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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 2:46:46 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Hosmer, Barnes activated August 4th, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Aug. 4: 1B Eric Hosmer activated; OF Jackie Bradley Jr. released The Red Sox activated Hosmer for Thursday's series opener against the Royals after acquiring the first baseman from the Padres on Tuesday. Bradley, whose bat has been lagging for the past couple of years, was released due to a crowded outfield.
Aug. 4: RHP Brayan Bello (left groin strain) placed on 15-day IL Red Sox No. 3 prospect Bello was placed on the 15-day injured list after he exited Wednesday's series finale against the Astros with a left groin strain. He gave up two hits and struck out two in the fourth inning before walking to the clubhouse.
Aug. 4: RHP Matt Barnes activated from 60-day IL; RHP Kaleb Ort optioned; LHP Darwinzon Hernandez recalled Barnes, who's been out since June 1 with right shoulder inflammation, was activated from the 60-day injured list prior to the series opener and pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning against the Royals on Thursday.
Hernandez, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on July 26, was recalled and pitched in the seventh inning.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 2:48:22 GMT -5
Alex Cora ejected during Boston Red Sox seventh-inning bullpen implosion in loss to Royals
Updated: Aug. 04, 2022, 11:22 p.m.|Published: Aug. 04, 2022, 11:16 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Manager Alex Cora brought in left-handed reliever Darwinzon Hernandez to pitch the seventh inning with the game tied 3-3.
Four batters into Hernandez’s outing, the Red Sox were down 7-3.
Hernandez allowed a leadoff walk to Nicky Lopez, a single to MJ Melendez, an RBI single to Bobby Witt Jr. and a three-run homer to Salvador Perez.
Boston lost 7-3 to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday.
Perez’s line drive home run left his bat at 110.4 mph and went 346 feet off a green pad near the left field foul pole.
The crew chief reviewed and the call on the field stood. Cora argued and got ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke.
Boston jumped ahead early
The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Jaylin Davis walked to lead off the game and Tommy Pham doubled.
Rafael Devers knocked both Davis and Pham home with a single to left field.
But the Royals tied it 2-2 immediately in the bottom of the first vs. Nick Pivetta.
Pivetta pitched 5 innings, allowing three runs, seven hits and one walk while striking out five.
Barnes returns
Matt Barnes, who the Red Sox reinstated from the 60-day IL (right shoulder inflammation) before the game, pitched a perfect sixth inning. He got two groundouts and a flyout.
Barnes threw nine pitches: four curveballs, two sliders, two two-seam fastballs (96 mph, 95.4 mph) and one four-seam fastball (95.3 mph).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 2:52:59 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 4h 3-3 going into the bottom of the seventh? Why Darwinzon over Whitlock?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 2:54:53 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Of course it all started with a leadoff walk.
Darwinzon Hernandez has good stuff and just can't be trusted. The #RedSox needed bullpen help at the deadline for this exact reason.
They can't pitch Whitlock, Schreiber and Houck every night.
Kevin Plawecki looks completely perplexed in the background of this Alex Cora argument.
Bill Welke issues the ejection. Cora can't believe it in the visiting dugout. I'd imagine he doesn't think anything that was said merited a trip to the showers. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 2:55:18 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Hernandez holds opposing hitters to a sub-.610 OPS career in left-left matchups. If you can't use him in that spot, it's a worthwhile question why he's on the 26-man.
The #RedSox have just one other bullpen LHP -- Austin Davis. They have no left-handed relievers at Worcester.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 3:03:58 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Eric Hosmer gets a warm reception in Kansas City By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 4, 2022, 9:11 p.m.
KANSAS CITY — Eric Hosmer left the Kansas City Royals after the 2017 season, taking an eight-year deal with the San Diego Padres worth $144 million.
He returned to Kauffman Stadium for the first time since that decision on Thursday night and there were no hard feelings.
The Royals welcomed Hosmer with a pre-game video tribute. As the crowd cheered, he popped out of the dugout and tipped his cap. There was another ovation when he came to bat in the first inning.
“It feels great to be back,” said Hosmer, who was traded to the Red Sox on Tuesday and joined the team Wednesday night. “It felt like I was traveling in a time machine back about 10 years just landing in the city and seeing some familiar faces.”
Hosmer played for the Royals from 2011-17. Kansas City lost 91 games his rookie year then won American League pennants in 2014 and ‘15.
The Royals won the World Series in ‘15 as Hosmer drove in six runs in five games against the Mets. His daring break from third base to the plate to tie Game 5 in the ninth inning is a prominent part of franchise lore.
“We have a great bond,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “We all have a wonderful connection with Eric and we’re all appreciative of who he is.”
Hosmer had a modest .737 OPS over five seasons with the Padres and was seen as a bust. He believes the move to the Red Sox could be revitalizing.
“I’m excited for that,” he said. “[Fenway Park] is a stadium I’ve always enjoyed playing in. As a hitter when I’m going good, I tend to go to the opposite field so they will give me more incentive.”
The Padres tried to trade Hosmer to the Nationals but he refused the deal, as was his contractual right. San Diego pivoted to the Red Sox, who were not on his no-trade list.
The Sox sent Triple A lefthander Jay Groome to the Padres to make the deal. San Diego included two prospects in the deal.
Hosmer, who was given No. 35, is signed through 2025 for $44 million. San Diego is responsible for all but the major league minimum.
“I’m happy to be here in Boston,” said Hosmer, who had interest in the Sox as a free agent in 2017. “Things worked out the way they did and I’m excited about it.”
Hosmer is married to former NESN anchor Kacie McDonnell. They’re expecting their first child in September. Barnes returns
Matt Barnes was activated off the injured list after missing 56 games with what the team said was shoulder inflammation.
The righthander, who had a 7.94 earned run average and 1.71 WHIP in 20 appearances before being shelved, is confident he can help the team.
“Super excited to be back,” said Barnes, who threw a scoreless sixth inning against the Royals. “The last few [minor league] games I pitched, I felt really good. Ball was coming out good; command was sharp.”
Barnes, who has struggled for a calendar year, felt the time off also served as a reset mentally.
“It’s been a grind. But finally I feel like it’s coming together,” he said. Related: Jackie Bradley Jr. is released by the Red Sox Hernández improving
Kiké Hernández, who hasn’t played a major league game since June 7 because of a strained right hip flexor, is starting to make progress.
He took 35 swings of soft toss on Thursday and is scheduled to take batting practice at Boston College on Friday. It was Hernández’s most extensive work since receiving a PRP injection on July 15.
“He’s going to be part of this at one point this month,” manager Alex Cora said.
Why BC? Mötley Crüe is playing at Fenway Park. Wacha, WooSox sharp
Michael Wacha (4⅔ innings) and two relievers, Andrew Politi (2⅓ IP) and Chase Shugart (2 IP), combined to no-hit Durham in a 12-0 victory for Triple A Worcester. Wacha struck out eight with one walk and threw 43 of 63 pitches for strikes. His fastball was 93-95 miles per hour. Wacha, who has been on the injured list since July 5 with shoulder inflammation, appears ready to return … Rookie righthander Brayan Bello went on the injured list with a left groin strain suffered in the first inning of his relief appearance at Houston on Wednesday. “Hopefully something that is not going to take too long,” Cora said. Bello said that type of injury was a first for him … Josh Winckowski will start on Friday night with Nate Eovaldi and Kutter Crawford to follow in the series … The roster moves on Thursday also included recalling lefthander Darwinzon Hernandez from Worcester and optioning Kaleb Ort to the Woo Sox. Ort pitched three innings of relief on Wednesday … The MLB Players Alumni Association selected Rafael Devers as the Red Sox candidate for its Heart and Hustle Award. The winner will be announced in November … The Royals made a roster move before the game, promoting outfielder Nate Eaton from Triple A Omaha and optioning infielder Maikel Garcia.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 3:07:51 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h With two lefties coming up, made sense to use a lefty.
With Jake Diekman now a White Sox, the choices were Davis and Hernandez and Davis has pitched three times in the previous seven days, 71 pitches.
Red Sox have been outscored 13-4 since the trade deadline.
Sox leave Hernandez in for the 8th. They've cashed this one in.
Ultimately, as Cora said, Hernandez has to do a better job. He felt "100 percent" he wanted a lefty there with two lefties up.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 3:25:16 GMT -5
Alex Cora ejected after seventh inning turns disastrous for Red Sox in loss to lowly Royals Four-run inning dooms Sox in 7-3 defeat
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: August 4, 2022 at 11:19 p.m. | UPDATED: August 5, 2022 at 12:16 a.m.
The Red Sox chose not to get bullpen help at the trade deadline. Chaim Bloom said he explored different options, but ultimately didn’t find a deal that he thought made sense.
It didn’t take long for that to come back to haunt them.
In a tie game in the seventh, it got ugly. Darwinzon Hernandez, who’s been in Triple-A for most of this season, was summoned by Alex Cora and it turned disastrous in a hurry as he gave up four runs – including a three-run homer by Salvador Perez – that ultimately sealed the Red Sox’ fate in a 7-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
At this stage of the season, as they fight for a Wild Card berth and with most of their remaining schedule against the tough American League East, the Red Sox can’t afford games like this against inferior opponents like the lowly Royals, who are in last place in the A.L. Central and just sold off several of their best players at the deadline.
The Red Sox dropped back below .500 with a 53-54 record as they continued to spin their wheels.
Instead of adding to their bullpen, the Red Sox actually subtracted from it by dealing lefty Jake Diekman to the White Sox. Diekman was disappointing in four months with the Red Sox, but he’s still a better option than Hernandez, who spent the first three months of the season in Triple-A working on his control issues and working back from a torn meniscus.
In the seventh, those control issues resurfaced.
Going to the left-handed Hernandez in that spot had logic to it. The Red Sox faced two Royals lefties – No. 9 hitter Nicky Lopez and leadoff man MJ Melendez – to start the inning. Cora wasn’t considering using any of his high-leverage right-handers like Garrett Whitlock or John Schreiber in that spot.
“One-hundred percent. One-hundred percent,” Cora told reporters in Kansas City on going to Hernandez. “We’re not going to bring a righty there just to use him. We still have three more games in this series, and to burn Whit or somebody else like that, it doesn’t make sense. We need to do the job there.”
But Cora didn’t exactly have reliable lefty options to choose from. Matt Strahm is still on the injured list. Diekman is gone. The only other lefty reliever on the active roster, Austin Davis, was seemingly unavailable. So, it went to Hernandez.
“He’s been throwing the ball well in Triple-A,” Cora said. “He’s here for a reason, because he was pitching well and we needed a lefty.”
But he didn’t do the job. He fell behind Lopez 3-0 right away and walked him before allowing a single to Melendez. He let the first five batters of the inning reach.
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead RBI single before Perez delivered the dagger – a three-run shot that required an umpires’ review after the ball hit the wall padding underneath the pole and was called a home run. The call was confirmed after the review, but it created confusion.
Cora was ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke after going out to ask about the call. The manager, who didn’t seem particularly upset and didn’t look to really be arguing, had a look of surprise after being tossed. By rule, it’s not permissible to argue reviewed calls.
“I don’t want to get into that,” Cora told reporters. “I don’t think I deserved to be thrown out in that one. I was very calm, asking what happened and whatever, they threw me out. It happens, I guess.”
Cora said he thought the call would be overturned. But even if it was, it’s likely at least two runs would have scored on the play anyway.
“In our eyes, we thought the ball was in the ballpark and live in play,” Cora said.
As he returned to the dugout after being ejected, Cora threw what appeared to be a water bottle back onto the field.
The Red Sox never recovered as they didn’t threaten to score in the eighth or ninth. The Red Sox scored twice in the first inning on Rafael Devers’ two-run single, but Nick Pivetta quickly coughed it up and they couldn’t get much else going offensively.
Over their last four games, the Red Sox have scored a total of nine runs.
“We have to be better offensively,” Cora said. “It’s something that we rely on the offense and we’re not swinging the bat well.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 3:33:37 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Royals Friday, 5th July 2022 8pm @ Kauffman Stadium
Winckowski 4-5/5.00
Grienke 3-6/4.41
Boston Red Sox vs.Kansas City Royals Friday, August 5, 2022 at 8:10pm EDT Written by Blake V.
Boston will play the second game of its four-game series at Kansas City on Friday night. The Red Sox entered the series having won three of their last four games, while the Royals were coming off consecutive losses to the White Sox. This story was published prior to Thursday’s series opener between these teams.
Red Sox still alive for AL Wild Card spot Boston has been one of the most confusing teams in baseball this season. The Red Sox got off to an excellent start before going on one of the longest cold stretches of any team in the majors. Their struggles carried over after the All-Star break, as they lost seven of their first nine games to open the second half of the season. They were finally able to bounce back earlier this week, winning three straight games before falling to Houston in a series finale on Wednesday. Boston is in last place in the American League East, but it is only three games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.
The Red Sox rely on an offense that ranks sixth in the majors with a batting average of .252. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts leads the way with 116 hits and a .312 average, while third baseman Rafael Devers has 115 hits, including a team-high 23 home runs. They will be facing a Kansas City pitching staff that is No. 27 with an ERA of 4.70. Boston has not officially announced its starting pitcher for Friday’s game, but rookie right-hander Josh Winckowski is the most likely candidate. He allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk across five innings against Milwaukee in his last start. Winckowski had allowed 14 runs over his previous three starts, so he was able to lower his season ERA from 5.18 to 5.00 on Sunday.
Royals trying to remain competitive Kansas City was essentially eliminated from playoff contention before the All-Star break, and it has not been much better since the second half begin. The Royals picked up three consecutive wins near the end of June, but they proceeded to lose five straight games after that. They are not in good form entering this series, dropping a pair of games against the White Sox earlier this week. Kansas City is in last place in the American League Central, trailing Minnesota by 14 games. The Royals have the second worst record in the AL and are 14.5 games out of a Wild Card position.
Their offense has been better than their pitching, as they rank No. 14 in batting average (.244). They lost their best player at the trade deadline though, as left fielder Andrew Benintendi was dealt to the Yankees. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has 94 hits, while second baseman Whit Merrifield has 92 base knocks. However, Merrifield was also traded at the deadline. They are facing a Boston pitching staff that is No. 24 with an ERA of 4.27. Right-handed veteran Zack Greinke is going to start for Kansas City in this game. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings against the Yankees on Sunday. Greinke posted a 4.50 ERA across five starts in July, which is consistent with his 4.41 ERA overall this season.
Red Sox at Royals Friday, at 8:10 PM EST Clear According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 91° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 8 MPH wind blowing right to left in Kansas City at 8:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 6:04:23 GMT -5
Red Sox's Eric Hosmer is back in familiar surroundings in K.C. FLM
When Eric Hosmer steps into the batting cage at his home in suburban Miami in the offseason, a frequent guest is fellow Miamian J.D. Martinez. They no longer have to wait until the offseason to hit together after Hosmer was acquired by the Boston Red Sox in a trade-deadline deal on Tuesday.
Hosmer and Martinez likely will be hitting back-to-back on Friday as the Red Sox play the second game of a four-game road series against the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals will send Zack Greinke (3-6, 4.41 ERA) to the mound against the Red Sox's Josh Winckowski (4-5, 5.00).
Hosmer went 0-for-3 with a walk in his Red Sox debut on Thursday as the Royals took the first game of the series, 7-4. Salvador Perez hit a controversial three-run home run to cap Kansas City's four-run seventh inning.
Hosmer, 32, and Martinez, 34, played against each other a lot as kids.
"We grew up close to each other. I always watched J.D. at Flanagan (High School in Pembroke Pines, Fla.)," Hosmer said Thursday prior to his first appearance in Kansas City since the last game of the 2017 season, the last of seven years he spent with the Royals. "In the offseason we definitely hook up a lot."
Hosmer followed Martinez in Boston's lineup Thursday, something manager Alex Cora said would be a common occurrence moving forward.
"He'll play pretty regularly at first base," Cora said of Hosmer, who batted in the sixth slot. "It really doesn't matter where he hits, he'll be OK. He and J.D. will be back-to-back most of the time."
Royals manager Mike Matheny was well aware of Hosmer's history in Kansas City.
"I know how much Hosmer has meant to this organization," he said. "Some of the greatest memories a lot of Royals fans have, he's been right in the middle of them."
Matheny is focused on his young players establishing a positive trajectory as Hosmer and his teammates did early in the last decade. And he expects it to start now.
"We're thinking about winning today," he said. "That's always going to be the conversation as to what we have to do today to win with whoever is here. It's a difficult process losing players who are part of your family for a long time. That takes a little while to unpack. But it does create an opportunity for some young players.
"When they were brought onto the scene in Toronto, I said I'd like to have all of them. The opportunity presents itself where they have to opportunity to play. It's all about what we have to do to each day to put a winning product on the field."
The Royals are extremely young after several veterans were traded away at the deadline. One of the few veterans remaining is Greinke, who is in his second stint with the Royals.
Greinke, who owns a 2-5 record and a 5.09 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Red Sox, has won his last three decisions at home. In his past four starts in Kansas City, Greinke has allowed just two runs in 22 innings.
Winckowski will be facing the Royals for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old rookie won his latest start, when he gave up two runs in five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, after losing each of his four prior outings. He pitched to a 6.75 ERA during the skid.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 8:55:06 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 32m Sox can’t continue to use Schreiber, Houck and Whitlock every night. They need others to do their job. DH has 2 LHH’s to start the 7th. He has to throw strikes. Barnes, Brasier, Sawamura, DH, Davis need to get guys out. Last night they didn’t.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 11:33:01 GMT -5
Game 108: Red Sox at Royals lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated August 5, 2022, 1 hour ago The Red Sox didn’t get off to the start they were hoping for in Kansas City, dropping Thursday night’s opener to the Royals, 7-3. First baseman Eric Hosmer went 0-for-3 with a walk in his Red Sox debut. The four-game series resumes Friday, with Josh Winckowski taking the mound for the Sox. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (53-54): 1. Jarren Duran (L) CF 2. Tommy Pham (R) LF 3. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 6. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 7. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B 8. Reese McGuire (L) C 9. Yolmer Sanchez (S) 2B Pitching: RHP Josh Winckowski (4-5, 5.00 ERA) ROYALS (42-64): 1. MJ Melendez (L) LF 2. Michael Massey (L) 2B 3. Salvador Perez (R) C 4. Vinnie Pasquantino (L) DH 5. Hunter Dozier (R) 3B 6. Nick Pratto (L) 1B 7. Nate Eaton (R) RF 8. Kyle Isbel (L) CF 9. Nicky Lopez (L) SS Pitching: RHP Zack Greinke (3-6, 4.41 ERA) Time: 8:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Greinke: Christian Arroyo 0-2, Xander Bogaerts 1-2, Bobby Dalbec 1-1, Rafael Devers 1-2, Eric Hosmer 8-32, J.D. Martinez 5-18, Reese McGuire 1-3, Tommy Pham 3-16, Kevin Plawecki 2-6, Yolmer Sánchez 0-7, Alex Verdugo 1-8 Royals vs. Winckowski: Has not faced any Kansas City batters Stat of the day: Red Sox have been outscored 13-4 since the trade deadline. Notes: Winckowski is facing the Royals for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old rookie won his latest start, when he gave up two runs in five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. … Greinke, who owns a 2-5 record and a 5.09 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Red Sox, has won his last three decisions at home. In his past four starts in Kansas City, Greinke has allowed just two runs in 22 innings. Song of the Day: Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bopwww.youtube.com/watch?v=268C3N2dDYk
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 5, 2022 17:23:34 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 9m Per Alex Cora, MLB called today and said they missed the call on the HR review last night.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 5, 2022 18:41:28 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 9m Per Alex Cora, MLB called today and said they missed the call on the HR review last night. It looked to me like they missed it. You know what would've been interesting? For one of the writers to explain the call. I don't read every RS article, so maybe someone wrote something. But that was important. If the ball is in play if it is within the yellow lines, how could they have missed it? It was fairly obviously inside.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 5, 2022 23:22:34 GMT -5
Good game. Another good start by Winckowski. And we got a 1.2 inning save from Schreiber. Hopefully we can use Whitlock and Houck the next two days.
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