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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 16:53:11 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1m 7 shutout innings and 11 strikeouts for Rich Hill.
There is no escape from Dick Mountain for the Rays.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 16:55:29 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 40s Rich Hill breezes through seven innings on 95 pitches and gets a hug from Alex Cora. He's on the winning end of a 5-0 lead.
Left-hander's tempo suggested he's got tickets to join No Shoes Nation tonight. He wasn't wasting any time. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 16:58:19 GMT -5
Hill Line 7ip/ 3/0/0/1bb/11k/95-71
Relievers that Cora trusts
1. Whitlock
end of list
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:02:11 GMT -5
Familia is in just gonna buckle my seat belt
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:03:48 GMT -5
holy shit what a grab by Dugo
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:13:09 GMT -5
Few hits here Famila pouring gas over the mound 2 out Rays on the corners
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:15:25 GMT -5
5-1 still Rays on the corners Cora seen enough of this clown that fit into the Bloom Ball vision
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:17:03 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 30s Jeurys Familia allowed three consecutive two-out singles.
Now it's 5-1, the tying run is on-deck and John Schreiber is forced into the game.
This is Schreiber's 109th appearance. Or maybe it only feels that way.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2022 17:36:08 GMT -5
Sox win 5-1
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:12:01 GMT -5
Rich Hill strikes out 11 as Red Sox beat Rays 5-1 AP
BOSTON (AP) Rich Hill struck out a season-high 11 in seven shutout innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Saturday for a rare series win against another AL East team.
Kike Hernandez hit a solo homer for Boston, which also beat Tampa Bay 9-8 on Friday night. J.D. Martinez and Bobby Dalbec each drove in two runs.
The last-place Red Sox (62-65) had dropped four in a row before the contending Rays arrived at Fenway Park. The Red Sox are 3-13-1 in series against AL East clubs this season.
Randy Arozarena hit an RBI single in the eighth to account for Tampa Bay's only run. The Rays (69-57) are fighting for positioning in the AL wild-card standings.
The game took just 2 hours, 24 minutes.
''To be able to work quick and put the onus on the hitter,'' Hill said of his game plan. ''I think part of it, too, is the looming time clock that's on the horizon, that everybody's talking about. I feel like if we can, maybe, collectively as a whole work a little bit quicker throughout the league, maybe they won't implement the pitch clock.''
Making his fourth start after spending a month on the injured list with a sprained left knee, the 42-year-old Hill (6-5) allowed only three singles and walked one. He threw 71 of his 95 pitches for strikes, many in the low 70-mph range.
''It's fun to watch,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ''The hop and the breaking ball and the different shapes of the breaking balls. He knows how to pitch.''
John Schreiber worked 1 1/3 innings for his fifth save. He entered with runners on the corners and got Harold Ramirez to bounce back to the mound, ending the threat.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Hill's creativity.
''Different delivery it seems like every third pitch,'' Cash said.
Tampa Bay left-hander Jeffrey Springs (6-4) allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings. He was 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his previous four starts.
Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story went 1 for 3 with an infield single in his return after missing six weeks with a small fracture near his right wrist after getting hit by a pitch from Tampa Bay's Corey Kluber on July 12.
The Red Sox jumped on Springs for four runs in the first; the first two coming on Martinez's single halfway up the Green Monster. With two outs, Dalbec reached down and hit a soft liner up the middle for a two-run single.
Hernandez led off the fourth with his shot into the second row of seats above the Monster. It was his sixth homer of the season.
Hill baffled the Rays early on, using a quick pace and mixing his cutter and soft curveball for six strikeouts in the initial three innings.
''That's pitching. That's kind of the art of it,'' he said of his speed variance. ''Change speeds, change arm angles, change eye levels, quick pitch, hesitation. ... That's one thing that I love about this sport and the position I play, being a pitcher, not a thrower. It makes it a lot of fun.''
DIVING GRAB
Red Sox right fielder Alex Verdugo made a diving catch of Taylor Walls' drive near the foul line to open the eighth.
RAYS ROSTER MOVES
Tampa Bay optioned lefty Ryan Yarbrough to Triple-A Durham and recalled lefty Garrett Cleavinger from the minors.
''Tough decision. I think Yarbs since the All-Star break has really helped us and put us in a position to win many games,'' Cash said. ''We're in a spot where we've got to get some pitching here to help, whether it's our starters or certainly our bullpen guys, who have been worked pretty heavily as of late.''
Yarbrough (1-8) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: INF Brandon Lowe was not in the lineup after getting hit on the right elbow with a fastball from former teammate Michael Wacha and leaving Friday's game early. ... Cash said INF Wander Franco (fractured right hamate bone) took live BP and was doing well. ... RHP Tyler Glasnow (recovering from Tommy John surgery) was expected to throw a live BP session at the team's spring training complex Sunday.
Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (back inflammation) threw a bullpen, but he's not expected to travel with the team on its upcoming trip. ... 1B Eric Hosmer (back inflammation) is making progress, but he'll also stay behind when the team heads to Minnesota for a series starting Monday.
UP NEXT
Kluber (8-7, 4.20 ERA) starts Sunday's series finale for the Rays against Boston right-hander Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.24 ERA).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:34:42 GMT -5
Rich Hill K’s 11 in 7 shutout innings, leading Boston Red Sox to win over Rays on Saturday
Published: Aug. 27, 2022, 6:34 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Rays stacked their lineup with eight right-handed hitters and one switch-hitter against soft-throwing lefty Rich Hill.
But no strategy was going to work against the 42-year-old on Saturday.
Hill left to a standing ovation. He tossed 7 scoreless innings, struck out 11, recorded 12 swings-and-misses and allowed just three hits and one walk.
The Red Sox won 5-1 over the Rays here at Fenway Park.
His 11 strikeouts were the most he has recorded in a game since punching out 13 while pitching for the Rays against the Royals on May 25, 2021.
Hill tossed a perfect 10-pitch first inning and a perfect nine-pitch second inning.
Yu Chang’s 74 mph infield single in the third inning and Randy Arozarena’s 87.4 mph single in the fourth were the only two hits he allowed in the first six innings. Isaac Paredes’ 98.6 mph single in the seventh was the only hard hit against Hill.
Hill topped out at 91.5 mph. His 28 four-seam fastballs averaged 89.4 mph, up from his 88.4 mph average in his first 18 starts, per Baseball Savant. He mixed in 22 curveballs, 21 cutters, 13 sliders, eight changeups, two sinkers and one slow curveball (66.9 mph), according to Baseball Savant.
Red Sox take 4-0 lead in first inning
The Red Sox jumped ahead 4-0 in the first inning when they sent all nine hitters to the plate against Jeffrey Springs who pitched for Boston in 2020.
The first three hitters reached. Tommy Pham singled. Alex Verdugo doubled. J.D. Martinez ripped a two-run single.
Bobby Dalbec also delivered a two-run single in the first inning.
Kiké Hernández’s 366-foot home run in the fourth put Boston ahead 5-0.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:35:51 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Rich Hill says ‘it’s not about the strikeouts’ but he’s first pitcher since Randy Johnson 40 or older with 11+ in a game
Published: Aug. 27, 2022, 8:19 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Rich Hill struck out 11 batters and recorded 12 swings-and-misses in 7 shutout innings Saturday.
“Honestly, it’s not about the strikeouts,” the 42-year-old lefty said. “It’s about getting W’s.”
Hill earned the W. The Red Sox won 5-1 over the Rays here at Fenway Park.
But strikeouts are cool, too, and Hill is the first pitcher age 40 or older with 11 or more in a game since Randy Johnson did it in 2008. Hill actually has done it twice. He struck out 13 Royals batters May 25, 2021, at age 41.
The lefty also became the first ever Red Sox pitcher age 40 or older to record 11 or more strikeouts in a game.
Kiké Hernández, who was teammates with Hill in Los Angeles, put this outing right up there with some of Hill’s best during his dominant years with the Dodgers.
“He had a great Game 6 of the 2017 World Series to force a Game 7,” Hernández said. “Game 4 against the Red Sox in ‘18, he had everything working. But as far as strikeouts and everything, this one is up there.”
Hernández also pointed to several regular season starts Hill made for the Dodgers, including bringing a no-hitter into the 10th inning in Pittsburgh in August 2017.
“He’s had some performances I can remember but this one was dominant,” Hernández said. “They didn’t really drive anything.”
Hill allowed just three hits, including two infield hits (74 mph, 87.4 mph off the bat).
“He had an incredible pace,” Hernández said. “He was working quick.”
Hill didn’t waste any time between pitches. And his quick pace caused several Rays hitters to call timeout at the last second. Hill followed through with his pitches anyway despite hitters stepping out. He was asked if he was trying to make a point.
“No, just getting my work in,” Hill said, smiling.
He absolutely dominated a Rays lineup that featured eight right-handed hitters and one switch hitter.
“I think part of it, too, is the looming time clock (pitch clock) that’s on the horizon that everybody’s talking about,” Hill said about his quick pace. “So I feel like if we can maybe collectively as a whole work a little bit quicker throughout the league, maybe they won’t implement a pitch clock.”
Hill said he’s not in favor of a pitch clock because he doesn’t want to see it dictate the outcome of a game (if a pitcher takes too long, an automatic ball would be called).
“I would personally as a fan of baseball hate to see that being an issue,” Hill said. “However, I do understand we have a time issue going on with this game.”
Hill topped out at 91.5 mph. His 28 four-seam fastballs averaged 89.4 mph, up from his 88.4 mph average in his first 18 starts, per Baseball Savant. He mixed in 22 curveballs, 21 cutters, 13 sliders, eight changeups, two sinkers and one slow curveball (66.9 mph), according to Baseball Savant.
“I was thinking the whole time, ‘Man, these guys (Rays hitters) have got to be going crazy in the batter’s box,’” Hernández said. “There’s no way you can get comfortable when a guy is working that quick. I’ve never seen a game where there’s been so many timeouts called in the middle of the windup. So it was fun to watch.”
Hill added, “Four pitches for strikes. I was able to drop down and execute sliders and fastballs. And again, I think the disruption of timing with the pace continued to help in that situation.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:36:57 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Christian Arroyo to play ‘a lot’ of first base; ‘We’re not asking him to be Don Mattingly’
Updated: Aug. 27, 2022, 4:56 p.m.|Published: Aug. 27, 2022, 4:53 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Christian Arroyo is batting .367 with a .400 on-base percentage, .511 slugging percentage, .911 OPS and 10 extra-base hits in 23 games since returning from the injured list July 30.
The Red Sox want Arroyo’s hot bat to remain in the lineup. But how does it happen with Trevor Story now back from the IL?
“He’s going to play first,” manager Alex Cora said Saturday.
Arroyo isn’t in the lineup Saturday and he’s expected to play second base Sunday when Story receives an off day. But Arroyo was at first base before today’s game taking grounders and he’s expected to receive game action there soon.
“There’s a good chance he’ll play first on Monday,” Cora said. “We feel comfortable with it. But we need him to feel comfortable, too. We’re not asking him to be Don Mattingly at first base. Actually, he’s going to play first because he’s swinging the bat well.”
It appears Arroyo will take playing time away from Bobby Dalbec who is at first base Saturday but is slashing just .207/.281/.363/.644 in 108 games.
“Bobby’s here, too, because you saw it yesterday; we were very aggressive early in the game (pinch hitting),” Cora said. “I think with the personnel we have, left-handed hitting catcher against righties, in certain situations we can pinch hit early or maximize the roster with Ref (Rob Refsnyder) and Bobby. We’ve still got Franchy (Cordero). He’ll play sometimes in the outfield, too. So we feel comfortable roster-wise.”
Left-handed hitting first baseman Eric Hosmer is on the IL with low back inflammation. Hosmer is feeling better and likely to begin swinging a bat early this coming week.
“When he comes back, then we’ll see what we do,” Cora said. “But for now, he (Arroyo) will play a lot of first.”
Arroyo has made just one career start at first base. It came last season and he injured his hamstring stretching on a potential double play.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:43:53 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Story returns to lineup August 27th, 2022
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Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Aug. 27: 2B Trevor Story reinstated from 10-day injured list The Red Sox got a big piece of their lineup back on Saturday with the activation of Story from the 10-day injured list. Story batted sixth and got the start at second base. He is expected to rest on Sunday and be back in the lineup on Monday in Minneapolis. Story returns after playing two Minor League rehab games for Double-A Portland. This was Story's first game for the Red Sox since July 12, when he was hit on the right hand by a pitch he swung at. The original diagnosis was a bone bruise. But a couple of weeks later, a follow-up exam revealed a hairline fracture.
“It feels like forever since I played, but I'm glad to be back and just helping the guys try to win on the field," said Story.
Aug. 27: CF Jarren Duran optioned to Triple-A Worcester Duran caught fire for the Red Sox in June, but has been cold the past two months. Duran was sent down to make room for Story on the roster. In 200 at-bats for Boston, Duran had a line of .220/.283/.365 with three homers and 17 RBIs, while stealing seven bases.
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Tanner Houck (lower back inflammation) Expected return: September Houck threw a bullpen session at Fenway Park on Aug. 27, marking the most significant progress he has made since he was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 9, retroactive to Aug. 6. Houck will stay in Boston and continue to throw when the Red Sox make a short, three-day road trip to Minneapolis from Aug. 29-31. The closer has eight saves and a 3.15 ERA in 32 appearances this season. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) Expected return: September Eovaldi took a big step on Aug. 26 when he threw a 25-pitch bullpen at Fenway Park. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Eovaldi is likely to throw another bullpen on Aug. 29. After that, the next step would be facing hitters in a simulated game or a Minor League rehab start.
Eovaldi was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 23, retroactive to Aug. 19. The right-hander was scratched from his Aug. 18 start in Pittsburgh due to a sore trap muscle. Eovaldi last pitched on Aug. 12 against the Yankees, surrendering two runs over six innings. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) Expected return: September The veteran is making strong progress from the back issue that landed him on the injured list on Aug. 21. Hosmer will continue to get his work in at Fenway from Aug. 29-31, when the Red Sox make a one-city road trip to Minneapolis. Manager Alex Cora said he will start to swing the bat on either Aug. 28 or 29. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
RHP Tyler Danish (right forearm strain) Expected return: Late August Danish's return to the Red Sox was delayed when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 15. Manager Alex Cora said Danish will resume his Minor League rehab assignment the weekend of Aug. 27-28 for Double-A Portland. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:48:16 GMT -5
At 42 years old, Rich Hill paints a masterpiece for Red Sox By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 27, 2022, 9:39 p.m.
Pitching can be an art form when the baseball is in the right hands.
From the Tilt-A-Whirl delivery of Luis Tiant to the vanishing changeups thrown by Pedro Martinez, the Red Sox have employed some of the great masters over the years.
On Saturday, Rich Hill was their equal with a tour de force against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 42-year-old lefthander pitched seven shutout innings, allowing three singles and one walk while striking out 11 in a 5-1 victory.
Hang that scorecard down the street at the Museum of Fine Arts. Related: Rich Hill makes quick work of Rays, striking out season-high 11 in Red Sox win
Hill worked so quickly that the game was over in 2 hours and 24 minutes. His rapid-fire delivery was such that several Tampa Bay hitters tried stepping out of the batters’ box and calling time to throw him off.
Umpire Doug Eddings granted it, but Hill threw the ball anyway rather than break his rhythm.
“Just getting the work in,” he said, smirking.
That’s the kind of day it was.
Hill had five different strikeout pitches. His four-seam fastball, which topped out at 91.5 miles per hour, accounted for four. His slider was responsible for three.
The curveball picked up two and his cutter and sinker one each. Hill also threw an occasional changeup. There was a 24.6 m.p.h. difference between Hill’s best fastball and his slowest curveball.
That’s a canyon for a hitter trying to time his swing.
“He threw whatever I called,” catcher Kevin Plawecki said. “It was amazing. It’s great to be back there when he has it going like that.”
Working in the late afternoon shadows that crawled across Fenway Park, Hill was in complete command.
“It was a little boring but it was fun to play behind him,” center fielder Kiké Hernández said.
The 11 strikeouts were the most for a pitcher 42 or older since Aug. 22, 2008, when 44-year-old Randy Johnson fanned 13 Florida Marlins.
Johnson overmatched hitters with power, Hill with finesse. It’s part of what makes baseball so compelling, the different ways to do the same job.
“That’s pitching,” Hill said. “Being able to change speeds, change arm angles, change eye levels, quick pitch, hesitation, work the top of zone, bottom of the zone.
“That’s one thing I love about this sport and obviously the position that I play is being a pitcher and not a thrower. It makes it a lot of fun.”
For Sox manager Alex Cora, who’s only four years older than Hill, it was a joy to watch from the dugout.
“He was locked in from the get-go, you could tell,” Cora said.
Hill has faced the Rays twice this season and pitched 11 shutout innings.
He played for Tampa Bay last season, starting 19 games before being traded to the Mets. But the Rays hitters still can’t figure him out.
“He can really get creative on the mound. Different delivery, it seems, every third pitch,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s just one year older. But the athleticism that he shows to be able to do that within his delivery — start, stop — it is impressive. And when he’s on like he was today, he’s really tough to time up.”
Hill signed with the Red Sox hoping it would be a path to the postseason. That’s unlikely to be the case with the team on the outskirts of the playoff chase.
But Hill has done his part. His 89⅔ innings are the third-most on the team and his 19 starts are second. A 4.32 ERA is his highest since 2013 but still close to the league average (4.06) for a starter.
“There’s certain days that it doesn’t look good. Yeah, he knows it, too,” Cora said. “But one thing for sure, he’s going to compete regardless of the result. He’s going to give you his best. I’m glad he’s with us.”
Hill, who grew up in Milton, has some patches of gray in his beard but he’s determined to try again next season, whether it’s in Boston or somewhere else.
For a few years now, Hill has considered the idea of waiting until June to join a team so he can spend more time with his wife and son before taking the summer to pitch.
However Hill decides to go about it, Saturday provided ample proof he still has plenty left to offer.
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