Cora was downright McNamara-esque after that one. The skipper was in no mood to take questions about his personal freedom fighters and his deployment of a anti-vax-weakened bullpen.
Cora was in a better mood Wednesday and had (what seemed like) some good news on Boston’s never-ending vaccination debacle.
When asked about losing Tuesday because he didn’t have Houck, Cora echoed the player-friendly, non-confrontational Sox mantra, saying, “I respect their decisions,” then pivoted to the time-tested, “It is what it is, and we’re going to keep moving forward.”
The manager indicated things may change by the time the Sox play in Toronto again on the final weekend of the season. Related: Alex Cora and the Red Sox are consistent in their ‘respect’ for unvaccinated players’ decisions, but the consequences are tangible now
“I do believe for September, it’s going to change, from our end,” said Cora. “Let’s leave it at that. I bet you a dollar it’s going to change.”
Presumably, that means that some of the intransigents have agreed to get the shot. Either that, or the Sox are going to trade and/or demote their anti-vaxxers.
The series finale certainly gives the Sox something to build on. They got another nice start from Nick Pivetta, and all of Pivetta’s teammates came out of the dugout to support him when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a problem after Pivetta hit Alejandro Kirk in the third inning. They got a four-hit game from the immortal Franchy Cordero. All in all, a great night for the Chaim Bloom All-Stars.
The Sox came back from a 2-1 deficit on Alex Verdugo’s two-run homer in the sixth, then recovered from an eighth-inning blown save by head-tilting Ryan Brasier. There was a sense of “here we go again” when Strahm came on to hold a 3-3 game in the ninth, but the long-haired lefty (41 pitches in two innings) got the job done.
Then came the 10th. After Verdugo’s two-run double gave Boston a 6-3 lead, we figured three runs might be enough for Raging Bullpen.
Barely. Strahm was twice one strike away but couldn’t close it out. Cavan Biggio’s two-out double cut it to 6-5 and put runners on second and third, before Strahm retired Springer.
Exhale.
After the weekend layup against the tanking Cubs, the Sox go back to work with 17 consecutive games against the Rays, Jays, and (gulp) Yankees.
Strap yourselves in.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:19:56 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Alex Cora suggests more players will be vaccinated when Red Sox return to Toronto in September By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated June 29, 2022, 8:13 p.m.
TORONTO — Absences defined much of the Red Sox’ three-game series in Toronto this week. With both outfielder Jarren Duran and closer Tanner Houck on the restricted list because of their unvaccinated status that prevented them from traveling to Toronto, the Sox spent much of their three days discussing the players who weren’t there.
It is a conversation that the team hopes to change with its next visit to Toronto in September. While manager Alex Cora and the Red Sox have been consistent in suggesting that they “respect [the players’] decisions,” the manager said that he and team officials have not stopped discussing the merits of vaccination with their players.
Indeed, Cora suggested strongly that he expects one or more players who are currently unavailable to play in Toronto — a group that certainly includes Houck and Duran, both on the restricted list due to their unvaccinated status, and potentially Chris Sale (who said in March that he had not been vaccinated) and Kutter Crawford (placed on the restricted list when the Sox traveled to Toronto in April) — to be available when the Sox return to Toronto for the final weekend of the regular season and potentially the playoffs.
“I do believe when we come to [Toronto in] September, it’s going to be different,” said Cora. “Let’s leave it at that. I bet you a dollar it’s going to change.”
Houck and Duran worked out at Fenway on Wednesday and are scheduled to rejoin the team in Chicago for the weekend series against the Cubs that starts on Friday.
In the more immediate term, Cora said prior to Wednesday’s game that he would not dwell on the potential consequences of the players who were and were not available to him in Canada due to their vaccination status.
“I don’t get into that,” he said. “I respect [the players’] decisions. At the end of the day, the [Blue Jays] are a great example. They didn’t make excuses last year when they played in Dunedin, Buffalo and Toronto. I’m not going to make excuses. You give me 26, we’ll do our best to get 27 outs and win. It’s not perfect, and we all know that. At the end of the day, it is what it is and we’re going to keep moving forward.”
No lock to start
Righthander Garrett Whitock, dressed in full uniform, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday. He’ll throw another on Saturday in Chicago and also take part in fielding drills to test the hip injury that landed him on the injured list nearly three weeks ago.
Those steps suggest he’s getting closer to a return, but it’s no longer clear whether he’ll come back as a starter or reliever. Cora said that the team would have a “meeting of the minds” that includes coaches, front office members, and medical staff to determine whether Whitlock’s health and availability will be better served starting or coming out of the bullpen. Cora also noted that while Whitlock will likely need a rehab assignment to come back in either role, the righthander would be able to rejoin the staff more quickly as a reliever than as a starter.
“We’re talking about it,” said Cora. “The most important thing is to have him out there healthy. We’ll see.”
As has always been the case, Whitlock expressed no preference.
“Whatever can help the team this year and whatever they decide I need to do and whatever they think will help the team the most, I’m game for doing,” said Whitlock. “I’d rather have multiple roles than no role.”
While most pitchers wear a T-shirt for bullpen sessions, Whitlock said that he started throwing bullpens in full uniform this year after learning that Max Scherzer does so.
“I’m trying to make it as game-like as possible,” said Whitlock.
Nate Eovaldi threw a bullpen session at Fenway on Wednesday, his first since he landed on the injured list with a lower back injury on June 10. The Sox will reassess his next steps this weekend. Homer to Storyland
Lost in the shuffle of Tuesday’s dismal Red Sox loss was an extraordinary homer by Trevor Story – a low-altitude hypersonic rocket that left the bat at 113.4 miles per hour with a launch angle of just 17 degrees. A day later, members of the Sox, including Story, were still shaking their heads that a ball hit with such a low trajectory could clear the 10-foot fences at Rogers Centre. “It never crossed my mind that it could go out,” confessed Story. “I ran literally my hardest until second [base]. I still didn’t know that it really went out.” The homer, Story’s 12th of the season and 170th of his career, had both the highest exit velocity and lowest launch angle of any round-tripper of his career … Story was out of the Red Sox starting lineup on Wednesday with the team facing Toronto mountain Alek Manoah, who has been one of the most unhittable starters in baseball for righthanded hitters … Righthander Bryan Mata, who is continuing to build back from Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2021, worked at 95-98 m.p.h and touched 99 on Tuesday in his outing with Double A Portland, his first appearance in the upper levels of his rehab assignment.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 2:21:37 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Pivetta has several good qualities as a pitcher. Chief among them is he's one tough cookie. Just doesn't give in.
#RedSox 2x23 with RISP in this series, 0x8 tonight.
41 pitches over 2 IP for Strahm.
Previous high this season was 30 pitches.
Had not worked 2 IP since Aug. 10, 2020 for the Padres at the Dodgers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 7:02:20 GMT -5
Red Sox-Blue Jays altercation was ‘unwarranted,’ says Nick Pivetta: ‘I didn’t think it was necessary for (Vlad Jr.) to scream at me’ Updated: Jun. 30, 2022, 2:16 a.m. | Published: Jun. 30, 2022, 2:15 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
TORONTO -- When Red Sox starter -- and Canada native -- Nick Pivetta walked off the mound at Rogers Centre in the seventh inning Wednesday night, he was booed loudly by Blue Jays fans. Four innings after the benches cleared as the result of Pivetta hitting Alejandro Kirk with a pitch, Pivetta was still considered a villain in the minds of the 27,601 in attendance in downtown Toronto.
“I thought it was interesting. It is what it is,” Pivetta said. “I hit their best hitter.” Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
In Pivetta’s mind, the fact there was any kind of incident was mind-boggling. With one out in the third and the score tied, 1-1, Pivetta tried to go up and in on the hot-hitting Kirk with a first-pitch fastball and ended up hitting him in the forearm. As Pivetta walked off the mound, some Blue Jays -- including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- started yelling at him from the dugout. Guerrero came up the dugout steps and players poured out from both dugouts before the umpiring crew diffused the situation.
“For me, Kirk’s a good hitter,” Pivetta said. “He has been hitting balls over the plate. I’m trying to throw them in. It’s going to happen in the game. I don’t hit a lot of guys.
“I think it’s unwarranted with the way they reacted,” he continued. “I think it’s spare parts, for lack of a better term. It’s not what I’m trying to do in that situation. I’m trying to win a baseball game. I’m not trying to let anyone else on base. It is what it is.”
TV cameras caught Pivetta yelling toward Guerrero that he wasn’t trying to hit Kirk and then -- in profane terms -- telling the young Jays superstar to shut up. Franchy Cordero and Christian Vázquez worked to hold Pivetta back while George Springer and other Blue Jays tried to calm Guerrero. Rafael Devers walked toward Toronto’s dugout from his spot at third base.
“I don’t know. He was yelling at me,” Pivetta said. “I didn’t think it was necessary for him to come out and start screaming at me. It got me fired up (Vázquez) got fired up. That’s about it.”
Though the dugouts and bullpens both emptied and the teams got together along the third base line, there was minimal physical contact and no punches were thrown. There were no ejections or warnings and tensions did not reignite later in the game, which the Red Sox won, 6-5, in a dramatic 10th inning.
“I actually ran over there and was talking to Bo (Bichette) about it afterwards. I was like, ‘Bro, that was weird,’” said Alex Verdugo, who had four RBIs in the win. “I like a lot of those guys over there so it felt weird. By the time we got over there it was kind of de-escalated and basically used it to say ‘What’s up?’ to the bullpen, some guys on the bench. It was a little weird.”
Pivetta, who allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five batters in 6+ innings, did a good job collecting himself after the fracas. After pitching coach Dave Bush visited Pivetta on the mound, the righty walked Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to load the bases before battling back to strike out Raimel Tapia and end the inning.
“I was able to just kind of get composed once I was done with that inning and move on from there. It’s not an easy situation to be a part of,” Pivetta said.
The Red Sox were also able to regain their composure. After Ryan Brasier blew a lead in the eighth inning, Boston stormed back with three runs in the top of the 10th and held off Toronto’s rally in the bottom of the inning. Boston’s win avoided a sweep at the hands of a division rival.
“We’re going to be banging heads the rest of the season with those guys,” said manager Alex Cora. “Nothing intentional. It’s part of it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 7:03:31 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo says there’s ‘no bad blood’ with Blue Jays but still enjoyed big homer in Red Sox win: ‘I like the flare,’ says Nick Pivetta Published: Jun. 30, 2022, 2:42 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
TORONTO -- Alex Verdugo took his sweet time rounding the bases when he gave the Red Sox the lead with a two-run homer off Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah in the sixth inning Wednesday night. He might have even stared into Toronto’s dugout as he rounded third. But to hear Verdugo tell it, the benches-clearing kerfuffle between the teams three innings earlier had nothing to do with how he reacted. He was just happy to put the Red Sox on top.
“I don’t hit too many homers, so anytime I get one, a get-the-lead homer is big, so I definitely enjoyed myself running around the bases,” Verdugo said, adding that he has many friends in Toronto’s clubhouse.
On a dramatic night at Rogers Centre, Verdugo was the hero for the Red Sox. His sixth-inning homer put them ahead, 3-2. His two-run double in the 10th inning turned a 4-3 lead into a 6-3 lead. Considering the Jays scored twice off Matt Strahm in the bottom of the 10th, the insurance turned out to be mighty important in Boston’s 6-5 victory.
“It was huge,” Verdugo said. “You saw how it played out in the 10th. They got two runs right there so that swing proved to be the difference-maker.”
Against a Jays team that’s known for fun and flashiness, it was fitting that Boston’s most flashy player had a banner night. Verdugo said his role in the third-inning altercation -- which was spurred by Vlad Guerrero Jr. taking issue with Nick Pivetta hitting Alejandro Kirk with a pitch -- was to say “What’s up?” to some guys who ran in from the bullpen and some acquaintances with the Jays. And though the outfielder wouldn’t admit it, the heightened tensions must have made it even sweeter for him to have some big hits against a division rival. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
“Alek (Manoah) likes to enjoy strikeouts and being good so for Dugie to stripe one off of him in a really big situation in a big game, I like what I’m seeing,” said Pivetta. “I like the flare.”
Pivetta wasn’t alone. J.D. Martinez noted that teammates enjoy Verdugo’s homers because they never know what to expect when he’s rounding the bases or what he’ll say when he returns to the dugout. Wednesday’s homer -- Verdugo’s sixth of the season and second in five games -- was a no-doubter. It left the bat at 107 mph and traveled 399 feet.
“I feel locked in right now,” said Verdugo, who hit .337 with 10 extra-base hits in June. “I like where my head’s at, my swing. I like what I’m doing with the ball, going from the left-field line to the right-field line. I’m going to keep going with that approach, hitting the ball hard.”
Manager Alex Cora has enjoyed Verdugo’s surge after a brutal May during which the outfielder hit .219 with a .552 OPS.
“He’s making adjustments. He has been swinging the bat well the last few weeks,” Cora said. “But in Cleveland and here, he’s slowing down the at-bat and hitting the ball hard. We know this guy is a great hitter. He’s an old-school type hitter but at the same time he can catch up with the fastball. He put a great swing on it.”
Verdugo’s two big swings helped the Red Sox avoid their first sweep since early May. It also vaulted them back above the Blue Jays in the AL East standings.
“I think it’s definitely a good rivalry. For me, there’s no bad blood in there,” Verdugo said. “When we’re all competing, we just want to have that last hurrah. Like ‘Hey, bro, we got you today.’ That’s just the way I see it. You’ve got a lot of people I like over there. But this is a business, we’re playing a game. We’ve got to lock it in and get to where we need to be.”
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