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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 20:10:58 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Cubs Friday, 1rst July 2022 220pm @ Wrigley Field
Hill 4-4/ 4.09
Sampson 0-0/1.69
Boston Red Sox vs.Chicago Cubs Friday, July 1, 2022 at 2:20pm EDT Written by Chris King
A pair of storied franchises open up a weekend interleague series on the diamond on the north side of the Windy City. The Boston Red Sox are on the road as they kick off a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs Friday afternoon. Boston salvaged the finale of their three-game set north of the border against the Blue Jays as they scratched out a 6-5 win in 10 innings Wednesday night. Chicago closed a three-game set at home with the Reds Thursday night looking to secure a series win. The Cubs evened the series with an 8-3 victory over Cincinnati Wednesday night. These are the first meetings between the teams since April 28-30, 2017. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the Cubs’ contest Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
Boston Red Sox Looking to Get Rolling Again Boston snapped a two-game slide as they earned their eighth win in the last 10 games by taking care of business against the Blue Jays in extra innings Wednesday night. The Red Sox entered Thursday second in the AL East race, 13 games behind the Yankees for the division’s top spot. On Wednesday, Franchy Cordero (run) had four of the team’s eight hits while Alex Verdugo (run, four RBI) added a pair in the contest. Verdugo hit his sixth homer of the season in the contest for the Red Sox in the win. Nick Pivetta didn’t record a decision in the contest as he threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Matt Strahm (3-2) earned the win in relief despite allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts over two innings of work.
Rich Hill is on the hill as he makes his 15th start of the season for the Red Sox in this contest. He comes in 4-4 with a 4.09 ERA, a 1.273 WHIP, 19 walks and 55 strikeouts over 66 innings of work this season. Hill earned the win in his previous start, which came Sunday on the road against Cleveland. He threw six innings, allowing one run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts in a game the Red Sox won by an 8-3 count. In his last three starts, Hill is 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, six walks and 15 strikeouts over 16.2 innings of work. Hill makes his 5th career appearance and fourth start against the Cubs in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA, a 0.871 WHIP, four walks and 20 strikeouts over 20.2 innings against them. Hill is 11-6 with a 3.71 ERA, a 1.217 WHIP, 73 walks and 168 strikeouts over 189 innings in 34 career appearances, 31 starts, at Wrigley Field.
Chicago Cubs Try to Earn Home Victory Chicago evened their series with the Reds as they rolled to a win on Wednesday night, giving them a shot at a series victory Thursday night. The Cubs entered Thursday night fourth in the NL Central, 14 games behind the Brewers for the top spot in the division. On Wednesday night, Chicago got three hits from Willson Contreras (two runs, two RBI) while Christopher Morel (two runs, two RBI) added a pair in the game. Contreras (his 13th) and Morel (his sixth) each went deep in the victory for the Cubs. Justin Steele (3-5) earned the win as he threw five innings, allowing one run on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts before turning things over to the bullpen.
It's unclear who the Cubs will send out for this one with Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley and Drew Smyly on the shelf though the expectation is that Adrian Sampson gets the call for his fourth appearance and seconds start of the year. He comes in with no record, a 1.69 ERA, a 0.844 WHIP, two walks and 10 strikeouts over 10.2 innings of work. Sampson didn’t factor in the decision in his last outing, which was a start on the road against the Cardinals Saturday. He threw five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a game the Cubs eventually dropped 5-3. Sampson makes his third career start against the Red Sox in this contest. He comes 0-1 with a 9.31 ERA, a 1.759 WHIP, two walks and seven strikeouts over 9.2 innings of work against them. Sampson is 0-1 with a 1.57 ERA, a 0.739 WHIP, two walks and 20 strikeouts over 23 innings in seven career appearances, two starts, at Wrigley Field.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 30, 2022 20:12:44 GMT -5
SP Probables
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 Jul 1, 2022 3:38:04 GMT -5
Red Sox make long-awaited return to Wrigley June 30th, 2022 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
This story was excerpted from Ian Browne's Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
When the Red Sox start a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday, it will mark the first time they’ve played the Cubs on the road since 2012.
Wrigley is a treasure, just like Fenway Park. I can’t help but think of my first trip to Wrigley back in April of 1986. I was in the eighth grade and was in Chicago for school vacation week with a friend. It was a Sunday afternoon and the Bulls happened to be at Boston Garden that day playing the Celtics in a game you might have heard about. Yes, that was the day Michael Jordan scored 63 points in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series. And the Celtics won the game. I must admit, I spent a good portion of the baseball game in the bowels of Wrigley watching the captivating basketball game on a television near the concession stands.
And the baseball game? I have a “Wrigley” story about this. The game was suspended in the top of the 14th inning due to darkness with the Cubs and Pirates locked in an 8-8 tie. I did not make it back to Chicago for the resumption on Aug. 11. By the way, the Pirates won, 10-8, in 17 innings. I remember that Dennis Eckersley, one of my favorites when he pitched for the Red Sox, started for the Cubs and gave up six runs in six innings. Terry Francona also went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter.
I look forward to going back to Wrigley this weekend for the first time since I saw Billy Joel perform there in 2015. And thanks to those lights that were installed in 1988, I shouldn’t have to worry about any suspended games this time around. This will be the third time I’ve covered a series at Wrigley.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 3:39:10 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Houck, Duran re-join Sox at Wrigley June 30th, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
June 30: RHP Tanner Houck and OF Jarren Duran reinstated from restricted list; Infielder Yolmer Sánchez and RHP Silvino Bracho designated for assignment For their weekend series against the Cubs beginning Friday, the Red Sox get two key players back in closer Houck and leadoff man Duran. Both players missed the three-game series in Toronto due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Houck has six saves, a 3.42 ERA (18 ER/47.1 IP), a .238 opponent batting average and 47 strikeouts in 22 outings (four starts) for the Red Sox this season. Over his last 14 appearances, the right-hander has a 0.87 ERA (2 ER/20.2 IP) with 24 strikeouts and four walks. Duran is hitting .327 (17-for-52) with an .886 OPS, nine runs scored, five doubles, two triples and four stolen bases in 13 games for Boston this season. He has batted leadoff in each of his 13 games, making 11 starts in center field, one in right field and one at designated hitter. -- Ian Browne
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 3:40:10 GMT -5
Red Sox on roll entering series against Cubs FLM
A historically successful month of June has the Boston Red Sox taking some momentum into July.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs also aim to build on a solid finish to the month when they welcome the Red Sox back to Wrigley Field for the first time since 2012 on Friday.
Boston lost on the final two days of May to sit 23-27, then went 20-6 in June to turn things around and contend for a postseason spot.
During June, the Red Sox posted a plus-44 run differential and hit 24 homers. Their starters had a 2.91 ERA while recording the franchise's highest winning percentage (.769) for a month (at least 25 games) since also going 20-6 in July 2011.
Boston avoided a sweep at Toronto by winning 6-5 in 10 innings on Wednesday and now opens July with the franchise's fourth-ever trip to Wrigley.
Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo homered on Wednesday and is batting .410 (16-for-39) with two home runs and 10 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak. He owns a.312 average in 50 career interleague games.
"I'm feeling locked in right now," Verdugo told NBC Sports Boston. "I like where my head's at, my swing, what I'm doing with the ball. I'm just going to keep that approach."
Scheduled Red Sox starter Rich Hill (4-4. 4.09 ERA), a 42-year-old ex-Cub, played a significant part during his team's June success by going 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts. The left-hander overcame five hits and four walks to yield a run over six innings of an 8-3 victory at Cleveland on Sunday.
Hill, 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in eight 2022 road starts, spent his first four major league seasons with the Cubs (2005-08). He last faced them in September 2020 with the Minnesota Twins, when he allowed a run and three hits over seven innings of a 1-0 loss.
Chicago star Willson Contreras is 4-for-8 with a double against Hill. Meanwhile, Patrick Wisdom, who homered twice and had six RBIs during a 15-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, is 2-for-2 with a home run vs. Hill.
Though 16 games under .500, the Cubs have won two straight games, and they have captured back-to-back series for the first time since taking three in a row from May 9-18.
"(Just want to) take that momentum into the next game and the next series," Wisdom told Marquee Sports Network.
While Contreras is 11-for-24 in his past six games, teammate Nico Hoerner continues to shine while batting .531 (17-for-32) over his past eight.
"He's just in one of those spaces right now that's a good place to be as a hitter," Cubs manager David Ross told Marquee Sports Network.
With Chicago's rotation hampered by injuries, Adrian Sampson (0-0, 1.69 ERA) will make his second consecutive start. He allowed two runs, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday -- in his third 2022 appearance.
The right-hander has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits, including six homers, over 9 2/3 innings in two career starts against the Red Sox.
However, Sampson hasn't faced them since 2019, when he was with the Texas Rangers. Ranked among the majors' top hitters, Boston stars Rafael Devers (.328) and Xander Bogaerts (.326) are a combined 4-for-8 with a homer apiece vs. Sampson.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 4:05:53 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Franchy Cordero flexed his power and potential in the Red Sox’ win at Toronto By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 30, 2022, 6:11 p.m.
Franchy Cordero had a career evening, going 4 for 5 with a double, two stolen bases and a run scored in Wednesday night’s 6-5 win in 10 innings over the Blue Jays in Toronto.
It lifted Cordero’s line to .252/.331/.413 with a .744 OPS. Cordero is batting .382/.475/.529 with a 1.004 OPS and five doubles in his last 11 games.
“It’s fun to hit and get on-base,” Cordero said after the game. “Even more against the Blue Jays, who are a really good team, and when we’re able to get the win, it’s even more fun.”
Cordero continues to be a bright spot for the Red Sox after being designated for assignment last October and making it through waivers. He’s played 27 games at first base this season, and another 18 in the outfield (11 in right field, 7 in left), showcasing his athleticism and defensive versatility.
Then there’s his prodigious power and frightening bat speed: He owns the team’s longest home run of the season (448 feet on May 29 vs. the Orioles) and two hardest-hit balls, a 118.6-mile-per-hour homer May 23 at Philadelphia and a 117.9-m.p.h. single June 20 vs. the Tigers.
With the season nearing the halfway point, Cordero is encouraged by his production.
“It’s very nice to see that hard work pays off and all the work that I do during the offseason is paying off,” Cordero said. “There’s still more work to do, but I’m glad where I am right now. I’m just going to keep grinding and keep working to improve every day.”
Another shot for Seabold?
After making the second big league start of his career — and his first this year — when he was called up from Triple A Worcester on Monday, and absorbed a 7-2 loss in the opener of a three-game set in Toronto, it’s likely Connor Seabold will get another round in the rotation in Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs.
Seabold lasted just 4 ⅔ innings against a tough Blue Jays lineup, allowing seven runs (all earned) and three homers. Nevertheless, Seabold showed flashes of promise, striking out seven and drawing 21 swings-and-misses.
It prompted former Red Sox starter David Price to text manager Alex Cora with Price intimating he liked what he saw from the 26-year-old righthander.
“I think they recognize the swings-and-misses,” Cora said Tuesday. “They saw the changeup. Obviously, it’s not an easy lineup, but there were a lot of positives. We want to make sure he understands that. Obviously, the line is the line. He’s not happy with it. But, stuff-wise, a lot better than last year in September.”
Seabold will have a bit more of a soft landing against a Cubs offense that entered Thursday ranked 14th in OPS (.714). In comparison, Toronto’s offense ranked first in the big leagues with a .758 OPS by the end of its three-game set with the Red Sox.
Lefthander Rich Hill (4-4, 4.09 ERA) will start Friday afternoon followed by righthander Josh Winckowski (3-1, 3.60 ERA) Saturday night. Progress report
Righthander Garrett Whitlock (right hip inflammation) threw a bullpen in Toronto on Wednesday. The plan is for him to partake in pitchers’ fielding practice Saturday . . . Outfielder Kiké Hernández (right hip flexor strain) is doing better, but has yet to begin baseball activities . . . Lefthander Josh Taylor (back strain) threw on back-to-back days Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, he allowed three runs in an inning and yielded no runs with a strikeout on Wednesday. Taylor’s next step is still to be determined . . . The Sox reinstated outfielder Jarren Duran and righthander Tanner Houck from the restricted list and returned infielder Yolmer Sánchez to Triple A Worcester . . . Righthander Silvino Bracho was traded to the Braves for cash considerations . . . The Red Sox will play Friday at Wrigley Field for the first time since a three-game set June 15-17, 2012. The Sox took two out of three against the Cubs then, with Daisuke Matsuzka, Jon Lester and Franklin Morales serving as the Sox starters. Hill is the only current Red Sox player who was on the roster of the 2012 team that visited Wrigley, but the lefthander did not make the trip with the team after going on an extended stay on the disabled list with a strained flexor muscle in his left elbow suffered a week before the team’s arrival in Chicago.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 4:14:50 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h Franchy is hitting .252 BA, .413 SLG. His expected stats are .298 xBA, .549 xSLG. Anyone that has watched knows that he's been impressive in his 160 PA since his call-up. He's putting together one of the more ridiculous statcast pages around when you start looking at comps.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 4:15:38 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h After possibly being the most unlucky person on Earth for the first couple months of the season, Verdugo's results finally aligned with his skill level in June and he raked, posting a 158 wRC+.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 4:22:05 GMT -5
Well this should be a fun series.. and yesterday afternoon I was really finding my self tired, and stuffed up and simply thought it was my sinuses as they have been acting up this late spring/ early summer around supper time, aches and pains so I took a rapid test and bang, tested positive for Covid Thank god I have my Vax shots and 2 boosters cuz this still feels crumby but my breathing is fine. So, gonna spend some time isolated down in the den as I don;t want the better half or daughter getting this.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 7:20:55 GMT -5
Red Sox at Cubs Friday, at 2:20 PM EST Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 80° F with a 13% chance of rain and 9 MPH wind blowing in in Chicago at 2:20 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 9:14:46 GMT -5
Game 77: Lineups and notes for Red Sox’ Friday matinee vs. the Chicago CubsBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated July 1, 2022, 3 minutes ago After a day off, the Red Sox will kick off the holiday weekend with a matinee with the Cubs at Wrigley Field Friday, their first appearance there since a three-game set June 15-17, 2012. The three-game series in Chicago will conclude a nine-game road trip. The Sox are 4-2 through the first six games. Rich Hill will be on the mound for the Sox. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (43-33): 1. Jarren Duran (L) CF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Trevor Story (R) 2B 7. Franchy Cordero (L) 1B 8. Christian Vazquez (R) C 9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) RF Pitching: LHP Rich Hill (4-4, 4.09 ERA) CUBS (30-46): 1. Christopher Morel (R) 2B 2. Willson Contreras (R) C 3. Ian Happ (S) LF 4. Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B 5. Narciso Crook (R) CF 6. Yan Gomes (R) DH 7. P.J. Higgins (R) 1B 8. Nelson Velazquez (R) RF 9. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS Pitching: RHP Adrian Sampson (0-0, 1.69 ERA) Time: 2:20 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Sampson: Bogaerts 3-5, Bradley 2-4, Vazquez 2-5, Devers 1-3, Martinez 1-3. Cubs vs. Hill: David Bote 1-1, Willson Contreras 4-8, Yan Gomes 1-4, Ian Happ 0-1, Nico Hoerner 0-2, Andrelton Simmons 1-3, Patrick Wisdom 2-2 Stat of the day: During June, Red Sox starters had a 2.91 ERA while recording the franchise’s highest winning percentage (.769) for a month (at least 25 games) since also going 20-6 in July 2011. Notes: Hill went 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts in June. He is 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in eight starts on the road this season. … Sampson has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits, including six homers, over 9 ⅔ innings in two career starts against the Red Sox. … Alex Verdugo is batting .410 (16-for-39) with two home runs and 10 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak. He owns a.312 average in 50 career interleague games. … The Red Sox posted a plus-44 run differential and hit 24 homers in June. Song of the Day: John Mellencamp - Hurts So Goodwww.youtube.com/watch?v=4dOsbsuhYGQ
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 9:41:41 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7m Rich Hill, the scheduled starter for the Red Sox, made his MLB debut at Wrigley Field on June 15, 2005.
Bet he didn't think he'd still be pitching 17+ years later.
He's 11-6, 3.71 in 34 games here.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 11:25:06 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 48m Jarren Duran says he will be available when the Red Sox play in Toronto in September.
Tanner Houck wouldn’t say if he would be available the next time the Sox go to Toronto.
Duran: “I love this game too much to miss out on opportunities to play baseball. I could care less about the money or service time. I missed the boys and missed playing baseball. That was kind of the deciding factor.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 11:25:39 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 28m One of Alex Cora’s favorite Wrigley memories: Coming to do a 6 am ESPN hit after the Cubs clinched the NLCS in 2015 and finding Theo Epstein and the front office still partying.
“What the f— are you doing here?” Theo asked.
“What are *you* doing here?” Cora replied.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 1, 2022 11:26:48 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 46m Duran said he would be available when the team goes to Toronto in September, so that means he will likely be vaccinated.
Houck did not offer comment on what he will decide but added it was tough watching his teammates grind.
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