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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 3:16:24 GMT -5
Rangers @ Red Sox
Playing out the String Series
Thursday, 1rst September2022
7pm @ Fenway
Otto 6-8/ 4.79
Hill 6-5/ 4.32
Texas Rangers vs. Boston Red Sox
Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 7:10pm EDT
Written by Mark Ruelle
The Texas Rangers travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox in a four-game weekend series. Both teams are essentially out of the playoff race as the calendar turns to September. On the hill on Thursday night will be right-hander Glenn Otto (6-8, 4.79) of the Rangers taking on veteran left-hander Rich Hill (6-5, 4.32) of the Red Sox. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm EST.
Searching for their Range
The Rangers head to Fenway Park over ten games under .500 and with a roster and coaching staff under scrutiny. The organization has already fired their manager this season, a warning sign to the roster and staff that winning is expected as the ownership continues to loosen its purse strings to build a new stadium and make key free agent signings. The Rangers lost two out of three games over the weekend to the lowly Tigers and then started their state of Texas battle against Houston with two straight losses. On Thursday afternoon, the Rangers scored two times in the first inning but only once the rest of the way in route to a 5-3 loss to the Astros to finish off an Astros' sweep of their in-state rivals.
One emphasis for the Rangers this offseason will surely be the team's pitching staff. The Rangers are 20th in quality starts, 20th in ERA and 21st in strikeouts. In addition, the team is 18th in saves and has the 9th most blown saves in baseball. On the mound for the beleaguered Rangers pitching staff on Thursday will be righty Glenn Otto. Otto has a 4.79 ERA this season in 20 starts and has struck out 6.7 per nine innings. In his last five starts, Otto has a solid 2.93 ERA and a 2-1 record. He has given up just 18 hits in 27.2 innings of work. His K rate has lowered, however, to just 5.5 per nine innings. He is 0-1 against Boston this season, allowing 8 hits and 8 runs in just four innings of work.
Playing out the String
Any chance the Red Sox may have had in getting back into the AL Wildcard race was thwarted with their play against potential wildcard teams over the past week. First, the BoSox were swept by the Blue Jays before taking two out of three from the Rays at home over the weekend. The trip to Minnesota, however, was not a good one. The Sox lost each of the first two games heading into Wednesday night's series finale. On Wednesday night, the Red Sox pounded out 13 hits and six runs, including a grand slam from Xander Bogaerts to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Twins, 6-5. Matt Barnes returned to a familiar role as closer and earned his 4th save of the season in the bottom of the 9th.
The Red Sox came into the season with high hopes for the team's pitching staff but things had to fall into place. Instead of falling into place, they fell into pieces. The Sox waited til July for Chris Sale to return and he was gone after two outings with a broken finger and then suffered a broken wrist in a bike accident to end his season. James Paxton, signed as a potential late season rotation piece, never was able to return to the roster and was shut down in August. Garrett Whitlock had to be shutdown midseason after making the transition from closer to starter this season and returned and put back in the pen. Finally, starters Michael Wacha, Nate Eovaldi and Rich Hill all spent extended time on the IL. It has truly been a pitching disaster in 2022 for Boston. On the mound Thursday, back from his stint on the IL recently, will be Rich Hill. Hill has looked more like the pitcher Boston signed in the offseason to shore up the back half of their rotation since returning from IL. Hill is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in those three starts and is striking out 8.4 per nine innings during this span. Hill is 1-0 vs. Texas this season, allowing seven hits in six innings and giving up two earned runs.
Rangers
at
Red Sox
Thursday, at 7:10 PM EST
Partly Cloudy
According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 71° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 9 MPH wind blowing left to right in Boston at 7:10 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 3:19:39 GMT -5
Rangers @ Red Sox SP Probables
Friday..7pm...Keuchel 2-5/ 7.88 vs Pivetta 9-10/4.40
Saturday..4pm...Arihara 1-2/5.40 vs Bello 0-0/7.27
Sunday..1:30pm...Dunning 3-6/4.19 vs Crawford 3-5/5.30
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 3:49:35 GMT -5
Will Triston Casas join Boston Red Sox in September: ‘He’s one of the names we’ve discussed... There’s a chance,’ says Alex Cora
Published: Aug. 31, 2022, 9:14 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The most fascinating question facing the Red Sox in the coming days involves someone who has never played a major league game. With Boston virtually eliminated from postseason contention, the short-term future of top first base prospect Triston Casas is top of mind.
Casas, who is starting at first base and hitting cleanup for the WooSox on Wednesday, might make his major league debut by the end of the year. Though it doesn’t appear that the Red Sox have considered bringing him up before now, manager Alex Cora acknowledged that there’s a legitimate chance Casas sees major league action by the end of the year.
“We’ve been talking about it. There’s a few names we have discussed,” Cora said on WEEI’s Merloni, Fauria & Mego. “Obviously, the decision will be made tomorrow (when rosters expand). He’s one of the names that we have discussed. I believe, at one point, there’s a chance he’ll be here. I’m not saying it’s tomorrow or in two weeks or three weeks. I do believe there’s a chance he’ll be part of this in September.”
MLB allows teams to expand their players from 26 to 28 players each year on Sept. 1. The Red Sox will call up a position player and a pitcher who will be active for Thursday’s game against the Rangers after the club returns home from Minnesota. Casas, as Cora said, is in the mix for one of those spots.
He’s not the only one, however. Catcher Connor Wong has been red-hot in recent weeks at Triple-A and is a strong candidate to be called up. Catcher Ronaldo Hernández and outfielder Jaylin Davis are on the 40-man roster and could get a look, though Jarren Duran is not eligible for a couple weeks because he was recently optioned. On the pitching side, Tyler Danish, Josh Winckowski, Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Winckowski all make sense, though a dark horse like Bryan Mata (on the 40-man) or Frank German could come up as well. The Red Sox do have an open 40-man roster spot.
Casas, 22, entered Wednesday with a .271 average, 10 homers and an .863 OPS in 69 games at Triple-A so far this season. He missed nearly two months from May 17 to July 12 due to a lingering ankle sprain. Without that injury, he would almost certainly be in the majors by now.
In Minneapolis, Cora told reporters (including Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe) that the Red Sox planned on taking a look at several different players throughout September. Recent call-up Zack Kelly, a reliever, has impressed in his first two major league outings this week.
“Whoever comes up, maybe it’s not the last one,” Cora told reporters. “It’s the nature of this and where we’re at as an organization and as a team. Yeah, we need to take a look at some guys.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 3:58:53 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Update on Eovaldi
August 31st, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season.
LATEST NEWS
• All Red Sox transactions
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: September
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Eovaldi is slated to throw a bullpen session on Sept. 2 as he nears a return. “He’s trending in the right direction, but obviously we’ve got to be careful with him,” Cora said.
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. He last pitched on Aug. 12 against the Yankees, yielding two runs over six innings.(Last updated: Aug. 31)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 4:05:26 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
September brings some reinforcements for the Red Sox, but it looks like too little, too late
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 31, 2022, 8:50 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS — Under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, every team must go to a 28-man roster as of Thursday with no more than 14 pitchers.
Gone are the days of some teams having nearly their entire 40-man roster in uniform and those with skinflint owners having only a few extras.
The ungainly mess that was September baseball has finally been cleaned up.
The degree to which the new rules will affect the last-place Red Sox is probably negligible. Manager Alex Cora said the Sox would call up a pitcher and a position player before Friday night’s game against Texas at Fenway Park.
“We’re talking about it,” Cora said Wednesday before the Sox played the Minnesota Twins. “No decisions yet … There’s a lot of moving parts, a lot of conversations.”
Candidates for the pitching staff from the 40-man roster include righthanders Tyler Danish, Connor Seabold, and Josh Winckowski and lefthander Darwinzon Hernandez.
Outfielder Jarren Duran, who was optioned on Saturday, is not yet eligible to return. That leaves outfielder Jaylin Davis, infielder Jeter Downs, and catcher Connor Wong as possibilities unless the Sox add a player to the 40-man roster.
With righthanded reliever Zack Kelly expected to be called away this weekend for paternity leave, that would open another spot for a pitcher.
Cora left open the possibility the Sox could add a player like 22-year-old first baseman Triston Casas to the roster later this month.
“Whoever comes up [Friday], maybe it’s not the last one,” Cora said. “It’s the nature of this and where we’re at as an organization and as a team. Yeah, we need to take a look at some guys.”
Brasier reassesses
Ryan Brasier has trouble sleeping even after he pitches well. The adrenaline from being on the mound keeps him awake for hours.
On a night like Tuesday, it’s even worse.
Brasier entered the game in the fifth inning with two on and the Sox leading 4-3. He hit Jose Miranda with his first pitch to load the bases, then threw an 0-and-2 pitch over the plate that Nick Gordon hammered into the upper deck in right field for a grand slam.
It left the righthander with a 6.62 ERA and led to a 10-5 loss for the Sox. But it did not leave him unemployed. Brasier met with Cora and the pitching coaches on Wednesday to look for a solution.
“It’s hard to give up on him in a sense, because his stuff is there and we know it,” Cora said.
The data bears that out. Brasier is averaging 95.7 m.p.h with his four-seam fastball and 96.2 with his sinker. His chase rate is in the 91st percentile.
But he’s also allowed 63 hits in 50 ⅓ innings.
“It’s location mainly,” Brasier said. “I’m missing location and the ball is running back [over the plate] too much. You have to keep working. Watch video and try and see what I did when I was going good.”
On the grand slam, Brasier wanted the ball up and in. It was middle and away, right into Gordon’s swing path.
“Command is not great. Sometimes you have to make adjustments in that sense. It can’t be 98 all the time and getting hit,” Cora said. “We talked about usage; we talked about sequencing [pitches]. That’s something we’re going to keep working [on] with him.”
Split decision
Righthanded reliever Hirokazu Sawamura, who was designated for assignment on Monday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A Worcester. He is now off the 40-man roster.
The Red Sox hold an option on Sawamura for 2023. If they decline it, there’s a buyout or Sawamura can exercise a player option.
Sawamura, who turns 35 in April, has a 3.39 ERA over 104 appearances in two years for the Sox. But he has been hit hard since the All-Star break.
Sawamura is bound for Worcester.
Lefthanded reliever Austin Davis, also designated on Monday, was claimed by the Twins. He will be added to the active roster on Friday in Chicago.
Because he was part of the organization by Sept. 1, Davis would be eligible for Minnesota’s playoff roster.
Spring plans
The Sox open their spring training schedule on Feb. 24 with an exhibition game against Northeastern. The 32-game Grapefruit League schedule starts Feb. 25 against the Braves in North Port, Fla., and ends March 28 against the Braves in Fort Myers. The Sox will play against a team preparing for the World Baseball Classic on March 8 at Fenway South. That opponent is to be determined. The Yankees will be in Fort Myers on March 12. The Sox play New York in Tampa on March 9 … The rotation for the Texas series that starts Thursday is Rich Hill, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. They’ll face Glenn Otto, Dallas Keuchel, TBA and Dane Dunning … Xander Bogaerts has an 18-game hit streak at Target Field, a record for an opposing player.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 7:47:40 GMT -5
Slumping teams square off as Rangers, Red Sox open series
FLM
The final month of the season kicks off with the Boston Red Sox hosting the Texas Rangers in a four-game series beginning Thursday.
Both teams arrive in suboptimal form. The Red Sox have lost nine of the past 13 games, while the Rangers are riding a four-game losing streak.
Boston left-hander Rich Hill (6-5, 4.32 ERA) gets the start in the series opener against Texas right-hander Glenn Otto (6-8, 4.79).
Hill, 42, will look to follow up a dominant Saturday outing in which he struck out 11 and held the Tampa Bay Rays to three hits and one walk over seven shutout innings.
After Hill's brilliant start ensured a series win, the Red Sox lost the finale in St. Petersburg, Fla., then dropped their first two games at Minneapolis against the Twins.
Boston finally recovered on Wednesday, collecting 13 hits -- including a Xander Bogaerts grand slam -- in a 6-5 win.
"We know what we're capable of, especially when we're going well," Bogaerts said. "That's without our best hitter (Rafael Devers). He's not playing the way he wants right now, but you know that will turn around."
Devers is in a 0-for-21 skid, but he went 6-for-14 with three doubles and a home run during a three-game set at Texas in May.
On Saturday, Hill became the first Red Sox pitcher to fan 11 or more batters at age 40 or older, a feat no major league pitcher had accomplished since Randy Johnson in 2008.
"It was a little boring, but it was fun to play behind him," Boston center fielder Enrique Hernandez said.
Hill hasn't had an ERA this high at the end of a season since 2013, but only Nick Pivetta has started more games for Boston this year than Hill's 19.
"There's certain days that it doesn't look good. Yeah, he knows it, too," Red Sox manager Alex 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."
Texas will look to bounce back from getting swept in a two-game Lone Star State series, with the visiting Houston Astros claiming consecutive two-run wins.
During the Rangers' 5-3 loss on Wednesday, Marcus Semien joined the 20-homer, 20-stolen base club for the first time in his career when he swiped second in the first inning.
"To be aggressive enough to get to 20 bags, it's a big deal," Rangers interim manager Tony Beasley said. "I'm happy that he feels confident enough to kind of let go and get some bags this year. He probably could have done that at some point in his career because he has that skill set."
Semien has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games.
Otto hopes to build on an impressive August, when he allowed just 10 runs, nine earned, in 27 2/3 innings (2.93 ERA) over a span of five outings.
Otto earned a win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. The righty has completed five frames in eight consecutive starts, though he had been winless in nine straight before an Aug. 15 win against the Oakland A's.
The two teams haven't met since May 13-15, when Boston won two of three. Hill and Otto faced off in the middle game, an 11-3 Red Sox victory.
Hill gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings, improving to 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against the Rangers.
Otto, who hadn't faced Boston prior to that contest, lasted just four-plus innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and four walks.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 11:19:58 GMT -5
Game 132: Rangers at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated September 1, 2022, 1 hour ago The Red Sox return to Fenway Park after managing to avoid a sweep in Minnesota. Xander Bogaerts delivered a grand slam in the third inning Wednesday, and the Sox held on for a 6-5 win over the Twins. Next up is Texas, as the Sox open the final month of the season with a four-game series against the Rangers, who are in third place in the American League West, 13 games below .500. Rich Hill will be on the mound. Here is a preview. Lineups RANGERS (58-71): 1. Marcus Semien (R) 2B 2. Corey Seager (L) SS 3. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B 4. Adolis Garcia (R) RF 5. Jonah Heim (S) C 6. Leody Taveras (S) CF 7. Mark Mathias (R) DH 8. Charlie Culberson (R) 3B 9. Bubba Thompson (R) LF Pitching: RHP Glenn Otto (6-8, 4.79 ERA) RED SOX (63-68): 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. Franchy Cordero (L) 1B 8. Rob Refsnyder (R) CF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R) C Pitching: LHP Rich Hill (6-5, 4.32 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Rangers vs. Hill: Kole Calhoun 1-6, Charlie Culberson 3-9, Adolis García 1-4, Jonah Heim 1-3, Nathaniel Lowe 1-4, Brad Miller 0-4, Corey Seager 1-5, Marcus Semien 1-10, Leody Taveras 1-2 Red Sox vs. Otto: Xander Bogaerts 1-3, Franchy Cordero 1-2, Bobby Dalbec 2-2, Rafael Devers 1-3, Kiké Hernández 0-2, J.D. Martinez 1-1, Trevor Story 0-2 Stat of the day: Devers is in a 0-for-21 skid, but he went 6-for-14 with three doubles and a home run during a three-game set at Texas in May. Notes: The Red Sox have lost nine of the past 13 games, while the Rangers are riding a four-game losing streak. … Hill is 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against the Rangers. Only Nick Pivetta has started more games for the Red Sox this year than Hill’s 19. … Otto is facing the Sox for the second time in his career, having taken the loss May 14 after allowing eight runs on eight hits and four walks. … Semien has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games. Song of the Day: The Cranberries - Lingerwww.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Kspj3OO0s
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 13:59:06 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
7m
Sox recalled Connor Wong and selected RHP Eduard Bazardo.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 14:02:49 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo10m
Now official. Just Wong and Bazardo today. More moves coming in the next few days with Kelly needing paternity leave and Hosmer potentially returning. But just the two today.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 16:07:52 GMT -5
Christopher Gasper @cgasper44m
RT @byjulianmack: There a chance Tanner Houck might miss the rest of the season with a bad back. Hosmer, also an ailing back, has been slow in his progression. Is swinging but is tough for him to field. Eovaldi is progressing slower than expected also
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 17:17:20 GMT -5
Why’s Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers (hitless in past 21 at-bats) struggling so much? ‘He’s never been in this situation’
Updated: Sep. 01, 2022, 5:54 p.m.|Published: Sep. 01, 2022, 5:52 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers is hitless in his past 21 at-bats.
He went just 17-for-104 (.164 batting average) with a .226 on-base percentage, .289 slugging percentage, .515 OPS and seven extra-base hits in 26 games (115 plate appearances) during August.
His .515 OPS is the worst OPS he has posted in a single month during his career in which he has played more than eight games.
What is going on?
“One of the things that we enjoy and I know you guys do, too, is his ability to hit pitches out of the zone hard,” manager Alex Cora said. “But when he’s not going well like he is right now, then we have to narrow it. We have to swing at strikes. I think he did an amazing job two days ago not swinging at bad pitches regardless of the results. He struck out twice but he didn’t chase pitches. And then yesterday, there was a pitch up in the zone that was called a strike and then after that, he kept swinging and swinging and swinging. The swing is still the same. Mechanics are still the same. A little banged up. I talked to him two days ago and he’s like, ‘I feel great now.’ For a while there, he was feeling it, his back and his hammy.”
Devers spent from July 23 to Aug. 2 on the injured list with right hamstring inflammation. The injury required the minimum 10 days on the IL.
“Let’s swing at strikes,” Cora said. “We thought that ball was gone the other day to left-center and it was a sac fly. One thing I always tell him, ‘You’re one line drive the other way to get locked in.’”
Devers hit a sac fly Tuesday against the Twins.
“It’s a learning process,” Cora said. ‘He’s never been in this situation — struggled so much. Game planning comes into play. I talked to him. Now it’s different.”
Cora said other teams are likely focusing on him as the Red Sox hitter they don’t want to let beat them.
“Probably they are pitching him a little bit different,” Cora said. “He’s been chasing pitches since the All-Star Break at a higher rate. We just have to swing at strikes.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 1, 2022 17:20:32 GMT -5
ac Cerullo @maccerullo
Spoke to Zack Kelly in the clubhouse today and he said he plans to fly home for the birth of his son tomorrow. He'll rejoin the #RedSox on Monday in Tampa Bay. Tyler Danish or Darwinzon Hernández would be the logical replacements given they're already on the 40-man.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 3:12:06 GMT -5
Refsnyder completes Red Sox rally for 9-8 win over Rangers
AP
BOSTON (AP) Rob Refsnyder hit a game-ending single in a four-run ninth inning for Boston as the Red Sox rallied to beat the Texas Rangers 9-8 on Thursday night.
The Red Sox trailed 8-3 in the eighth and 8-5 entering the ninth. Boston promptly loaded the bases with none out against Jonathan Hernandez (1-1). Rafael Devers hit a two-run double and Kike Hernandez hit an RBI single to tie the game before Refsnyder completed the comeback with a drive to left.
Refsnyder took a wide turn around first before a swarm of teammates caught him and piled on after storming out of the dugout. The Red Sox entered Thursday having lost 7 of 10.
''I think we've all been trying to do our best and working hard. A lot of the guys have been frustrated, so it was nice to come through and it's always nice to celebrate with your teammates,'' Refsnyder said.
Jeurys Familia (2-1) worked a scoreless ninth for a Boston staff that was constantly in trouble. The Rangers stranded 12 runners as they dropped their fifth straight.
Adolis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the eighth to help put Texas in position to stop its skid.
In the bottom half, Devers began Boston's comeback with an RBI double. He scored on a single by Christian Arroyo, who also drove in three runs.
''That last inning was what we expected out of the lineup - swing at strikes. If not, keep the line moving,'' Boston manager Alex Cora said.
Rookie Rangers starter Glenn Otto struck out a career-best eight batters and departed after Alex Verdugo homered leading off the sixth to get the Red Sox within 4-3.
Veteran Rich Hill started for Boston and allowed four runs on five hits and four walks.
Garcia drove in three runs for the Rangers. Corey Seager had an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth.
LATE NIGHT
Refsnyder said he had an extra cup of coffee before the game after a rough night. The Rex Sox got home late after concluding a three-game series at Minnesota, and he was greeted at home by a grumpy toddler.
''I didn't sleep well at all. My son was pretty cranky - we got in at like 5:30 in the morning, so maybe I shouldn't sleep very well more often,'' Refsnyder said.
NEW KID?
A boy stationed in the front row in center field, prepared with a glove and clad in a No. 9 Red Sox jersey, caught Verdugo's homer in the sixth. The boy leapt several times in celebration and high-fived fans in all directions. The play was reviewed for potential fan interference, but umpires quickly confirmed the home run.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: Transferred RHP Josh Sborz (right elbow sprain) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL, ending his season. ... Recalled OF Nick Solak from Triple-A Round Rock and added RHP Jesus Tinoco from Round Rock to the expanded roster.
Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing but manager Alex Cora wasn't ready to offer a potential return date. Cora said the club was going to continue to be cautious with Eovaldi, who missed 33 games earlier in the season with inflammation in his lower back. ... Recalled C Connor Wong from Triple-A Worcester and added RHP Eduard Bazardo to the expanded roster.
UP NEXT
LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-8, 8.84 ERA) makes his second start for the Rangers and faces Boston RHP Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.40) Friday night in the second of the four-game series.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 3:53:46 GMT -5
Why Boston Red Sox still might promote Triston Casas at some point in September; How much will Connor Wong catch?
Updated: Sep. 01, 2022, 8:13 p.m.|Published: Sep. 01, 2022, 8:13 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox promoted catcher Connor Wong and right-handed reliever Eduard Bazardo from Triple-A Worcester when rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players Thursday, the first day of September.
Did the Red Sox consider top prospect Triston Casas as an immediate September call-up? Baseball America ranks the first baseman No. 28 on its Top 100 list.
“We talk a little bit,” manager Alex Cora said Thursday here at Fenway Park. “He’ll be part of this at one point. Is it a few days or a month or next year at one point? He’s part of the future. But this is the route we’re going. He’s doing an outstanding job (at Worcester). There’s a few things we want him to keep working at. He’s still getting his at-bats, he’s getting his repetitions. That’s the most important thing. Everybody gets excited, ‘Yeah, get him here and do this.’ But as of now, I think that’s the best way for him to keep getting reps and keep getting better.”
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Casas is batting .273 with a .385 on-base percentage, .477 slugging percentage, .862 OPS, 10 homers, 20 doubles, one triple, 46 walks and 66 strikeouts in 70 games (309 plate appearances) at Worcester.
He slashed .333/.459/.533/.992 with two homers, 10 doubles and one triple in 25 games during August.
His development was interrupted when he suffered an ankle injury May 17. He spent two months in Fort Myers before returning to Worcester on July 22.
Simply put, the Red Sox want him to get a chance to play every day and improve vs. both righties and lefties.
It wouldn’t be surprising though if the Red Sox promoted him at some point this month to evaluate his readiness for the 2023 Opening Day roster. As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, a team is rewarded a draft pick if one of its players finishes in the top three of the Rookie of the Year voting after beginning the season on the Opening Day roster. But that player must begin the season on the Opening Day roster.
Cora said Wednesday on WEEI’s Merloni, Fauria & Mego that there’s a chance Casas will be promoted at some point in September.
How much playing time will Wong receive?
Wong likely will start behind the plate Friday. But how much time will he receive there in September being one of three catchers along with Kevin Plawecki and Reese McGuire? It’s unclear at this point. All Cora really said was “We’ll try to find at-bats for Connor.”
“Obviously we’re still trying to win games and we can win games with him,” Cora said. “But it’s a kid that’s very intriguing. He’s a good athlete and he’s swinging the bat well. And that’s why we’ll find ways to get at-bats with him. We’ll talk to Reese. We’ll talk to Plaw.”
The 26-year-old Wong batted .368 with a .411 on-base percentage, .838 slugging percentage, 1.249 OPS, nine homers, five doubles, 14 runs, 22 RBIs, four walks and 21 strikeouts in 16 games during August for Worcester.
Is this the best he’s ever felt?
“Confidence-wise, probably,” Wong said. “In ‘19, I had high miss rates. A lot of strikeouts. I think that’s something I’ve cut back on this year. I’ve done a good job of that. Just kind of finding the balance between missing and driving the ball. So I’ve been working on that.”
Wong has cut down on his strikeouts this season. He had a 22.5% strikeout rate at Worcester this season, down from 27.9% at Worcester last year and 30.7% in 2019 at High-A and Double-A.
“He’s swinging the bat well, driving the ball, hitting the ball in the air,” Cora said. “Obviously behind the plate, we’re very comfortable with him. He was here last year when Plaw got hurt. Caught Nate (Eovaldi) a handful of times.”
He said he’s trying to make sure he’s seeing the ball well while also staying patient and not trying to get too big.
“I found that I don’t really need to swing that hard to make solid contact and hit the ball hard,” Wong said.
Cora added, “I think he’s made progress physically. A lot different from last year. Last year, he lost a lot of weight throughout the process, throughout the grind. And this year, he’s in a much better place.”
He’s continuing to improve behind the plate.
“We’ve been working on some blocking stuff, some glove-side receiving, some top of the zone receiving,” Wong said. “And it’s still a work in progress. But it’s gotten better throughout the year.”
Bazardo’s role
The 27-year-old Bazardo has a 3.45 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 37 outings (four starts) for Worcester. He has a 3.18 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in his 33 relief outings.
“We’ll use him in the right spots. We’ll use him as a multi-inning guy and go from there,” Cora said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 3:55:00 GMT -5
Rob Refsnyder’s walkoff single leads Boston Red Sox to comeback win after trailing by 3 runs entering ninth
Updated: Sep. 01, 2022, 10:57 p.m.|Published: Sep. 01, 2022, 10:55 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Down three runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox came back to win 9-8 over the Rangers here at Fenway Park.
Tommy Pham and Alex Verdugo drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning against righty Jonathan Hernández.
Xander Bogaerts reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Rafael Devers — who ended his 0-for-24 slump earlier in the game — then crushed a two-run double to make it 8-7.
The Red Sox had two runners in scoring position with no outs.
J.D. Martinez struck out for the first out, but Kiké Hernández tied it with an RBI single.
Rob Refsnyder then ripped a walkoff RBI single to left field, giving Boston the win.
Hill struggles, Sox fall behind
The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Christian Arroyo (2-for-4, three RBIs) smashed a two-out, two-run double to right field against Rangers starter Glenn Otto.
But Red Sox starter Rich Hill failed to post a shutdown inning in the top of the fifth as he allowed the first three batters to reach. Marcus Semien walked. Corey Seager ripped an RBI double. Nathaniel Lowe singled.
Manager Alex Cora then brought in John Schreiber who allowed both inherited runners to score on a force-out and single.
Hill allowed four runs, five hits and four walks while striking out two in 4-plus innings. He threw 93 pitches, 55 for strikes (59%).
Verdugo cut the deficit to 4-3 when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo homer to straightaway center field. Verdugo’s blast left his bat with a 103.2 mph exit velocity.
The Rangers went ahead 6-3 in the seventh on Kole Calhoun’s sac fly to left field off Zack Kelly and Marcus Semien’s RBI infield single.
Texas took an 8-3 lead in the eighth on Adolis García’s two-run homer against Eduard Bazardo.
Devers broke his 0-for-24 slump with an RBI double to center in the bottom of the eighth. He crushed it 414 feet with a 106.1 mph exit velocity.
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