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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2023 21:31:11 GMT -5
Chris Sale leads Red Sox to win with 99 mph fastball and 10 strikeouts Published: May. 05, 2023, 10:00 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com PHILADELPHIA — Red Sox starter Chris Sale reached 99 mph with his four-seam fastball and 98.6 mph with his two-seamer.
The lefty struck out 10 in 6 strong innings to lead the Red Sox 5-3 over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.
Sale, who threw 98 pitches, allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk.
His 45 four-seam fastballs averaged 95.8 mph, per Baseball Savant. His 21 two-seam fastballs averaged 95.4 mph.
He recorded 17 swings-and-misses, including six each with his four-seam fastball and two-seamer. He got four whiffs with his slider and one with his changeup.
Rafael Devers puts Red Sox early The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an unearned run. Leadoff hitter Raimel Tapia reached on an error by left fielder Kyle Schwarber and scored with two outs on Rafael Devers’ single to right field.
Boston went ahead 3-0 in the third inning. Tapia led off with a bunt single, then Masataka Yoshida followed with a single to right field. Tapia scored on Justin Turner’s groundout and Yoshida scored on Kiké Hernández’s two-out single to left field.
The Phillies began the bottom of the fourth inning against Sale with four straight hits (single, double, triple, single) to tie it 3-3.
Jarren Duran, Red Sox retake lead Boston retook the lead in the sixth. Jaren Duran led off with his 11th double. Hernández singled to put runners at the corners.
Triston Casas almost went deep with a 401-foot, 107.7 mph fly ball that center fielder Dalton Guthrie caught against the wall. Duran scored and Hernández reached second on Casas’ sacrifice fly, putting Boston ahead 4-3.
Enmanuel Valdez then followed with an RBI single that gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead.
Massachusetts online sports betting is live. Learn more about the top sportsbook operators in Mass. such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM to find the best offers available. Game delayed because of medical emergency The game was delayed during the top of the first inning when a fan fell into the visitors bullpen. Members of the medical staff rushed to treat the fan who was carted off in a stretcher.
Saturday’s pitching matchup Red Sox righty Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA) will start opposite Phillies lefty Bailey Falter (0-5, 5.01 ERA) on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from Citizens Bank Park.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2023 21:32:03 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Sale has allowed 4 earned runs on 10 hits over 12 1/3 innings with 1 walk and 15 strikeouts in his last two starts.
Velo up, command much better. Positive steps.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2023 21:34:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h The strike zone ump Doug Eddings is giving Zack Wheeler tonight
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 2:27:02 GMT -5
Vintage Sale (10 K's) leads Sox to 7th straight W Lefty touches 99 mph, whiffs Harper en route to second consecutive victorious start 1:38 AM GMT-3 Ian Browne Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
PHILADELPHIA -- What a week it has been for the Red Sox.
Not only did they run their season-high winning streak to seven with a 5-3 conquest over the Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, but it appears Chris Sale -- the good Chris Sale -- is back.
As amped as Philadelphia fans were to see Bryce Harper play at home for the first time since last year’s World Series, Sale appeared just as fired up for the challenge.
Facing Harper in the bottom of the first, Sale threw four pitches. The first two were 98.5 mph heaters that Harper looked at for strikes. Then a 98.6 mph fastball that Harper fouled off. And on the 0-2 pitch, Sale blew a 97.5 mph four-seamer by Harper to end the at-bat and the inning.
“This obviously isn’t an easy place to come into,” Sale said. “They are very passionate about sports. With him, obviously he's Bryce Harper. He’s kind of a one of one [type of player] if you ask anybody. You know with the production and everything, him coming back [earlier this week], first game back at home.
“You kind of understand it, but I still have a job to do, too. And that's to try not to get them more riled up.”
That was the signature sequence of the night in which Sale overpowered the Phillies, save for a three-run fourth inning. The lefty went six innings, scattering seven hits while allowing three runs, walking one and striking out 10.
For the first time this season, Sale (3-2) has turned in two strong outings in a row, both wins.
While Sale’s 6.37 ERA shows how out of sorts he was in some of his earlier outings, he looks like a pitcher who is coming into form after making a total of 11 starts over the previous three seasons.
On a night Sale topped out at 99 mph with his fastball while generating 17 whiffs, he took another step to getting back to the form that made him a seven-time All-Star.
Did Sale expect his top velocity to come back this early in the season?
“My expectations are pretty high of myself, so I've been kind of waiting for it, honestly,” Sale said. “But again, you know, these are things that I want to continue to do. I want to continue to build and to get deeper into games.”
As for that rocky fourth inning, it started with Sale sort of stumbling over himself as he tried to field a roller by Harper that went as a single. The Phillies followed with an RBI double by Nick Castellanos, an RBI triple by J.T. Realmuto and an RBI single by Alec Bohm, and the game was suddenly tied at 3.
Sale started to simmer, and Boston’s infield, led by Rafael Devers, made one of the most strategically sound mound huddles of the season.
“The train started to get off the tracks a little bit. Emotions got high,” Sale said. “The pot started to kind of spill over a little bit and everyone in that infield [settled me down]. I even thanked them after the game because without them, I don’t even know what that would have looked like.”
For Sale, perhaps one unforeseen part of his comeback is that he’s relearning how to channel his emotions on the mound.
“I like to compete. I love it. It's what I really am passionate about,” Sale said. “And it's hard sometimes, you know, with everything that's gone on, you sometimes have a tough time unhitching the trailer with some of these emotions and some of the things that have happened.
“For them to see that and say, ‘Hey, whoa, we need to get out there, we need to get our guy calmed down, we need to get him back on track and focused,’ that’s huge. Again, without them, I don't know what that ending would look like. It probably could have been a lot worse.”
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After that hiccup, Sale retired the next three batters to escape the fourth and then fired two more scoreless innings, ending his night by punching out Edmundo Sosa on a vintage slider in the dirt.
“He’s fresh,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s feeling good. Sometimes you wonder, is it too soon for him to throw 97, 98? But he hasn’t competed and he wants to compete, and he wants to dominate. Today was a great day for him.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 2:29:43 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2h #RedSox have won 7 in a row and gained only 1.5 games in the standings. That how well the Rays have been playing.
Their 20-14 record would be first in the AL Central, AL West, and NL West and second in the NL East and NL Central
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 5:35:30 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen needed a few pitches, but once he found a groove, it was game over for Phillies By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 5, 2023, 9:07 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA — Kenley Jansen, who hadn’t pitched since April 29 because of a sore lower back, needed a few pitches to get his rhythm back on Friday night.
But once he did it was game over.
With runners on first and second, Jansen struck out Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to preserve a 5-3 victory for the Red Sox against the Phillies.
Jansen acknowledged he was concerned about his back when he took the mound. But when Edmundo Sosa singled with one out and pinch hitter Brandon Marsh walked on five pitches, Janson regained his focus.
“That’s when I started to trust it more,” he said.
Jansen threw Schwarber a full-count slider that produced an awkward swing.
“He was so geeked up on that cutter. I knew if I threw that slider and kept it a strike as long as I could that would happen,” Jansen said.
Jansen now has 398 career saves, seventh all-time and one more than Philadelphia’s Craig Kimbrel.
Jansen has been dominant in his first season with the Sox, allowing one run over 9⅔ innings and striking out 15.
Both pitchers are in their age-35 seasons after debuting in 2010. Their careers have been similar, too. Jansen has a 2.44 career earned run average, an 0.93 WHIP and 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kimbrel has a 2.42 ERA, an 0.99 WHIP and 14.3 strikeouts per nine.
“He had a little bit of a head start on me becoming a closer,” Jansen said. “But I caught up.”
Jansen has shown a better finishing kick to his career. He has a 3.03 ERA and 129 saves since 2019. Kimbrel has a 4.03 ERA and 64 saves over the same period.
Since helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, Kimbrel has pitched for the Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers and now the Phillies.
The Phillies have been using more of a closer-by-committee approach with lefty José Alvarado and Kimbrel getting opportunities.
With the Sox, Jansen is the choice to close out games whenever he’s available.
“He’s had a great career, we both have,” Jansen said. “I give [Kimbrel] a lot of credit for lasting as long as he has. I know how hard that is.” Crawford to IL
After waffling for a day, the Sox decided to place righthander Kutter Crawford on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. He was injured in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s game against Baltimore.
Righthander Kaleb Ort was recalled from Triple A Worcester.
“It just makes sense,” Cora said. “He’s going to be OK. I believe he’ll be back for the San Diego series [which starts on May 19].”
Crawford would not have been available this weekend.
“It was the right thing,” he said. “I should be ready in two weeks.”
Garrett Whitlock, who is out with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow, did not travel with the team. He has started playing catch but is not yet ready to get back on the mound.
Lefthander Joely Rodriguez started his rehab assignment on Thursday, working a scoreless inning for Triple A Worcester against Buffalo.
The Sox will want to see Rodriguez pitch at least five or six innings and pitch on consecutive days before they consider adding him to the major league roster.
“He’s getting close but not that close,” Cora said.
Rodriguez strained an oblique muscle on his right side in spring training after being signed to a one-year, $2 million deal.
Alex Verdugo was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game because of a stomach bug. He pinch ran in the ninth inning and played one inning in right. He will return to the lineup Sarturday with Masataka Yoshida getting a day off. Sox obtain Littell
The Sox obtained 27-year-old righthander Zack Littell from Texas for cash considerations and assigned him to Triple A Worcester. Littell had a 2.25 ERA in eight relief appearances for Triple A Round Rock after being signed to a minor league contract. Littell had 145 games of major league experience from 2018-22 with the Twins and Giants, posting a 4.08 ERA … James Paxton allowed two runs on two hits and five walks in his sixth rehab appearance for Worcester. He has a 6.23 ERA in those games. Paxton’s rehab stint runs through Tuesday, at which point the Sox will have to make a decision on whether to add him to the roster … Righthander CJ Liu threw a seven-inning no-hitter for Double A Portland in the first game of a doubleheader at Akron. He walked two, struck out six and threw 58 of 91 pitches for strikes. The Sea Dogs won the game, 8-0. Liu was signed in 2019 out of Taiwan … Righthander Noah Song, the pitcher the Phillies took from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft, is at the team complex in Clearwater, Fla., rehabbing from a back injury. Song must be on the active roster for 90 days this season for the Phillies to retain him … The game was delayed for 10 minutes in the first inning when a spectator accidently fell from the concourse into the visitors bullpen trying to retrieve a baseball thrown to him. Medical personnel ran across the field in response and the man was taken off in a cart before going to a nearby hospital.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 5:39:39 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Philly Saturday, 6th May 2023 7pm @ Citizens Bank Park
Kluber 1-4/ 6.44
Falter 0-5/ 5.01
Believe this is a FOX game.
Red Sox eye eighth straight win as Phils aim to halt skid FLM
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet again on Saturday when the Boston Red Sox face the host Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a three-game series.
The Red Sox, who came to Philadelphia fresh off a four-game sweep of the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, extended their winning streak to seven games with a 5-3 victory over the Phillies on Friday.
Philadelphia took its fifth consecutive loss.
A large part of Boston's recent success is due to left fielder Masataka Yoshida, as the 29-year-old rookie from Japan is hitting .476 (10-for-21) in May and riding a 15-game hit streak. He helped the Red Sox complete the sweep of Toronto in an 11-5 win Thursday, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a 400-foot homer to the triangle at Fenway Park in his first at-bat.
Designated hitter Justin Turner enjoyed a big series vs. the Blue Jays, too, going 8-for-18 (.444). He and Yoshida are new additions who have helped propel Boston to its surprisingly successful start.
The Red Sox also are proving successful on the basepaths, having stolen 21 bases in 22 attempts.
"I like this offense," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "I like where we are right now. ... Just running, you know, and putting pressure on the opposition. ... They're going to make it work, and that was the goal and so far so good."
Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA) will be get the ball for the Red Sox on Saturday. He had a decent start his last time out, allowing three runs over 5 1/3 innings and fanning seven in Boston's 6-5 over Toronto on Monday.
In two career starts vs. the Phillies, Kluber is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA. However, he has not opposed them since 2016. Among Philadelphia hitters, Josh Harrison is 4-for-10 (.400) vs. Kluber with a homer, while Nick Castellanos is 13-for-48 (.271) with 18 strikeouts and one walk.
Philadelphia is in the opposite form as the Red Sox. The Phillies were swept in three games by the host Los Angeles Dodgers to open the week.
Bailey Falter (0-5, 5.01 ERA) will get the nod for the Phillies on Saturday, looking to end a personal skid that has seen him lose each of his past four starts.
The left-hander was roughed up in his latest outing, when he allowed four runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros on Sunday. He pitched better in his previous start, when he struck out seven and gave up four runs (three earned) over six innings against the Seattle Mariners on April 25.
Falter got a win the only previous time he faced the Red Sox, when he threw two scoreless innings in relief on July 10, 2021.
Bryce Harper arrived as a reinforcement during the Phillies' slump, making his season debut on Tuesday in Los Angeles after recovering from offseason elbow surgery. The two-time National League MVP is batting .364 (4-for-11) through his first three games back.
Philadelphia could use a resurgence from left fielder Kyle Schwarber, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts on Friday and committed a first-inning error that led to a run. Schwarber is 0-for-14 with six strikeouts in the past three games.
"I'm going to keep working," Schwarber said. "I've just got to keep working in the (batting) cage. I feel like the cage is kind of the biggest thing and it's going to set the table, if you just go out there and compete."
--Field Level Media
Red Sox at Phillies Saturday, at 7:15 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 66° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing left to right in Philadelphia at 7:15 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 10:43:45 GMT -5
Tom Caron (blue checkmark redacted) @tomcaron · 1h Red Sox have the 3rd best record in the AL, and the 5th best record in MLB. Over the 7 game win streak the much-maligned rotation has averaged 5.2 IP w/ 6.3 K’s & 1.7 walks per start. Chris Sale has a 3.86 ERA (2.16 FIP) in his last 4 starts and hit 99 mph last night. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 13:57:23 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h * The #RedSox had two triples in their first 40 at-bats this season (Verdugo + Duvall) and haven't had one in 1,137 at-bats since.
* Sox are the only team to have played 34 games. Their oldest player, 38-year-old Justin Turner, is the only one who has played all 34.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 14:04:02 GMT -5
Game 35: Red Sox at Phillies lineups and notesBy Amin Touri Globe Staff,Updated May 6, 2023, 2 hours ago The red-hot Red Sox will put a seven-game winning streak on the line on national TV, with a chance to clinch another series on Saturday night in Philadelphia. Corey Kluber is on the bump to try and make it eight straight; the veteran has started to find his groove over the last couple starts, allowing just one earned run in six innings to claim his first win of the season against the Orioles on April 25, before working 5 ⅓ innings (and giving up three earned runs) in a no-decision against the Blue Jays early in this Sox win streak. Bailey Falter has the ball for the Phillies, making his first career start against the Sox — the southpaw worked two scoreless innings in a relief appearance against Boston in July 2021. Lineups RED SOX (20-14): 1. Rob Refsnyder (R) DH 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Justin Turner (R) 1B 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS 6. Jarren Duran (L) CF 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 8. Raimel Tapia (L) LF 9. Reese McGuire (L) C Pitching: RHP Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA) PHILLIES (15-18): 1. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF 2. Trea Turner (R) SS 3. Bryce Harper (L) DH 4. Nick Castellanos (R) RF 5. Bryson Stott (L) 2B 6. J.T. Realmuto (R) C 7. Alec Bohm (R) 1B 8. Brandon Marsh (L) CF 9. Edmundo Sosa (R) 3B Pitching: LHP Bailey Falter (0-5, 5.01 ERA) Time: 7:15 p.m. TV, radio: Fox, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Falter: Christian Arroyo 0-1, Rafael Devers 0-1, Raimel Tapia 1-1, Justin Turner 0-1 Phillies vs. Kluber: Nick Castellanos 13-48, Josh Harrison 4-10, Brandon Marsh 2-4, Kyle Schwarber 1-6, Trea Turner 1-3 Stat of the day: The Phillies have averaged just 2.02 runs per game when Falter is on the mound this season, contributing to his 0-5 record on the year. Notes: The Red Sox and Phillies are trending in opposite directions, with Boston winning seven in a row and Philadelphia dropping a fifth straight game on Friday ... Masataka Yoshida is hitting .476 (10 for 21) in May and riding a 15-game hit streak ... In two career starts against the Phillies, Kluber is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA, but he hasn’t faced them since 2016 ... The Phillies have received a boost with the return of NL MVP Bryce Harper, who is 4 for 11 in the three games since his return ... Conversely, former Sox player Kyle Schwarber is 0 for 14 with six strikeouts in the past three games. Song of the Day: Elton John - Philadelphia Freedomwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnb8J-5_6uI
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 14:59:58 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 34m Sox added Zack Littel. Optioned Ort. Duvall to 60.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 15:01:23 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 1m Yoshida met his idol Bryce Harper today. Bryce gave him two autographed bats, including one he used in the NLCS last year.
A day off for Yoshida.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 15:02:21 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 50m Cora said after the game yesterday it was a planned day off for him
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 16:44:53 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 1h Here is what Bryce Harper gave to a very grateful Masataka Yoshida.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 6, 2023 16:46:48 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 59m James Paxton will join the Red Sox in Atlanta. Alex Cora plans on inserting him into the rotation, but not in Atlanta. Cora didn't rule out a six man rotation.
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