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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 3:50:14 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox activate Trevor Story from injured list, option Jarren Duran to Triple A Worcester By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 27, 2022, 2:35 p.m.
The Red Sox activated Trevor Story from the injured list prior to Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Rays. Story, who had been out since fracturing his right hand in mid-July, was in the lineup at second base. He went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a strikeout.
To make room for Story on the roster, Jarren Duran was optioned to Triple A Worcester.
“It feels great,” Story said. “It feels like forever since I played. I’m glad to be back and help the guys win on the field.”
Story was scheduled to play in his third rehab game for Double A Portland on Friday, but it was postponed because of inclement weather. Story traveled to Boston, took batting practice early Saturday afternoon, and felt good afterward.
Despite hitting just .221 prior to the injury, Story has been a huge run producer for the Sox, something they have been lacking during his IL stint. Story, who beat out an infield single in his first at-bat in the first inning, entered Saturday’s game with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 342 plate appearances. Story had also played Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base, registering eight defensive runs saved in 705⅔ innings.
While Story will start the majority of the remaining games at second, manager Alex Cora noted that they will give him a bit of rest early on, for instance playing two straight games followed by an off day.
For Story, the injury brought some perspective.
“When you can’t play you realize how much you love the game and how much you love playing and how much you love competing,” Story said. “I think, if anything, that gets renewed.” Duran part of the plan
With Story back, Kiké Hernández can once again settle in as the primary center fielder. Duran’s time in the outfield would have been limited and Cora said Duran needs to get playing time.
“There are some things he needs to do better offensively,” Cora said. “I think he understands that. Defensively, you know, his jumps are a lot better. His decision-making was OK. He did a few things bunting-wise while he was here that should be part of his game. So, just keep going. He’s a part of this. At one point he’s going to be back and we do believe he’s going to contribute.”
Duran hit .220/.283/.365 with three homers in 219 plate appearances.
Cora said he wants to see Duran become a player that can get on base and steal bases. Duran’s seven steals this season came in a 19-game span from June 20-July 14.
“We want him to be an on-base percentage guy that can steal 30 bags at this level,” Cora said. “He can hit for power, but that’s not who he is. I don’t envision him hitting 30 homers at the big league level and that’s a lot. People don’t run anymore.” What to do at first?
Bobby Dalbec got the start at first base Saturday, going 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a strikeout, but Cora said Christian Arroyo, who continues to swing the bat well, will get starts at first against lefties with Eric Hosmer (back) on the IL. Story won’t play Sunday, meaning Arroyo will start at second. But there’s a solid chance Arroyo will start at first in Monday’s series opener at Minnesota.
“We feel comfortable with it, but we need Christian to feel comfortable with it, too,” Cora said. “We’re not asking him to be Don Mattingly at first base. He’s actually playing first because he’s swinging the bat well.”
Arroyo is hitting .286 in 222 plate appearances. He’s played three career games at first, two this season. On the mend
Nate Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) likely will throw a second bullpen session Monday … Hosmer is progressing well, but will stay in Boston during the team’s trip to Minnesota. He will swing a bat Monday or Tuesday … Tanner Houck threw a bullpen session Saturday. He, too, will stay in Boston.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 4:12:44 GMT -5
Rays @ Red Sox Sunday, 28th August 2022 1:30pm @ Fenway
Kluber 8-7/4.20
Pivetta 9-9/4.24
Red Sox set sights on series sweep of Rays FLM
The Boston Red Sox aim for their first three-game series sweep in two months when they face the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
It has been a tale of two series for Boston on its six-game homestand.
After being swept by Toronto, the Red Sox clinched their first series win of the season against the Rays with Saturday's 5-1 win, scoring four runs in the first inning.
"It was a big inning right away. We haven't done that in a while," manager Alex Cora said. "We got the lead and after that, (Rich Hill) was pounding the strike zone and getting ahead."
Hill struck out 11 in seven shutout innings.
J.D. Martinez and Bobby Dalbec both hit two-run singles in an opening frame that also included singles by Tommy Pham and Trevor Story, and Alex Verdugo's 32nd double, tying his career high from last season.
"We put up big innings, I think, all this year, but I think days like (Saturday) where we keep adding on, that's how you put teams away," Story told NESN after his first start since July 12 due to a right hand contusion. "Good teams like that, you have to do that."
The consistent Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.24 ERA) will take the mound on Sunday. He has made at least 25 starts for the fourth time in his career.
Pivetta allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings to Baltimore in a no-decision in the MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 21.
Pivetta will be looking for a better result in his sixth career start against Tampa Bay after he was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings on July 5.
The Canadian right-hander is 1-3 with a 4.67 career ERA against the Rays, having taken three consecutive losses dating back to Aug. 1, 2021.
With a win, Boston would claim its first sweep since June 24-26 in Cleveland, part of a seven-game win streak.
Saturday represented a sudden power outage for the Rays, who had scored 31 runs over their previous four games. The loss snapped a four-series win streak.
"We just have to keep doing what we're doing, not trying to change too much," outfielder Manuel Margot said. "They did a great job today defensively, but as long as we put in the work, I think we'll be OK."
Randy Arozarena was a bright spot, posting his third multi-hit game in the last six by going 2-for-4 with the lone Tampa Bay RBI.
Sunday will mark the fourth time this season that Corey Kluber (8-7, 4.20 ERA) faces Boston. Kluber looks to string back-to-back wins together for the first time since mid-July, as he allowed one run and five hits over six innings in a victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner beat the Red Sox in back-to-back starts in July, both times going six innings and holding them to just two runs and seven hits combined.
Kluber is 5-5 with a 4.16 ERA in 14 lifetime outings (13 starts) against a team that he hadn't faced since 2018 prior to this season.
The Rays bullpen wasn't taxed on Saturday. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs worked six innings, bouncing back after Boston's four-run first.
After Springs, left-hander Garrett Cleavinger, who was recalled from Triple-A before the game, worked two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Springs for surviving the rough start, which included a 32-pitch first inning.
"He was a batter or two away from us having to get somebody up -- would not have been ideal. Really applaud him for the way he did settle down, limited damage and pitched really, really well."
--Field Level Media
Rays at Red Sox Sunday, at 1:35 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 74° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 7 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 1:35 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 9:23:51 GMT -5
Game 128: Lineups and notes as Red Sox seek sweep of RaysBy Amin Touri Globe Staff,Updated August 28, 2022, 7 minutes ago After Rich Hill turned back the clock to secure a series win on Saturday, the Red Sox can complete a sweep of the Rays with another one on Sunday. Related: On Baseball: At 42 years old, Rich Hill paints a masterpiece for Red Sox Nick Pivetta will hope to put together a performance as dominant as Hill’s as the righthander takes the ball for the series finale. Pivetta was solid in his last start, allowing two earned runs and striking out nine over 5 ⅔ innings against the Orioles, but took a no-decision in a Sox loss as the veteran seeks to break double-digit wins for the first time in his career. The Rays will counter with two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, who has rarely been his best self against Boston. Kluber is 5-5 with a 4.16 ERA in 14 career appearances against the Sox, but has pitched well against them this season, allowing two earned runs total over 12 innings in back-to-back wins in July. Lineups RAYS (69-57): 1. Yandy Diaz (R) 3B 2. Manuel Margot (R) RF 3. David Peralta (L) DH 4. Harold Ramirez (R) 1B 5. Randy Arozarena (R) LF 6. Isaac Paredes (R) 2B 7. Taylor Walls (S) SS 8. Christian Bethancourt (R) C 9. Jose Siri (R) CF Pitching: RHP Corey Kluber (8-7, 4.20 ERA) RED SOX (62-65): 1. Tommy Pham (R) LF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 6. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 7. Reese McGuire (L) C 8. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 9. Franchy Cordero (L) 1B Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.24 ERA) Time: 1:35 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Rays vs. Pivetta: Arozarena 2-6, Bethancourt 0-3, Choi 0-4, Díaz 3-9, Lowe 3-6, Margot 2-13, Mejía 0-3, Paredes 1-3, Peralta 2-5, Ramírez 3-5, Walls 0-2 Red Sox vs. Kluber: Arroyo 0-2, Bogaerts 5-26, Cordero 1-3, Dalbec 1-5, Devers 2-9, Hernández 2-3, Martinez 9-34, McGuire 0-2, Pham 2-7, Plawecki 2-3, Refsnyder 0-3, Story 1-9, Verdugo 3-7 Stat of the day: Hill’s 11 strikeouts on Saturday were the most for a pitcher 42 or older since Aug. 22, 2008, when 44-year-old Randy Johnson fanned 13 Florida Marlins. Notes: The Red Sox last completed a sweep against the Guardians on June 26, more than two months ago ... Alex Verdugo doubled for the 32nd time on Saturday, tying his career high from last season ... Pivetta has made at least 25 starts for the fourth time in his career. The Canadian is 1-3 with a 4.67 career ERA against the Rays, having taken three consecutive losses dating back to Aug. 1, 2021 ... The Rays were held scoreless by Hill and only tallied one run total after scoring 31 runs over their previous four games. The loss snapped a four-series win streak for Tampa Bay ... The Sox enter the day seven games back from the final wild-card spot. Song of the Day: Neil Young - Cowgirl in the Sand www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUpL2qamAZE
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 12:16:16 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h #RedSox reinstated RHP Tyler Danish from the IL and optioned him to AAA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 12:19:03 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Trevor Story with a scheduled day off today.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 12:20:59 GMT -5
Will Boston Red Sox keep top prospect Brayan Bello in starting rotation for rest of 2022 season? ‘He’s one of the best five we have’
Updated: Aug. 28, 2022, 12:34 p.m.|Published: Aug. 28, 2022, 12:28 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox top pitching prospect Brayan Bello will start Monday against the Twins and there’s no plan as of now to option him back to Triple-A Worcester this season.
Manager Alex Cora was asked if Bello will stay in the rotation the rest of 2022.
“For now, he’s in the rotation, yeah,” Cora said. “There’s no talk about an innings limit and all that stuff. He’s one of the best five we have and he’ll be out there.”
Bello pitched well in his last start against the Blue Jays here at Fenway Park on Wednesday. The 23-year-old righty allowed two runs, six hits and one walk while striking out seven in 5 innings. He topped out at 98.7 mph with his four-seam fastball and recorded 13 swings-and-misses.
He threw his changeup 16 times and recorded seven swings-and-misses with it. His changeup has the potential to be a special pitch because of its late action paired with Bello’s arm speed.
Baseball America has him ranked No. 21 on its Top 100 list. His ceiling is high but the transition to the majors hasn’t been an easy one, although he has had some bad luck. His 3.03 FIP and .472 batting average on balls in play show he’s pitched better than his ERA (7.36) in six outings (four starts) indicates.
Cora pointed out how Bello has experienced things here he didn’t experience in the minors such as when the Rays stacked their lineup with left-handed hitters against him.
“He hasn’t seen that (in the minors),” Cora said. “And they put the ball in play and he didn’t get calls in the beginning that he thought they should be strikes. Probably he was getting those calls in Triple A. He’s not going to get those here.”
Cora said Bello is at his best when he’s aggressive with his stuff.
“I think when there’s conviction behind his pitches ... he’s really good and his stuff is that good,” Cora said. “And that’s something that I kept hearing from the guys that were here in the dugout watching him pitch. Ref (Rob Refsnyder) and Yolmer (Sánchez). They were like, “This guy is different’ compared to what they saw the previous month. I think it started in Houston, he was about the turn the corner.”
Bello suffered a left groin strain during Boston’s loss in Houston on Aug. 3. He landed on the IL for 17 days.
“He had really good stuff that day,” Cora said. “We saw it the other day and tomorrow he’ll go out there against a good hitting team and try to do the same thing.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 12:22:45 GMT -5
Tony Massarotti @tonymassarotti 3m Back in the booth at Fenway today with Eck and O'B. Rich Hill is expected to join us for a bit via headset in the top of the third inning. #KeepThePace @nesn @985thesportshub
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:05:22 GMT -5
Pivetta today
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:21:21 GMT -5
Gas Can Gang deputy commander Sawawurma has the 6th Pivetta Line 5.0ip/ 8/5/5/bb/4k/100-63
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:25:28 GMT -5
Cordero at 1B
is just brutal.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:27:00 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 2m That's dreadful.
Verdugo was playing in Quincy. Cordero looked more likely to fall over than make the catch.
Could cost the #RedSox here in the 6th.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:35:05 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7m And indeed it does. It's 6-3.
Cordero drove in a run with a solo homer and gave one back with his glove.
He really is the modern Dick Stuart. Neutrality isn't what we're seeking here. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 14:36:34 GMT -5
and Sawamura doing what he normally does getting shelled now 8-3 Rays boos start raining down....even from the empty seats
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 19:39:04 GMT -5
Red Sox fail to complete sweep of Rays after another all-too-familiar loss: ‘It’s a bad taste’ Sox now 7 games back with 34 games left
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: August 28, 2022 at 4:55 p.m. | UPDATED: August 28, 2022 at 6:44 p.m.
The weeks are dwindling, and the Red Sox still aren’t making up any ground.
Even after a series win over the Rays this weekend, it was hard to feel optimistic about these hanging-by-a-thread Red Sox as they left town for Minnesota.
After a few encouraging days, these Red Sox looked more familiar on Sunday. Nick Pivetta dug them a deep hole, the defense committed a couple mistakes and the mediocre-at-best relief corps completely lost it. By the ninth, the Rays — not the Red Sox — had a position player pitching because they were so comfortably ahead.
Boos rained down on the Red Sox all afternoon at Fenway Park, where a blowout 12-4 loss felt deflating and the Sox inched another day toward their inevitable reality.
“Too many games like that (this year), to be honest with you,” manager Alex Cora said. “For how good it was as a series, it’s a bad taste.”
The Red Sox started the week six games back of the third Wild Card spot, but after being swept by the Blue Jays and taking two out of three from the Rays, they’re now seven games behind going into Monday with 34 games to go.
Time hasn’t officially run out yet, but it’s getting close. And Sunday was yet another reminder of why they’re in this position.
“For how bad it was today, we accomplished our mission,” Cora said. “But when you get a chance to sweep people, you’ve got to play better than that. And it’s a little bit disappointing for the whole group, including me.
“We’re better than this. We’re a lot better. We show flashes. The last four games had been solid. And then that happened. We can’t have that. It has happened a lot this season. So you just gotta move forward now, hop on a plane, and be ready for tomorrow.”
A day after Rich Hill submitted a vintage performance, Red Sox pitching crashed back to earth.
Pivetta wasn’t sharp, allowing five runs over five innings, including two homers to Isaac Paredes, as he continued to look overmatched against division opponents. He owns a 7.24 ERA in 11 A.L. East games, with the Red Sox 3-8 in those contests, and a 2.72 ERA against everyone else.
Solo homers from Franchy Cordero, J.D. Martinez and Tommy Pham made it a 5-3 game through five innings. But any chance of a comeback was erased thanks to the continued ineptitude of anyone in the Red Sox’ bullpen not named Garrett Whitlock or John Schreiber. Seven runs were scored over the final four innings to seal their fate.
Hirokazu Sawamura’s puzzling home woes continued in the sixth, and he didn’t get any help from his defense. With one out and no one on base, Jose Siri lifted a high pop up to short right field. But Alex Verdugo was playing too deep, Cordero was forced to try to make a tough play over his shoulder, and the ball dropped.
The Rays took advantage by scoring three runs as they began pulling away.
“We have to make that play,” Cora said. “Put him in a bad spot right there. I talked to Dugie. You have to take charge. It’s a pop-up priority. Can’t let Franchy try to make that play. That’s a play that the outfielder has to make. That’s two outs right there and probably a different inning.
“At the same time, we have to throw strikes, we have to put people away and we didn’t do that.”
After Ryan Brasier rebounded with a shutout seventh, Austin Davis put a bow on the loss in the eighth. Aided by a Rafael Devers fielding error when Harold Ramirez’s grounder right to him bounced off his glove and into right field, five consecutive Rays reached as they plated four runs in the inning and took an eight-run lead.
Even after Hill’s seven-inning performance a day before, Cora said his bullpen was very limited. Schreiber was used for four outs for Saturday’s save and they’re continuing to manage Whitlock’s usage. And they don’t have many reliable arms beyond them.
“Sometimes it gets to a point with the starter, when they go short over and over and over again, then you’re very short,” Cora said. “It’s one of those. We’ve got to take care of other guys, too. Whit in his situation, when we can use him or not. We went through it last year, too. But it’s been a challenge for everybody. So it’s one of those that you don’t like but you gotta keep going. You gotta keep grinding.”
They’ll keep grinding to Minnesota, where they’ll play another team they’re chasing for a playoff spot that’s continuing to look like a hopeless pursuit after another all-too-familiar loss.
“We just get away for X or Y reason,” Cora said. “Bad defense or we’re short or we don’t pitch the first five innings. We’ve seen too many of those games. It’s always one too many and we’ve seen a lot of those.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2022 19:43:57 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox bullpen melts down again, Nick Pivetta’s ERA vs. AL East jumps to 7.24 in loss to Rays
Published: Aug. 28, 2022, 4:52 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Red Sox are 17-36 against AL East opponents this season. Starter Nick Pivetta has struggled just as much individually within the division.
Pivetta allowed five earned runs, eight hits (two homers) and three walks while striking out four in 5 innings against the Rays on Sunday.
The Red Sox lost 12-4 here at Fenway Park.
Pivetta has a 10.13 ERA (10 ⅔ innings, 12 earned runs) in two starts vs. Tampa. Overall, he has a 7.24 ERA (54 ⅔ innings, 44 earned runs) in 11 starts vs. AL East opponents.
Up by eight in the ninth inning, the Rays had catcher/first baseman Christian Bethancourt record the final three outs.
Here’s the team-by-team breakdown:
Baltimore: 16 innings, 6 earned runs, three starts (3.38 ERA)
New York: 13 ⅓ innings, 17 earned runs, three starts (11.48 ERA)
Tampa Bay: 10 ⅔ innings, 12 earned runs, two starts (10.13 ERA)
Toronto: 14 ⅔ innings, 9 earned runs, three starts (5.52 ERA)
Total: 54 ⅔ innings, 44 earned runs, 11 starts (7.24 ERA)
Sawamura struggles at Fenway continue
Pivetta left down 5-3 and Hirokazu Sawamura relieved him.
Sawamura wasn’t helped out by his defense as Franchy Cordero missed a popup. But the righty also didn’t help himself. He allowed four hits and two walks.
He gave up three earned runs in the sixth as the Rays took an 8-3 lead.
Sawamura has a 5.83 ERA (29 ⅓ innings, 19 earned runs) at Fenway Park compared to a 0.84 ERA (21 ⅓ innings, 2 earned runs) on the road.
Bullpen meltdown
Red Sox relievers Hirokazu Sawamura, Ryan Brasier and Austin Davis combined to allow seven runs (five earned), nine hits and three walks while striking out three in 4 innings.
Sawamura threw 37 pitches in the sixth inning and Davis threw 37 pitches in the eighth inning.
Martinez, Cordero homer
J.D. Martinez finally reached double-digit homers. His 10th blast of the season came in the fourth inning and went 410 feet with a 106.5 mph exit velocity.
Franchy Cordero’s homer in the third inning went 403 feet with a 112.3 mph exit velocity.
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