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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 7:36:09 GMT -5
New Red Sox ace Brayan Bello has earned must-watch status
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago
Prior to Wednesday night's Red Sox' 4-2 win over the Rangers, a couple of Texas players were lounging about in the visitors' dugout. The conversation turned to the starting pitcher they were about to face.
"Bello. He's their guy, huh," one of the Rangers noted.
He certainly is.
Word has now officially gotten out about the Red Sox pitcher - even if some of his opponents struggle not pronouncing his name like "Jell-O". Bello has evolved into one of the most coveted commodities a team can have. He is "the guy" when it comes to the club's collections of starting pitchers.
It's the kind of image many have been bemoaning the Red Sox lost out on, watching Nathan Eovaldi from the other side of the field the last few days. (Eovaldi had told his agents the Red Sox were the no-doubt-about-it No. 1 choice in free agency, but the team chose not to loop back with their initial offer a second time around after allocating the money elsewhere.)
Eovaldi is gone. He is a Ranger. He is pitching Thursday. And he may very well be starting the All-Star Game.
And while such a reality would seem to represent a miss for the Red Sox, they certainly have come across a pretty good distraction. That would be their new "guy", Bello. They probably should have both, but at least they have one.
With the Red Sox' starting rotation taking on water, Bello has represented all things that come with being a rotation's anchor and ace. When he pitches, you have a pretty good idea he is going to give you innings and production, with Wednesday serving as the latest example.
Without his best stuff, Bello limited one of the American League's best offenses to just two runs over seven innings while throwing a career-high 107 pitches.
It was the fifth consecutive start Bello has gone six or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs. He is the first Red Sox pitcher to accomplish such a feat prior to turning 25 years old since Roger Clements in 1986. The righty is also now 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA and a .185 opponent batting average in his last five starts.
The other part of the equation Bello has presented - which should mean a lot to this version of the Red Sox and their fan base - is the anticipation that comes with his starts. In a sea of semi-innocuous games to try and prioritize, Bello's starts have jumped to the top of the list, with the most recent attendance figure of 36,136 offering the latest evidence.
He pitches with confidence. His repertoire is somewhat unpredictable. And you have a pretty good idea he is still going to be in the game by the time 8:30 p.m. rolls around.
All of that is gold these days for this team.
“I think the first couple outings, he had missed the first part of the season, and then coming back a little amped up, [he was off],” noted Justin Turner. “Just to see him kind of hone it in and start pitching, not trying to just ‘stuff it’ out there has been key. His last six, seven starts have been outstanding.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 11:08:38 GMT -5
Game 88: Rangers at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated July 6, 2023, 1 hour ago The Red Sox have a chance to take the series with the Rangers after Brayan Bello delivered yet again, going seven innings Wednesday night to lead his team to a 4-2 win. Bello became the eighth Red Sox pitcher with five straight outings of at least 6⅓ innings pitched and no more than two runs allowed at age 24 or younger, and the first since Roger Clemens in 1986. For the Sox to take Thursday’s rubber match, they’ll need to do so against their former ace. Nate Eovaldi, who spent 4½ seasons with the Red Sox, will be on the mound for the finale. The potential All-Star Game starter will be appearing in his first game at Fenway Park since signing with the Rangers last offseason. After Thursday night’s game, the Sox will host Oakland for a three-game series before the All-Star break. Lineups RANGERS (51-36): 1. Marcus Semien (R) 2B 2. Corey Seager (L) SS 3. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B 4. Adolis Garcia (R) RF 5. Josh Jung (R) 3B 6. Jonah Heim (S) C 7. Ezequiel Duran (R) DH 8. Robbie Grossman (S) LF 9. Leody Taveras (S) CF Pitching: RHP Nate Eovaldi (9-3, 2.80 ERA) RED SOX (44-43): 1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 2. Justin Turner (R) DH 3. Masataka Yoshida (L) LF 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Adam Duvall (R) CF 6. Triston Casas (L) 1B 7. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B 8. David Hamilton (L) SS 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Kutter Crawford (2-3, 3.74 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Rangers vs. Crawford: Adolis García 0-1, Jonah Heim 0-1, Brad Miller 0-1, Corey Seager 0-0, Marcus Semien 0-1 Red Sox vs. Eovaldi: Adam Duvall 1-3 Stat of the day: The Red Sox are 9-4 this season when their starter goes at least seven innings. Notes: Jarren Duran has led off each of the last three games with a hit and scored each time. … Justin Turner is hitting .348 in his last 23 games, beginning June 9 (32-for-92, 18 runs scored, six doubles, six home runs, and 23 RBI). … Crawford has one career appearance against Texas, and he didn’t allow a run in two innings of relief on May 13, 2022. … Eovaldi is 3-0 with a 4.45 ERA in seven career appearances against the Red Sox, six of which were starts. … Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has reached base in 24 consecutive games and is batting .392 in that span. Song of the Day: The Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealedwww.youtube.com/watch?v=r3kQlzOi27M
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 13:09:53 GMT -5
No Duran? Unless he is hurt, the analytic team can go to hell.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 14:33:04 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 37m No Jarren Duran against the Rangers and Nathan Eovaldi tonight. We'll ask Cora why.
Red Sox have signed Jorge Alfaro to a major league deal and designated Caleb Hamilton for assignment.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 14:38:53 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 15m In summation: Red Sox release Alfaro from minor league deal ... McGuire injured, Hamilton called up ... Alfaro signs with Rockies and is DFA'd 20 days later after hitting .161... Hamilton hits .000 and is released ... Alfaro signs MLB deal with Sox
All this in roughly a month 🤷
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 16:41:34 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1h Tanner Houck is expected to start throwing on July 11, per Alex Cora. Cora said it’s possible he could be ramped up for a role other than starter. Schreiber will start a rehab assignment this weekend.
Cora on what stands out about Eovaldi (starting tonight at Fenway): “That we make such a big deal about a game we lost... Just kidding.” Cora described Eovaldi as “great in the clubhouse, great in the community… This is not for everybody, but from day one, he was not afraid.”
Cora on Alfaro: “We saw this window now to get him here.” Said Reese McGuire will “take a while” to come back. Chang is likely to be activated this weekend. Cora expects him to play “a lot of shortstop” once active.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 16:49:35 GMT -5
Why in the hell is Duran sitting today was not asked?
jesus
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 17:54:26 GMT -5
whatever
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 52m Cora on Duran:
"We’ve got some good players and we have to move them around. I know he’s swinging the bat well but Casas is swinging the bat well. We’ve got to get Duvall going, too, which is important. We can use him off the bench."
"If you want to call it an off day, yeah, I guess, but he’ll be ready to play. It’s just a matter that we’ve got to move people around and I’m not ready to put (Justin Turner) at second just yet."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 17:55:03 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 47m Since Duvall came back on June 9:
Duvall (21 G): .157 (11-for-70), 1 HR, 4 2B, 29 K, 6 BB, .501 OPS
Duran (20 G): .397 (23-for-58), 1 HR, 10 2B, 1 3B, 13 K, 3 BB, 1.081 OPS
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 6, 2023 17:56:15 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 40m Cora on Kiké:
“Offensively, he’s a lot better than this. He hasn’t walked in a while, either. That’s a sign of making strides. Offensively, he’ll be the first one to say, he needs to be better. That’s the bottom line. He worked hard the last three days..."
"We unplugged him and gave him some breathing room. Hopefully, tonight he gets a few pitches to hit and puts good swings on it."
Hernández hitting .225 with a .615 OPS. Hasn't played since Saturday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 7, 2023 4:31:15 GMT -5
Struggling Hernández sparks wild rally, series win 1:54 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- To Kiké Hernández, who has struggled to find his way offensively and defensively all season, a broken-bat bloop single with an exit velocity of 52.7 mph and an expected batting average of .150 never felt so sweet.
As the clutch knock found a patch of grass in short left field, the tying and go-ahead runs crossed the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
It was hard to imagine that one clunky hit would serve as the ignitor for a six-run rally that led the Red Sox to a 10-6 victory over the American League West-leading Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series on Thursday night at Fenway Park.
For Hernández, style points weren’t anywhere on his priority list. He was just looking for a way to contribute to the team, which has been tough of late as his playing time has diminished.
“It feels great. As of late, the opportunities to come up big late in the game have been limited, so in that situation, to be able to stay with it, put the ball in play and stay inside it and find a hole out there was pretty big,” said Hernández.
After sitting on the bench the previous three days (two games and an off-day), Hernández chipped in with an important hit after drawing a walk earlier in the game.
While Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that the three days off gave Hernández some time to reset and work on his craft, the right-handed-hitting veteran would rather play through his struggles.
“Agree to disagree,” Hernández said when asked about the reset theory.
Hernández’s timely swing was one of seven hits in the inning for the Red Sox, tying their season high from April 20 against the Twins.
There was also a key baserunning play on Hernández’s hit, as Adam Duvall got a tremendous read from second, allowing him to score the go-ahead run.
“Great baserunning play by Duvie,” said Cora. “It was a great read. As soon as he hit it, he knew it [would fall] and he took off.”
For Hernández, the season so far has been one he would like to forget. He entered the year as the team’s starting shortstop due to the departure of Xander Bogaerts and the right elbow surgery for Trevor Story.
“It’s been tough,” admitted Hernández. “Obviously things haven’t gone my way offensively or defensively. The opportunities have been getting more limited. I’m conscious we still have a lot of baseball left this season, and just putting in the work and trying to figure out a way to get out of this hole. I think coming up big for the team is a step in the right direction.”
If Hernández had been performing well on at least one side of the ball, Cora would have an easier time keeping him in the lineup. But Hernández has 14 errors and a slash line of .225/.284/.332 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 296 plate appearances.
“Obviously, it’s not easy,” said Cora. “He works hard at his craft. He worked hard at his craft in the offseason and it hasn’t paid off yet. But today was a huge one for us. He got that big hit. He made that double play at the end. Something people haven’t noticed is he has played good shortstop lately the last few weeks. At one point, he’s going to get hot.”
Before Hernández and his teammates broke through in the bottom of the seventh, reliever Josh Winckowski made it all possible with a stellar escape in the top of the inning. Though he had struggled in recent outings, Cora brought the righty into a second-and-third, no-out jam, with Boston trailing 5-4. Winckowski went through some of the toughest hitters on the Rangers, getting Adolis García on a groundout to second that was too shallow to score a run, then punching out Josh Jung and, after an intentional walk to Jonah Heim, inducing Ezequiel Duran to ground out, ending the inning and, as it turned out, swinging the momentum.
“Obviously a big moment,” said Winckowski. “I was just trying to limit the damage and get the first out without scoring, and then get to two strikes, and you start to look for the punchout. But it was kind of just targeting weak contact and filling up the zone before that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 7, 2023 4:43:13 GMT -5
Red Sox win: Kiké Hernández keys 6-run inning, series victory over Texas
Updated: Jul. 06, 2023, 11:45 p.m.|Published: Jul. 06, 2023, 10:28 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON — Kiké Hernández’s recent offensive struggles got to the point where the Red Sox unplugged him from the lineup for three days before starting him at second base Thursday night. Badly in need of a big hit, Hernández delivered and started one of Boston’s most impressive rallies of the season in the process.
Hernández hit a two-run, go-ahead single to spark a six-run seventh inning rally as the Red Sox came back to beat the Rangers, 10-6, and clinch a series victory over one of the American League’s best. Boston tied a season high with seven hits in the seventh and improved to 45-43 with one series left before the All-Star break.
The Red Sox have now won five of six games following a season-long five game losing streak; they are 15-11-2 in series play this year.
Texas entered the bottom of the seventh with a 5-4 lead in a choppy game before relinquishing it to a Sox offense that was rewarded for putting balls in play. After two walks and an Adam Duvall double loaded the bases with one out, Hernández looped a broken-bat two-run single off reliever Grant Anderson to put the Sox ahead. Christian Arroyo, Connor Wong, Justin Turner and Masataka Yoshida followed with RBI singles to give the Sox some insurance.
Long before the rally, former Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi was effective, but by no means dominant in his return to Fenway Park. The longtime Sox starter lasted 5 ⅓ innings and gave up four earned runs despite allowing five hits and issuing four walks. Kutter Crawford was also uneven, working around seven hits to allow three runs in four innings. Manager Alex Cora pulled him in favor of lefty Joe Jacques after just 73 pitches.
Boston got the scoring started in the first when Alex Verdugo walked, advanced on a single and groundout, then scored on a Rafael Devers grounder to second base. After Texas evened things on a Jonah Heim RBI single in the second, Devers’ third-inning RBI double made it 2-1 and a Duvall sacrifice fly made it a 3-1 game. Texas then scored two runs in each the fourth inning (Robbie Grossman sacrifice fly, Leody Taveras RBI single) and fifth inning (Josh Jung double, Heim double) to take a 5-3 advantage; the Sox cut it to 5-4 when Rob Refsnyder hit an RBI pinch-hit single in the sixth.
Relievers Brandon Walter and Josh Winckowski combined for three scoreless innings before Justin Garza entered in the ninth and gave up a solo homer to Corey Seager that made it 10-6. Chris Martin needed just one pitch to get a game-ending double play.
Balanced offensive approach leads to win
The Red Sox totaled 13 hits, marking the club’s fifth game in a row with 10+ hits. It’s the longest such streak in more than two years (April 5-11, 2021).
Turner, Yoshida, Devers and Wong each had multi-hit games. Wong (3-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB) led the team as his average rose to .239.
Turner is now hitting .354 in his last 24 games.
A’s up next before break
The Red Sox will welcome another American League West opponent to town to wrap up the unofficial first half of the season as the last-place Athletics (25-64) visit for three games starting Friday. Here’s the schedule (as well as pitching probables):
Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Luis Medina (2-7, 6.39 ERA) vs. TBD (bullpen game)
Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET — RHP Paul Blackburn (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP James Paxton (4-1, 2.70 ERA)
Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET — LHP J.P. Sears (1-6, 4.09 ERA) vs. TBD (bullpen game or RHP Nick Pivetta)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 7, 2023 4:49:00 GMT -5
Matt McCarthy @mattmccarthy985 · 7h Sadly none of this will matter when the Sox drop 2 out of 3 to the As this weekend.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 7, 2023 4:57:30 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h 5-1 vs. Toronto and Texas, and now....?
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