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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 29, 2023 18:23:27 GMT -5
Valdez allows a hit to go thru with more Flamingo play at 2B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 29, 2023 18:25:22 GMT -5
Bernardino fits right in to the Gas Can Gang
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 29, 2023 18:31:56 GMT -5
Arroyo with a big hit
7-7
wild pitch
holy shit
and Dugo plates the winning run with a single......
8-7 Red Sox
Dirty Water
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 29, 2023 22:55:49 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h So much talk about who should start or stay in Rotation between Houck, Whitlock (I know he’s down now) and Bello, the reality is is that Crawford may be the best Starter of the crew. Right now, yes. I think this team is better with Houck as an RP. Bello has to get starts to develop, but I am not sure if Houck is a starter.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 29, 2023 22:58:06 GMT -5
Kevin Paul Dupont Tough morning for many Boston sports fans. But the Red Sox are 13-14.
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 1h That would be the last place Red Sox who are nine games out of first place on April 29.
That would also be the RS who are only one game behind the Yankees.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 29, 2023 23:00:12 GMT -5
Bernardino fits right in to the Gas Can Gang Is that the Bernardino with the 0.00000000000000 ERA?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 4:09:53 GMT -5
Red Sox Likely To Activate Chris Martin From 15-Day IL On Sunday
By Mark Polishuk | April 29, 2023 at 8:15pm CDT
Chris Martin looks to be on the verge of a return to the Red Sox bullpen, as manager Alex Cora told reporters (including Alex Speier of the Boston Globe) that the reliever will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list prior to Sunday’s game with the Guardians. The corresponding move has already been made, as the Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams reports that right-hander Kaleb Ort has been optioned to Triple-A.
The Sox retroactively placed Martin on the 15-day IL back on April 13, so he’ll return to the field in just slightly more than the minimum 15 days. Right shoulder inflammation sidelined Martin, but an MRI revealed no structure damage, and it seems as though Martin’s discomfort subsided in relatively quick fashion. It’s possible he might have been back exactly after 15 days, were it not for a stomach bug that delayed his appearance in a Triple-A rehab outing. Martin finally took the hill on Friday, and assuming that he doesn’t report any setbacks prior to tomorrow’s game, the Red Sox will reinstate the veteran righty.
Martin signed a two-year, $17.5MM free agent deal with the Sox in December, after posting strong numbers with four different teams (the Rangers, Braves, Cubs, and Dodger) from 2019-22. With a 2.57 ERA over his first seven innings with Boston, Martin looked to be continuing that trend, though he had an uncharacteristically low two strikeouts over those seven frames.
Ort has struggled to a 7.30 ERA over 12 1/3 relief innings this season, including a rough performance on April 25 that saw him allow five runs (four earned) over just one-third of an inning against the Orioles. Inserting Martin in Ort’s place will certainly help Boston’s relief corps, and Martin’s experience in high-leverage situations will be particularly useful if there’s any uncertainty over Kenley Jansen’s health status. Jansen battled some back stiffness during today’s game, as the closer blew his first save of the season and labored through 29 pitches during his inning of work.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 4:50:47 GMT -5
Verdugo again! Red Sox win via 3rd walk-off in April April 29th, 2023 Molly Burkhardt
BOSTON -- The 2023 Red Sox have a flair for the dramatic.
In a roller-coaster game in which Boston relinquished a five-run lead in the 7th, Alex Verdugo once again delivered the game-winning hit to send the Red Sox to an 8-7 win over the Guardians in 10 innings.
Saturday marked Boston’s third walk-off of the season and the second for Verdugo, who also ended it with an RBI single on April 18 against the Twins. In that game, the celebration was momentarily paused as the Red Sox awaited a replay review to confirm the ball was fair. This time, there was no doubt.
Down one run in the 10th, automatic runner Enmanuel Valdez quickly scored to tie the game on a single by Christian Arroyo, before Connor Wong moved Arroyo into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With Verdugo at the plate, Wong advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring the winning run on Verdugo’s single to left.
The Red Sox set a season high in hits (16), with the bottom four in the order responsible for nine.
Arroyo went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Wong set a career high with three hits.
“The more he plays, the better he’s looking,” manager Alex Cora said of Wong. “ … Defensively, obviously he’s becoming a game-changer, throwing people out, and behind the plate obviously calling the game. But offensively, little by little, you can see him gaining confidence.”
Though the Fenway faithful were rewarded with a dramatic finish complete with an LED light show, the extra-innings win was slightly dampened by a blown five-run lead earlier in the game.
With a 6-1 lead in the seventh, Richard Bleier gave up a solo home run to Andrés Giménez to lead off the inning. Ryan Brasier then came in and loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Josh Naylor hit a bases-clearing double off John Schreiber.
“We gotta throw strikes,” Cora said. “ … We can’t go to the same guys every time. We didn’t do a good job throwing strikes and [the Guardians] did what they do: put the ball in play, put pressure on us. Obviously it wasn’t easy, but we kept grinding. I think [Brennan] Bernardino did an amazing job in that [10th] inning. They score one, so be it. But he limited the damage, that’s what you do in extra innings, and gave us a chance to win the game.”
Bernardino earned his first career win just five days after he was called up from Triple-A Worcester in the corresponding move that sent Brayan Bello back down. Bello rejoined the rotation on Friday after Garrett Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow ulnar neuritis.
In his first start back, Bello was put in a good position early thanks to Rafael Devers’ three-run blast in the first inning, the third-baseman’s AL-leading 10th of the season. Bello went a season-long five innings, giving up one run -- a home run to Josh Bell -- on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
In the third inning, Bello was delivered a pair of clippers to trim a hangnail on his right index finger. Then in the fifth, Bello had another mound visit with Cora and trainer Brandon Henry after a blister on his finger began bleeding.
Following the visit, Bello threw a couple warm-up pitches and walked his next batter before making a slick play to end the inning. Bello said via translator Carlos Villoria that the blister was a result of his grip on his slider and that he “felt good” and didn’t expect it to take long to heal.
“That was a good one,” Cora said of Bello’s defensive play. “He battled today, he was really good. I think early on, he got that ground-ball double play that slowed him down, was able to use his changeup in certain counts, and although the strike-throwing was iffy, kind of like 50-50, he made some pitches when he had to.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 4:53:43 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo delivers walkoff RBI single, Red Sox beat Guardians in extras
Updated: Apr. 29, 2023, 7:34 p.m.|Published: Apr. 29, 2023, 7:33 p.m.
shares By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Alex Verdugo’s opposite-field RBI single got past the drawn-in infield and gave the Red Sox an 8-7 walkoff victory over the Guardians at Fenway Park on Saturday.
It was Boston’s third walkoff win of the season and came against hard-throwing Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase.
Struggling Christian Arroyo entered 11-for-58 (.190) with a .217 on-base percentage, .241 slugging percentage and .458 OPS in 21 games.
But he recorded three hits, including the game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the 10th.
Connor Wong moved Arroyo to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Wong reached third on a passed ball, then scored on Verdugo’s hit.
Brennan Bernardino pitched the 10th inning for the Red Sox. He recorded two quick outs with the automatic runner at second base. But Mike Zunino then stroked an RBI single to give the Guardians their first lead of the game.
First blown save for Red Sox
The Red Sox were a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities when Kenley Jansen entered with a one-run lead in the ninth inning against the Guardians on Saturday.
Jansen was 6-for-6 in save chances. He also hadn’t allowed a run in 7 ⅔ innings.
But he gave up a game-tying RBI single to José Ramirez.
He allowed a leadoff single to Myles Straw who then stole second base. Steven Kwan’s infield single put runners at first and second with one out for Ramirez.
Brasier strikes again
The Red Sox had a 6-1 lead entering the seventh but Richard Bleier allowed a solo homer, then Ryan Brasier gave up three runs in the frame.
Brasier recorded two outs but also loaded the bases. He walked Straw, gave up a single to Steven Kwan and walked José Ramirez.
John Schreiber replaced Brasier and allowed a bases-clearing double to Josh Naylor.
Brasier has an 8.36 ERA (13 earned runs, 14 innings) in 14 outings this season.
Devers bashes monster home run
Rafael Devers put the Red Sox ahead 3-0 with a monster three-run homer in the first inning.
Devers’ homer left his bat at 114.1 mph and traveled 411 feet into the right field stands.
Bello pitches well
Red Sox starter Brayan Bello pitched through a bloody fingernail.
Bello, who the Red Sox recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Friday to take injured Garrett Whitlock’s spot on the roster and the rotation, pitched 5 innings, allowing one run, five hits, two walks and six strikeouts. The only run he allowed came on a Josh Bell homer in the second inning.
He topped out at 96.9 mph. He averaged 94.8 mph with his sinker and 95.8 mph with his four-seam fastball, per Baseball Savant. He recorded eight swings and misses, including five with his changeup.
The trainer came out to work on Bello’s fingernail during a fifth-inning injury delay.
Bello, blood and all, escaped the inning when he sprinted toward the third base line to field Amed Rosario’s soft roller. He fired a strike to first base for the final out.
Arroyo strokes 2 hits
The Red Sox increased their lead to 5-1 with a two-run fourth inning that knocked Guardians starter Zach Plesac out of the game.
Raimel Tapia doubled off the Green Monster with one out. He scored on Enmanuel Valdez’s double off the Monster. Valdez scored on Christian Arroyo’s single to center field.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 4:55:35 GMT -5
Red Sox’ Kenley Jansen unavailable Sunday, ‘will see’ how back feels Monday
Updated: Apr. 29, 2023, 8:45 p.m.|Published: Apr. 29, 2023, 8:44 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The trainer visited the mound to check on Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen during the ninth inning Saturday.
“His back got tight,” manager Alex Cora said after Boston’s 8-7 walkoff win against the Guardians at Fenway Park. “Before the game, he was running and he felt it. But he was available. He said, ‘You need me, we’ll go.’”
Jansen pitched through the pain in the ninth inning but he was charged with his first blown save. He’s now 6-for-7 in save opportunities.
“He’ll be down tomorrow,” Cora said. “Hopefully, he’ll be back on Monday.”
Jansen said he first felt it during pregame conditioning. He then again felt the back tightness as he ran in from the bullpen. He hopes “the meds will kick in” soon.
“We will see in a couple of days,” Jansen said. .
The Red Sox as a team were a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities before Jansen couldn’t hold the one-run lead Saturday.
Jansen gave up a game-tying RBI single to José Ramirez, the first run he has allowed in 8 ⅔ innings this season.
He allowed a leadoff single to Myles Straw who then stole second base. Steven Kwan’s infield single put runners at first and second with one out for Ramirez.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 4:58:53 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 9h A few postgame updates:
* Jansen had a tight back. He'll be down tomorrow. * Bello had a blister on his finger. * Hernández was unavailable today. * Cora acknowledged his concern with the back end of the bullpen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 5:05:13 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Mechanics a work in progress as Red Sox lefthander Chris Sale tries to find consistent delivery By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated April 29, 2023, 5:21 p.m.
Chris Sale is scheduled to make his sixth start of the season on Sunday, but which version of the lefthander will be on display?
It’s been a mostly miserable start to the season for the 34-year-old, who is 1-2 with an 8.22 ERA through five starts. It’s the highest ERA for any five-start span of his career.
Sale’s emergence as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball from 2012-18 relied on a combination of incredible stuff and deception, the product of a funky delivery and arm slot that created unusual angles and the distraction of flying limbs. But since his return from Tommy John surgery, neither his stuff nor deception has been the same.
What’s going on?
“A lot of it’s the consistency of the movements where he repeats his delivery over and over again, so that he can command the ball where he wants to,” said Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “If it were one single thing, we would attack that thing and it would be very apparent. But deliveries are complicated, just like a swing. There’s a lot of pieces in the kinetic chain all linked together.”
His arm strength is fine. His four-seam fastball this year has averaged 94.4 miles per hour, close to where it was before surgery.
But his pitch movement and location haven’t been the same. Since his return in 2021, his fastball has averaged about 1.3 fewer inches of arm-side run than in his first three years with the Sox — the width of roughly half a baseball. His slider has averaged 11.4 inches of horizontal break since his return — roughly 2.4 inches less sweep across the plate, almost the width of the baseball.
It’s possible that Sale just hasn’t had the same mechanics since his return from surgery, thus altering how his pitches move. His pitch action may also reflect that, for athletes, age is not just a number.
“We’re talking multiple years now — Tommy John, plus some other injuries,” said Bush. “He’s three to four years older than he was. Most guys are going to have changes in their [movement] profile over three to four years with or without Tommy John surgery.”
Diminished slider break has made it easier for hitters to lay off pitches out of the zone and swing at those that are in it. Moreover, his misses have been further from the zone, making batters’ swing decisions easier — something that was glaring when the Orioles didn’t strike out a single time against Sale and swung and missed just twice in his last outing, a five-inning, five-run clunker.
“If he’s dotting [the fastball just above the zone] then you have to make a decision, [and] you can’t cover both [the fastball at the top of the zone and slider at the bottom],” said Sox manager Alex Cora.
One interesting element to Sale’s mechanical struggles: He’s releasing the ball considerably further in front of the rubber than before surgery. His fastball release point is about 3½ inches farther toward the batter than 2017-19, and he’s releasing his slider on average roughly 8-9 inches farther in front of the rubber. In the past, the Sox felt when Sale threw with too much extension, it led to less movement and cleaner pitch angles for opposing hitters.
He’s been working exclusively from a stretch position this year — which may offer hitters a more conventional look than the cross-body whip that characterized him at his best. In his next outing — against the Guardians, if weather permits — Sale will incorporate a version of his former windup with the bases empty.
“There’s a few things he needs to do to get back to his delivery,” said Cora. “I know extension looks good but it’s how you get to the extension that matters and right now he’s not doing it the right way.”
Regardless of how his next outing goes, Sale remains in a phase of his return to the rotation in which the Sox believe patience remains necessary.
“I do think he’s on his way,” said Bush. “It’s going the right direction and hopefully we’re getting towards the point where there’s more of the better games than the other ones.” Kenley Jansen down
Righthander Kenley Jansen was in obvious discomfort in the Red Sox clubhouse following his ninth-inning blown save in Saturday’s 8-7 10-inning walkoff win over the Guardians at Fenway Park.
He experienced back spasms prior to the game, tried to pitch through them, but struggled while yielding his first blown save of the season. Jansen said he’ll be unavailable Sunday and Monday. Will he be back on Tuesday?
“Let’s hope,” he said. Chris Martin on the mend
Reliever Chris Martin (shoulder inflammation), who allowed two unearned runs in a rehab game for Triple A Worcester on Friday, is likely to be activated from the injured list .
“I feel like I got what I needed [from the rehab outing] and today I feel good,” said Martin, who had a 2.57 ERA but with just two strikeouts before going on the injured list.
Martin said he refined elements of his workouts to improve movement throughout his body and take stress off his shoulder.
“I’m starting to feel better,” said Martin. “I’ve just got to keep with the process and keep working on the tedious things.”
Righthander Kaleb Ort (7.30 ERA in 12 appearances) was optioned after Saturday’s game, presumably to clear a roster spot for Martin. James Paxton’s next step
Lefthander James Paxton is scheduled to start for Worcester on Sunday, after which the team will determine if he needs an additional rehab outing. He’s allowed 14 runs (13 earned) in 11⅓ innings with 14 strikeouts and 10 walks over his four rehab outings. “It’s a work in progress,” said Cora. “The good thing is that he’s trending in the right direction, he’s been able to bounce back after every outing, which is the most important thing.” … Triston Casas (.133/.283/.293) was out of the lineup Saturday and likely will also sit Sunday against lefthander Logan Allen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 5:09:24 GMT -5
Guardians @ Red Sox Sunday, 30th April 2023 1:30pm @ Fenway
Allen 1-0/ 1.50
Sale 1-2/ 8.22
Chris Sale, Red Sox eye series win over resilient Guardians FLM
The Boston Red Sox will turn to left-hander Chris Sale as they look to take a three-game series from the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Sunday afternoon.
A win in the rubber game would allow Boston to claim its sixth out of the first nine series.
Sale (1-2, 8.22 ERA) has not won since his second start back on April 6 against Detroit, going 0-2 in three decisions since. He allowed nine hits and five runs in five innings Monday at Baltimore.
The seven-time All-Star is still in the early stages of getting back to his full form after being limited to two starts during an injury-plagued 2022 season.
"I think there's a few things he needs to do to get back to his delivery," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He's a little bit off (with) timing right now. I know (his) extension looks good and all that, but it's how you get to the extension that matters. And right now, he's not doing it the 'right way.' "
Sale has walked 10 and allowed five home runs across his 23 innings.
According to the Boston Globe, the veteran lefty's 8.22 ERA is the highest of any five-start span in his career.
"People only care so much about trying hard, working hard," Sale said. "It's got to be out there when the lights flick on. I've got to step up. I've got to find a way."
Sale is 5-8 with a 4.76 ERA in 31 career appearances (20 starts) against Cleveland.
Opposing will be Cleveland's talented young southpaw Logan Allen (1-0, 1.50), who struck out eight in six innings of one-run ball last Sunday during his major league debut against Miami.
"(I'm) definitely excited to be on a team where so many young guys are getting opportunities to win games, and to see the success that we're having and just doing our best to contribute to that," Allen said.
Boston will be looking to build upon a season-high 16-hit effort during Saturday's 8-7, 10-inning win.
Alex Verdugo hit a walk-off single while Christian Arroyo and Connor Wong each had three hits to lead the Red Sox, who led 6-1 after six innings before Cleveland stormed back to force extras.
It was a rough day for a Boston bullpen that had been an area of strength. Kenley Jansen blew his first save of the season after Richard Bleier and Ryan Brasier allowed runs following Brayan Bello's strong five-inning outing.
"I am concerned," Cora said. "We've got to be better."
After averaging just 3.8 runs per game entering the series, the Guardians have shown significant signs of offensive improvement through the first two days of the series.
They scored three runs over the first two innings of Friday's 5-2 win, then banged out 14 hits in the wild Saturday setback.
"I thought we did a tremendous job of answering back, especially putting up four (runs in the seventh)," center fielder Myles Straw said. "We fight. At 6-1, we could have (given) up. Sure enough, it came down to the last hitter."
Leadoff-hitting outfielder Steven Kwan has logged at least three hits twice in five games and reached base in nine straight.
Josh Naylor's second three-hit game of the season was punctuated by a three-run double during the big seventh inning.
"That was a hard game to win with the way it started out," Guardians manager Terry Francona said. "We had a chance."
--Field Level Media
Guardians at Red Sox Sunday, at 1:35 PM EST Rainy It's expected to be 52° F with a 66% chance of rain and 21 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 1:35 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 9:37:19 GMT -5
Logan Allen vs Sale 1:30.... rainy weather
1. Steven Kwan (L) LF 2. Amed Rosario (R) SS 3. Jose Ramirez (S) DH 4. Josh Bell (S) 1B 5. Oscar Gonzalez (R) RF 6. Andres Gimenez (L) 2B 7. Myles Straw (R) CF 8. Gabriel Arias (R) 3B 9. Cam Gallagher (R) C
1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 2. Justin Turner (R) 1B 3. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH 6. Christian Arroyo (R) SS 7. Connor Wong (R) C 8. Jarren Duran (L) CF 9. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 30, 2023 9:41:17 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 36m Tarp status: on. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35. We shall see.
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