|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 3:56:04 GMT -5
Sleepless Rob Refsnyder delivers Boston Red Sox walkoff hit; ‘Maybe I shouldn’t sleep very well more often’
Updated: Sep. 02, 2022, 12:44 a.m.|Published: Sep. 02, 2022, 12:35 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — A sleep-deprived Rob Refsnyder connected on a 90.4 mph changeup from Rangers fireballer Jonathan Hernández and ripped it down the left field line for his first career walkoff RBI.
Refsnyder’s single scored Rafael Devers and the Red Sox won 9-8 over the Rangers here at Fenway Park on Thursday after trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the ninth.
“I didn’t sleep well at all,” Refsnyder said. “My son was pretty cranky. We got in at 5:30 in the morning (from Minnesota). So maybe I shouldn’t sleep very well more often.” Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
The Red Sox landed in Boston on Thursday morning after a late game in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Refsnyder’s son also is fighting a cold.
The Red Sox outfielder usually hangs out with his son in the morning, then naps in the afternoon when his son naps. Refsnyder said nap time didn’t go well with his son not feeling well.
“I was banking on afternoon nap and I didn’t get one,” Refsnyder said.
But it all worked out in the end. Refsnyder doesn’t even remember the last time he recorded a walkoff RBI at any level.
“I remember a bunch of ones I didn’t come through,” Refsnyder said. “So as I got up there, I felt good about it. As good as you can about hitting a guy throwing a 101 mph sinker.”
Refsnyder fouled off a 97 mph sinker, then took a changeup for a ball. He connected for his game-winning hit with a 1-1 count.
“Figured he had to be aggressive there with bases loaded,” Refsnyder said about Hernández. “Obviously he’s got great stuff. He’s got a 100 mph sinker, 90 mph changeup. And he was throwing a lot of sliders. He threw a couple sliders to J.D. (Martinez). So I was just trying to see him up and out and just tried to stay inside it. Fortunate enough to get a ball kind of up and out.”
The Red Sox entered the ninth down 8-5.
“We could have easily folded there down (three) runs to their best reliever but a lot of credit to Tommy (Pham) starting off with a really, really good at-bat,” Refsnyder said.
Pham and Alex Verdugo drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning against 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.
“I started doing the math a little bit,” Refsnyder said. “Raffy had that nice hit and once (Christian) Arroyo got intentionally walked, I was like, ‘Oh, man. I’ve got a shot here.’”
J.D. Martinez struck out for the first out with runners at second and third. The Rangers then intentionally walked Arroyo to load the bases for Kiké Hernández who took a 98 mph sinker the other way to right field for an RBI single.
“Kiké in front of me, an incredible at-bat just staying inside that ball, going the other way,” Refsnyder said.
Devers went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, breaking his hitless streak.
“He’s one of the best hitters in my generation and just to see him kind of grinding,” Refsnyder said. “He’s here early, doing early hitting with (hitting coach Peter) Fatse and everybody and grinding it out. So I think you guys saw some emotion at second base once that one fell. If we’re going to do anything this month, Raffy’s going to be kind of driving the ship. So it was really, really good to see him, especially with how hard he’s been working and trying to get back on track.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 4:02:39 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Updates on Eovaldi, Houck, Hosmer September 1st, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Sept. 1: C Connor Wong and RHP Eduard Bazardo called up from Triple-A Worcester Wong and Bazardo were promoted on the first day in which teams were eligible to expand rosters up to 28 players.
“He’s swinging the bat well, driving the ball, hitting the ball in the air. Obviously behind the plate, we’re very comfortable with him,” manager Alex Cora said about Wong, who has played in five games over two separate callups for Boston this season
Bazardo, who made his MLB debut with Boston pitching in two games last season, has appeared in 37 games for Worcester in 2022, including four starts. The Venezuelan posted a 3.45 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 57 1/3 innings before being called up.
“Good stuff, throws strikes. Can give us multiple innings,” Cora said. “We needed somebody like that right now, a strike thrower.”
• All Red Sox transactions INJURY UPDATES 10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) Expected return: September Manager Alex Cora stated on Sept. 1 that the club will continue to be cautious with Eovaldi as he continues to throw. “Nate threw the other day, feeling better, but not at the pace we thought he would be at this stage,” Cora said. “We still have to be careful.”
Eovaldi, who has been on the 15-day injured list since Aug. 19, missed 33 games earlier in the season with lower back inflammation. (Last updated: Sept. 1)
RHP Tanner Houck (lower back inflammation) Expected return: TBD Houck, who was nearing the point of returning to baseball activities, was shut down as the soreness in his back has not dissipated. The team had sent the right-hander to see a back specialist and was hoping for more information by Sept. 2. Asked if there was a possibility that Houck could miss the remainder of the season, manager Alex Cora was quick to state that “There’s a good chance.” (Last updated: Sept. 1)
1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) Expected return: September Hosmer continues to suffer lingering pain in his back and plans to have him start a rehab assignment have been put on hold. Manager Alex Cora said Hosmer has been able to swing the bat, but at this point has yet to be able to do any defensive work since landing on the IL on Aug. 22. (Last updated: Sept. 1)
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 4:06:42 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK ‘Good chance’ Tanner Houck’s back will end his 2022 Red Sox season early By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated September 1, 2022, 6:51 p.m.
There’s a “good chance” Tanner Houck will miss the remainder of the season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said ahead of the 9-8 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Houck, who last pitched in the majors Aug. 2 and was placed on the injured list with lower back inflammation, will see a specialist and is shut down from all baseball activity.
The Red Sox closer has a 2.70 ERA and 1.131 WHIP out of the bullpen, with 43 strikeouts in 43⅓ innings. Despite the Sox weaponizing Houck as their closer, his knack for going multiple innings was a boost to a club that had the fourth-worst bullpen ERA (4.61) entering Thursday.
His potential loss for the final two months provides another example of how forgettable of a season it has been for the Sox. With a postseason berth very unlikely, it’s all the more reason to not push the issue.
With rosters expanding by two in September, the Red Sox called up catcher Connor Wong and reliever Eduard Bazardo, who could fill a multi-inning role. Bazardo has a 3.45 ERA in 57⅓ innings at Triple A Worcester across 37 appearances, and has struck out 60.
Bazardo was designated for assignment after spring training, but cleared waivers.
“He has good stuff. He throws strikes and can give us multiple innings, and we need that right now,” Cora said. “We were very high on him a few years ago. I know we took him off the roster, but he’s pitched well. We’ll use him in the right spots.” Wong has success in sight
Wong was hitting .288/.349/.489 (.838 OPS) with 15 homers in 81 games for Worcester when the Sox recalled him Thursday. Wong was on a tear his last 16 games, hitting .368 with 15 homers and a whopping 1.249 OPS.
The key to Wong’s success? Seeing the pitches.
“I think there are some mechanics involved but mostly, it’s just taking care of my eyes and making sure I’m seeing the ball and not trying to be too big,” Wong said. “I found that I don’t really need to swing that hard to make solid contact and hit the ball far.” Wong, seen here in a game against the Jays earlier this season, was red-hit lately for Worcester -- in his last 16 games, he's hit .368 with 15 homers.
The Red Sox have three catchers on their 28-man roster, but Cora intimated that the team will find spots for Wong to see some action, beginning Friday when he is scheduled to catch Nick Pivetta’s start against the Rangers.
Kevin Plawecki caught Rich Hill’s outing Thursday, and Reese McGuire is scheduled to catch Saturday.
“Obviously we’re very comfortable with him behind the plate,” Cora said. “He was here last year when Plawecki got hurt. We like him a lot. Physically, he’s a lot different than last year. Last year he lost a lot of weight throughout the process, the grind. This year he’s in a much better place.” Slow healing
Nate Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen recently and did not respond well. He was feeling better Thursday, but not at the pace the team expected. Thus, his progress has been slowed . . . Eric Hosmer (back) is feeling sore and his progress has also been slower than expected. The first baseman took swings Thursday, but is still unable to move around in the field . . . Both Kiké Hernández and Trevor Story had scheduled off days . . . Rafael Devers broke an 0-for-24 slump with doubles in the eighth and ninth innings. “One thing I always tell him is that he’s one line drive the other way from being locked in,” said Cora, who noted before the game his star third baseman is chasing too many pitches. “It’s a learning process. He’s never been in this situation.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 4:30:09 GMT -5
Rangers @ Red Sox Friday, 2nd Spetember 7pm @ Fenway
Keuchel 0-1/11.81
Pivetta 9-10/4.40
Texas Rangers vs. Boston Red Sox Friday, September 2, 2022 at 7:10pm EDT Written by Dave Kovaleski
The Boston Red Sox host the Texas Rangers in the second game of a four game series on Friday. Both teams are looking to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Red Sox took two out of three games from the Rangers when they played back in May. Nick Pivetta (9-10) takes the hill for the Red Sox while Dallas Keuchel (2-8) gets the start for the Rangers. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park in Boston.
Rangers playoff hopes fading fast The Rangers pretty much killed any chance of making the playoffs earlier this week with four straight losses, two to the lowly Tigers and two to the Astros. They came into this series with Boston 12 games out of the wildcard race and with 33 games left in the season, the playoff ship is at the dock and ready to set sail. The offense hasn't been the problem as they average 4.53 runs per game, which is 9th best in baseball. They are 8th in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage. The Rangers are led by Nathaniel Lowe, who is batting .301 with 22 home runs and 66 RBI, while Corey Seager is hitting .255 with 29 homers and 69 RBI.
Dallas Keuchel gets the start for the Rangers on Friday. Keuchel, a left hander, is 2-8 on the season with an ERA of 8.84 in 13 starts. He has 38 strikeouts and 28 walks in 56 innings pitched. Keuchel, who came over from Arizona last month. made his first start for the Rangers last week and it was not a good one. He gave up 7 runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings in an 11-2 loss to the Tigers -- yes, the Tigers -- the worst offensive team in baseball. Keuchel is 1-1 with an ERA of 9.00 and 9 strikeouts in 2 appearances against Boston this season. In his career versus the Red Sox, he is 2-2 with an ERA of 8.27 and 24 strikeouts in 7 appearances. The Rangers have a team ERA of 4.01, which ranks 21st in baseball. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.71, which is 11th best in the league.
Red Sox need to get hot The Red Sox playoff chances are also slowly slipping away as we enter the final full month of the regular season. They come into this series with a little momentum, after beating Minnesota in the final game of that series on Wednesday. They are last in the tough AL East and 8 games out of the final wildcard spot. If they can sweep here or win 3 out of 4, they will climb a little closer and you never know. But they have to start winning series -- or sweeping them -- to have any chance. The Red Sox average 4.50 runs per game, which is 11th best in baseball. They are 5th in team batting average and 10th in slugging percentage. The Red Sox are led by Rafael Devers, who is batting .287 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI, while Xander Bogaerts is hitting .308 with 12 homers and 60 RBI. Bogaerts hit a grand slam in Wednesday's 6-5 in over the Twins.
Nick Pivetta gets the start for the Red Sox on Friday. Pivetta, a right hander, is 9-10 on the season with an ERA of 4.40 in 26 starts. He has 143 strikeouts and 54 walks in 147,1 innings pitched. Pivetta got roughed up by the Rays in his last start, a 12-4 loss. He gave up 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings with four strikeouts and 3 walks. He also gave up 2 home runs. Pivetta is 1-0 against the Rangers this season, allowing 1 run on 3 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts in 7 innings. In his career versus Texas, he is 1-0 with an ERA of 1.54 and 9 strikeouts in 2 appearances. The Red Sox have a team ERA of 4.55, which ranks 25th in baseball. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.58, which is 27th in the league.
Rangers at Red Sox Friday, at 7:10 PM EST Clear According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 67° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 7:53:29 GMT -5
Rally boosts Red Sox's mindset ahead of rematch with Rangers FLM
The Boston Red Sox will look to ride the momentum of a walk-off win when they continue a four-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers on Friday night.
The Red Sox erased a five-run deficit in a 9-8 win on Thursday, scoring two runs in the eighth inning and four in the ninth.
Could Rob Refsnyder's first career walk-off hit be a springboard to a successful finish for Boston?
Manager Alex Cora liked what he saw in the Red Sox's second straight victory.
"When we actually got hot, we were using the whole field, the line was moving, (taking) quality at-bats," Cora said. "The last inning is what we expect out of the lineup -- swing at strikes, if not, keep the line moving."
Another positive was third baseman Rafael Devers ending a career-worst, 0-for-24 drought. He scored the winning run after his second double of the game drove in two.
"We always talk about pitch selection and using the whole field, so tonight was a good sign," Cora said. "It was fun to watch him locked in."
Boston's Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.40 ERA) will look to snap a personal mini-slump when he starts on Friday. He hasn't been able to match his seven shutout innings on Aug. 16 at Pittsburgh in two starts since, taking a no-decision against Baltimore and losing to Tampa Bay in his Sunday start.
Pivetta worked at least five innings in both of those games, but the Rays tagged him for five runs and eight hits to avoid a series sweep. He had a 4.08 ERA in five August starts after posting a 9.38 mark in July.
The Red Sox righty has started against Texas just twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA. He held the Rangers to three hits and one run over seven innings in a May 13 win.
On the opposite side, it has been a tough year for 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (2-8, 8.84 ERA), who is scheduled to make his second start with the Rangers on Friday.
Texas is Keuchel's third major league team this season. Signed by the Rangers as a minor league free agent in July, the southpaw had been pitching at Triple-A Round Rock before a Saturday start against Detroit. The Tigers tagged him for seven runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"Physically, I felt great. That was the main part coming in," he said. "The way my pitches were working in Round Rock was kind of similar. It was just death by a thousand cuts, to be honest with you. It's really tough to corral that. ...
"I thought there was some weak contact there, which is ... what I made my career on."
Keuchel is 0-5 with an 11.70 ERA in his past seven major league starts, for the Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas.
His career numbers against Boston (2-2, 8.27 ERA in seven appearances, six starts) aren't much better. He has faced the Red Sox twice this season, most recently allowing seven hits and six runs in just two innings on May 26 for the White Sox.
The Rangers will hope for a repeat of Keuchel's May 8 outing in Boston, when he pitched two-run ball over six innings.
Such an effort is much needed, as Texas has tied its season-high skid of five games. Things were looking good late in the Thursday contest, but Jonathan Hernandez got just one out in the ninth while yielding four runs.
"You expect to win that game, but it happens every now and then," Rangers interim manager Tony Beasley said. "I know (Hernandez) is out there competing. It was just a tough night for him. ... (Boston) did a good job of battling, competing."
--Field Level Media
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 11:20:33 GMT -5
Lou Merloni Retweeted Boston Sports Info @bostonsportsinf · 2h Did you know…
Since May 4th, the Baltimore Orioles have the best record (61-45, .575) of any team in the AL East
So for basically the last 4 months
Just as everyone predicted
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 13:53:29 GMT -5
Game 133: Rangers at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated September 2, 2022, 10:05 a.m. Maybe the Red Sox won’t just go through the motions for the final month of the season. A trip to the postseason is not happening, but Thursday night’s 9-8 win over Texas, in which they rallied from an 8-3 deficit, at least showed the Red Sox haven’t packed it in. The Red Sox will look to keep it going Friday night against a Rangers team that has lost five in a row. Nick Pivetta will be on the mound. Here is a preview. Lineups RANGERS (58-72): 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. Kole Calhoun (L) DH 8. Ezequiel Duran (R) 3B 9. Bubba Thompson (R) LF Pitching: LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-8, 8.84 ERA) RED SOX (64-68): 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. Trevor Story (R) 2B 7. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 8. Christian Arroyo (R) 1B 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.40 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Rangers vs. Pivetta: Kole Calhoun 2-3, Charlie Culberson 1-2, Adolis García 0-3, Jonah Heim 0-3, Nathaniel Lowe 1-3, Brad Miller 0-3, Corey Seager 1-7, Marcus Semien 4-16, Nick Solak 0-2 Red Sox vs. Keuchel: Christian Arroyo 1-5, Xander Bogaerts 5-16, Bobby Dalbec 2-4, Rafael Devers 6-7, Kiké Hernández 2-7, J.D. Martinez 4-17, Tommy Pham 2-3, Kevin Plawecki 0-2, Rob Refsnyder 3-8, Trevor Story 2-5, Alex Verdugo 2-7 Stat of the day: The Red Sox own a 22-8 record against AL West opponents, the best record of any AL team against the division this season. Notes: Arroyo is batting .363 with 13 runs scored, 11 extra-base hits, and 12 RBI in 26 games since being reinstated from the injured list on July 30. … Pivetta is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two against Texas. He held the Rangers to three hits and one run over seven innings in a May 13 win. … Keuchel is 0-5 with an 11.70 ERA in his past seven major league starts, for the Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas. He is 2-2, with an 8.27 ERA in seven appearances, six starts against the Red Sox. Song of the Day: U2 - Even Better than the real thingwww.youtube.com/watch?v=vTxrgXWToZA
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 14:27:59 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 26m From the #RedSox: RHP Zack Kelly on paternity leave. RHP Tyler Danish called up.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2022 16:00:07 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 22m Tanner Houck will likely have back surgery, Alex Cora says.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 2:51:57 GMT -5
Wong hits 1st MLB homer, Red Sox lose Pivetta, beat Rangers AP
BOSTON (AP) Connor Wong hit his first major league homer, Kike Hernandez doubled twice and the Boston Red Sox overcame an early injury to starting pitcher Nick Pivetta to beat Texas 9-1 Friday night, the Rangers' season-worst sixth straight loss.
Pivetta exited with a bruised left calf after getting hit by Leody Taveras' comebacker in the third. Pivetta threw out Taveras at first base to end the inning, but hobbled off the field.
''Yeah, that was pretty frustrating. I felt pretty good tonight,'' said Pivetta, who leads the staff with 27 starts, the only member of the rotation who hasn't missed a start this season.
After the game, though, he wasn't sure if he would make his next start.
''I take really great pride in that,'' Pivetta said. ''I look forward to continuing that streak and continuing getting on the mound.''
Pivetta was replaced by right-hander Tyler Danish (3-1), who earned the win with a scoreless inning.
Texas starter Dallas Keuchel took the loss, going 4 2/3 innings and matching a season high by allowing seven earned runs. In two starts since joining the Rangers as a free agent on July 26, Keuchel has given up a combined 14 earned runs over 10 innings on 18 hits.
Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, is 0-2 with Texas and a combined 2-9 with a 9.20 ERA with Texas, the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks this season. He entered the game with a major league-high 8.84 ERA.
''I felt I pitched a whole lot better than the line read,'' Keuchel said. ''It felt like I was making pitches and they were battling, like the classic Red Sox game at Fenway Park. I established all my pitches, but this year is what it is. We're working towards an end goal of putting up some zeroes.''
Wong hit a two-run homer in the seventh that scored Hernandez, who had walked. Wong, a 26-year-old catcher-second baseman, played his sixth game for Boston this year.
''That one, it was a good swing,'' Boston manager Alex Cora said. ''He's got some pop. I remember last year he hit a homer in spring training to straight center that I was, like, impressed. ... Now, he looks a lot stronger than last year. He's catching up with fastballs.''
''Behind the plate he's really good. ... He's in command of the whole situation,'' he said. ''We'll find him ways to get at-bats and keep rolling.''
Texas infielder-outfielder Charlie Culberson pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing a two-out walk and a single.
Hernandez scored twice and also drove in two runs.
Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI double in the first.
Texas rookie Bubba Thompson led off the third with a single and stole second base, his 10th swipe since making his major league debut on Aug. 4. Thompson scored on Corey Seager single.
Boston scored three times in the fourth on an RBI single by Hernandez and a two-run single by Christian Arroyo.
Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez hit RBI doubles in the fifth that finished Keuchel. Hernandez doubled home a run off reliever A.J. Alexy.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Joe Barlow, bothered by a right index finger blister for almost two months, needs more time before he can be activated. He was eligible to be activated Friday from his second stint this season on the injured list with the ailment. Since July 13, he has missed 45 games because of this issue.
Red Sox: Cora said the team's medical staff was planning to meet later on Friday to discuss a course of action for RHP Tanner Houck, who has been out since Aug. 6 with lower back inflammation. ''There's a big possibility he'll have surgery,'' Cora said. If so, Cora expects Houck would be ready for spring training. ... 1B Eric Hosmer, out since Aug. 21 with low back inflammation, ''is not progressing the way we thought he was going to be,'' Cora said. Hosmer has been shut down from baseball activities but is receiving treatment. ... RHP Nathan Eovaldi, out since Aug. 19 with right shoulder inflammation, threw 25- to 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday and is expected to throw another on Monday, with Cora saying Eovaldi felt ''a lot better than a few weeks ago.'' ... RHP Zack Kelly was placed on paternity leave. Danish was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Kelly's place on the roster.
UP NEXT
The Rangers and Red Sox continue their four-game series on Saturday afternoon. Boston rookie RHP Brayan Bello (0-4, 7.27 ERA) is making his eighth start, first against Texas. The Rangers had not yet named a starter, with the choice depending on bullpen usage in Friday's game.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 3:13:45 GMT -5
Connor Wong hits first career home run as Boston Red Sox rout Rangers, 9-1, for third straight win; Nick Pivetta leaves with calf injury
Updated: Sep. 03, 2022, 1:15 a.m.|Published: Sep. 02, 2022, 10:22 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Throughout August, Connor Wong showed off his power consistently at Triple-A. On Friday night, in his first major league start since April, he continued his hot streak and punctuated a big Red Sox win.
Wong’s first career major league homer was the exclamation point as the Red Sox beat the Rangers, 9-1, at Fenway Park. Boston put together three multi-run innings behind 12 hits and improved to 65-68 with its third consecutive victory.
Facing Dallas Keuchel -- the former Cy Young winner who has been one of the worst pitchers in the majors so far in 2022 -- Boston attacked early and often. It took three batters in the bottom of the first for the Sox to plate their first run, as Xander Bogaerts made it 1-0 with an RBI double. Corey Seager tied the game with an RBI single off Nick Pivetta in the third inning, accounting for Texas’ only offense of the night.
Pivetta lasted only three innings, as he was drilled in the leg by a ground ball on the final play of the third. After fielding the ball off the ricochet and throwing to first, he hobbled down the dugout steps and left the game with a left calf contusion. He’s questionable to make his next start, according to manager Alex Cora.
Boston started really getting to Keuchel in the fourth after Rafael Devers led off with a single and J.D. Martinez walked. Kiké Hernández gave the Sox the lead with an RBI double, then Christian Arroyo’s two-run single made it 4-1. In the fifth, Boston put together a two-out rally and scored three more runs, plating runners on RBI hits from Devers (double), Martinez (single) and Hernández (double). Keuchel left the game after giving up seven earned runs and seven hits in 4⅔ innings. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
With Boston leading, 7-1, in the eighth, Wong demolished an A.J. Alexy fastball over the Green Monster for a two-run shot. The homer went 439 feet and had an exit velocity of 108.8 mph. It was tied for the second-longest homer by a Sox hitter at home this year.
Four Red Sox hitters (Tommy Pham, Bogaerts, Devers and Hernández) had two hits and Hernández, Arroyo and Wong each led the way with two RBIs. Five Red Sox relievers -- Tyler Danish, Matt Strahm, Ryan Brasier, Kaleb Ort and Eduard Bazardo -- combined for six scoreless innings.
Boston owns a 23-8 (.742) record against AL West opponents, the best record of any AL team against the division this season.
Devers, Bogaerts heating up
Devers (2-for-2, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB), coming off an 0-for-24 stretch, has now reached base in six straight plate appearances, with one single, three doubles and two walks.
Bogaerts has now recorded multiple hits in eight of his last nine games and is hitting .472 in that span.
Bello starts Saturday
Rookie Brayan Bello (0-4, 7.27 ERA) will try to keep Boston’s streak rolling Saturday afternoon in his third start since being activated off the injured list. The Rangers have not yet announced a starter.
First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 3:14:46 GMT -5
Nick Pivetta is only Boston Red Sox starter to make every start in 2022; he could miss next one after leaving game with calf injury
Published: Sep. 03, 2022, 1:32 a.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Nick Pivetta has been the iron man of the Red Sox’ rotation so far this season, making all 27 of his scheduled starts. But it’s possible that streak is about to end.
Pivetta left Friday’s start after three innings due to a left calf contusion. He was smoked in the leg with a 91.4 mph grounder off the bat of Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras and, after recovering to throw Taveras out and end the ininng, hobbled off the field and down the dugout steps into the clubhouse. It was Pivetta’s shortest start since April 15, when he lasted just two innings against the Twins. The Red Sox routed Texas, 9-1. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
Manager Alex Cora was hopeful Pivetta will make his next scheduled start (Wednesday at Tampa Bay) but there’s a chance the righty will miss it. Though assistant athletic trainer Brandon Henry told Cora that Pivetta should be good to go for his next outing, Pivetta was walking with a significant limp after the game. He had to hop on one foot to get from the interview room back to the clubhouse and walked gingerly around his locker late Friday night.
“I would assume, hopefully, soon, but we’ll see,” Pivetta said when asked about a potential timetable. “I think we’ll get more information in the next couple days.”
The Rangers had already scored one run in the third and had two runners on base when Taveras’ grounder ended the inning. Pivetta generally pitched well, allowing just a single run on four hits in three innings. He tossed 50 pitches before departing.
“It was pretty frustrating,” Pivetta said. “I felt pretty good tonight. Me and (catcher Connor) Wong were really jelling together early. It’s unfortunate, it’s part of the game. It is what it is.”
The fact Pivetta has been able to stay healthy all season makes him an outlier in Boston’s rotation. Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha and Rich Hill have all missed significant time due to injuries and depth starters Brayan Bello and Connor Seabold have also spent time on the IL. Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck, who have both pitched as starters and relievers this season, have gotten hurt. Pivetta, who has had an inconsistent season, is the workhorse of the staff and leads the Red Sox with 150 ⅓ innings pitched.
“They all take pride in that. I know it’s important for him, 30 starts and X amount of innings,” Cora said. “But we’ll see what happens next. We’ve got to be smart about it, too.”
Pivetta concurred.
“I take really great pride in that,” he said. “I look forward to continuing that streak and continuing getting on the mound.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 3:16:08 GMT -5
Connor Wong starts Boston Red Sox audition with first career homer: ‘He earned it... We’ll find ways to get him at-bats’
Published: Sep. 03, 2022, 2:16 a.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Connor Wong doesn’t look like a power hitter. The Red Sox catcher, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, is all of 5-foot-11, 181 lbs. But he’s strong and, as baseball people tend to say, has sneaky pop. That was on display Friday night.
Wong’s first career major league homer -- a two-run shot off Rangers righty A.J. Alexy in the seventh inning of a 9-1 Boston win -- traveled 439 feet. It was the tied for the second-longest homer hit by a Red Sox player at Fenway Park this season and was the longest home run hit by a Red Sox catcher in over three years. Yet Wong, somehow, didn’t think it was a no-doubter at first.
“There was a second there I was like, ‘Oh, I hope this gets out,’” he said. “I was able to see it finish.”
Wong entered Friday with limited major league experience, as he had seen action in 11 games over the last two seasons, hitting .286 (6-for-21) with a double, triple and two RBIs. This year, he was called up on a couple of occasions but had not started a big league game since April 20. He got the nod behind the plate one day after being called up from Triple-A Worcester when rosters expanded from 26 to 28 active players. He was red-hot for the WooSox before being promoted, having hit .368 with a .411 on-base percentage, .838 slugging percentage, 1.249 OPS, nine homers, five doubles and 22 RBIs in 16 August games. In his last 17 games between Triple-A and the majors, he has 10 homers.
“I’m happy that he’s here,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He earned this.”
“Trusting that process and what I was doing there, I was kind of looking forward to seeing how it played here,” Wong said.
Wong, who was one of three players the Sox acquired in the Feb. 2020 Mookie Betts trade, hit 19 homers at High-A in 2018 as a Dodgers prospect, then followed that up with 24 dingers between High-A and Double-A in 2019. He was limited to just 50 games with the WooSox last year and dealt with a wrist injury earlier this summer but has shown his best offensive performance since joining the Red Sox organization in recent weeks. He has 15 homers in 81 games for Worcester.
That number, in Cora’s mind, isn’t a surprise. Wong has been in major league spring training with the Red Sox in each of the last two years and has shown his pop.
“Last year, he hit a home run in spring training to straight center, that I was like, impressed,” Cora said. “Last year, he lost some weight during the season down there at Triple-A. Now, he looks a lot stronger than last year. He has been swinging the bat well, catching up with fastballs.
“He’s a strong kid and a good athlete,” Cora said. “If you see his batting practice, it’s loud. Obviously, the swing-and-miss is part of it. We’ll keep working with that.”
Wong isn’t perfect, as evidenced by how Baseball America didn’t rank him among Boston’s top 30 prospects. But the site does have him pegged as the organization’s best defensive catching prospect. Those skills were on display Friday as he navigated six different Boston pitchers in a 9-1 win.
“He’s in command of the whole situation, doesn’t panic and understands what we’re trying to do,” Cora said. “Today, he had a lot of guys he has seen throughout the season.”
“I think he’s fundamentally really sound,” added starter Nick Pivetta. “He has a good understanding of the game. Sets up the zone really well. He’s able to adapt and move as the game progresses.”
Wong’s promotion came at an opportune time for the 26-year-old, who was added to the club’s 40-man roster in Nov. 2020. Boston’s catching mix entering 2023 is in flux with Christian Vázquez gone and Kevin Plawecki due to be a free agent. Reese McGuire has played well since coming over in a deadline trade with the White Sox and is a candidate to be one of Boston’s two catchers next year. But Wong is also in the mix and now has a chance to show the Red Sox what he can do. While it’s unlikely that Boston would go into next year with a Wong-McGuire duo behind the plate and not add a legitimate starter, the duo could be competing for the backup role. With that in mind, the Red Sox plan to play Wong frequently down the stretch. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
“He’ll play. We’ll find ways to get him at-bats and keep rolling,” Cora said, noting that Wong can also play infield in an emergency. “He’s swinging the bat really, really well.”
Late Friday night, making a bid at the 2023 roster was the last thing on Wong’s mind. He was basking in the glow of his first major league homer and wondering what he would do with the ball, which Red Sox staffers retrieved from an out-of-town couple and acquired in exchange for autographed basebals.
“Really exciting,” Wong said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 3:19:00 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Houck likely to undergo surgery 2:22 AM ADT
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Sept. 2: RHP Tanner Houck likely to have back surgery A day after Alex Cora acknowledged there is a good chance Houck won't pitch again this season, Boston's manager added that the closer is likely to undergo surgery in the coming days. Houck pitched in 32 games this season, all but four of them in the bullpen. He had eight saves and a 3.15 ERA.
"There’s a good chance he might have surgery, but we just want to make sure we go over the whole thing and this is the route that is the most beneficial for him," said Cora. "We’ll probably make a decision when they get here later on, probably tonight or we’ll know more tomorrow. There’s a big possibility he’ll have surgery.”
Sept. 2: RHP Nick Pivetta exits start with left calf contusion Pivetta, the lone pitcher on the Red Sox to make all of his starts this season, had to leave Friday night's game against the Rangers after getting struck on the left calf by a 91.4 mph grounder off the bat of Leody Taveras. Pivetta gathered himself enough to field the ball and throw to first for the out that ended the top of the third inning. But he hobbled back to the dugout and had to leave the game. Pivetta is 9-10 with a 4.37 ERA in 27 starts this season. Rich Hill is a distant second on the Sox in starts with 20. The Red Sox hope Pivetta can take his next turn in the rotation, but they won't know for at least a couple of days. Pivetta limped to his press conference after the game and around the clubhouse.
Sept. 2: RHP Zack Kelly placed on paternity leave list; RHP Tyler Danish recalled from Triple-A Worcester Fresh off his first Major League callup earlier this week, Kelly stepped away from the team for a few days to witness the birth of his child. Kelly will miss no more than three games per the terms of the paternity list. Danish, who last pitched for the Red Sox on July 6, will fill Kelly's roster spot.
• All Red Sox transactions INJURY UPDATES 10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) Expected return: September Eovaldi took an important step when he threw another bullpen session on Sept. 2, throwing 25-30 pitches. The plan is for Eovaldi to repeat the exercise on Sept. 5.
"I was just talking to him right now and he was like, 'I felt a lot better than a few weeks ago.' He is trending in the right direction," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. (Last updated: Sept. 2)
RHP Tanner Houck (lower back inflammation) Expected return: 2023 Houck is expected to undergo back surgery in early September, which will force him to miss the rest of the season. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the club will soon have more details on the nature of the surgery. Houck last pitched for the Red Sox on Aug. 2. He had a strong season before the injury, converting eight of nine save opportunities and notching a 3.15 ERA in 32 appearances. (Last updated: Sept. 2)
1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) Expected return: September Hosmer continues to suffer lingering pain in his back, and plans to have him start a rehab assignment have been put on hold.
"He started swinging the bat, but bending over was bothering him, so we stopped the baseball activities. He’s getting treatment. We’ll see what happens in the upcoming days. For now, just stay away from swinging the bat and all that stuff," said Red Sox manger Alex Cora.
Hosmer has been on the injured list since Aug. 22. (Last updated: Sept. 2)
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2022 3:23:07 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox shut down Tanner Houck, as the reliever is likely headed for back surgery By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated September 2, 2022, 7:59 p.m.
Tanner Houck will miss the remainder of the season and will likely undergo back surgery, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday afternoon prior to a 9-1 win on the second night of a four-game set against the Rangers.
As of Friday afternoon, the Red Sox were still gathering information from doctors, even though Cora sounded firm in stating that surgery was the probable outcome for the Sox closer.
“We just want to make sure we go over the whole thing,” Cora said, “and make sure this is the route that is the most beneficial for him. We’ll probably make a decision later on.”
The Sox placed Houck on the injured list Aug. 9, retroactive to Aug. 6. He last pitched in a game Aug. 2 against the Astros. The Red Sox expected Houck’s injured-list stint to be a short one, requiring just the minimum number of days (15). Houck began ramping up his activity and even threw a bullpen last week before the team decided to shut him down from baseball activities.
Houck was 5-4 with 8 saves, a 3.15 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 60 innings, including four starts, this season. Comebacker forces Pivetta out
Nick Pivetta, the one Red Sox starting pitcher not to deal with major injury trouble this season, exited Friday after taking a comebacker off his left leg in the top of the third inning.
With the game tied, 1-1, and two outs, Leody Taveras hit a grounder back at Pivetta. The righthander recorded the out but hobbled off the field, and reliever Tyler Danish came out to pitch the fourth.
The Red Sox announced the injury as a left calf contusion. After the game, Pivetta could barely walk, moving with a significant limp around the clubhouse. He is unsure if he will be able to make his next start. The team will know more over the next couple of days.
Friday was Pivetta’s 28th start of the season, eight more than Rich Hill for tops on the team. He is 9-10 with a 4.37 ERA, and the Sox had lost five of his prior six starts. With Hosmer rehab stalled, time for Casas?
Eric Hosmer is yet another Sox player that has been dealing with back issues and has not progressed the way the team would have hoped.
“He started swinging the bat, but bending over was bothering him,” Cora said. “So we stopped the baseball activities. He’s getting treatment. And we’ll see what happens in the upcoming days.”
With just 29 games to play after Friday, missing the remainder of the season is certainly a possibility for Hosmer.
That should signal that it’s time to call up top prospect Triston Casas, who continues his tear at Triple A Worcester. The WooSox first baseman batted .333/.456/.559 with a 1.015 OPS in August. Casas has 10 doubles and three homers over those 26 games, putting his homer total at 11 on the year after missing a chunk of time due to an ankle sprain.
The Sox’ brass believeCasas will be a quality big leaguer, one who can put together quality at-bats, work the count, and understands what it takes to hit at the major league level.
With Hosmer out, that means the Sox are back where they started with Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec as the primary first baseman. Neither has produced for the Sox this year. Christian Arroyo will play some first in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup and started there Friday with the lefty Dallas Keuchel on the hill for the Rangers.
Nevertheless, this should be the time for the Red Sox to call on Casas, giving him his first taste of the big leagues.
Nate Eovaldi (shoulder) threw a bullpen Friday and came out of it feeling good, Cora said. He will throw another bullpen in the next few days at 25-30 pitches … Kiké Hernández and Trevor Story were both back in the lineup Friday after scheduled days off Thursday … The Red Sox placed reliever Zack Kelly on the paternity list. The Sox called up Danish to fill Kelly’s spot.
|
|