|
Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 13, 2022 21:12:26 GMT -5
1st & 2nd, with 2 outs, and Bogaerts tries to steal 3rd? That's rookie-level stupid.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:13:31 GMT -5
Kiner-Falefa helps Yankees squeeze past Red Sox 3-2 AP
BOSTON (AP) Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in the go-ahead run with a safety squeeze in the ninth inning and hit his first career homer with New York, sending the AL East-leading Yankees past the Red Sox 3-2 on Saturday night for just their second win in 10 games.
It was manager Aaron Boone's 400th career victory with the Yankees.
''It feels good to come through with the big homer and small ball,'' Kiner-Falefa said. ''Showing off both sides of my game. I was just happy to come out with the win, we've been playing a lot of close games lately.''
Alex Verdugo had two hits for Boston, which had won its last two games, including a dramatic 3-2 win over New York in 10 innings on Friday night.
Andrew Benintendi sparked New York's winning rally with a one-out double off the center-field wall against John Schreiber (3-2). Jose Trevino reached on an infield hit before Kiner-Falefa laid down a perfect bunt toward first base on the next pitch, with Benintendi scoring on a headfirst slide.
''The stadium went wild. I thought he was out,'' he said of the bunt. ''I was like: `Oh man.' I was thinking in my head. I looked in the dugout and they're waiting for the celebration.''
Aroldis Chapman (1-3) got four outs for the victory. Scott Effross worked a rocky ninth for his second save.
''Great job,'' Boone said of Effross. ''Nothing's easy for us right now. We're going through it, kind of one of those gut-check wins.''
Reese McGuire and Tommy Pham hit consecutive singles for Boston with one out in the ninth. But Rafael Devers bounced into a fielder's choice and Xander Bogaerts popped out.
Benintendi also made a diving catch in left in his second game back at Fenway Park since being traded by the Red Sox in February 2021.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge went 0 for 2 with two walks a night after hitting his major league-leading 46th homer. He had reached at least three times in his previous five games.
Trailing 2-0, the Yankees tied it in the fifth when Kiner-Falefa drove in Benintendi with a shot to left. Kiner-Falefa is in his first season with New York after he was acquired in a trade with Minnesota in March.
''They gave it to me,'' he said of the home-run ball. ''The kids asked for a Judge ball. So I got that done. Who wouldn't want a Judge ball, though? So I gave it to them. It's pretty cool. My first home run in pinstripes.''
The Red Sox had jumped in front in the fourth when Jarren Duran was hit on the back leg by a pitch with the bases loaded and McGuire followed with a sacrifice fly.
FOR STARTERS
Making his second start since being acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline, Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas allowed five hits, struck out four and walked two in five innings.
Boston's Kutter Crawford yielded two hits, struck out five and walked four in six innings.
''He was really good,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Crawford. ''Six innings, two runs, good mix of pitches.''
IT'S TIME
Sitting behind three other teams that are chasing the AL's final wild-card spot, Cora knows his club needs to go on a run soon.
''It's a sprint now. It's not a marathon,'' he said before the game.
SOX SWITCH
Boston recalled right-hander Jeurys Familia from Triple-A Worcester and optioned right-hander Kaleb Ort.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Boone said OF Giancarlo Stanton (left Achilles tendinitis) worked out at Yankee Stadium on Saturday after he ''ramped up a little bit more'' Friday. Boone said the next step is ''a full pregame workout'' in the next day or two and then a rehab assignment.
Red Sox: Cora said 2B Trevor Story (right hand) ''will be coming with us on the road to take BP.'' . INF/OF Kike Hernandez (right hip flexor) and OF Rob Refsnyder (right knee sprain) are both on a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland.
UP NEXT
Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon (11-2, 3.95 ERA) is slated to start the series finale Sunday night. Cora said afterward right-hander Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.69 ERA) will come off the IL to start for Boston. He has been sidelined since early July with right shoulder inflammation.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:38:27 GMT -5
Andrew Benintendi leads ninth-inning rally vs. Boston Red Sox who lose 3-2 to Yankees
Published: Aug. 13, 2022, 10:31 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Saturday’s game against the Yankees that John Schreiber was available in a “limited” capacity after he pitched 2 innings Thursday.
But Cora brought Schreiber, one of his top relievers, back out for the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2 after the righty had hurled a scoreless eighth.
Schreiber allowed a one-out double to Andrew Benintendi and infield single to Jose Trevino to put runners at the corners. Isiah Kiner-Falefa then put down a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring Benintendi.
The Red Sox lost 3-2 to New York here at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Schreiber has allowed just 10 earned runs in 47 innings (1.91 ERA) this season. He struck out four here Saturday in his two innings.
The Red Sox rallied with two one-out singles in the bottom of the ninth. But Rafael Devers grounded into a force-out and Xander Bogaerts popped out to end the game.
Crawford goes 6 strong innings
Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford pitched 6 innings, allowing two runs, two hits and four walks while striking out five.
Crawford has allowed just three earned runs in 13 innings (2.08 ERA) vs. the Yankees this season.
The righty gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the fifth inning.
Andrew Benintendi led off with a nine-pitch walk, including fouling off five pitches. Kiner-Falefa then connected for his first home run this season, a 372-foot blast into the Green Monster seats.
Red Sox take a 2-0 lead
The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Alex Verdugo started the rally with a leadoff walk, then Eric Hosmer delivered a one-out single to put runners at the corners.
Christian Arroyo walked to load the bases. Yankees starter Frankie Montas hit Jarren Duran with a cutter to force in the game’s first run.
Reese McGuire followed with a sac fly to center field that made it 2-0.
Bad base running
The Red Sox had J.D. Martinez at the plate with two runners on and two outs in the seventh. But reliever Aroldis Chapman stepped off and caught Xander Bogaerts stealing third base. The game remained tied 2-2.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:40:17 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts makes costly base running decision; ‘We cannot get picked off there’
Updated: Aug. 13, 2022, 11:47 p.m.|Published: Aug. 13, 2022, 11:45 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts’ costly base running decision took the bat out of J.D. Martinez’s hands.
Bogaerts ended the seventh inning with Martinez at the plate when he got caught stealing third base. Yankees lefty Aroldis Chapman stepped off the rubber and threw him out at third.
The game remained tied 2-2. The Yankees scored in the ninth on a double by Andrew Benintendi, an infield single by Jose Trevino and a perfect squeeze bunt single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The Red Sox lost 3-2 to New York here at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Bogaerts doubled off Lou Trivino with two outs. Yankees manager Aaron Boone then brought in Chapman to face the left-handed hitter, Alex Verdugo.
Chapman hit Verdugo with a fastball to put two runners on base.
“We cannot get picked off there,” manager Alex Cora said. “They got their matchup with Dugie. They hit him. We got a matchup with J.D. In that spot, it’s Chapman against J.D. Obviously, Chapman is slow to the plate and all that but we’ve just got to let the game settle there and let J.D. take his chances there. Obviously, he (Bogaerts) is not perfect, right? He’s done it before. But in that situation, it’s early. I thought we had a pretty good chance to get to their bullpen from there on. But they were prepared for that (steal attempt). He’s been stealing third a lot with two outs. So they were ready for it and they got it.”
Bogaerts was not available to the media after the game.
“You live with the sword, you die with the sword,” Martinez said. “If he had stole, it would have been second and third and a whole different situation. All of a sudden, he (Chapman) is scared to bounce something. It’s baseball. I’m not mad at him for doing that. It just happens.”
Bogaerts, Martinez and Rafael Devers combined to go 1-for-14 Saturday.
Devers is 6-for-44 (.136 batting average) in August. Bogaerts is 10-for-45 (.222) and Martinez is 8-for-41 (.195).
“It’s tough. It’s the core of the lineup,” Martinez said. “Us three, we’ve got to hit. If we don’t, most of the time it’s tough to win games. That’s on us. That’s on us to figure it out.”
Cora added, “It’s part of it and all the guys have to pick it up. Right now, there’s a few guys that are swinging the bat well. Obviously they’re going through their downs right now. But that’s part of 162. We expect these guys to produce and they’re going to be OK. At one point, all of them are going to get hot at the same time. Others are going to slump. That’s the beauty of this game. At one point, they were the hottest hitters in the game. Right now, they’re finding their strokes. So we just keep working and they’ll be OK.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:50:25 GMT -5
Red Sox pressing with lineup core in a slump 1:50 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- Xander Bogaerts was trying to do too much with the game on the line on Saturday night at Fenway Park against the Yankees.
How else to explain Boston’s veteran leader trying to steal third with two on and two outs and J.D. Martinez at the plate in a tie game in the seventh and getting picked off by Aroldis Chapman?
It is human nature for a player to force the action when a team is slumping.
Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Yankees handed the 56-59 Red Sox their seventh defeat in their last 10 games.
One of the biggest reasons for Boston’s current rut is that the team’s three All-Stars (Rafael Devers, Bogaerts and Martinez) are slumping at the same time.
If the Red Sox, who are 4 1/2 games back in the American League Wild Card standings with 47 games left in the season, are going to make a push to get into the playoffs, they need their big boppers to start bopping again.
“It’s tough. It’s the core of the lineup,” said Martinez. “We’ve got to hit. When you don’t, most of the time it’s tough to win games. But it’s on us. It’s on us to figure it out.”
Here are the grim numbers.
Since Aug. 3, Devers is 4-for-40 with a slash line of .100/.182/.200 with one homer and three RBIs. The slump started the day after he came off the injured list. It could be a combination of his timing being off and his right hamstring not being 100 percent.
Martinez’s slump has gone on the longest, though he provided a glimmer of hope with a big three-hit performance on Friday in which he tied it up in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single. Since July 16, Martinez has slashed 145/.197/.203 with no homers and eight RBIs in 76 plate appearances. Martinez had a sore back that forced him to miss some time before and after the All-Star break, but timing -- or lack thereof -- appears to be his biggest issue. Martinez (nine homers, 46 RBIs) also isn’t launching the ball like he’s known for.
Then there is Bogaerts, who typically looks like he could roll out of bed and lace a base hit to center. Of late, it hasn’t looked that easy. Since July 29, Bogaerts has a line of .228/.262/.351 with one homer and six RBIs. Bogaerts (.306 average, .823 OPS in ’22) is likely just going through the slump that most hitters go through over the course of a long season.
In Saturday’s defeat, Boston’s big three combined on a 1-for-14 line.
The one hit felt big at the time. Bogaerts ripped a two-out double into the corner in left and Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to Chapman, who started his outing by giving the Red Sox a gift and plunking a left-handed batter in Alex Verdugo. How big a gift was it? Lefties are hitting .143 with a .451 OPS against Chapman this season.
Hoping to do something big, the right-handed-hitting Martinez didn’t have a chance. On a 1-0 pitch, Chapman snuffed out the attempted steal of third by Bogaerts.
“Yeah, I’m surprised [Bogaerts went], but you live with the sword, you die by the sword,” Martinez said. “If he would have stolen, it would have been second and third. It would have been a whole different situation. Then, all of a sudden, he’s scared to bounce something. It’s baseball. I’m not mad at him for doing that. It just happens.”
Considering the situation, Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged it wasn’t the right play.
“We cannot get picked off there,” said Cora. “Obviously Chapman is slow to the plate and all that, but we’ve just got to let the game set there and let J.D. take his chances. Obviously [Bogaerts] is not perfect right?”
During his near decade with the Red Sox, you can probably count the mental mistakes Bogaerts has made with one hand, or two, at most.
And this one would have quickly been forgotten had Boston scored more than two runs.
The dam has to break for the three stars at some point, right?
“I think so. I don’t know how to say it, the water always goes back to the level,” said Martinez. “That’s a famous Spanish thing -- the tide goes up, the tide goes down but it always goes back to even. You can only keep these guys down for so long.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:51:40 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7h That's an absolutely brutal baserunning mistake.
Aroldis Chapman was looking sketchy. #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:53:11 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 7h Unbelievable. Bogaerts takes the bat out of J.D's hands, gets picked off.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:57:03 GMT -5
With each outing, Kutter Crawford makes a strong case to remain in the Red Sox starting rotation By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 14, 2022, 12:16 a.m.
The Red Sox continue to talk bravely about making a run for a playoff spot. That would involve passing four teams, which isn’t impossible but certainly hard to imagine given their pitching.
A better goal would be to finish .500 and even that may be asking a lot.
Realistically, the remaining 47 games are about determining which players on the roster can be counted on for next season, particularly as candidates for the rotation.
Kutter Crawford continued to build a good case on Saturday night, holding the Yankees to two runs on two hits over six innings in a game the Sox lost, 3-2. On a night the Sox needed their starter to eat innings and protect a worn-out bullpen, the 26-year-old rookie righthander matched his season high with 94 pitches and left the mound with the game tied against a team with the best offense in the American League.
“The kid, he understands. He watches the game and he makes adjustments,” said manager Alex Cora, who noted that Crawford made some changes to his game plan after watching Nate Eovaldi’s quality start against the Yankees on Friday night.
“I like the way he attacked the opposition. He was tremendous for us.”
Then there’s this: Crawford has faced the Yankees four times this season, twice as a starter, and allowed three earned runs over 13 innings. That’s meaningful when contemplating the future. Give me a pitcher who can stand up to the Yankees.
Crawford is now sixth on the team with 62⅔ innings this season, a good sample size for a rookie. Counting a game when the Sox used an opener, he has essentially been in the rotation since July 4.
Crawford has a 3.20 ERA over eight games in that stretch and pitched at least five innings each time. Opponents have hit .211 and struck out 41 times over 45 innings. The Sox are 4-4 in those games.
Crawford did his job again on Saturday but came away annoyed that he lost a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when Isiah Kiner-Falefa belted a two-run homer over the Monster.
Crawford left a 1-and-1 cutter over the plate and Kiner-Falefa hit his first home of the season. It took him 349 at-bats to connect.
“I’ve got a little bad taste in my mouth after the home run,” Crawford said. “Just a poorly executed pitch. I had a problem all night trying to get that cutter down and inside to the righties.”
The top four hitters in the Yankees order — D.J. LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Josh Donaldson — were 1 for 8 with two walks and three strikeouts.
That’s what allowed Crawford to go six innings and keep Cora from using some of the less-trustworthy members of the bullpen.
“Every time I take the ball I try to go as deep in the game as possible and give my team the best opportunity to win,” Crawford said.
As for his success against the Yankees, Crawford worked around the question.
“I just like competing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which team. As long as I’m on the mound, I like to compete.”
That’s a diplomatic answer. But on a night when Fenway Park had another sellout crowd, pitching well against the Yankees has to mean something.
Crawford nodded his head.
“It’s a little sweeter,” he acknowledged.
With Nate Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and Michael Wacha all free agents after the season, Nick Pivetta could be on the only rotation regular coming back.
Counting on Chris Sale is a dangerous strategy. Another rookie, Josh Winckowski, is 5-5 with a 4.69 ERA. Brayan Bello had an 8.47 ERA before he landed on the injured list.
The Sox should do the smart thing and return Garrett Whitlock to the rotation to take advantage of his vast abilities, but that’s not certain. They also can retain James Paxton, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. But he’ll be 34 with only a handful of innings pitched over three seasons.
The opportunity is there for Crawford to grab. He’s lined up to start seven or eight more games this season to keep making his case.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 3:59:10 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Michael Wacha returning Sunday to reinforce Red Sox’ inconsistent rotation By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 13, 2022, 7:59 p.m.
Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) will be activated for Sunday’s series finale with the Yankees and start.
Wacha, whose last start was June 29, impressed during his first 13 starts with the Red Sox, producing a 2.69 ERA in 70 ⅓ innings.
“I think it’s just a lot of excitement,” Wacha said before the Sox’ 3-2 loss Saturday. “I’m really a little anxious to get back out there, I will say. But just a lot of excitement to get back out there and join this club and hopefully make a little run at it.” Related: Devers, Bogaerts can’t deliver as Yankees come out on top in another drama-filled finish at Fenway Park
The Red Sox have struggled to find consistency among their starting pitchers. Rich Hill was hurt before recently making a return to the rotation and Nick Pivetta has underperformed for much of July and August. Getting Wacha back will provide the Sox with another solid starter and take a load off of a thin bullpen.
“Strike one is the best pitch in baseball and we haven’t done that consistently,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s always good to be efficient and go deep into the games and it hasn’t happened. Having Michael to pitch to contact, that’ll be good for us, good for the bullpen. I think finally we’re going to obviously find some consistency.”
Despite his 1-for-4 night that ended in a pop out to Anthony Rizzo in the ninth, Xander Bogaerts has been effective for the Red Sox this year. Even though he came into Saturday batting just .225 in August. Through that 10-game span he has a .238 on-base and .350 slugging percentage. His power numbers have not replicated what they were in seasons past.
Through Friday, Bogaerts was sitting on nine homers in 109 games while slugging .448. His combined slugging percentage over his previous four seasons was .523.
Nonetheless, Bogaerts’s hitting ability is multilayered. He finds ways to still be productive because he puts the ball in play and has the ability to produce different swings on different pitches and locations. That’s a primary reason why he came into the day hitting .307, which ranked second among major league shortstops, trailing the Dodgers’ Trea Turner (.309).
“It’s the combination of a lot of things,” Cora said. “But Xander’s ability to hit with two strikes is unreal. His ability to put the ball in play, and then after that the athlete takes over.”
The athlete is part of the mix, too, and hustle. In those 109 games, Bogaerts has an astonishing .364 batting average on ground balls. That’s the highest in the majors for batters who have seen a minimum of 1,500 pitches.
“I mean, that’s the beauty of putting the ball in play and hustling,” Cora said. “The baseball gods, they take care of you. It’s interesting. It’s not like his best season, but he’s still consistent, right? You put him in the third hole and at [some] point start driving the ball and hitting it in the air.”
▪ ▪ ▪
After being released by the Phillies last week, Jeurys Familia went back home to the Dominican Republic to work with one of his pitching coaches. When the Red Sox signed him and assigned the righthander to Worcester, Familia said he felt like a different pitcher. His one outing — Familia pitched one inning and struck out three — was good enough for the Red Sox to call him up Saturday afternoon. Familia was one of the best relievers in all of baseball for a period of time. He has a career 3.46 ERA in 532 ⅔ innings, striking out 560. He had a 6.09 ERA in 38 games for the Phillies this season before getting released on Aug. 6 . . . Kiké Hernández (right hip flexor strain) is still on target to rejoin the big league club Monday in Pittsburgh for the start of a three-game set with the Pirates. Hernández played Saturday for Double A Portland, going 2 for 4 with two doubles, and will play Sunday as well . . . Rob Refsnyder (right knee sprain) played for Portland Saturday. He had two walks and a hit and scored twice. He will also play Sunday, too. Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) will throw a live batting practice Sunday before the team decides what his next steps will be . . . To make room for Familia, the Red Sox optioned Kaleb Ort to Triple A Worcester. Chris Sale was transferred to the 60-day injured list . . . Matt Judon and Jalen Mills of the Patriots were at Fenway Saturday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 4:00:30 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h With Martinez up, Bogaerts gets caught stealing third to end the inning. And Chapman looked uncomfortable on the mound.
Strange seeing Bogaerts make a mistake like that.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 4:07:32 GMT -5
Red Sox hopeful for more pitching consistency with Michael Wacha’s return to rotation Wacha likely to start Sunday night vs. Yankees
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: August 13, 2022 at 7:38 p.m. | UPDATED: August 13, 2022 at 8:01 p.m.
Michael Wacha is back, and that’s important news for the Red Sox’ pitching staff.
Alex Cora didn’t make it official, but it’s a near certainty that Wacha will start Sunday night against the Yankees, a high-pressure return for the veteran pitcher after missing the last seven weeks with right shoulder inflammation.
As the Red Sox chase from behind for a wild card spot over the next seven-plus weeks, Wacha’s return is a significant step toward gaining some semblance of consistency that’s been fleeting for the pitching staff for a significant portion of the schedule. Injuries to several starters have thrown a wrench into the rotation, which has had a domino effect on a depleted bullpen that is currently missing closer Tanner Houck and Matt Strahm.
With Wacha – one of the Red Sox’ best starters during the first half – back in the mix along with Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta and surprisingly efficient rookies Kutter Crawford and Josh Winckowski, the hope is that the Red Sox can produce deeper outings from their starters more often, helping an exhausted bullpen in the process, which will be critical as they hang on to their playoff hopes.
“Obviously the schedule is going to help with the off days but at the same time there’s going to be a point where we play 17 straight and if the starters are not going deep, we’re going to run into the same thing over and over again especially now with Tanner out,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Other guys have to step up but it starts from the first inning on. We go deep into the game and we prove it, when those guys were going six innings consistently it helped us.”
The return of Wacha, who has proven to be a consistent strike thrower, will be a key down the stretch.
“Strike one is the best pitch in baseball and we haven’t done that consistently,” Cora said. “Putting guys away right away is always good to be efficient and go deep into games and it hasn’t happened. Having Michael pitch to contact and induce groundballs right away, that will be good for us and the bullpen, I think finally obviously find some consistency. What Nate did yesterday regardless of the stuff was good. To get six innings, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish now.” Familia ‘a different person’
In search of some bullpen reinforcements, the Red Sox selected Jeurys Familia to the active roster on Saturday after signing the former All-Star closer to a minor league contract last week.
Familia was recently released by the Phillies, who he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with, after a rough season in which he posted a 6.09 ERA in 34 innings. He said he feels renewed after heading home to the Dominican Republic and then throwing a shutout inning with three strikeouts in an appearance with the WooSox on Thursday.
“When I got put on waivers by Philly, I went back to the Dominican Republic and worked with my pitching coach over there, worked on a few things I wasn’t feeling really good about,” Familia said. “That week I was there, I was able to really work on that. And when I came here, I was able to throw that scoreless inning in Worcester and I felt like a completely different person. That’s where I am right now.”
Cora feels a new environment may be beneficial to Familia.
“The stuff is good,” Cora said. “Obviously he had a hard time in Philly but we feel there are a few things we can adjust and maximize his repertoire. Obviously every organization works differently. They have their thoughts and this is a guy that led for a while, stuff wise, pitched really, really good. Come here and use him out of the bullpen in any situation will be helpful.” Barnes builds
Matt Barnes’ performance in Thursday’s win over the Orioles was impressive, as he struck out multiple batters in an outing for the first time in 321 days. It was even better that he did it again the next night.
Though Barnes hit Aaron Judge with a pitch to put two runners on with one out in a one-run game, his stuff that he’s been working so hard to control again was back and allowed him to get out of it. Facing the heart of the Yankees’ lineup, he blew away Anthony Rizzo with a fastball, then froze Josh Donaldson with a curveball for strike three to end the inning.
Barnes, like he was Thursday, was fired up coming off the mound. The strikeouts proved pivotal as the Red Sox came back to win in the 10th inning.
“Everybody talks about the breaking ball, you know how I feel. It starts with the fastball,” Cora said. “His fastball has been solid the last two outings. … It’s a lot of effort, starting with him, he put the work and when he was down there with his rehab.
“Hopefully he gets on a roll here. I always said, for us to get here, he needs to be part of this and so far, that was good yesterday, really good, and some good hitters and got people out. Cool to see him showing some emotion and that’s always good.” …
Chris Sale, who had season-ending wrist surgery this week, was moved to the 60-day injured list to create a 40-man roster spot for Familia. Kaleb Ort was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the active roster for Familia. …
Cora said Kiké Hernandez – who took three at-bats Friday night in Portland – was also playing Saturday and Sunday there. He’ll join the Red Sox on this week’s road trip, where it’s likely he’ll be activated.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 4:16:09 GMT -5
Yankees @ Red Sox Sunday, 14th August 2022 7pm @ Fenway
Taillon 11-2/3.95
Wacha 6-1/2.69
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 7:08pm EDT Written by Jordy
The Boston Red Sox hope to send the New York Yankees packing with another loss in Sunday’s series finale of the ensuing AL East divisional tilt. It has been a rocky run for a banged-up Yankees team still looking to reverse their offensive fortunes. Perhaps they can find hope in a matchup pitting starting right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon against Boston’s Michael Wacha.
Does Fenway Park hold another nightmare visit for Taillon Jameson Taillon would probably love nothing more than to forget his last visit to Fenway Park. He got blasted for seven hits and six runs in five innings. Granted, he did come back to pitch a gem in the rematch at Yankee Stadium.
But Sunday’s game is back at the house of horrors in Boston.
Taillon is throwing a 3.95 ERA with an 11-2 record. His record is proof that good things clearly tend to happen for the Yankees whenever he’s on the mound. But that belief will get put to the test with the team starting to struggle a bit offensively.
If the offense sputters, it’s going to come down to Taillon and the relief arms staving off Boston’s bats.
Defense isn’t a lost art on the Yankees considering they’re holding opponents to a .219/.283/.357 slash line. They’re still very much a tough team to score runs on in games. But their offense isn’t living up to the juggernaut status it reached earlier in the season.
Wacha expected to return to the pitching lineup Rejoice, Red Sox fans, Michael Wacha is returning to the starting lineup. The 31-year-old righty is slated to be back on the mound for the first time since June 28 in Sunday’s finale. He was throwing a 2.69 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 6-1 record before going on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
And now, he’s back to help the Red Sox try to knock off the Yankees.
It has been well over a month since Wacha’s last out on the mound. So you have to wonder if any rust will factor into his return. Not to mention he’ll be starting against a Yankees batting lineup that should always be considered a sleeping giant at this point. At any moment, the switch could come on for them to make the world remember why they’re one of the most feared teams in baseball.
Can the Red Sox muster a response of their own if it does? The answer to that question could mean the difference between a win and a loss in the finale. Boston is averaging the second-most hits in their home building (8.95), but they have a bad habit of leaving runners in scoring position. They have to find a way to finish innings with runners getting across home plate.
Yankees at Red Sox Sunday, at 7:08 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 72° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 7:08 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 8:03:23 GMT -5
Yankees aim to squeeze out series win vs. Red Sox FLM
The New York Yankees hope to leave a recent skid in the past when they conclude a three-game series against the host Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.
New York had lost three straight games and eight of its last nine before coming up with a 3-2 victory over Boston on Saturday.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit his first homer of the season and drove in the go-ahead run with a safety squeeze in the ninth inning to help secure manager Aaron Boone's 400th career victory with the Yankees.
"Nothing's easy for us right now," Boone said. "We're going through it, but that's one of those gut-check wins where a lot of people did a lot of good things. We're fighting and guys are continuing to make plays. This one feels really good."
Scott Effross recorded his second career save after escaping a jam in the bottom of the ninth. Effross got the nod over All-Star closer Clay Holmes, who has four blown saves in his last 12 appearances.
"I'll try to put him in the best positions to be successful. Some nights that will be the ninth," Boone said of Holmes. "But we'll keep working with him. Got to get him consistent."
Boston is 4 1/2 games back in the race for the final wild-card spot in the American League. Despite the steep odds, manager Alex Cora remains optimistic about his team's chances.
"We just have to keep playing," Cora said. "There's a winning streak somewhere, and this is a good baseball team that's going to get healthy, and that's what people haven't seen, but that's not their job. It's my job to keep them positive and keep pushing, and the coaching staff is doing an amazing job."
The Yankees will send right-hander Jameson Taillon (11-2, 3.95 ERA) to the mound Sunday in the rubber game of the series. He allowed three runs on as many hits over seven innings against the Seattle Mariners last Monday for his first win since July 16.
Taillon, 30, had allowed 19 earned runs over his last 29 2/3 innings pitched before the win against Seattle.
Tommy Pham is 4-for-14 with two doubles against Taillon, who is 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA in six career starts against Boston.
Taillon will face the Red Sox for the third time this season after going 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in his previous two outings covering 11 innings.
Boston will counter with right-hander Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.69), who hasn't pitched for Boston since June 28 because of right-shoulder inflammation.
Wacha, 31, made his second rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Portland, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in 4 1/3 innings.
He has been sharp in six starts at Fenway Park this season, going 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA across 32 1/3 innings.
Anthony Rizzo is 21-for-47 (.447) with three homers and seven RBIs against Wacha, who is 1-1 with a 3.35 ERA in eight career games (six starts) vs. the Yankees.
Boston could use a spark from third baseman Rafael Devers, who went hitless in five at-bats on Saturday and is 4-for-40 with one homer and three RBIs in his last 10 games.
--Field Level Media
|
|
|
Post by Kimmi on Aug 14, 2022 9:28:58 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h With Martinez up, Bogaerts gets caught stealing third to end the inning. And Chapman looked uncomfortable on the mound.
Strange seeing Bogaerts make a mistake like that. Chapman appeared to be en route to one of his implosion type outings. Very costly mistake.
|
|
|
Post by Kimmi on Aug 14, 2022 9:40:41 GMT -5
“You live with the sword, you die with the sword,” Martinez said. “If he had stole, it would have been second and third and a whole different situation. All of a sudden, he (Chapman) is scared to bounce something. It’s baseball. I’m not mad at him for doing that. It just happens.” Bogaerts, Martinez and Rafael Devers combined to go 1-for-14 Saturday.
Devers is 6-for-44 (.136 batting average) in August. Bogaerts is 10-for-45 (.222) and Martinez is 8-for-41 (.195).
1. What JD says regarding Bogaerts stealing is true. Had the steal been successful, we would be praising Bogaerts about how good a baserunner he is. That said, you have to be 100% sure you can be successful in that situation.
2. All players go through slumps. To have our 3 big bats all slumping terribly at the same time is brutal. Again, I'm far more frustrated with the offense than I am with the pitching. It seems we hardly ever see a sustained rally from this team. If we get down by 3 runs early, I have very little confidence in this offense to come back.
|
|