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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 14, 2022 14:50:22 GMT -5
Game 116: Red Sox host Yankees in series finale after back-to-back nailbiters, plus lineups and notesUpdated August 14, 2022, 2 hours ago After dropping a heartbreaker to the Yankees on Saturday night, the Red Sox still have a chance to take a series off their fiercest rivals in Sunday’s primetime finale. Michael Wacha is back to take the ball for Boston after a stint on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Perhaps the rotation’s best and most consistent option this season, Wacha will face the Yankees for the first time in a Sox uniform; he has a 3.35 ERA in 37 ⅔ innings in eight previous appearances against the weekend’s visitors. Jameson Taillon will go for New York — the righthander has long troubled Boston, posting a 2.78 ERA in 35 ⅔ innings against the Sox. He held them to one run in six innings of work in a 14-1 drubbing in the Bronx in July. Taillon has been the benficiary of extraordinary run support; the Yankees average 6.25 runs when he’s on the mound. Lineups YANKEES (72-42): 1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF 2. Aaron Judge (R) RF 3. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B 4. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 5. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B 6. Miguel Andujar (R) DH 7. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS 8. Kyle Higashioka (R) C 9. Tim Locastro (R) CF Pitching: RHP Jameson Taillon (11-2, 3.95 ERA) RED SOX (56-59): 1. Tommy Pham (R) LF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 6. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 8. Jarren Duran (L) CF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R) C Pitching: RHP Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.69 ERA) Time: 7:08 p.m. TV, radio: ESPN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Yankees vs. Wacha: Andújar 1-3, Benintendi 1-5, Donaldson 2-6, Gonzalez 1-2, Hicks 0-4, Judge 0-11, Kiner-Falefa 1-2, LeMahieu 7-18, Locastro 2-2, Rizzo 21-47, Torres 1-7 Red Sox vs. Taillon: Arroyo 0-1, Bogaerts 5-17, Dalbec 0-5, Devers 2-8, Duran 0-11, Hosmer 1-3, Martinez 3-10, Pham 4-14, Plawecki 3-8, Sánchez 1-3, Verdugo 3-13 Stat of the day: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and J.D. Martinez are hitting a combined .185/.223/.308 in August. Notes: Wacha 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 ⅓ innings. He has been sharp in six starts at Fenway Park this season, going 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA across 32 ⅓ innings ... Anthony Rizzo is 21 for 47 (.447) with three homers and seven RBIs against Wacha, the two having battled in the NL Central for several years ... Rafael Devers, who went hitless in five at-bats on Saturday, is 4 for 40 with one homer and three RBIs in his last 10 games ... The Yankees had lost three straight games and eight of its last nine before coming up with a 3-2 victory Saturday. Song of the Day: Randy Newman- Sail Awaywww.youtube.com/watch?v=p77609cWO4U
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 14, 2022 21:23:15 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 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). Wow, weeks of silence and Speier and Smith both mention the same thing at the same time. Glad to see the RS are finally following me.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 14, 2022 21:31:21 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. I wouldn't be praising him. Way too often, people receive credit for a stupid move that happens to work. There is so little to be gained from stealing 3rd, and so much to lose, you need to be close to perfect. The chances of us scoring with a guy on 2nd was .222. The chances of scoring with someone on 3rd was .260. The difference of .038, by my calculation, means you have to be right 96.2% of the time. It was a bad play even if he made it.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 14, 2022 21:34:07 GMT -5
But that said, it was nice to see Wacha back. We won, but we still aren't scoring. We only exceeded 5 runs 4 times in our last 29 games. Given our pitching injuries, I am amazed we are winning at all.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:22:54 GMT -5
Wacha makes short work of Yankees, Boston wins 3-0 in 2:15 AP
BOSTON (AP) Michael Wacha and the last-place Red Sox made short work of the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
Pitching for the first time in almost seven weeks, Wacha returned from a shoulder injury to limit New York to a pair of singles in seven innings, and Boston beat the Yankees 3-0 on Sunday night.
It all lasted 2 hours, 15 minutes - tying for the shortest game between the two teams since 1994.
''I feel like I work better that way,'' said Wacha, who took a perfect game into the fifth inning. ''That's the mentality that I was facing: Get back in the dugout as quick as possible and let the guys keep getting a crack at their guy.''
Rafael Devers homered, and Tommy Pham had three hits for the Red Sox, who took two of three from New York - their first win in a multigame series against a division foe in 13 tries.
Officially, Boston is credited with a ''series'' win when it beat the Orioles in a one-game visit on Thursday. But manager Alex Cora was hesitant to count that one.
''Finally we won against the East,'' he said with a smirk. ''Or, that's two in a row. Sorry.''
New York has lost nine of its last 11 games but still has a double-digit lead in the division; the Red Sox are seventh in the race for the AL's three wild-card spots.
Activated from the injured list earlier in the day and pitching for the first time since June 28, Wacha (7-1) allowed one walk and struck out nine - including major league home run leader Aaron Judge twice.
Ryan Brasier pitched a perfect eighth and Garrett Whitlock pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save, striking out Judge to end a nine-pitch at-bat and then getting Josh Donaldson on a slow bouncer that second baseman Christian Arroyo bare-handed to make the throw to first and end it.
Jameson Taillon (11-3) allowed three runs on six hits, striking out four to pick up his first loss since July 5.
The Red Sox and Yankees on national television often runs over four hours. But the teams finished in 2:15 on Aug. 3, 2018; they hadn't played a shorter game since a 2:13 matchup in 1994.
YOU MAY BE SEATED
Judge was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, snapping a string of 14 straight games of reaching base. He had walked at least twice in each of the previous four games.
''He's having a heck of a season this year, and he's one of the best in the league,'' Wacha said. ''I try to keep the guys off of base in front of him and make quality pitches to that type of guy.''
THANKS, PHAM
Asked about the offense, Cora said, ''Tommy did a good job.''
A trade deadline acquisition, Pham doubled and scored Boston's first run to lead off the bottom of the first. He has 14 hits in 23 at-bats over his last five games, including a walk-off single in the 10th against the Yankees on Friday.
BROOKS DEVERS
Devers hit his 25th homer of the season - a two-run shot in the sixth - that was just his second since Aug. 2. It's his third career 25-homer season, tied with Ted Williams, Tony Conigliaro, Jim Rice and Nomar Garciaparra for most in Red Sox history through his age 25 year.
But Devers also made a big stop at third base in the fifth, when the Yankees had two of their three baserunners in the game for their only real rally.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Kyle Higashioka hit a hard line drive down the third base line that Devers backhanded and threw to first for the out.
''That's something people don't often talk about,'' Cora said. ''(Yankees manager Aaron Boone) always says that he plays like Brooks Robinson against the Yankees. When he hears people say he struggles (on defense), he's like, `Not against us.'''
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles tendon) will take batting practice on Monday at Yankee Stadium. If all goes well, he will begin a minor league rehab assignment.
Red Sox: Kike Hernandez (hip) and Rob Refsnyder (knee) are expected to be activated for the start of the series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Gerrit Cole (9-4) will start against Tampa Bay.
Red Sox: After an off day on Monday, the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Pirates. Nick Pivetta is expected to start the opener.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:50:46 GMT -5
Wacha's sparkling return leads Red Sox to series win Devers smashes 25th homer after working out swing issue 12:41 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- There was no easing back from the injured list for Michael Wacha, who was sorely missed by the Red Sox in the six weeks he couldn’t post.
Nor was there any easing out of a slump by Rafael Devers, who came to work early to fix a hitch in his swing and the fruit of his labor was a mammoth 433-foot, two-run homer that provided a signature moment in a 3-0 victory for the Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball over the Yankees.
If Devers gave Boston some breathing room when he belted his 25th homer in the bottom of the sixth, Wacha was the clear tone-setter for the night in this rubber-game win.
Wacha turned in a marvelous performance that was evident by traditional metrics (seven scoreless innings, two hits, one walk, season high of nine strikeouts) and new-age ones (18 whiffs in 44 swings, average exit velocity of 79.6 mph).
“He was in command the whole night, ahead in the count, right through [89] pitches,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Very efficient. His tempo is great. It makes the defense better. And we made some plays behind him.”
The tempo from Wacha helped turn Red Sox-Yankees, a rivalry that has been notorious for a lack of pace over the years, into a tidy, two-hour and 15-minute game. That tied the shortest time of game between the rivals in the 2000s, equaling Rick Porcello’s one-hitter on Aug. 3, 2018.
When Wacha is pitching swiftly, he is typically the best version of himself. His shutout at Anaheim on June 6 took just two hours and 32 minutes.
“Yeah, I feel like I work better that way,” said Wacha. “I feel like my successful outings are getting back on the mound and on the attack mode. They came out swinging early and I was making quality pitches and they turned into quick outs and I was able to go deeper into the game.”
That was no small factor, given the state of Boston’s bullpen, which has been a troubled spot for most of the season and is currently without Tanner Houck, who is on the injured list with back issues.
Wacha had the Yankees off balance from the start in this one, retiring the first 14 batters he faced. Through four innings, Wacha threw a mere 39 pitches.
At 57-59, Cora’s team is hoping to climb from the periphery of the American League Wild Card race (4 1/2 games back) to firmly in the mix. Perhaps this weekend against the rival Yankees will represent a rebirth of momentum for a Boston team that has been scuffling since the end of June.
That was at the same point Wacha went down with right shoulder inflammation and he proved Sunday that his return to the rotation could make a difference.
“You look up and you see his numbers, he was really good for us early on,” said Cora. “He was one of the reasons we were playing good baseball. To have him back means a lot.”
In his first season with the Red Sox, Wacha is 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 14 starts.
“He’s a horse. He came from his rehab start to throw seven innings,” said Devers.
Then there is Devers, the hitting horse the Red Sox must ride down the stretch to have success.
With one big swing, Devers joined elite company. It was his third 25-homer season, tying him with Ted Williams, Tony Conigliaro, Jim Rice and Nomar Garciaparra for tops in Red Sox history through an age-25 season. And it was his 19th career blast against the Yankees, the second most in Sox history prior to turning 26. Devers is just one shy of tying Williams for that club mark.
The star third baseman had four hits in his previous 41 at-bats prior to Sunday, which is why he came in early to work on handling the pitch that had been beating him -- the high and inside fastball.
Sure enough, that’s what Yankees righty Jameson Taillon threw to him on that full count in the sixth. Devers destroyed it and posed as he watched it soar over New York’s bullpen and several rows deep into the bleachers in right field.
“He can get hot,” said Cora. “He can carry the offense for a few days, sometimes weeks. That was a good start.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:53:35 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Houck to see spine specialist August 14th, 2022
LATEST NEWS Aug. 14: RHP Tanner Houck to see spine specialist Houck, Boston's closer, has had a series of appointments with back specialists since he was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 9. Monday will mark the last of those appointments. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the club will have a better idea of the righty's timetable for a return after that consultation. Houck's move to the IL was retroactive to Aug. 6, so the earliest he can pitch for the Red Sox again is Aug. 21.
"That’s the last hurdle," Cora said. "I know it’s been a slow process and all that but we’ve just got to make sure everything is fine so tomorrow he’ll have that one and we’ll have more news on Tuesday.”
Aug. 14: RHP Michael Wacha reinstated from 15-day injured list; LHP Darwinzon Hernandez optioned to Triple-A Worcester Wacha was activated for his Sunday night start against the Yankees. The righty, one of the best early-season stories for the Red Sox, was missed during his time on the injured list recovering from right shoulder inflammation. Wacha's last start for Boston was on June 28. In 13 starts on the season, the veteran is 6-1 with a 2.69 ERA.
To make room for Wacha on the roster, Hernandez was optioned to Worcester. The left-hander has made seven relief appearances for Boston this season, surrendering 16 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Hernandez has a 4.68 ERA (13 ER/25 IP) in 14 outings (seven starts) for Worcester in 2022.
2B Trevor Story (hairline fracture, right wrist) Expected return: Late August/Early September Story is traveling with the Red Sox for the start of the upcoming road trip to Pittsburgh, where he will take on-field batting practice. The timeline for Story going on a Minor League rehab assignment will be strictly based on how his hand responds to swinging the bat. Originally, Story was diagnosed with a bone bruise on his right wrist after being hit by a pitch he swung at on July 12 at Tropicana Field. The fracture was in a different spot. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
LHP Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) Expected return: Mid-to-late August Strahm threw live batting practice at Fenway Park on Aug. 14 and is closing in on a return to the team. The question is whether he will make a Minor League rehab appearance before his activation. Either way, Strahm should be active at some point during the road trip to Pittsburgh and Baltimore taking place Aug. 16-21. He has been missed in the bullpen, particularly since the Red Sox traded lefty Jake Diekman to the White Sox. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
RHP Brayan Bello (left groin strain) Expected return: Aug. 19 at the earliest Bello opened a Minor League rehab assignment for Double-A Portland on Aug. 14, pitching 3 2/3 innings and throwing 48 pitches. He allowed two hits and a run while walking none and striking out six. The righty is rated as Boston's top pitching prospect and the club's third best prospect overall by MLB Pipeline. Bello has an 8.47 ERA in five appearances (17 innings) with 15 strikeouts to 11 walks this season for the Red Sox. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
OF Rob Refsnyder (right knee sprain) Expected return: Aug. 16 Refsnyder belted two homers for Double-A Portland on Aug. 14 in what was expected to be the final game of his Minor League rehab assignment. The right-handed-hitting outfielder also drew a walk. The Red Sox have missed Refsnyder's bat, particularly against lefties. He is all but certain to be activated for the start of the road trip on Aug. 16 in Pittsburgh. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
RHP Tyler Danish (right forearm strain) Expected return: Mid-August Danish made the third appearance of his Minor League rehab assignment for Portland on Aug. 14, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Manager Alex Cora said that Danish should return to the Red Sox "at one point" the week of Aug. 16. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
OF Kiké Hernández (right hip flexor strain) Expected return: Mid August Boston's starting center fielder went 0-for-3 on Aug. 14 in what was expected to be the fourth and final game of his Minor League rehab assignment. Assuming there are no hiccups on Monday's off-day, Hernández should be activated for the opener of the road trip in Pittsburgh on Aug. 16. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:54:54 GMT -5
Rich Hill to remain in Boston Red Sox rotation for now, will pitch Wednesday with Josh Winckowski available in relief
Updated: Aug. 14, 2022, 8:56 p.m.|Published: Aug. 14, 2022, 8:47 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Red Sox lefty Rich Hill volunteered to spend the weekend in the team’s bullpen but will return to the starting rotation -- at least for one more outing.
Hill will start Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, manager Alex Cora said Sunday. Nick Pivetta will start Tuesday’s series opener against the Pirates and Nathan Eovaldi will pitch in Thursday’s finale. That sets up Kutter Crawford and Michael Wacha to start in Baltimore next weekend with Pivetta starting the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday night.
Hill seemed to be in danger of losing his rotation spot after allowing eight earned runs in seven innings (10.29 ERA) in his two starts since being activated off the injured list. But he’ll stay starting with rookie righty Josh Winckowski going to the bullpen for now. Winckowski is expected to piggyback Hill out of the bullpen Wednesday night at PNC Park.
“That Wednesday game, we’re going to, I don’t want to say piggyback, but we’ve got to find a way we can use the bullpen aggressively today and Tuesday, then kind of reset,” Cora said. “We’re going that route on Wednesday with Rich starting that game and bringing Josh out of the bullpen.” Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
With Wacha back, the Red Sox rotation is at full strength for the first time in a while. Three spots for Wacha, Pivetta and Eovaldi are locked in and Kutter Crawford has certainly done enough to remain in the big league rotation with an excellent six-week stretch. That leaves one spot for Hill, Winckowski and Brayan Bello, who is close to returning from the injured list. As of now, it appears Hill will remain in the rotation, Winckowski will be a long reliever and Bello is either ticketed for the bullpen or a return to Triple-A. Cora said the team had not yet decided what to do with Bello, who made a rehab start at Double-A Portland on Sunday.
Still, Hill might be on a short leash with his rotation spot. The 42-year-old lefty, who missed a month with a knee sprain, has a 4-5 record and 4.75 ERA in 17 starts this season. He has largely kept the Red Sox in games (Boston is 8-9 when he starts) but the Sox have lost his last three outings.
Winckowski, who has a 4.69 ERA in 11 starts in the majors this season, last pitched Thursday, allowing only three earned runs on six hits in 5⅔ innings in a win over Baltimore. He has barely pitched as a reliever in his minor league career, making just five relief appearances in 86 games throughout his minor league career.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:55:55 GMT -5
Red Sox standings: Boston gains ground on 4 wild card rivals Sunday but is still 4½ games out of playoff berth with 46 games to go
Published: Aug. 14, 2022, 10:25 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The Red Sox beat the Yankees, 3-0, on Sunday night to clinch a series win over their first-place rivals. In the process, they gained some ground on some of the teams they are chasing in the AL wild card race.
Here’s where things stand entering Monday’s off day:
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: Red Sox would be out of the playoffs; Toronto, Seattle and Tampa Bay would make it as wild cards.
WHERE THE RED SOX STAND: 7th in the AL wild card race (3 teams make it); 4½ games behind the Rays for the third and final spot.
AL WILD CARD STANDINGS:
Blue Jays: 61-52
Mariners: 62-54
Rays: 60-53
____________
Orioles: 59-55 (1½ games back of Tampa Bay)
Twins: 58-55 (2 games back of Tampa Bay)
White Sox: 59-56 (2 games back of Tampa Bay)
Red Sox: 57-59 (4½ games back of Tampa Bay)
SUNDAY’S SCORES -- Boston gained ground on the Toronto, Seattle, Baltimore and Minnesota
Guardians 7, Blue Jays 2
Rangers 5, Mariners 3
Rays 4, Orioles 1
Angels 4, Twins 2
White Sox 5, Tigers 3
Red Sox 3, Yankees 0
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 3:57:18 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 8h That's quite a play by Rafael Devers to end the 5th inning.
Generally better going to his left. That was a stab to his right and a strong throw across. Really well done. #RedSox
Turns out he can hit a little bit, too.
That ball was pulverized to right field. Insurance for the #RedSox in the 6th.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 4:04:57 GMT -5
Latest win over Yankees keeps Red Sox believing anything is possible in playoff hunt By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 14, 2022, 8:35 p.m.
Michael Wacha thought he was ready to pitch for the Red Sox last week. But the team insisted he make a second minor league rehabilitation start just to be sure.
“They wanted me to be able to go six innings,” the righthander explained. “I tried to fight it, but they make the decisions.”
The Sox had it right. In one of the best starts of his career, Wacha came off the injured list and allowed two hits over seven innings on Sunday night as the Sox beat the Yankees, 3-0.
Check the patient, there seems to be a pulse. The Sox, while still in last place in the division, have won three of their last four and are now 4½ games out of a playoff spot with 46 to play.
Center fielder Kiké Hernández is expected to come off the injured list on Tuesday in Pittsburgh and second baseman Trevor Story should make his return before the end of the month.
Is there a chance this gets interesting?
“Most definitely,” Wacha said. “Everyone in this clubhouse believes that we’re still in this thing and we really are. A lot can happen and that’s the mentality that we’ve got, coming out and keep winning series.”
Wacha retired the first 14 Yankees in order on only 47 pitches before Miguel Andujar singled. But Wacha remained focused, allowing only another single. He struck out nine with one walk.
The sellout crowd of 36,581 was invested in the game. The Sox had a 1-0 lead when old friend Andrew Benintendi singled with one out in the sixth inning for the Yankees. That brought fearsome Aaron Judge to the plate.
Wacha struck him out on four pitches, the last a fastball Judge swung through. Then Wacha whiffed Josh Donaldson to end the inning.
The fastball that sent Judge back to the dugout had the fans roaring.
The top five hitters in the Yankees lineup — Benintendi, Judge, Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, and Gleyber Torres — were 1 for 15 with seven strikeouts against Wacha.
“Really good. Outstanding,” Sox manager Alex Cora said of his starter. “Good fastball, great changeup. In command … To have him back means a lot.”
Sunday was Wacha’s first start against the Yankees this season. Going back to last year while a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, he has held New York to one unearned on six hits in 17 innings over three starts.
That’s something to remember with the Sox having six more games against the Yankees.
“He’s a horse,” said third baseman Rafael Devers, whose two-run homer in the sixth inning gave Wacha some cushion. Related: With Kiké Hernández pushing to return, Jarren Duran’s time in center field could be limited
Beyond the quality of his pitches, Wacha and catcher Kevin Plawecki worked at a crisp pace, which helped the defense stay alert. The game lasted 2 hours 15 minutes.
That’s usually what it takes to complete five innings when the Sox play the Yankees, especially in a Sunday night game.
“I feel like I work better that way,” Wacha said. “My successful outings are getting back on the mound and in attack mode. They came out swinging early and I was able to make quality pitches and get quick outs.”
The rotation has a different look with Wacha. He’s 7-1 with a 2.44 earned run average in 14 starts this season. Sunday marked only the second time in 44 games that a Sox starter pitched more than six innings.
A starter who can work deep into games makes it easier to win subsequent games as the bullpen is better rested.
Before the game, Cora expressed faith in his team getting back in the playoff race.
“I think math-wise, obviously it looks challenging. But I still believe that we’re going to have one of those big runs,” he said. “We’re going to pitch; we’re going to play good defense.”
Could the Sox pull a reverse of the 2011 collapse and get back into a race that seems lost? The odds are against it. Winning one series, even against the first-place Yankees, doesn’t change how poorly they’ve played over the last six weeks.
“We’re getting healthy and we believe in what we’re doing,” Wacha said. “Let’s see where this goes.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 4:07:23 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK With Kiké Hernández pushing to return, Jarren Duran’s time in center field could be limited By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 14, 2022, 8:15 p.m.
Jarren Duran’s tenure as the Red Sox’ everyday center fielder appears to be coming to an end.
Kiké Hernández (right hip flexor strain) is still on-target to rejoin the team ahead of a three-game series against the Pirates set to begin Tuesday.
Hernández played in his last rehab game Sunday for Double A Portland, going 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Manager Alex Cora said before Sunday night’s 3-0 shutout win over the Yankees the team needs to be careful with Hernández, who hasn’t played in a big league game since the beginning of June. Nevertheless, it seems as though the Sox will move Duran to a bench role when Hernández returns to the lineup and assumes his role as the everyday center fielder.
Duran still has a chance to see some time in center field, however.
At the beginning of the year, Cora indicated the presence of second baseman Trevor Story gave the Red Sox a chance to keep Hernández in center field.
But, with Story still on the shelf with a right wrist fracture and Christian Arroyo filling the role as the everyday second baseman, Cora mentioned the possibility of Hernández playing second on occasion, though the bulk of his time will come in center field.
After a 2021 season in which Hernández played a role in the Sox’ success, batting .250/.337/.449 with 20 homers mainly out of the leadoff spot, Hernández struggled before hitting the IL this year. In 51 games Hernández hit just .209/.273/.340.
Yet, the hip could have been an issue, with Hernández intimating to Cora that it bothered him during parts of spring training. Even if Hernández doesn’t replicate the offensive production of his 2021 season, he still represents a massive upgrade in center.
Despite looking better at the position over the last week, Duran still remains a liability in center, where entering Sunday night’s game he has played 385 innings. Yet, he still was a minus-6 in defensive runs saved.
“We miss him,” Cora said of Hernández. “With him, being versatile is huge. Obviously, offensively, he was on and off, right? It wasn’t a great start. But the quality of the at-bat, the preparation, all that stuff that you guys don’t see, that’s a positive for the team.” Strahm raring to return
Lefthanded pitcher Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) said he felt good after throwing a live batting practice Sunday. Strahm, who went on the injured list July 13 after being struck on the left wrist with a comebacker during a series against the Rays, had significant swelling in that area which kept him from throwing.
Now, though, Strahm said he’s ready to get back on the mound in a real game. Related: Shaughnessy: With atmosphere at Fenway electric, it’s hard for Red Sox to admit this is a lost season
“I would argue right now that I can be active tonight,” Strahm said. “But it’s obviously the medical staff’s decision more so than mine. So we’ll see.”
Cora said that Strahm could rejoin the Sox after just one rehab game or, perhaps, without making a rehab appearance. The team wants to see how he bounces back Monday from Sunday’s live BP that was around 30 pitches. Making some moves
To make room for Michael Wacha’s return to the roster, the Red Sox optioned reliever Darwinzon Hernandez to Triple A Worcester . . . Outfielder Rob Refsnyder (right knee sprain) could return Tuesday after he homered in his first two at-bats to go 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored for the Double A Portland Sea Dogs in a 10-7 win over the visiting Richmond Flying Squirrels. . . The Red Sox set their rotation for their three-game series against the Pirates, beginning Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. Righthander Nick Pivetta (8-9, 4.51 ERA) will draw the start Tuesday opposite Pirates righthander Mitch Keller (4-8, 4.25 ERA). Sox lefthander Rich Hill (4-5, 4.75 ERA) and righthander Nate Eovaldi (5-3, 4.15 ERA) will go Wednesday and Thursday against opposing pitchers to be determined.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 15, 2022 4:11:00 GMT -5
Red Sox notes: Tommy Pham expected to stay in leadoff spot when Kiké Hernandez returns Hernandez likely to return on Tuesday
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: August 14, 2022 at 6:43 p.m. | UPDATED: August 14, 2022 at 6:54 p.m.
Even with Kiké Hernandez on his way back, the Red Sox are likely to stick with Tommy Pham in the leadoff spot, manager Alex Cora said Sunday.
It’s been a sore subject for the Red Sox all year, as they’ve struggled to find anybody who can get on base with regularity.
Before he got hurt, Hernandez had a .273 on-base percentage. Since then, the Sox have cycled through a handful of guys, none of whom has been able to run away with the job.
As a team, the Sox’ .288 OBP from the leadoff spot ranks 25th in MLB.
Cora has been impressed with Pham, who has come up with some big hits during his first two weeks with the Sox since being acquired from the Reds before the trade deadline. But he hasn’t fixed the problem of getting men on base for the No. 2 hitter, Rafael Devers.
Pham entered Sunday with just a .255 OBP and 19 strikeouts to two walks in 11 games with the Sox.
Asked who will leadoff when Hernandez returns from the injured list, Cora said, “We haven’t gotten that far. Good question. But I do believe Tommy is doing an outstanding job, so there’s a good chance he’ll stay there.”
Pham is 11-for-49 (.224) with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs with the Sox.
“Still trying to find some things,” he said. “I really don’t like the strikeouts. But every day I feel like I’m getting closer.”
He said the expectations of playing in Boston have been “pretty much what I thought it would be.”
“I played in St. Louis,” he said. “The Cubs-St. Louis rivalry is pretty good, the Padres-Dodgers rivalry. I mean, it’s nothing as historic as (Red Sox-Yankees), but we’re talking 40,000-plus fans, loud. If anything, playing winter ball might be a little bit harsher, when you’re batting .100 and the expectations of the fans there are booing at you.” Reshaping the outfield
Hernandez hit second for Double-A Portland on Sunday in his fifth minor league rehab game. After missing more than two months with a hip injury and receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, Hernandez is now expected to return to the Sox on Tuesday.
In five rehab games, he’s 3-for-16 (.188) with two doubles, one walk and six strikeouts. Red Sox second baseman Kiké Hernandez acknowledges the dugout after hitting a double in the first inning against the Rangers at Fenway Park on Aug. 20, 2021. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Red Sox second baseman Kiké Hernandez acknowledges the dugout after hitting a double in the first inning against the Rangers at Fenway Park on Aug. 20, 2021.(Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
He’ll likely take over in center field, where Jarren Duran has been getting the majority of the at-bats but struggling. Over Duran’s last 33 games, he’s hitting .167 with 42 strikeouts in 124 plate appearances.
Cora said Duran will still get some playing time when Hernandez returns.
“The good thing with Kiké is we can move him around and get him at-bats,” Cora said. “And maximize his talent. He’ll play a lot of center field. We know that. But at the same time we can move him and help people out and get Jarren at-bats too.”
The Sox are also expecting to get Rob Refsnyder back on Tuesday. Refsnyder was 2-for-3 with a walk and two home runs on rehab with Portland on Sunday. He was hitting .309 with an .855 OPS in 33 games with the big league club before landing on the injured list with a sprained right knee.
“We’ve got some capable guys we can move around,” Cora said. “Kiké can play second, Christian Arroyo is playing great at second base right now, Jarren is playing center and all of the sudden you’ve got Rob here, so I think the roster is getting there.
“I always say the perfect roster is the one on the last day of the season when you’re drinking champagne, that’s the perfect one. But during the season you move people around, call people up and this and that. I think we’re going to be in a good place when these guys get here.” Six winnable games
There’s a lot riding on this upcoming six-game road trip against the last-place Pirates and rebuilding Orioles, who entered Sunday five games ahead of the Sox in the wild card chase.
Cora will go with Nick Pivetta, Rich Hill and Nathan Eovaldi in the three games in Pittsburgh, with rookie Josh Winckowski likely to piggy-back Hill on Wednesday.
There’s a chance that lefty Matt Strahm returns during the Pittsburgh series. He’s been out since July 12 with a left wrist injury, but threw a live batting practice session Sunday and might not need a rehab appearance, Cora said.
Monday will be a big day for closer Tanner Houck, who is visiting a spine doctor to get an opinion on his injured back. Cora said he doesn’t expect surgery to be necessary and Houck is progressing well, “but we’re just making sure everything is fine.”
One guy who doesn’t seem to be making speedy progress is Trevor Story. The second baseman got hurt in the same game as Strahm on July 12, but continues to feel pain during his recovery. He’s now taking days off between hitting and there’s no timetable for his return.
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Post by Kimmi on Aug 15, 2022 7:19:00 GMT -5
I wouldn't be praising him. Way too often, people receive credit for a stupid move that happens to work. There is so little to be gained from stealing 3rd, and so much to lose, you need to be close to perfect. The chances of us scoring with a guy on 2nd was .222. The chances of scoring with someone on 3rd was .260. The difference of .038, by my calculation, means you have to be right 96.2% of the time. It was a bad play even if he made it. It was a risky move, one that wasn't worth the reward, IMO.
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Post by Kimmi on Aug 15, 2022 7:22:34 GMT -5
But that said, it was nice to see Wacha back. We won, but we still aren't scoring. We only exceeded 5 runs 4 times in our last 29 games. Given our pitching injuries, I am amazed we are winning at all. Michael Freakin' Wacha Great performance. The offense is still frustrating. Pham and Devers went 5-8. The rest of the team was 1-21.
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