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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 6:14:26 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h Garrett Whitlock was beating himself up about the homer by Judge. But it was a 342-foot fly ball that would not have been a homer in 29 other parks.
The five strikeouts and hitting 96 with his two-seamer should be more the focus.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 6:19:01 GMT -5
Red Sox have been frustrating, but they’re sure not as maddening as the Yankees By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 18, 2023, 11:47 p.m.
NEW YORK — “The epic rivalry resumes” growled an announcer as a pre-game hype video played on the scoreboard before first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.
Technically, that was correct. The Red Sox played the Yankees and what has been an epic rivalry over the years did in fact resume.
But in the context of this season, it was an epic exaggeration given the low stakes. The Sox are in fourth place in the American League East and the Yankees in fifth. Boiling passion it was not.
Led by Yankee-killer Brayan Bello, the Sox sent many in the crowd of 44,566 home early with an 8-3 victory.
With Toronto losing and Seattle winning, the Mariners now own the last playoff spot, leaving the Sox 3 games back with 40 games to go. The endlessly discussed playoff odds are not on his team’s side, but Alex Cora has kept the Sox engaged.
That’s more than can be said for Aaron Boone’s Yankees, who have lost six in a row and been outscored by 23 runs in those games. The Yankees are 11-20 since the All-Star break and were loudly booed in the second inning as the Sox took a 7-0 lead.
The 60-62 Yankees haven’t been two games under .500 this late in the season since Aug. 31, 1995 when they fell to 57-59.
With Wade Boggs, Paul O’Neill, and Bernie Williams collecting big hits, those Yankees won 22 of their final 28 games and made the playoffs under Buck Showalter. There is little chance that will happen again with this bunch.
Frustrated by the inconsistency the Red Sox have shown much of this season? The Yankees, who have a luxury-tax payroll of $292.6 million, are proof it could be much, much worse.
In his first appearance against the Red Sox, rookie Jhony Brito opened the game by allowing four consecutive hits, including a three-run homer by well-rested Masataka Yoshida.
Brito finished the inning and got the first out in the second before the Sox scored three more runs.
The Sox scored six runs in the seventh inning of a 10-7 loss at Washington on Thursday. Cora suggested that maybe that inning had snapped the lineup out of its collective slump. Seems he was right.
“We’re a good offensive team. We believe that, but it hasn’t happened,” Cora said. “But if you look at the guys in that lineup, hopefully it’s the time that everybody clicks at the same time and we can go on a run.”
Flexibility works for the Sox. Cora moved Jarren Duran (3 for 33 in his last 12 games) down to seventh and elevated Alex Verdugo to leadoff for only the fourth time since the All-Star break.
Verdugo responded by going 3 for 4 with two doubles and three runs scored. His double leading off the game (on an 0-and-2 pitch) sparked the big inning.
“It just feels good to be back in that spot,” Verdugo said.
The Red Sox won because Bello allowed one run over six innings and the lineup stacked up 12 hits.
That Garrett Whitlock struck out five over two innings was a positive sign, with 10 games against the Astros and Dodgers on the horizon.
Whitlock allowed a two-run homer by Aaron Judge and was beating himself up afterward about it. But the 342-foot fly ball would not have been a home run in any other ballpark.
That Whitlock hit 96 mph with his sinker and threw 24 of 33 pitches for strikes was something that the Sox needed to see in his third appearance since coming off the injured list.
The postgame playlist in the clubhouse for the Sox included “Win” by Jay Rock and “Trophies” by Young Money.
Coincidence or a good omen? The Sox will take any good vibes they can get. It may not have been an epic chapter in the rivalry but any victory against the Yankees, especially in the Bronx, is special.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 6:22:35 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Triston Casas proves he’s capable of handling plenty on his plate By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 18, 2023, 7:51 p.m.
NEW YORK — Triston Casas’s voracious appetite matches his (generously listed) 6-foot-4-inch, 244-pound frame.
His food portions, inarguably, are the largest of any Red Sox player, catching the attention of his manager.
“You’d rather take him out shopping for clothes than take him out to dinner,” manager Alex Cora said recently.
The big man can eat, and, certainly, he needs the fuel.
The Red Sox have leaned on Casas a lot lately at first base since Justin Turner’s heel bone bruise has limited him to the designated hitter’s role.
Including Friday night’s series opener against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Casas has started in all 17 of the Sox’ contests dating back to July 31.
Routine, of course, has played a large part in Casas’s ability to stay on the field. That includes his postgame routine, too, though, something both Casas along with teammate Connor Wong have mastered in just their first full season in the big leagues.
“He’s been playing a lot,” said Cora before Friday night’s contest. “But they are so good at what they need to do after games to be ready for the next day. It’s impressive. I mean, young players understanding what it takes for them to play every day is eye-opening.”
Casas has become known for his pregame routine since he was called up last September. It includes sunbathing with his shirt off which took some time for his teammates to get used to.
But his eccentric pregame approach took on a more technical aspect during postgame.
“I think the most important thing about being in a season this long is understanding like there is a tomorrow, there is the next week, and next month and it’s a really long grueling schedule,” Casas said. “I’m the type of person that likes to empty the tank every day. But that approach doesn’t necessarily work out over this type of schedule.
“I’ve tried to get a feel for how much I need, not how much I want. I want to do a lot. I want to get better, and get stronger, and get faster, but it’s about my feeling healthy for those nine innings and for 162 games.
“I think over the stretch that I’ve been playing a lot, I have been getting a feel for how much I need to workout and how much I need to hit. The postgame stuff is really important.”
For Casas to get through such a demanding schedule, he knows that less is more.
Except when he’s loading up at the plate, feeding his postgame appetite.
The Red Sox’ PitchCom technology wasn’t working at the start of the game. The wearable transmitter device catchers use to relay signs to the pitcher through an earpiece, updated prior to the game and stopped working.
As a result, both teams had to relay signs to the pitcher using the traditional approach with the catcher signaling pitches with his fingers.
Cora said afterward there’s a good chance PitchCom still won’t be fixed for their afternoon matinee against the Yankees Saturday. Error prone
Rafael Devers committed his 15th error of the season (most by a third baseman) in Thursday’s 10-7 loss to the Nationals, a continuation of what has been a struggle for him in the field.
“He’s been inconsistent,” Cora said. “It seems like when we have men on third and the infield is in, he’s made a lot of errors in that situation.”
Devers is a minus-5 in defensive runs saved, the third-worst mark among third basemen. Devers committed 14 errors last season and was a minus-6 in defensive runs saved. Houck arrives
Tanner Houck (facial fracture) joined the team in New York after completing his rehab assignment. He will be activated for the team’s series against the Astros and will either start Monday or Tuesday in Houston.
If James Paxton starts Monday, then the Red Sox will hand the ball to Houck on Tuesday followed by Chris Sale on Wednesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 6:25:54 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Yankees Saturday, 19th August 2023 1pm @ Boogie Down
Light-hitting Yankees stumble into rematch with Red Sox FLM
The New York Yankees, hoping to author a run like the one produced by their 1995 predecessors, found only another quiet night at the plate on Friday.
The Yankees bring a six-game losing streak into their Saturday afternoon home game against the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees are two games under .500 this late in a season for the first time since Aug. 31, 1995. That version of the Yankees finished with a 23-6 run to claim a wild-card playoff berth.
New York got 10 hits in the series opener on Friday but could not overcome an early seven-run deficit in an 8-3 loss. Aaron Judge homered, but the Yankees struck out 11 times, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and hit into two double plays.
"For us right now, it's (about) continuing to show up with an edge, ready to put in the work and trusting that today is the day we start to get this thing rolling again," Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Besides being on their longest skid since dropping seven straight from Sept. 4-10, 2021, the Yankees are 6-14 in 20 games since Judge returned from a toe injury on July 28 and 12-24 in their past 36.
"It's hard to lose right now, but nobody feels sorry for us," New York second baseman Gleyber Torres said. "We have a really good team, and we have to figure out a way to win games."
The Red Sox are 6-1 against the Yankees this year and have won the past five meetings. Rookie Masataka Yoshida hit a three-run homer four batters into the Friday game and added an RBI single as the Red Sox got 12 hits and went 7-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Since June 14, the Red Sox are 31-23. Since dropping eight of 10, Boston is 6-3 in its past nine contests and enters Saturday three games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third American League wild-card spot.
"We're a good offensive team, we believe that," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "It hasn't happened. Hopefully this is the time everybody clicks at the same time and we can go on a run."
Gerrit Cole (10-3, 2.76 ERA), who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 25 starts, will pitch for the Yankees on Saturday. New York is just 12-7 in those starts, including a defeat on Sunday against the host Miami Marlins. Cole allowed two runs in six innings before New York yielded five runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-7 loss.
The right-hander is 7-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 career starts against Boston. Since joining the Yankees, he is 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 11 starts vs. the Red Sox. Cole lost the lone time he went up against Boston this year, when he gave up two runs in six innings on June 9.
Boston's Kutter Crawford (5-6, 3.80 ERA) makes his 16th start as he attempts to build on his recent success. The right-hander is 5-5 with a 4.48 ERA as a starter, but in his past 10 starts, he is 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA.
Crawford last pitched Sunday, getting a no-decision after allowing two runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers.
Crawford is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four outings (two starts) against the Yankees, with each of those appearances occurring last season.
--Field Level Media
Red Sox at Yankees Saturday, at 1:05 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 75° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 10 MPH wind blowing out in New York City at 1:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 7:49:22 GMT -5
The Red Sox once again show us they still might have life Current Time 0:08 / Duration 0:14 By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago The blueprint for making a late-season postseason run
The debate started in spring training and as we approach September it hasn't really gone anywhere: How should we view the 2023 Red Sox?
This we do know after the Red Sox' 8-3 win over the Yankees Friday night at Yankee Stadium ...
- The Sox remain a palatable three games back out of the Wild Card race, how chasing Seattle, which leapfrogged Toronto in the standings Friday night. The Sox own the tie-breaker over the Blue Jays (head-to-head), but would have to go the second tie-breaker against the Mariners (record vs. division opponents), who currently own that advantage.
- Brayan Bello isn't done yet, continuing his dominance against the Yankees in a six-inning outing that saw him give up just one run. In five career starts against New York, the righty owns a 1.45 ERA.
- The recently struggling offense looks a whole lot different when the likes of Alex Verdugo, Justin Turner and Masa Yoshida do something. That's exactly what happened in this latest win. All three contributed to the Red Sox building a seven-run lead after the first two innings, with Yoshida highlighting the early outburst with a three-run homer. Verdugo and Turner each finished with three hits, as did Rafael Devers.
- The Red Sox did help define the Yankees' lot in life. New York is now seven games out of the Wild Card race, having lost six straight with its run-differential sitting at minus-19
Fangraphs still doesn't seemingly believe in the Red Sox - putting playoff odds at 12.7 percent, 45 percent lower than the Blue Jays. But it's games like this one that suggest it's a story worth following.
As the Patriots get ready to play their second exhibition game, that's something.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 8:14:04 GMT -5
Game 123: Red Sox at Yankees lineups and notesBy Emma Healy Globe Staff,Updated August 19, 2023, 35 minutes ago The New York Yankees’ woes are persistent, as a resounding loss to the Red Sox in Friday’s series opener brought their losing streak to six. With the loss, they fell to two games under .500, a position the Yankees haven’t been in this late in a season since Aug. 31, 1995. That version of the Yankees finished with a 23-6 run to claim a wild-card playoff berth. The Red Sox have been similarly struggling, but they’ve found plenty of success against the Yankees this season. Boston is 6-1 against the Yankees this year and has won the past five meetings. Rookie Masataka Yoshida hit a three-run homer four batters into the Friday game and added an RBI single as the Red Sox got 12 hits and went 7-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They’ll look to repeat their success Saturday. Since June 14, the Red Sox are 31-23. Boston is 6-3 in its past nine and enters Saturday three games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third American League wild-card spot. Kutter Crawford will take the mound for the Red Sox Saturday, and Gerrit Cole will pitch for the Yankees. Lineups RED SOX (64-58): Alex Verdugo (L) RF Rafael Devers (L) 3B Justin Turner (R) DH Masataka Yoshida (L) LF Triston Casas (L) 1B Pablo Reyes (R) SS Jarren Duran (L) CF Connor Wong (R) C Luis Urias (R) 2B Pitching: RHP Kutter Crawford (5-6, 3.80 ERA) YANKEES (60-62): DJ LeMahieu (R) 1B Aaron Judge (R) RF Gleyber Torres (R) 2B Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 3B Harrison Bader (R) CF Greg Allen (S) LF Anthony Volpe (R) SS Ben Rortvedt (L) C Pitching: RHP Gerrit Cole (10-3, 2.76 ERA) Time: 1:05 p.m. TV, radio: FS1, NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Cole: Triston Casas 3-5, Rafael Devers 9-33, Jarren Duran 2-10, Adam Duvall 3-18, Reese McGuire 1-13, Rob Refsnyder 0-6, Trevor Story 3-17, Justin Turner 4-9, Luis Urías 0-2, Alex Verdugo 9-31, Connor Wong 1-1, Masataka Yoshida 0-3 Yankees vs. Crawford: Harrison Bader 1-2, Kyle Higashioka 1-2, Aaron Judge 1-6, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1-5, DJ LeMahieu 0-3, Giancarlo Stanton 2-4, Gleyber Torres 1-6 Stat of the day: The Yankees’ longest losing streak this season is seven games, which took place from Sept. 4-10. Notes: New York got 10 hits in the series opener on Friday but could not overcome an early seven-run deficit in an 8-3 loss. Aaron Judge homered, but the Yankees struck out 11 times, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and hit into two double plays. ... The Yankees are 6-14 in 20 games since Judge returned from a toe injury on July 28 and 12-24 in their past 36. ... Cole has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 25 starts. New York is 12-7 in those starts. The righthander is 7-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 career starts against Boston. Since joining the Yankees, he is 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 11 starts vs. the Red Sox. Cole lost the lone time he went up against Boston this year, when he gave up two runs in six innings on June 9. ... Crawford is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four outings (two starts) against the Yankees, with each of those appearances occurring last season. Song of the Day: Ramones - Spider-Man www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5P8lrgBtcU
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 8:55:18 GMT -5
Trevor Story (0-for-16 on trip) sits for Red Sox vs. Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 9:37 a.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
NEW YORK — Riding an 0-for-16 slump to begin a long road trip, Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is out of the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Yankees and ace Gerrit Cole in the Bronx.
Story, who is still being slow-played in his return from offseason elbow surgery, is hitless in the first four games of Boston’s trip after having four hits (including three doubles) Sunday against the Tigers at home. He’s out of the lineup for the first time since Saturday as the Sox face the Yankees for the second of three games at Yankee Stadium. r
Story has chalked his struggles up to inconsistent timing. In nine games since returning from the injured list, he’s hitting .200 with a .558 OPS. Before Friday’s 0-for-4 performance, manager Alex Cora said he thought Story’s swing was in form.
“I think he put good at-bats,” Cora said. “He didn’t get hits. He was very aggressive with the swing but didn’t get hits.”
In Story’s place, Pablo Reyes is the shortstop, hitting sixth. Luis Urías, who hit a grand slam Thursday against the Nationals, is the second baseman, batting ninth. After a night off Friday, Connor Wong is back behind the plate catching righty Kutter Crawford.
The Red Sox won the series opener, 8-3, behind an early offensive explosion and have now won five in a row against the Yankees (and six of the first seven between the teams this season). They’ll go for a series win Saturday before wrapping up the second leg of their 10-game trip Sunday afternoon.
Entering Saturday, the Red Sox are three games behind the Mariners for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. The Sox also trail the Blue Jays by 2 ½ games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 11:08:30 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h Triston Casas scratched. Justin Turner playing first.
Verdugo RF, Devers 3B, Turner 1B, Yoshida LF, Duvall DH, Duran CF, Reyes SS, Wong C, Urías 2B
Casas has a tooth infection.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 11:10:26 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Casas has a tooth infection and was scratched. Turner (bone bruise in his left foot) in the field for the first time since July 30. Pablo Reyes, who has never played 1B, was the alternative. Bobby Dalbec and his .978 OPS remain in AAA.
Alex Cora has a ton of respect for Gerrit Cole. Said today he has one of the best contracts in the game given his production and how he has evolved as a pitcher.
Counting two playoff games, Cole is 5-5, 5.00 in 13 starts against the Sox since joining the Yankees.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2023 14:50:56 GMT -5
Red Sox jump all over Cole Urias has an early grand slam and Red Sox cruise to a 8-1 win.
I hope like hell that Cashman and Boone are never fired.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 20, 2023 6:09:27 GMT -5
Urías' slam backs Crawford's dominant outing to take series from Yanks August 19th, 2023 Bill Ladson
Bill Ladson @ladsonbill24
NEW YORK -- What are the chances of right-hander Kutter Crawford outdueling right-hander Gerrit Cole in a game? The odds seem impossible, considering Cole is an AL Cy Young Award candidate and Crawford is in his third year in the Majors and had a career 4.78 ERA entering Saturday.
“I know Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitchers in the big leagues,” Crawford said. “So I knew I needed to be good. I needed to command the baseball and mix it up.”
Crawford commanded the baseball on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He pitched his best game of the season and helped the Red Sox pound the Yankees, 8-1.
The Red Sox improved their record to 65-58 and are three games behind the Mariners for the third and final spot in the AL Wild Card race.
Crawford pitched six innings, allowed one run on one hit and struck out five batters. His only blemish came in the sixth, when Aaron Judge broke up Crawford’s no-hit bid by hitting his 24th home run into the Red Sox’s bullpen.
“It feels good to help the team in any way possible, no matter the role,” said Crawford, who started the season as a reliever. “I know my job is to go out there, compete every single pitch and give my team a chance to win every single time I take that mound. That’s my main goal day in and day out.”
Prior to the Judge home run, it was almost nothing but weak contact from the Yankees.
“He kept pounding the strike zone, was able to work ahead [in the count] and did an outstanding job for us,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Since the All-Star break, Crawford has a 2.86 ERA in seven starts. Opposing teams are aware of his buffet of pitches, which includes the cutter, four-seam fastball and breaking ball. Crawford has strike-throwing ability.
“We have to manage him,” Cora said. “We saw it last year. He kind of hit the wall at one point. This year, he was amazing from the bullpen. He has been solid from the rotation. You look at the numbers after the All-Star break, they have been really good. … He is a guy we rely on.”
As for Cole, he lasted four innings and was hit hard, allowing six runs on seven hits.
“The at-bats were tremendous today,” Cora said. “Like I said, [Cole] is [one of] if not the best starter in the big leagues. We stay humble with the approach, like taking walks, going the other way, hitting the ball hard, fouling off pitches. … Credit to the offense. They were relentless.”
To show how relentless the Red Sox were: Cole threw 33 pitches in the second inning. It was the frame in which Boston scored its first four runs off Cole. With one out and the bases loaded, Luis Urías swung at the first pitch and hit a grand slam, his second in consecutive games played. The first one was hit in the seventh inning on Thursday against Nationals reliever Robert Garcia.
“I faced Gerrit Cole in the past when I was with the Brewers. I have a pretty good idea what he has,” Urías said through interpreter Carlos Villoria-Benitez. “Obviously, I was trying to be a little more aggressive with runners in scoring position. I tried to bring in those runs. Luckily, I was able to make good contact and the ball went out.”
According to ESPN Stats and info, Urías is the first Red Sox player to hit a grand slam in back-to-back games played since Jimmie Foxx in 1940. Urías is also the first player with a grand slam in consecutive plate appearances since Josh Willingham did it in consecutive innings on July 27, 2009.
“I never hit a grand slam before in my career, not even in little league or the Minor Leagues,” Urías said. “Now, I have two. I have one against the Yankees, one of the biggest rivalries in baseball. So I’m very excited for it. I’m excited that the team won. We just keep going.”
Boston added to the scoring against Cole two innings later when Connor Wong hit a two-runner to make it a six-run game.
"Obviously not my best stuff today. I put a lot of well located pitches and paired a lot of good pitches together. I'm just a little bit confused on why the level of execution on their side is so high,” Cole said. “... For whatever reason, they were extra focused and able to bring out their best bullets today. Not only did they capitalize on poor pitches, but they capitalized on really, really good pitches."
The Red Sox have won seven of eight vs. the Yankees this season, outscoring them 48-to-19.
“A good team effort. We have to be ready for tomorrow,” Cora said. “From here [on], every day matters. It matters from March 29th, but now, you can feel it. They are in a good place. Hopefully, we can come tomorrow and finish the job.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 20, 2023 6:10:52 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Houck to start Monday or Tuesday August 19th, 2023
LATEST NEWS
Aug. 19: RHP Tanner Houck to start Monday or Tuesday in Houston After two months on the injured list because of a facial fracture, Houck is expected to pitch against the Astros early next week. It will be his first appearance since June 16, when Houck was belted below the right eye by a line drive off the bat of Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka at the start of the fifth inning.
Houck said he is 100 percent healthy and wants to help the Red Sox during the pennant race.
“I’m the type of guy where I’ll take the ball. Give me 30 minutes before a game -- doesn’t matter -- I’ll give you the best I can,” Houck said. “I’ll leave it all out there, whether it’s Monday or Tuesday, I’m incredibly excited to get back out there with this team.”
The Red Sox got exactly what they were looking for from Houck in his third and final rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday. The righty fired four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four. Houck threw 59 pitches (36 strikes).
Aug. 19: INF Triston Casas scratched from Saturday’s lineup After having a tooth infection drained at a local hospital on Saturday, Casas won't be available in Sunday's finale, manager Alex Cora said.
"Everything is OK," Cora said. "Hopefully, he will be available Monday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 20, 2023 6:13:09 GMT -5
Triston Casas’ tooth forces Red Sox into uncomfortable spot with Justin Turner
Updated: Aug. 19, 2023, 5:12 p.m.|Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 2:12 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
NEW YORK — Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to a tooth infection, manager Alex Cora said. Casas is considered day-to-day. He had the tooth drained at a local hospital Saturday afternoon and is expected to be out again Sunday.
“He got drained. He had to go to the hospital,” Cora said. “Everything is OK. Hopefully, he’ll be available Monday.”
Casas was originally slated to start at first base and hit fifth against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on Saturday but was removed from the lineup more than two hours before first pitch. The Sox switched Justin Turner from designated hitter to first base and inserted Adam Duvall as the DH.
The switch involving Turner is one the Red Sox didn’t want to make. The 38-year-old hasn’t played the field since July 30 because the Red Sox are trying to keep him off his feet as much as possible as he plays through a bone bruise in his left heel. Before Saturday, Casas had started 17 games in a row at first base, hitting .250 with four homers, eight RBIs and an .815 OPS in that stretch.
Cora was forced to play Turner at first base Saturday because shortstop Trevor Story, who is still ramping up after missing the first 4-½ months of the season due to elbow surgery, was not going to be ready to play on short notice after originally being held out of the lineup. Cora was hopeful the club could get Turner off his feet late in the game by inserting Story at shortstop and shifting Pablo Reyes to play first base in an emergency situation, but that didn’t happen in an 8-1 win. Reyes is the top backup option at the position despite never playing there in nearly 1,000 professional games. Cora implied that the Red Sox haven’t considered trying Luis Urías or Connor Wong there or moving an infielder-turned-outfielder like Adam Duvall or Rob Refsnyder to first temporarily. Story will play shortstop Sunday after having Saturday off.
“Obviously, with (Turner) and Trevor, it’s kind of hard to see how it will play out,” Cora said.
The Red Sox will enter Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees short-handed with Casas likely out. The club probably doesn’t want Turner to play first again, so Reyes or another emergency option might have to step up for the day. Cora wouldn’t rule out a roster move but a source indicated that it’s unlikely the club calls up Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester. He’s the only first base option on the 40-man roster who is currently with the WooSox; Yu Chang is another theoretical option but is off the 40-man after being designated for assignment earlier this month.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 20, 2023 6:14:34 GMT -5
Luis Urías hits another grand slam; Kutter Crawford, Red Sox beat Yankees
Updated: Aug. 19, 2023, 5:04 p.m.|Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 3:46 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
NEW YORK — One day after the Red Sox homered their way to an early lead and cruised to an easy win against the Yankees behind a great performance from their starting pitcher, they... homered their way to an early lead and cruised to an easy win against the Yankees behind a great performance from their starting pitcher.
Luis Urías hit his second grand slam in three days and starter Kutter Crawford shut down New York’s lineup for six strong innings as the Red Sox won Saturday, 8-1. Connor Wong added a two-run homer as Boston clinched a series win and improved to 65-58. The Sox have won six in a row against the Yankees and are 7-1 against them this season.
Facing ace Gerrit Cole seemed like a much taller task than going up against Friday starter Jhony Brito, but the Red Sox handled both Yankees starters similarly. The major damage against Cole came in the second, when Adam Duvall and Jarren Duran led off with singles before Cole loaded the bases by walking Pablo Reyes. After Wong grounded into a force at home plate, Urías delivered a grand slam, for the second straight at-bat. Like Brayan Bello on Friday, Crawford suddenly had a big (4-0) cushion.
With Crawford cruising, the Sox added to their lead in the fourth when Reyes led off with a single and Wong hit a two-run homer off Cole to make it 6-0. It was Wong’s first homer since June 1. Crawford carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning until Aaron Judge homered for the second straight game and made it a 6-1 game. Despite not quite making history, Crawford was very effective, striking out five over six one-hit innings in the Bronx. With the win, he improved to 6-6 with a 3.66 ERA.
The Red Sox stretched their lead back out to six runs in the eighth when Masataka Yoshida singled, then scored on a Reyes ground-rule double that was misplayed by left fielder Greg Allen. Devers’ 28th homer — a deep blast to center off righty Albert Abreu — made it 8-1 in the top of the ninth inning. The blast put him over his 2022 home run total of 27.
Devers (3-for-5, R, HR, RBI) and Reyes (3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, SB) paced the Red Sox offense, which scored at least seven runs for the third straight game, matching their longest such streak this season. Boston got back to .500 (30-30) in road games this season and is now 2.5 games behind the Mariners for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. The Mariners and Blue Jays (also ahead of the Red Sox) each have games Saturday night.
Urías grand again
Urías hit his first career grand slam Wednesday afternoon in the seventh inning of Boston’s loss to the Nationals, then was lifted for a pinch-hitter and sat out Friday’s game. Hitting out of the ninth spot Saturday, he deposited the first pitch he saw into the left-field seats for his second grand slam in as many at-bats. This one traveled 404 feet with an exit velocity of 105.9 mph.
Crawford stays sharp
Crawford has a 3.25 ERA over his last 11 starts and a 2.55 ERA over his last five. Since the All-Star break, he has a 0.98 WHIP and a .187 opponent batting average (per @soxnotes on Twitter).
Crawford has a career 1.89 ERA against the Yankees.
Sox go for sweep Sunday
The Red Sox announced after the game that righty reliever Josh Winckowski (3-1, 3.20 ERA) will start Sunday’s series finale as an opener, likely ahead of Nick Pivetta. The Yankees will send righty Clarke Schmidt (8-7, 4.76 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. ET.
After the game, the Red Sox will fly to Houston for a four-game series against the Astros, then return home Friday to play the Dodgers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 20, 2023 6:17:06 GMT -5
Red Sox trade acquisition makes team history with second straight grand slam
Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 7:24 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
NEW YORK — In the seventh inning of Thursday’s loss, Red Sox infielder Luis Urías stepped to the plate at Nationals Park and hit his first career grand slam. He was removed for a pinch-hitter later in the game and had Friday off. The next time he stepped to the plate was more than 42 hours later on Saturday afternoon against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the Bronx.
The result was the same. Urías launched a grand slam off Cole in the second inning and became the first Red Sox player ever to hit grand slams on consecutive pitches. He joined Bill Mueller as the only players in franchise history to hit slams in back-to-back at-bats. Mueller did it in back-to-back innings on July 29, 2003 against the Rangers. Urías is also the only player in franchise history to hit multiple grand slams in his first 10 games with the Red Sox.
“This game is extraordinary. It’ll surprise you every day,” Urías said through interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez. “I never hit a grand slam before in my career, not even in Little League or the minor leagues. Now, I have two and one against the Yankees in one of the the biggest rivalries in baseball.”
Much like they did in Friday’s blowout win, the Red Sox got to New York’s starter early Saturday afternoon. This time, though, it was a much taller task with Cole on the mound. After a quick first inning, the offense got rolling against the perennial Cy Young candidate. Adam Duvall singled, then Jarren Duran singled and took second on an attempt to nab Duvall at third. Cole then walked Pablo Reyes to load the bases.
On the first pitch he saw, Urías sent a slider into the left field seats to make it a 4-0 game. Behind a strong pitching performance from Kutter Crawford, the Red Sox captured their sixth straight win against the Yankees by a score of 8-1.
“The at-bats were tremendous today,” said manager Alex Cora. “(Cole) is one of the best, if not the best, starter in the big leagues. We stayed humble with the approach taking our walks, going the other way, hitting the ball hard, fouling off pitches. Then Luis get a slider in the zone and put a good swing on it. Credit to the offense. They were relentless early in the game. They kept pushing him to throw the ball over the heart of the plate and we did a good job.”
Urías said he wasn’t thinking about Thursday’s grand slam when he stepped up to the plate against Cole but wanted to approach his at-bat with an aggressive mentality. Facing one of the best pitchers in baseball, the infielder knew the chances to score would likely be few and far between.
“I had a pretty good idea of what he has,” Urías said. “Obviously, I was trying to be a little bit more aggressive with men in scoring position trying to bring in those runs. Luckily, I was able to make good contact and the ball went out.”
Urías hasn’t played every day since coming over in a deadline trade with the Brewers but has given the Red Sox a little bit of a spark. He has not hit for average (.258) but has nine RBIs, a double and an .827 OPS. Considering how little production the Red Sox got out of second base for most of the season, it’s meaningful both Urías and Reyes have hit well in recent weeks.
For Urías, who was in Triple-A in the Milwaukee organization after struggling with injury and performance this season, the chance to play meaningful games has meant something.
“We have a good group here. We are teammates and you can feel that we’re friends and we’re getting along very well,” he said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things for me to feel welcome. That’s what they did. And coming here to play for the Red Sox, which was my favorite organization growing up, is also an extra motivation. I’m happy to be here and happy to help the team win.
“This year for me has been weird with everything I’ve gone through. I just try to take every opportunity and everything with the right mindset and the right approach so everything will try to go my way.”
On Saturday, he contributed in grand fashion — again.
“That’s efficient,” Cora said. “Two swings, eight steaks. That’s great.”
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