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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 16:57:44 GMT -5
Cora should just come out and say it "That is what came out of the printer from the Analytic department"
Alex Cora explains interesting Red Sox lineup with Pablo Reyes leading off
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 5:39 p.m.|Published: Aug. 10, 2023, 5:35 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora drew up an interesting Red Sox lineup Thursday for the series finale against the Royals. Boston will look to win the four-game set while KC will try to split it.
Cora has utility infielder Pablo Reyes playing shortstop and batting leadoff. Cora moved Jarren Duran down to seventh in the batting order. Duran has mostly batted leadoff over the past month. Reyes had not batted higher than sixth in the order this season before today.
Kansas City will use left-hander Austin Cox as an opener, then righty Alec Marsh likely will serve as their bulk reliever.
“Trying to maximize Pablo against the lefty,” Cora said during his pregame press conference Thursday. “That’s why he’s leading off.”
Cora added that he’s “trying to get Jarren as many at-bats as possible against the righty.”
“You never know. They might bring a lefty in to face him but you try to mix and match and see how it goes,” Cora added. “Might be right, might be wrong. But this is the way we thought it was going to line up and hopefully it works.”
Reyes, a right-handed hitter, is 11-for-24 (.458) against left-handed pitchers this season. He’s guaranteed at least one at-bat against a lefty as the leadoff hitter. The Red Sox hope Kansas City will have Marsh or another right-handed pitcher in the game when left-handed hitting Duran bats in the second or third inning.
Masataka Yoshida is not in the lineup. Cora said it’s a planned day off for him.
Story will DH for the second straight game. Cora said he’s fine physically and will play shortstop Friday and Sunday.
Justin Turner (heel) is out for a third straight game. Cora said the hope is Turner will return to the lineup Friday.
“Just staying away from him (Thursday),” Cora said. “Hopefully this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 17:02:36 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 1h The Jays lost today so the Red Sox can gain ground for the first time since Toronto left town with a win tonight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 17:05:10 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 1h Cora was asked about Sale coming back and what that does for him: “less Medallas and more water.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 17:05:58 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1h WooSox manager Chad Tracy said Tanner Houck is expected to pitch three innings with a 50-pitch count tonight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 17:56:44 GMT -5
Damn the yellow unis again
anyway, Pete Abraham in the pregame:
Sale expected for 4-5 IP tomorrow
Whitlock when he comes back will be out of the pen ( where he should of always been)
Houck when back is going to slide into the SP roto.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 18:20:43 GMT -5
Paxton thru 1 and the rain is coming down....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 19:08:09 GMT -5
Still no score in the 4th
O'brien and Youk rambling on about the New England area sports wise coming up with Boston College games
Patriots.....
Red Sox in October.....I laughed and pressed mute
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 19:27:34 GMT -5
Half way thru and Red Sox up 1-0 Story with a 2B
and that call to end the 4th was brutal
I can see why there have been so many ejections lately
but I do not want robot umps as a guilty pleasure is to see the reactions....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2023 19:47:39 GMT -5
well after a review Duvalls 2b was ruled a 2B
so 2-0 Red Sox
bottom 5
raining harder
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 10, 2023 19:55:30 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 54m Brady Singer will be a challenge for the Sox tonight. 3-1, 3.00 in his last 7 starts.
Poor start to his season, much better last two months. Tough guy to barrel up of late.
Pitched 6 scoreless at Fenway last Sept. 17.
Kutter Crawford: 3.68 ERA since going back in the rotation Singer had our number last night. Needless to say, our pitching was not good last night and I'm still terribly frustrated with this offense. I don't mind the gamble on Lamet, since we are short 3 pitchers, but why bring him in in a one-run game.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2023 4:39:06 GMT -5
Big Maple leaves no doubt as Sox await Sale Paxton secures series victory over Royals with 5 1/3 strong frames, six strikeouts 1:01 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- James Paxton didn’t just win a baseball game for the Red Sox on a soggy Thursday night at Fenway Park.
Just as important as the result is the way the veteran lefty and a shutdown bullpen set the table for the return of Chris Sale on Friday night. With the swiftly emerging Brayan Bello taking the ball on Saturday and key swingman Garrett Whitlock set for a return to the roster on Sunday, order is being restored to Boston’s pitching staff.
Backed by 5 1/3 scoreless innings (six hits, no walks, six strikeouts) from Paxton and four relievers combining to give up one hit over the final 3 2/3 frames, the Red Sox edged out the Royals, 2-0, to take three out of four in the series.
It was the type of low-scoring game Boston had been unable to win for most of the season, as evidenced by a 7-38 record when the club scores fewer than four runs.
After getting swept by the Blue Jays in a frustrating start to the homestand, the Sox couldn’t afford to lose much more ground in the American League Wild Card standings.
With Thursday’s tight victory, manager Alex Cora’s team gained a game and Boston (60-55) trails Toronto (65-52) by four for the third Wild Card spot entering this weekend’s three-game set against the Tigers at Fenway Park.
“If we just have the mindset at 2 o’clock in this locker room that we expect to win a ballgame, that’s a great start to our day,” Kenley Jansen said after picking up save No. 26 with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
“Focus on that one game and take care of that one game. Hopefully, we all stay healthy. And if we can do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Speaking of health, there isn’t much that means more to the Red Sox than a healthy Sale. Staying on the active roster has been a challenge for the ace in recent years, but Sale will try to give his team six good weeks down the stretch in his return from a stress reaction in his left shoulder.
“So excited for that guy,” Paxton said. “You know, he worked so hard, and it's going to be great to have him back out there and be fighting with us. I’m just really happy for him that he's back again.”
If anyone can relate to what Sale has gone through, it is Paxton, who has been no stranger to the injured list himself the past few seasons.
But Big Maple has given Boston a lift since coming off the IL on May 12. In 15 starts, Paxton is 7-3 with a 3.36 ERA. Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.
While he has carried a fastball of 97 to 98 mph at times, Paxton relied more on his knuckleball and changeup to beat the Royals. It was a rebound performance, in that it came directly on the heels of just one of three clunkers he has had for Boston this season.
“I think the changeup has been really helpful,” Paxton said. “The cutter hasn’t been quite where I wanted it lately. The curveball was better tonight. Fastball was OK and the changeup was good, so that helped me get through it.”
One other thing that helped Paxton was a tremendous catch in right field by Alex Verdugo, who raced toward the corner for a spectacular sliding grab on the dirt to rob Edward Olivares of extra bases. Verdugo then stood up and easily doubled off MJ Melendez at first to end the top of the second inning.
For Red Sox fans of a certain age, it was reminiscent of the grab Tom Brunansky made to clinch the AL East title on the final day of the 1990 season.
Nobody was more stunned than Paxton.
“I was running to cover third, and I turned around and they're throwing the ball back, and it was a very impressive play. It was awesome,” Paxton said.
It was a nice setup for Friday, which Cora always says is the best night of the week at Fenway in terms of crowd atmosphere. It will be the first “Sale Day” at the historic ballpark since June 1.
“We’ve been waiting for this day,” Cora said. “He’s been around us and he feels good. We’re looking forward to him pitching on a Friday night here in Fenway. It should be fun.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2023 4:55:47 GMT -5
Red Sox win: Trevor Story doubles, James Paxton goes 5.1 scoreless innings
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 11:13 p.m.|Published: Aug. 10, 2023, 9:56 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Trevor Story recorded his first hit of the season, Alex Verdugo made a sliding catch down the right field line and James Paxton pitched 5 ⅓ scoreless innings. The Red Sox beat the Royals 2-0 at Fenway Park to win the four-game series 3-1.
Boston welcomes Detroit to town Friday for a three-game series.
Paxton allowed six hits and no walks while striking out six.
His biggest strikeout ended the fifth. Dairon Blanco tripled off Paxton with two outs But Paxton escaped, striking out Maikel Garcia swinging on a curveball for the final out.
The 34-year-old lefty threw 58 four-seam fastballs, averaging 93.9 mph and topping out at 95.8 mph, per Baseball Savant. He added 23 curveballs, 13 changeups and four cutters. He recorded six swings and misses with his curveball, five with his changeup, three with his fastball and one with his cutter.
Red Sox scoring
Triston Casas singled to center field with one out in the fourth inning. Story, who returned Tuesday following a lengthy rehab from offseason elbow surgery, then recorded his first hit of the season. He connected on a 93.5 mph four-seam fastball from Alec Marsh and hit it 385 feet to center field. Dairon Blanco made a leaping attempt at the wall but couldn’t catch it. Story’s double, which had a 97.8 mph exit velocity, put runners at second and third.
Alex Verdugo’s 288-foot sac fly to left field was deep enough to score Casas and Boston took a 1-0 lead.
Adam Duvall’s two-out RBI double in the fifth inning put Boston ahead 2-0. Pablo Reyes, who doubled with one out, scored.
Alex Cora argues call
Manager Alex Cora argued after Reese McGuire was called out running to first base on a dribbler three feet in front of home plate. First baseman Salvador Pérez failed to catch catcher Freddy Fermin’s throw. But McGuire got called out for interference. See the play here.
Cora wasn’t happy. The call cost his team a run as Reyes and Duvall followed with doubles.
Alex Verdugo makes sliding catch
Verdugo covered a lot of ground to his left to make a fantastic sliding catch on Edward Olivares’ 84 mph, 285-foot line drive into the right field corner. Verdugo then tossed the ball in to Casas to double MJ Melendez off first base, ending the second inning.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2023 4:56:57 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo ‘saved’ Red Sox pitcher James Paxton with ‘awesome’ catch
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 11:04 p.m.|Published: Aug. 10, 2023, 11:02 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Alex Verdugo sprinted to his left to make a fantastic sliding catch on Edward Olivares’ 84 mph, 285 foot line drive into the right field corner with the game scoreless in the second inning.
Verdugo then stood up and tossed the ball to first baseman Triston Casas to double MJ Melendez off first base, ending the frame.
“Dugie really saved me in the (second) inning there with that nice play in right,” starting pitcher James Paxton said.
Verdugo also delivered a sacrifice fly to left field in the fourth inning to give Boston a 1-0 lead. The Red Sox won 2-0 over the Royals at Fenway Park to take the four-game series, 3-1. Boston will welcome Detroit to town for a three-game series beginning Friday.
“Dugie made some great plays in right field,” manager Alex Cora said.
Paxton, who pitched 5 ⅓ scoreless innings, thought Olivares’ liner was going to drop for a hit. It either would have scored Olivares or put runners at second and third base with one out.
“I was running to cover third and I turn around and they’re throwing the ball back,” Paxton said. “That was a very impressive play. It was awesome.”
Verdugo ranks second among qualified major league right fielders in defensive runs saved (11). Only Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (20) is ahead of him. Verdugo is tied for ninth in DRS among all qualified players at every position.
“Great jump,” Cora said about Verdugo’s catch. “He’s one of the best if not the best defensive right fielders in the league. He’s been doing it the whole year. His jumps are better (than last year). His routes are much better. The throwing has been great. So overall, it’s been a great defensive season for Dugie.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2023 4:58:14 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Alex Cora explains ‘tough’ interference call on Reese McGuire
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 11:51 p.m.|Published: Aug. 10, 2023, 11:49 p.m. By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora came out of the dugout to argue after Reese McGuire got called out running to first base on a dribbler three feet in front of home plate in the fifth inning.
First baseman Salvador Pérez failed to catch the throw from catcher Freddy Fermin and McGuire was called for interference. See the play here.
The Red Sox won anyway. They beat the Royals 2-0 at Fenway Park to take the four-game series, 3-1.
Cora was told McGuire was “running inside” or to the left of the line.
“That’s a tough one,” Cora said. “I mean, whenever something happens at first — they drop it or whatever — usually that’s what happens. It’s so hard to stay on the line. It’s been going on for years. You saw Dave Martinez in the World Series (in 2019) and this year talking about it.”
Nationals manager Dave Martinez got ejected during Game 6 of the 2019 World Series when Trea Turner was called out for interference when he ran to the left of the line down to first base.
“At one point, they’re going to put the orange bag in foul territory. By that time, we’re going to be OK,” Cora said.
Per MLB.com, “When running the last half of the way to first base while the ball is being fielded in the vicinity of first, a baserunner must stay within the three-foot runner’s lane to the right of the foul line unless they are avoiding a player fielding a batted ball. If the umpire determines that the baserunner has interfered with the player taking the throw at first base by running to the left of the foul line or to the right of the runner’s lane, the baserunner can be called for interference.”
The call cost the Red Sox a run as both Pablo Reyes and Adam Duvall followed with doubles. Reyes scored on Duvall’s double to put Boston ahead 2-0.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2023 5:00:35 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 8h Good bounceback tonight from James Paxton. Solid work from the bullpen.
Felt like the Red Sox had to take three of four at minimum from the Royals. They did it.
Boston gains a game on Toronto and a half-game on Seattle, who was off today.
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