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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 2:16:22 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Yankees Friday, 15th July 2022 7pm @ Boogie Down
Eovaldi 4-2/3.16
Montgomery 3-2/3.19
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Friday, July 15, 2022 at 7:05pm EDT Written by Blake V.
Boston will be looking to snap its four-game losing streak when it travels to New York for the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. The Red Sox won a pair of games against the Yankees last weekend, but they proceeded to lose four straight at Tampa Bay this week. New York is coming off a disappointing 7-6 loss to Cincinnati in 10 innings on Thursday
Red Sox sliding in Wild Card standings Boston went on a seven-game winning streak at the end of June, but the Red Sox have struggled to get anything going since then. They have not won a series since capping off that winning streak with a sweep at Cleveland, losing or splitting their five series since then. Boston was able to split its four-game set with New York last weekend, but it was swept in a four-game series at Tampa Bay earlier this week. The Red Sox are in fourth place in the American League East, trailing New York by 15.5 games. They are still 1.5 games ahead of Baltimore for the final AL Wild Card spot, though.
The Red Sox have relied upon an offense that ranks third in the majors with a batting average of .259. Third baseman Rafael Devers leads the way with 110 hits, including 19 home runs. He will be facing a New York pitching staff that ranks third in the majors with an ERA of 3.11. The Red Sox could be without shortstop Trevor Story, who is questionable with a hand injury. Right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is expected to be on the mound for Boston on Friday night. He is in line to be activated from the 15-day injured list in time to start this game. Eovaldi is coming off a three-inning rehab appearance at Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, striking out four and allowing two earned runs on five hits across 54 pitches. He got off to a solid start before hitting the injured list, going 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
Yankees coming off surprising series loss New York has consistently been the top team in baseball this season, only suffering two three-game losing streaks all year. The second one of those skids came earlier this week, as the Yankees lost a 4-3 final against Cincinnati after dropping two in Boston. They bounced back with a 7-6 win in 10 innings on Wednesday before proceeding to lose by the same score on Thursday in what was a shocking series loss to the Reds. New York is still 13 games ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East though, so it should have no problem winning the division.
The Yankees might be the most powerful team in the MLB, but they rank No. 15 in batting average (.243). Center fielder Aaron Judge leads the way with 91 hits, including 31 home runs. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton have both gone over 20 home runs on the season. They will be facing a Boston pitching staff that is No. 14 with an ERA of 3.85. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery is set to take the bump for New York in the series opener. He allowed two runs on five hits and one walk across 5.2 innings against Boston in his last start. Montgomery allowed a run in the second inning, but he did not allow another run until the sixth inning. He has given up just three runs across 10.2 innings this month, which has been a nice bounce-back effort after allowing nine runs over his final two starts in June.
Red Sox at Yankees Friday, at 7:05 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 79° F with a 1% chance of rain and 8 MPH wind blowing right to left in New York City at 7:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 2:17:52 GMT -5
Red Sox injuries: Trevor Story likely to avoid injured list but Matt Strahm might not; Kiké Hernández visits hip specialist in New York Updated: Jul. 14, 2022, 10:41 p.m. | Published: Jul. 14, 2022, 9:02 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox will activate two key pitchers -- Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock -- from the injured list before Friday’s game against the Yankees, manager Alex Cora said Thursday. Eovaldi will pitch the series opener Friday and Whitlock will return to the team’s bullpen. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
But Eovaldi and Whitlock aren’t the only injured Red Sox on the mend. Here are some updates on Boston’s hobbled players:
* Second baseman Trevor Story (right hand contusion) will likely avoid an injured list stint, Cora said. Story, who was hit in the hand on a pitch he swung at Tuesday night, has missed the last two games. But he took grounders and threw in the infield before Thursday’s game and might be able to be back in the lineup this weekend.
“The way it’s trending, probably not. Hopefully, everything goes well today,” Cora said when asked if Story would go on the IL. “He grabbed a bat. It didn’t feel great but he felt a lot better than yesterday. He’s improving.”
* Lefty Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) might not be so lucky. He might go on the IL on Friday if he’s still unable to play catch for the third straight day. Strahm was smoked in the wrist with a comebacker in Tuesday’s game but X-rays were negative.
“If he’s not able to play catch tomorrow, I think the smart move is probably to put him on the IL,” Cora said. “We don’t want to rush him, either. He feels better but not to the point where he’s throwing or playing catch.”
The Red Sox will need two roster spots for Eovaldi and Whitlock, so Strahm’s potential IL placement could open one up.
* Center fielder Kiké Hernández (right hip flexor strain) is visiting a hip specialist in New York on Thursday. He will consult with that doctor about if there’s something more serious going on in his hip after the Red Sox had to shut down his rehab assignment after just one game due to continued discomfort.
* Lefty Rich Hill (left knee strain) threw a 25-pitch bullpen Thursday. Righty Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) threw one Wednesday. Both veteran starters shouldn’t be out long.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 2:57:04 GMT -5
Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET -- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.16 ERA) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-2, 3.19 ERA)
Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET -- RHP Nick Pivetta (8-6, 4.08 ERA) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (9-2, 4.01 ERA)
Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET -- LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (8-2, 3.05 ERA)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 3:04:18 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox pitching staff getting right just in time for Bronx By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated July 14, 2022, 7:46 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Red Sox face the Yankees again this weekend. But this time with reinforcements.
Barring something unexpected, Nate Eovaldi will come off the injured list to face New York on Friday night. He has been out since June 9 with lower back inflammation. Eovaldi is 3-3 with a 3.50 earned run average in 15 games against the Yankees since joining the Red Sox.
Garrett Whitlock, out since June 9 with right hip soreness, also is expected back and will be pitching out of the bullpen after opening the season as a starter.
Chris Sale will be the starter on Sunday. He has not faced the Yankees since Aug. 3, 2019. That was the game he was ejected in the fourth inning after allowing eight runs.
The Yankees have Jordan Montgomery facing Eovaldi, Jameson Taillon opposing Nick Pivetta on Saturday, and Gerrit Cole taking on Sale.
The teams split a four-game series at Fenway last week. The Yankees have won four of the seven games between the teams this season.
Are the Yankees as good as their 62-27 record suggests?
“I never felt we were as good as the record indicated in 2018,” Sox manager Alex Cora said before Tampa finished its sweep of the Sox, 5-4. “Like, wow, this is not real. But their health, consistency, and the pitching has been amazing.
“Yeah, they’re good. They’re really good. Right now they’re the best team in the big leagues.” Trevor Story progresses
Trevor Story took grounders before the game and played catch, which represented good progress after he was hit on the right hand by a pitch on Tuesday. He has not tried hitting yet, but was able to grip a bat better than he could on Wednesday.
Story has a badly bruised knuckle on his ring finger. The hope is he can get back in the lineup on Saturday.
Lefthanded reliever Matt Strahm, who was hit in the left wrist by a batted ball on Tuesday, is a candidate for the injured list when the Sox make roster moves on Friday.
“If he’s not able to play catch the smart move is probably to put him on the IL,” Cora said. Darwinzon Hernandez returns
For the first time this season, lefthanded reliever Darwinzon Hernandez is on the major league roster. He replaced righthanded Josh Winckowski, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday after allowing three runs over six innings against the Rays.
Hernandez pitched a scoreless eighth inning in a 5-4 loss against the Rays.
Hernandez, 25, opened the season in Triple A and appeared in eight games before having surgery on his right knee in May to repair a meniscus tear. Hernandez returned on July 4 and has pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings for Worcester since with six strikeouts.
“His delivery has been clean for a while,” said Cora, who got a report from Triple A pitching coach Paul Abbott. “They feel like it’s been direct to the plate and he’s been consistent with it.”
Hernandez said he’s had time to work on his mechanics and feels confident with the quality of his pitches.
“It took a long time to get to where I am right now. I’m in a very good place compared to last year,” Hernandez said via an interpreter.
Hernandez appeared in 84 games from 2019-21 and averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. But a high walk rate (7.4) and bouts of inconsistency negated that.
Alignment adjustment
For the first time this season, the Sox started a game with Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field and Jarren Duran in right. In the previous 17 times they were in the lineup together, Duran was in center. Bradley has four defensive runs saved in center field this season according to Sports Info Solutions. Duran is at minus-four. Cora acknowledged it made sense to have the better defender in center field. “It should be good,” he said … Rich Hill (left knee sprain) continues to make rapid progress. He threw 25 pitches in the bullpen. He should be ready to return after the All-Star break … Kiké Hernández, who hasn’t played in a major league game since June 7, saw a hip specialist in Manhattan but Cora did not have a report … The Sox are 4-10 in July after a 20-6 June … Mike Timlin, part of both the 2004 and 2007 championships, will represent the Red Sox at the amateur draft on Sunday in Los Angeles. The Sox pick 24th, 41st, and 79th on the first day.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 3:07:22 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h Per the excellent post-game notes provided by the Rays:
* The Sox have blown a lead in 21 of their 43 losses and a lead of three or more runs seven times.
* Sox 12-15 in one-run games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 3:09:07 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 6h Red Sox get swept in four straight at Tropicana Field. They have lost 12 of 17. They are 11-24 against AL East teams this season. Now, it's Yankee Stadium for the final three games before the break. Boston down to four games over .500 at 47-43.
Current AL Wild Card Standings. TB, first. Seattle second. Red Sox and Blue Jays tied for third. Orioles 1.5 back. Cleveland 2 back. White Sox 2.5 back. Rangers 4.5 back.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 3:14:16 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook: Starting pitching prospect Jay Groome earns promotion to Triple-A Worcester Groome is Baseball America’s 13th-ranked Red Sox prospect
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: July 14, 2022 at 7:09 p.m. | UPDATED: July 14, 2022 at 7:58 p.m.
Another highly ranked Red Sox starting pitching prospect is moving up.
Jay Groome, ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America, was promoted to Worcester on Thursday. Groome had made 17 starts in Double-A at Portland — three at the end of 2021, 14 this season — before the call-up as the highly-touted prospect inches closer to the majors.
Groome was the Red Sox’ first-round pick in 2016 (No. 12 overall) but injuries have slowed his development. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, returned in 2019 before the minor league season was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. He finally played a full season in 2021.
Groome posted a 3.52 ERA over 76 2/3 innings this season in Portland before his promotion, as the left-hander has experienced increased confidence in his secondary pitches this season. He’s working on putting lefties away with his slider and trying to play his changeup more in the strike zone to induce weak contact.
The results have clearly been encouraging as it warranted a mid-season call-up.
“It’s just going out there and proving to himself that he can continue to do that and work at a high level,” Double-A pitching coach Lance Carter said last month. “He’s on a mission, and he really is focused. I think last year was a big builder of that.”
Groome said last month that he’s been much more diligent with his bullpens and throwing program recently. The 23-year-old knows that bigger opportunities are coming for him.
“I just know I want to be ready for anything that happens and when I get my opportunity, I’m going to run with it,” he said.
Groome became the latest starting pitching prospect to reach a higher level this season. Top pitching prospect Bryan Bello started the season in Double-A and just made his first two career major league starts. Chris Murphy and Brandon Walter moved up to Triple-A. And Josh Winckowski, Connor Seabold and Kutter Crawford have each made multiple starts for the Red Sox. Winckowski tests positive for COVID-19
After making his seventh start of the season in Wednesday’s loss, Winckowski tested positive for COVID-19. The Red Sox called up lefty reliever Darwinzon Hernandez to fill his spot on the roster.
Hernandez, a bullpen regular from 2019-21, has yet to make an appearance for the Red Sox this season. He was surprisingly sent to Worcester to start the season as the team wanted him to work on his command issues, then he had surgery in May to repair a torn right meniscus. But since returning in early July, the lefty has pitched well. In 3 1/3 innings over four appearances with Worcester, he didn’t allow a run as he struck out six and walked two.
“He’s been throwing the ball well,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters in Tampa. “(Triple-A pitching coach Paul Abbott is) very pleased with the progress. His delivery has been clean for a while. Obviously he had surgery and all that stuff, but they feel like he’s been very direct to the plate and he’s been consistent with it. The stuff is always there, it’s a matter of him being consistent in the strike zone and so far, so good.”
Hernandez has yet to pitch more than one inning since returning from surgery, but Cora told reporters that he could be a multi-inning option if needed. Odds & ends
It doesn’t seem like Trevor Story, who left Tuesday’s loss with a right hand contusion after being hit by a pitch, will need to go to the injured list. Cora told reporters that Story was going to take grounders and throw on Thursday in Tampa and if he continues to improve, the hope is he will return Saturday and Sunday against the Yankees. …
Garrett Whitlock and Nathan Eovaldi are both likely to be activated Friday for this weekend’s series in New York, with Eovaldi slated to start on Friday. Nick Pivetta will start Saturday and Chris Sale is scheduled to start Sunday’s finale before the All-Star break. …
Cora told reporters that Kiké Hernandez was going to see a hip specialist in New York on Thursday as he tries to figure out the issue with his hip injury. The center fielder has been out since June 7 and had his rehab assignment stopped last week. …
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 3:21:01 GMT -5
Yankees seek bullpen answers as Red Sox arrive FLM
The New York Yankees saw their bullpen falter in recent games, a key reason why they are enduring their toughest week in an outstanding first half.
The Yankees hope to reverse the recent relief struggles Friday night when they host the Boston Red Sox, who are experiencing similar issues of late.
New York enters its final series before the All-Star break with a 3.11 ERA that ranks third in the majors. However, the Yankees have lost four of their past five games after taking the first two contests in last week's four-game series at Boston.
In the four losses, New York relievers have allowed 19 runs (15 earned) in 12 innings for an ERA of 11.25. Those struggles resulted in New York dropping two of three to the Cincinnati Reds this week.
On Tuesday, standout closer Clay Holmes allowed four runs and did not retire any of the five batters he faced in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss.
On Thursday, Jonathan Loasiga faltered in his return from the injured list by allowing three runs in the eighth, and Lucas Luetge yielded three runs (two earned) in the 10th of a 7-6 loss after New York's Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres homered in the eighth.
The Yankees did not use Holmes, Michael King and Wandy Peralta on Thursday after each pitched the previous two games.
"It's a tough one," Judge said. "You never want to lose a series, but sometimes you've got to tip your cap and get ready for the next one."
Boston heads to New York with 10 losses in its past 14 games after getting swept in a four-game series at Tampa Bay.
Red Sox relievers allowed 10 runs (six earned) in 11 innings against the Rays. The series ended with a 5-4 loss on Thursday when Boston allowed a five-run seventh after Rafael Devers homered and Kutter Crawford had a shutout through six innings.
John Schreiber took the loss after giving up two runs, just the second time in 32 appearances this season he allowed an earned run.
"We'll be OK," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following the Thursday defeat. "We played some good baseball today, we put up good at-bats, we battled. I know we lost, but compared to yesterday and the last few days, tonight was a better effort."
Boston's Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.16 ERA) will return from the injured list to start the series opener against New York. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since June 9 due to lower back inflammation.
Eovaldi faced the Yankees on Opening Day and got a no-decision after allowing three runs in five innings. In 16 career regular-season appearances (13 starts) against the Yankees, he is 3-4 with a 3.76 ERA.
Eovaldi also beat the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2018 AL Division Series and in the 2021 AL wild-card game, yielding a total of two runs in 12 1/3 innings in those outings.
Jordan Montgomery (3-2, 3.19 ERA), who is coming off his 12th no-decision in 17 starts, opens the series for New York. He last pitched Saturday in Boston when he allowed two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings before the Red Sox rallied in the 10th inning for a 6-5 victory.
Montgomery is 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 career regular-season starts against Boston. He faced the Red Sox in New York on April 10, when he allowed three runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 11:15:18 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h After 11 straight vs Yankees and Rays, I think it’s interesting to see how two smart teams attacked Red Sox batters.
Fastball percent 68% Duran 68% Cordero 66% Devers 66% Bradley Jr
Offspeed percent 31% Downs 18% Refsnyder 16% Verdugo
Breaking percent 35% Bogaerts 32% Martinez
Bradley Jr, Cordero and Duran went a combined 6 for 43 against fastballs.
Bogaerts and Martinez combined to go 1 for 23 with an infield single against breaking balls.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 11:33:46 GMT -5
Game 91: Nate Eovaldi is finally back for Red Sox-Yankees series opener, plus lineups and notesBy Matt Pepin Globe Staff,Updated July 15, 2022, 9:06 a.m. The Red Sox were swept by the Rays on Thursday. The degree of difficulty increases with a three-game set against the Yankees, who have the best record in baseball, beginning Friday night in New York. The good news is Red Sox righthander Nate Eovaldi will return to the mound after missing most of June and the first half of July. Eovaldi last pitched on June 8, when he went five innings and did not allow a run in picking up his fourth win. This is Boston’s final series before the break. After Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles, the Red Sox resume the season next Friday at home vs. the Blue Jays. Here’s a preview of Friday’s game: Lineups RED SOX (47-43): 1. Rob Refsnyder (R) RF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF 9. Jeter Downs (R) 2B Pitching: RHP Nate Eovaldi (4-2, 3.16 ERA) YANKEES (62-27):1. DJ LeMahieu (R) 3B 2. Aaron Judge (R) CF 3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF 5. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B 6. Matt Carpenter (L) DH 7. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS 8. Kyle Higashioka (R) C 9. Joey Gallo (L) LF Pitching: LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-2, 3.19 ERA) Time: 7:05 p.m. TV, radio: Amazon, NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Montgomery: Xander Bogaerts 15-31, Jackie Bradley Jr. 3-9, Bobby Dalbec 3-12, Rafael Devers 6-22, Jarren Duran 0-2, J.D. Martinez 2-23, Kevin Plawecki 0-6, Rob Refsnyder 3-9, Trevor Story 0-2, Alex Verdugo 5-22, Christian Vázquez 6-21 Yankees vs. Eovaldi: Matt Carpenter 5-10, Josh Donaldson 4-15, Joey Gallo 1-9, Marwin Gonzalez 0-4, Aaron Hicks 3-18, Kyle Higashioka 3-5, Aaron Judge 9-23, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1-6, DJ LeMahieu 12-39, Anthony Rizzo 6-11, Giancarlo Stanton 8-30, Gleyber Torres 7-29, Jose Trevino 0-2 Stat of the day: Red Sox relief pitchers allowed 10 runs (six earned) in 11 innings against the Rays in their most recent series. Notes: The Red Sox have not had a day off since June 30. ... The Yankees also had a tough week, losing two of three to the last-place Reds. New York has lost four of its last five, including the final two games of last weekend’s series vs. the Red Sox. ... In their last four losses, Yankees relievers have allowed 19 runs (15 earned) in 12 innings for an ERA of 11.25. ... The Red Sox have lost 10 of their last 14 games. ... Eovaldi faced the Yankees on Opening Day and got a no-decision after allowing three runs in five innings. In 16 career regular-season appearances (13 starts) against the Yankees, he is 3-4 with a 3.76 ERA. ... Montgomery last pitched Saturday in Boston and allowed two runs on five hits in 5 ⅔ innings before the Red Sox rallied in the 10th inning for a 6-5 victory. Montgomery is 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 career regular-season starts against Boston. Song of the Day: Jane's Addiction- STOPwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwI02OHtZTg
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 14:23:30 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 23m Kiké Hernández had a PRP injection today to help speed up healing in his injured hip. Diagnosis of flexor strain remains the same. He will ramp up activity after the All-Star break.
Two more Red Sox updates:
* Connor Seabold’s arm injury is not serious. He is back playing catch and shouldn’t be out long.
* Tyler Danish has a flexor strain in his right arm. Still in strengthening phase and not throwing.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 14:39:29 GMT -5
Darwinzon Hernandez returns to Boston Red Sox after demotion, knee surgery: ‘The stuff is always there,’ says Alex Cora Updated: Jul. 15, 2022, 3:29 p.m. | Published: Jul. 15, 2022, 2:25 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Darwinzon Hernandez was beaming Thursday afternoon. After a three-month stretch that included a somewhat surprising demotion, a lot of work behind the scenes at Triple-A and knee surgery, the lefty reliever was back in the majors with the Red Sox for the first time this season.
Hernandez was activated Thursday afternoon to take the roster spot of righty Josh Winckowski, who tested positive for COVID. Hernandez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning in Boston’s 5-4 loss to the Rays, striking out two batters while throwing just 12 pitches. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
Hernandez’s first big league outing of the year was a good sign, as he pounded the strike zone in a way he seldom did previously. When the Red Sox sent the 25-year-old to the minors to start the season, they did so in an effort to get him to refine his delivery and work on his command. Manager Alex Cora said at the end of spring training that Hernandez needed to throw fastballs up in the zone and breaking balls down. His walk rate (7.4 BB/9 in 84 games) in his first three big league seasons was an issue. So the Red Sox felt he needed to spend a significant amount of time improving away from the big league club.
Hernandez started games in short stints for the WooSox and was starting to turn a corner before injuring his knee in a bullpen session in mid-May. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus on May 19 and didn’t return until July 4. The reports from Worcester have been encouraging in the last couple weeks, as have the results. Hernandez didn’t allow a run and struck out six over his last four appearances in Triple-A (four innings).
“He has been throwing the ball well,” Cora said Thursday. “I actually talked to him. (WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott) is very pleased with the progress. His delivery has been clean for a while. Obviously, he had surgery and all that stuff but they feel like he’s very direct to the plate and he has been consistent with it. The stuff is always there. It’s a matter of him being consistent in the strike zone. So far, so good.”
For Hernandez, who was a vital part of Boston’s bullpen in 2019 and entered the last two seasons with high expectations, heading back to the minors was a humbling experience. At the end of spring training, Cora said the organization still believes Hernandez is a prospect who needs more development even though he has so much big league time. Hernandez had to embrace that in Triple-A.
“Of course it’s really hard, but when you know what you need to work on and you work every day to get that fixed and get back to the big leagues, the time goes by very fast,” Hernandez said through interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez.
Working with Abbott, Hernandez tried to develop a more consistent delivery to get the most of his above-average arsenal, which features a four-seamer and wipeout slider. The Red Sox believe mixing Hernandez’s stuff with improved control could be a deadly combination. And with a knee that the lefty claimed as “good as new,” Hernandez thinks he’s in a much better place than when the Red Sox last saw him.
“Before I was too stand-up. Now, I’m a little bit closed,” Hernandez said about his delivery. “Before that, I was trying to overthrow the ball. Right now, I’m more calm and trying to just throw without any exaggeration or anything like that.”
It won’t be easy to carve out a major role in the Red Sox bullpen, which already includes three lefties (Austin Davis, Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm) and soon may add another when Josh Taylor comes off the injured list. But he has the ability to throw multiple innings and has a track record of major league success. The role will work itself out. For now, Hernandez is just happy to be back in the majors.
“It feels great,” he said. “That’s what you want when you’re down there. You’re trying to get back to the team and work as hard as possible to get to the big league team. I’m really happy to be here right now.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 14:40:53 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 2m No roster moves or lineup from the Red Sox yet. They're expected to activate Eovaldi and Whitlock. Need two corresponding moves. Strahm to IL could be one. Valdez optioned another possibility. And still no decision on Story, though Cora said he'd likely avoid IL.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 14:51:53 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3m #RedSox moves:
* Eovaldi and Whitlock activated off IL.
* Strahm to IL.
* Valdez optioned to AAA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 15, 2022 15:02:16 GMT -5
Happy Valdez is gone one down and a few more of the Gas Can Gang to go. They play the dumb, lazy crap baseball like they have all week and this one long week-end then add to that the chances of a YES broadcast is sickening even more so with the dipshits from FOX tomorrow.
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