|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 2:15:30 GMT -5
Mariners @ Red Sox
Monday 15th May 2023
7pm @ Fenway Park
Kirby 4-2/2.62 vs
Houck 3-2/ 5.26
Kenley Jansen eyes redemption as Red Sox face Mariners
FLM
Kenley Jansen will be looking to regain his early-season form when the Boston Red Sox begin a three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
Jansen, who is in his first season as Boston's closer, recorded the 400th save of his major league career on Wednesday, when Boston beat Atlanta 5-2. Things haven't gone smoothly for Jansen since then, however.
He blew back-to-back save opportunities in losses to St. Louis on Friday and Saturday. Jansen surrendered three runs in the ninth inning of each game, although only two were earned in Saturday's contest. The Red Sox entered the ninth of Saturday's game with a 3-1 lead, but three pitching violations in the inning helped St. Louis pull out a 4-3 victory.
Two of the violations resulted in balls being called while Willson Contreras was at the plate and helped the Cardinals begin the frame with back-to-back walks.
Jansen wasn't slow in either situation. It was just the opposite. He started his pitching motion before Contreras had both feet in the batter's box.
MLB rules state that a batter must be alert and ready to hit in the box with at least eight seconds left on the pitch clock or he's charged with an automatic strike. If the pitcher throws the ball before there are eight seconds remaining on the pitch clock and the batter isn't ready to hit, it's an automatic ball.
"I kind of got confused a little bit because Contreras was looking at me," Jansen said following Saturday's game. "His hands were up and he was looking at me. But his (foot) was out. So I'm more focusing on seeing, 'Hey, he's looking at me. I'm gonna come home (with the pitch).'
"I mean, I've gotta pay attention that both feet are in the box. You see the bat up, you see the head looking at you. But then you've gotta pay attention to the feet -- if the (foot) is out of the box."
Jansen, 35, is one of seven pitchers with at least 400 saves, and is 22 away from tying Billy Wagner for sixth place. Jansen enters the Seattle series 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA and nine saves in 14 appearances this season. He has 17 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
Seattle's George Kirby (4-2, 2.62 ERA) and Boston's Tanner Houck (3-2, 5.26), both right-handers, are Monday's probable starting pitchers.
Kirby is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings. He has also surrendered four home runs.
Houck is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA in four career appearances (one start) against Seattle. He has 16 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
Seattle had won six consecutive road games until it dropped a 5-3 decision at Detroit on Sunday. Seattle relievers allowed two runs on three hits and walked four in 2 1/3 innings.
"Just an uncharacteristic outing of our bullpen," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "Our bullpen has been awesome. All year long, they have been the anchor of our club, and they'll continue to be."
--Field Level Media
Mariners
at
Red Sox
Monday, at 7:10 PM EST
Partly Cloudy
It's expected to be 72° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 11 MPH wind blowing out in Boston at 7:10 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
Partly cloudy skies and comfortable temperatures are expected for Monday night's game at Fenway Park. Light-to-moderate winds blowing out to right-center field will give hitters a slight advantage in the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 2:18:47 GMT -5
Mariners/ Red Sox SP Match Ups
Monday Kirby vs Houck
Tuesday: Castillo 2-1/ 2.70 vs Pivetta 2-3/6.23
Wednesday: Gonzales 3-0/ 4.42 vs Bello 2-1/ 5.01
Not too worried about seeing Jansen melt down as I doubt we have a lead in the 9th the next few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 2:24:23 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Brasier DFA'd to make room for Rodríguez12:59 AM GMT-3 LATEST NEWS May 14: LHP Joely Rodríguez to be activated from 15-day injured list; Ryan Brasier designated for assignment The first pitcher the Red Sox acquired for their re-made bullpen over the offseason was Rodríguez. Starting on Monday, the lefty will finally be available for manager Alex Cora. Rodríguez suffered a right oblique strain during Spring Training and was placed on the injured list on Opening Day, retroactive to March 27. In 55 games with the Mets last season, the now 31-year-old had a 4.47 ERA. He had 57 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .226 average. To make room for Rodriguez on the roster, the Red Sox designated Brasier for assignment, the righty told The Boston Globe and MassLive following Sunday night's 9-1 loss to the Cardinals. Brasier had a disappointing 2022 season, notching a 5.78 ERA. Things weren't getting any better this year. His ERA swelled to 7.29 after he gave up four hits and three runs over 2 1/3 innings on Sunday. 
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 5:58:17 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Red Sox designate Ryan Brasier for assignment to open roster spot for another reliever, Joely Rodriguez
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 14, 2023, 7:40 p.m.
Ryan Brasier left the Red Sox on Sunday night with his head up.
The righthanded reliever was designated for assignment following a 9-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park.
The move was made to open a roster spot for lefthander Joely Rodriguez, who will be activated from the injured list Monday.
“I’m grateful,” Brasier said. “But it sucks, obviously.”
Brasier, 35, appeared in 222 games over parts of the five seasons. He was a high-leverage choice from 2018-21, posting a 3.49 earned run average.
He was a pitcher manager Alex Cora leaned on down the stretch during the ‘18 season. Brasier then appeared in nine postseason games, allowing one run over 8 innings as the Sox won the World Series.
But Brasier has had a 6.16 ERA over the last two seasons.
“I get it. It’s a business,” Brasier said. “You’ve got to have results to get at this level. It just didn’t work out. No hard feelings.”
Brasier threw 42 pitches over 2⅓ innings on Sunday, both career highs. He allowed three runs on four hits.
“Hopefully I get picked up in a day or two and try and go win somewhere else,” Brasier said. “A couple of tweaks, maybe [another team] sees something they can build on. That’s all you can ask for.”
With Brasier lopped off the roster, third baseman Rafael Devers and starter Chris Sale are the only members of the 2018 team still with the Sox.
“You grow up wanting to play at places like Fenway,” Brasier said. “Having the chance to do it for five years was kind of surreal.”
Rodriguez, 31, was signed to a modest one-year, $2 million contract in November. The reliever strained an oblique muscle on his right side in spring training and has yet to pitch this season.
“He can get lefties and righties out,” Cora said. “It’s a different level from rehab assignments and minor league games. But this guy with his changeup can get righties out and [has] a good two-seamer for lefties. It’s a guy that we trust. Little by little he’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Reyes at SS but Chang’s making progress
The Red Sox have used five shortstops through 41 games, Pablo Reyes becoming the latest in the series finale.
With Christian Arroyo, Yu Chang, Adalberto Mondesí, and Trevor Story on the injured list, the position has been in flux.
Help could be on the way soon. Chang, who fractured the hamate bone in left wrist April 24, is making a rapid recovery. He is taking grounders and has swung at balls on a tee. While the initial time frame for his recovery was 6-7 weeks, it could be shorter.
“I feel really good,” Chang said. “There’s no pain. I’m working out a lot.”
Chang, who has only a small brace on his wrist, will progress from tee work to soft toss, batting practice, and facing live pitching. It will take time to hit every step, but he hopes to be back sometime in early June.
In 17 games before the injury, Chang hit .136 with a .515 OPS. But he played above-average defense, which allowed the Red Sox to use Kiké Hernández at second base.
Clarification, please, for Jansen
Cora spoke to MLB officials to get a better feel for why Kenley Jansen was called for three pitch-timer violations on Saturday.
The calls were made for Jansen unknowingly quick pitching. Two of the violations came with Jansen facing Willson Contreras who intentionally tricked the closer by keeping one foot outside the batter’s box while having his eyes on the pitcher.
“We talked to the league. I don’t know if they’re going to make adjustments [with the hitters] but it’s kind of like the same early on when the pitchers had to make adjustments,” Cora said.
“They want [hitters] to avoid stuff like that … they don’t want guys to take advantage of the situation. I don’t know if we’re going to make adjustments right away. But the league has done an amazing job throughout the season of adding [clarification]. If they feel they have to adjust they will.”
Jansen has allowed six runs, five earned, in his last two appearances, which were losses to the Cardinals in the first two games of the series.
Mariners on deck
The Sox open a three-game series Monday night against the Mariners with Tanner Houck opposing George Kirby. The Sox have won 10 of 14 against Seattle at Fenway Park going back to 2017 … Both the Red Sox and Cardinals wore special Mother’s Day gear on Sunday night that included pink socks and pink-tinged white caps. The caps, cleats, bats, and other equipment will be auctioned off for breast cancer-related charities … The daily schedule posted on the video boards in the Sox clubhouse had the times for lunch, chapel, when the pitchers would toss, the pregame hitters meeting, and tip-off for the Sixers-Celtics Game 7 across town. The televisions in the concourse were tuned to the NBA game as fans started to come through the gates and many stopped to watch as the Celtics won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cora also had a brief pregame meeting with reporters, cutting the session off four minutes in and joking that everybody wanted to watch the basketball game instead.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 11:25:06 GMT -5
A requiem for Ryan Brasier, and other thoughts after a dispiriting Red Sox sweep
One of the last three holdouts from the Red Sox' 2018 World Series-winning team is now gone.
By Jon Couture
May 15, 2023 | 11:41 AM
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Email
COMMENTARY
Three thoughts after a momentum-halting weekend at Fenway Park, the National League-worst Cardinals paying homage to the now-departed 76ers by stealing two games, then dominating the other:
Time to respond
The Red Sox have been swept three times this season. The Pirates did it in the opening homestand, and Boston promptly went to Detroit and hung 24 runs on the Tigers in three days.
The second followed that. Four straight losses at Tropicana Field to the then-unbeaten Rays, though a couple felt like winnable games. The response followed: Three straight home wins against the Angels and just one series loss (at Baltimore) between then and this weekend.
Now, third. Two one-run leads in the ninth squandered by Kenley Jansen, whose velocity was down and command was off before Willson Contreras goaded him into three working-too-fast violations, and an egg on Sunday. Into town come the Mariners before a San Diego-Angels-Arizona trip.
Seattle hits Fenway at 20-20 coming off their cathartic return to the playoffs. They’ve been sort of a bizarro Red Sox, with starters Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby all sporting sub-3.00 FIPs to cover for an offense with the fourth-worst OPS and second-most strikeouts. They’ve started nine guys at DH and managed a rousing .129/.217/.214.
Boston dodges Gilbert, at least, though he’s been the worst of their big three. And those struggling bats, from Julio Rodríguez and Teoscar Hernández to Cal Raleigh and Ty France, looked better over the weekend in Detroit.
It’ll be a test. The latest one.
Time for some concrete calls?
It seems a little funny to say just days after I gave credit to the Red Sox for not panicking following a tough start, but we’re at the quarter pole and a couple things are becoming clear.
Kiké Hernández might not be an everyday shortstop.
And Corey Kluber might not be an answer in the rotation.
Throwing error No. 7 and overall error No. 9, each MLB worsts, came during Saturday’s Jansen meltdown. In Hernández’s defense, he was trying to turn a lead-saving double play and wouldn’t have been able to get Alec Burleson at first with a cannon off Old Ironsides.
But we’re talking about nine errors in just 103 chances. In just 29 games. We don’t even have to get into the degree that errors aren’t a perfect measure of defensive prowess.
The Red Sox’s No. 1 option for the year at shortstop was Trevor Story, far from perfect itself. When he had elbow surgery in January, the team rolled the dice with Hernández and his 47 career starts in nine years. While none of the errors can be directly traced to a loss, that is the faintest of praise.
Kluber, meanwhile, was battered Sunday. Two no-doubt home runs of at least 425 feet, three other balls hit in excess of 104 miles per hour, and three more walks — his third time with at least that many in eight starts. Kluber had just three multi-walk games all last season, when he threw 164 innings.
In the not-too-distant future, the Red Sox rotation could be Chris Sale and James Paxton (who were each excellent against St. Louis), Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock (who goes for Worcester on Tuesday), and Tanner Houck. Maybe Kutter Crawford, if you’d rather.
Kluber was a decent idea, but not everyone can be Michael Wacha.
Bell tolls for Brasier
Since the end of the 2022 season, the Red Sox have turned over essentially half of their 40-man roster. Designated for assignment? Quite the list: Abraham Almonte, Eduard Bazardo, Jake Reed, Caleb Hamilton, Hoy Park, Jeter Downs, Eric Hosmer, Darwinzon Hernandez, Connor Seabold, Matt Barnes, Franklin German, Jake Faria, and Zack Littell. Franchy Cordero was nontendered. Plenty of others were released.
Ryan Brasier remained, the Red Sox clinging to better results and some mechanical refinements last September in hopes he could again be the pitcher he was in 2018.
Sunday night was it. Brasier threw 42 pitches, a 4-1 game turning 9-1 as he threw more pitcher than he ever had in a regular-season game, and was told afterward he’d been designated for assignment. (Ostensibly to make room for now-healthy free-agent reliever Joely Rodríguez.)
“Obviously, no hard feelings . . . I know it’s a business. And things happen,” he told reporters. “But hopefully get picked up in a day or two and try to go win somewhere else.”
It is, to borrow from late commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, a sad end to a sorry episode. Brasier departs charged with literally one quarter (17 of 68) of the earned runs charged to the bullpen this season. (Another 10 belong to Kaleb Ort, shuttled to Worcester two weeks ago.) The quality of contact against him was roughly as bad as it was a year ago, but the good walk and whiff rates that kept his flame alive were gone.
I will not deny you your exulting. I will merely remind we are talking about one of the last three members of the 2018 champions to still be here (alongside Chris Sale and Rafael Devers).
And Brasier was no sidecar. Arriving in July on the heels of a Triple-A All-Star nod, having fought back to the majors through Tommy John surgery and an ugly stint in Japan, he immediately threw gas, threw strikes, and got outs — a .171/.211/.270 line against in 34 regular-season appearances, then five holds and a half-dozen clean innings in October.
Already in his 30s, that was as good as it got. He was back in Triple A (albeit briefly) by July 2019, spent most of 2021 hurt (including taking a liner off the head while he was rehabbing in Fort Myers) before pitching well again in the playoffs, but was the “why is he still here” guy you remember since. And that’s just his non-Twitter ugliness.
Regardless, only 36 other pitchers have thrown in more regular-season Red Sox games than Brasier (222). Only five — owing in large part to the incredibly expanding playoffs — appeared in more postseason games, most of those pressure-loaded spots where Brasier did the job.
It was time to go. It was beyond time to go. But as scratch tickets go, and Brasier certainly was that when the Red Sox called him to Florida with spring training 2018 already underway, this one paid far better than most.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 11:33:35 GMT -5
Game 42: Mariners at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 15, 2023, 14 minutes ago It was a weekend to forget for the Red Sox, who have now lost five of their last six after they were swept by the Cardinals. It was the third time they were swept this season, and second at Fenway. It was a bizarre series that saw closer Kenley Jansen, who recorded his 400th career save Wednesday in Atlanta, blow his next two opportunities against St. Louis. He allowed three runs on Friday and Saturday, and was called for three pitching violations in Saturday’s 4-3 loss. The Sox will look to turn it around this week when they host the Mariners for a three-game series. Lineups MARINERS (20-20): 1. J.P. Crawford (L) SS 2. Ty France (R) 1B 3. Julio Rodriguez (R) CF 4. Jarred Kelenic (L) LF 5. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B 6. Cal Raleigh (S) C 7. Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF 8. Taylor Trammell (L) DH 9. Kolten Wong (L) 2B Pitching: RHP George Kirby (4-2, 2.62 ERA) RED SOX (22-19): 1. Jarren Duran (L) CF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Justin Turner (R) DH 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Triston Casas (L) 1B 6. Raimel Tapia (L) LF 7. Pablo Reyes (R) SS 8. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (3-2, 5.26 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Mariners vs. Houck: J.P. Crawford 1-3, Ty France 0-3, Teoscar Hernández 0-4, Jarred Kelenic 2-2, Tom Murphy 1-2, AJ Pollock 0-2, Julio Rodríguez 0-2, Eugenio Suárez 0-4 Red Sox vs. Kirby: Rafael Devers 2-5, Kiké Hernández 0-2, Alex Verdugo 2-6 Stat of the day: The Red Sox are 1-11 when scoring fewer than four runs, and 8-15 when their opponent scores first. Notes: Triston Casas has a 23-game on-base streak, the third-longest active streak in MLB. … In four career appearances (one start) against the Mariners, Houck is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA. He has 16 strikeouts in 10⅓ innings. … Kirby is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings. He has also surrendered four home runs. Song of the Day: Stone Temple Pilots - Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPzWkdhwrw
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 14:24:34 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo
@chriscotillo
·
43m
Red Sox make it official: Joely Rodríguez is active, Ryan Brasier DFA.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 16:47:17 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
·
1h
Cora says Duran is only in the leadoff spot for today, with Yoshida getting a day off.
Cora on Brasier: “He struggled and we stayed with him all the way to the end. It didn’t work out, but the kid is Class-A.” He recalls how in ‘18, “nobody knew about this kid. … He pitched. He posted.” Cora also raves about Brasier’s season-ending performance in ‘21.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 16:48:07 GMT -5
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
·
2h
Kikè day to day with left hamstring injury. It happened when he grounded into a double play on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 15, 2023 17:53:33 GMT -5
NESN pre game rambling a bunch of nonsense
led by Rob Bradford whining about Jansen
and 5 minutes before game start
switches to the Mariners feed
fantastic.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 16, 2023 2:47:10 GMT -5
Trend or fluke? Houck struggles after first time through the order
1:30 AM ADT
Ian Browne
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- Each time Tanner Houck takes the mound, he looks like an emerging force his first time through the order.
The second and third time through? An entirely different story -- one that again haunted Houck as the Red Sox fell to the Mariners, 10-1, for their fourth straight loss on Monday night at Fenway Park.
Houck tore through Seattle’s lineup with ease over the first three innings, retiring the first nine batters he faced.
Then came the dreaded second and third times through, when Seattle broke out to a 5-0 lead by the sixth inning, with four of the runs coming against Houck.
Why the disparity for the 26-year-old righty?
“If I had an answer, I think we wouldn’t be talking about it, but it’s an ongoing conversation with [pitching coach Dave Bush],” said Houck. “Continue and develop. I feel like later innings are getting better with more experience and we’re continuing to work with it. It’s one of those things where I just continue to go out there, continue to work between starts, and just push myself to be better.”
Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.
Houck is 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA in eight starts this season. With the competition increasing for spots in Boston’s rotation now that James Paxton is back and Garrett Whitlock is likely to be activated in less than two weeks, time is of the essence for Houck to get better results midway through his starts.
The first time through the order, Houck has a 2.33 ERA and opposing hitters have a meager .111/.197/.127 slash line against him. But his ERA swells to 5.40 when he faces batters a second time, with opponents’ slash line also taking a significant rise to .369/.408/.523. The third time through the order, Houck’s ERA is 13.50 with an opposing slash line of .303/.351/.636.
“I think the stuff is still the same,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We keep talking about throwing your best pitches as much as possible, especially late in the outing. It’s just one of those that we’ve got to keep working, keep helping him to get better. That’s the bottom line.”
Is there a mindset switch? In other words, is Houck being less aggressive attacking the zone as the game goes on?
“No, the mindset all throughout the game is, 'Go out there, strike one, strike two. Get ahead of hitters and go right after them,'” Houck said. “I think anyone here is going to preach that. It’s about stopping the big inning and continuing to go on the attack. But no, I wouldn’t say my mindset changes at all.”
As for Cora’s mindset on how to handle the imminent overflow in the rotation, that is still a work in progress.
After Paxton’s insertion back into the rotation last weekend, the Sox are going with a six-man rotation for this six-game homestand that ends Wednesday.
However, that is expected to change for the nine-game West Coast trip that starts on Friday in San Diego.
With key reliever John Schreiber likely headed to the injured list after exiting Monday’s game with right lat tightness, could that signal that Houck will go to the bullpen? It is a role in which he has a lot of experience, since he even served as a solid closer for a couple of months last season.
g.
Nick Pivetta, who starts on Tuesday night and has a 6.09 ERA in his last 24 outings going back to July 5, 2022, is another candidate to come out of the rotation.
“We’re getting [long reliever] Kutter [Crawford back] on Friday,” said Cora. “We still have to make a move [with the rotation]. That's something that we know. We'll talk about it. We'll see where we’re at, what we can do.
“Having [Josh Winckowski] and Kutter together is a lot different than just having one of them, of course. We've been able to do a good job without Kutter throughout the last 12 or whatever days. But getting him back is important for the group. So we'll keep talking. Obviously we’ll meet now and then see what we need to do, and see what we are going to do roster-wise. But obviously, we’ll see where we end up.”
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 16, 2023 2:48:08 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Schreiber 'probably' headed to IL
2:10 AM ADT
;
2 seconds remaining
LATEST NEWS
May 15: RHP John Schreiber exits with right lat tightness
According to manager Alex Cora, Schreiber will likely need a stint on the injured list after exiting in the middle of a seventh-inning at-bat against Julio Rodríguez -- the first hitter he faced in relief -- during Boston's 10-1 loss to the Mariners. Schreiber said he will get a full work-up from the medical staff on Tuesday and the team should know more then. The right-hander, who has a 2.12 ERA this season, is one of Boston's best relievers.
"He was a little banged up last week. He bounced back. Probably an IL [stint]," said Cora. "We'll make sure we take care of it, and hopefully he’s ready as soon as the stint is over."
May 15: SS Kiké Hernández out of lineup again with sore left hamstring
For the second straight day, Boston's starting shortstop couldn't play due to a sore left hamstring. Hernández called the injury "day to day," while Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he was hopeful Hernández would be available by Tuesday. Hernández suffered the injury trying to beat out a double-play ball in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.
"A little tight," said Hernández. "That’s what happens when you hit too many ground balls and you try to run faster than you can to first base. Better to be safe than to go out there and blow out, and instead of missing two or three days, missing a month. Just precautionary."
May 15: LHP Joely Rodríguez activated from 15-day injured list; RHP Ryan Brasier designated for assignment
The first pitcher the Red Sox acquired for their re-made bullpen over the offseason was Rodríguez. Now, the lefty is finally available after suffering a right oblique strain during Spring Training and being placed on the injured list on Opening Day, retroactive to March 27. The 31-year-old Rodríguez had a 4.47 ERA in 55 games with the Mets last season, with 57 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings and a .226 opponents' average.
To make room for Rodríguez on the roster, the Red Sox designated Brasier for assignment. The right-hander had a disappointing 2022 season, notching a 5.78 ERA, and things weren't getting any better this year. Brasier's ERA swelled to 7.29 after he gave up four hits and three runs over 2 1/3 innings on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 16, 2023 2:50:43 GMT -5
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
·
5h
The Red Sox have gone to position player Pablo Reyes to pitch the top of the ninth. That is a sign of how things are when you've been outscored 18-2 over two nights at Fenway.
Brennan Bernardino getting sent down so the Sox will call up two relievers for tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 16, 2023 2:53:07 GMT -5
Red Sox lose 4th straight game as Tanner Houck’s mid-game struggles continue
Updated: May. 15, 2023, 10:47 p.m.|Published: May. 15, 2023, 10:11 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON — A familiar script played out Monday night for Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck.
Facing the Mariners in his eighth start of the season, Houck dominated early before running into trouble and eventually getting hit hard in a Red Sox loss. Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh had two homers as the Mariners handed the Sox their fourth straight loss — a 10-1 decision in the first of three games between the sides at Fenway Park. With the loss, the Sox fell to 22-20.
Houck, who has consistently been hit hard facing the opposition for the second and third times through the order this season, retired the first 11 batters he faced before Julio Rodríguez broke up his early no-hit bid in the fourth. One inning later, Houck ran into real trouble. After Eugenio Suárez led off the fifth with a single, Raleigh blasted his first shot of the night into the right field seats to make it 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, Houck allowed a leadoff double to Ty France (who advanced on an Alex Verdugo throwing error) before walking Rodríguez and leaving the game. Both inherited runners scored as France trotted home on a Jarred Kelenic RBI groundout to make it 3-0 and Raleigh made it 5-0 game with a two-run shot off lefty Brennan Bernardino.
Boston’s offense was quiet all night against righty George Kirby, who gave up a single run on eight hits in 6 ⅔ strong innings. The only damage came in the sixth, when Rafael Devers cut the deficit to four runs with an RBI double that plated Jarren Duran. In the top of the eighth, Suárez broke things open with a two-run shot to center off lefty Richard Bleier, who ended up allowing four runs in the inning as his ERA ballooned to 5.79.
The Red Sox then called upon shortstop Pablo Reyes, who they acquired Friday, to pitch the ninth inning in a blowout. Reyes featured a unique repertoire that included eephus curveballs that registered around 35 mph. His first pitch was 34.4 mph. Reyes allowed one run on two hits and issued two walks in his inning.
Houck’s ERA grew to 5.48 and the Red Sox fell to 5-3 in his outings this season. The four-game losing streak is tied for the Sox’ longest of the season.
Schreiber leaves with injury
Reliever John Schreiber struck France out in the seventh, then was facing Rodríguez when he began to flex his throwing arm on the mound. Both manager Alex Cora and head athletic trainer Brandon Henry visited Schreiber on the mound, and after a lengthy discussion, decided to take him out of the game. The team said Schreiber left with “right lat tightness” but did not provide an update on the potential severity of the injury.
Schreiber has a 2.12 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18 games (17 innings) so far this season. He was replaced by Bleier.
Raleigh makes Fenway history
Raleigh’s power display turned out to be a historic one. The switch-hitter homered from the left side of the plate in the fifth inning, then from the right side in the sixth. In doing so, he became the first catcher ever to homer from both sides of the plate in Fenway Park’s 112-year history, according to the Mariners’ Alex Mayer.
Sox look to snap streak Tuesday
The Red Sox will send righty Nick Pivetta (2-3, 6.23 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night with the hopes the righty can bounce back from a terrible start in Atlanta and snap the skid. Righty Luis Castillo (2-1, 2.70 ERA) will start for Seattle with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
|
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 16, 2023 2:54:53 GMT -5
Key Red Sox reliever likely to be placed on injured list Tuesday
Published: May. 15, 2023, 11:10 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox reliever John Schreiber will likely be placed on the injured list after leaving Monday’s blowout loss with right lat tightness, manager Alex Cora said.
Schreiber was seen flexing his arm after throwing a pitch to Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez in the seventh inning and then departed with Cora and head athletic trainer Brandon Henry. Schreiber had been dealing with discomfort in the area of his lat (the latissimus dorsi muscle, on his side) for the last few days and reaggravated it with his final pitch to Rodríguez.
“It has been tight a little bit this past week,” Schreiber said. “I was throwing some bullpens, it was coming out good. It felt like something I could get through... Tonight, it was coming out really good, I thought. That last pitch, maybe a little bit too much extension there, and it tightened up.”
Schreiber has been one of Boston’s most consistent relievers in 2023. The righty owns a 2.12 ERA (4 earned runs in 17 innings) in 18 games so far this season, primarily serving as one of Boston’s setup men for closer Kenley Jansen. Though the Red Sox appear hopeful Schreiber’s stint on the IL will only last the minimum 15 days, his absence will change the structure of the relief corps, at least temporarily. Righty Chris Martin and lefty Joely Rodríguez will likely be called up on in high-leverage spots. Long relievers Josh Winckowski and Kutter Crawford (who is set to return from the IL on Friday) will be tasked with big spots as well.
The Red Sox are expected to add two relievers to their active roster Tuesday with Schreiber hitting the IL and lefty Brennan Bernardino being optioned to Triple-A Worcester, as a source confirmed Monday night. Candidates to join the team include Kaleb Ort and Justin Garza, who are on the 40-man spot, as well as Jake Faria, Andrew Politi, Oddanier Mosqueda and Joe Jacques, who are off the 40-man roster.
The IL stint will be Schreiber’s first as a major leaguer. He will be further evaluated by doctors Tuesday.
“I’m frustrated, obviously, that I’m not going to be able to compete for, I don’t know how long,” he said. “We’re going to evaluate tomorrow. Hopefully, some really good results. We’ll see what happens.”
|
|
