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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 5:40:16 GMT -5
Red Sox’ Alex Cora on Oakland Coliseum: ‘This is a beautiful stadium’
Updated: Apr. 01, 2024, 9:38 p.m.|Published: Apr. 01, 2024, 9:37 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — This might be the Red Sox’ final trip ever to Oakland Coliseum.
The Athletics appear destined to move to Las Vegas eventually and their lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. There’s talk they could play in Sacramento or Salt Lake before moving into a permanent new home.
“This is a beautiful stadium and that’s one of the best fields in the big leagues,” manager Alex Cora said before Boston’s opener against the Athletics on Monday. “There’s only 30 of these in the world. And if you take it for granted, you’re committing a big mistake.
“This is a big league stadium and we respect that fact,” Cora added. “We enjoy coming here. The surface ... the guys who have played here like myself and others, we really like this. It’s a beautiful surface. It’s good for defenders. And actually I know for pitchers they love it too.”
Cora said he doesn’t have many good memories as a player here though.
“I think I faced (Barry) Zito in 1999 or ‘98. Not fun,” Cora said. “But going back to the past, good teams, rowdy fans, playoff atmosphere. For everything they talk about — money ball and all that stuff — they were really good in every aspect of the game. They pitch. They have good defense. They have good offense. They transformed baseball. We’re talking about closers. We’re talking about sabermetrics. We’re talking about defense and all that. They were one step ahead of everybody else.”
Cora remembers playing against an Athletics’ Double-A affiliate in 1996.
“That was my first professional full season,” Cora said. “And we’re playing them and they’re taking pitches and taking pitches and taking pitches. I’m like, ‘Why are these guys taking so many pitches?’ Because I didn’t know at that point. I just enjoyed playing the game. And then people started explaining to me why they did that. They introduced me to on-base percentage and working the count and all that stuff.
“I know it’s been rough for the fan base the last few years for X or Y reasons. I don’t want to get involved in that,” Cora added. “But as far as the baseball part, they’ve been amazing. A lot of great players have played here.”
Cora mentioned that Frank Thomas and Eric Karros both finished their careers here.
“There’s movies about them and all that,” Cora said. “They had the horses, the pitchers back in the day. Rickey (Henderson). Eck (Dennis Eckersley). (Jose) Canseco. (Mark) McGwire. Carney Lansford. It was great. It was fun. It’s a shame they are going through this for the fan base. But at the end, it is what it is. Like I said, we love coming here. We respect the fact that this is a big league stadium and we don’t take it for granted. I repeat myself. There’s only 30 of these in the whole world and they’ve got one here.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 5:41:46 GMT -5
Red Sox’ ‘menace on the base paths’ steals three bags in 1st three innings
Updated: Apr. 02, 2024, 3:27 a.m.|Published: Apr. 02, 2024, 3:08 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Red Sox scored eight runs in the first three innings Monday against the Athletics. In all three innings, speedster Jarren Duran singled and stole a base.
“I’ve been privileged to play with him since 2019 in (Double-A) Portland,” starter Tanner Houck said. “You just see the speed. You see the talent there. He’s a menace on the base paths. So I’m glad he’s on our side, for sure.”
Duran’s three-hit, three-steal game and Houck’s 10 strikeouts in 6 scoreless innings lifted the Red Sox to a 9-0 victory over the Athletics here at Oakland Coliseum.
Does Duran agree with Houck that he’s a menace on the base paths?
“I like to think so,” Duran said. “Every time I get on the bases I’m looking to cause havoc, run in guys’ faces, make guys fumble the ball, run down the line hard and stuff like that. So I guess that’s a good thing to call me.”
His speed did force the Athletics into an error. He advanced to third base on catcher Shea Langeliers’ throwing error when he stole second in the first inning.
Oakland made five errors in the first three innings.
“I’ve been told since I was in college that the team that makes the least amount of errors usually wins the game,” Duran said. “So I’m just trying to cause problems and make them make errors. And we’ve just gotta capitalize on mistakes, which we did tonight.”
Manager Alex Cora added about Duran, “We’re going to push the envelope as a group and he’s the leader. He did a good job going the other way, stealing bases, putting pressure on the opposition.”
Duran had just two hits entering Monday but he feels he has had quality at-bats throughout the first five games.
“Obviously the hits are nice to get but I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball really hard — just right at people,” Duran said. “And I feel like I’m right there. I’m not trying to get out ahead of myself like, ‘I want the hit. I want the hit.’ I’m just trusting the process right now. Just keep hitting the ball hard. Hopefully the game rewards me and gives me those knocks when I hit the ball hard. So I’m just trying to have those quality at-bats.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 5:46:32 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb Through five games (one turn through the rotation), Red Sox starting pitchers have allowed just four earned runs, one walk and 17 hits while striking out 37 in 28 innings. 12:40 AM · Apr 2, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 5:49:05 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier Houck has struck out 10 of the 21 batters he's faced through 6 shutout innings. Still no walks. Inchoate activity in the Red Sox bullpen suggests he's done, in which case, the Red Sox are the 4th team in MLB history to open a season w/5 starts of 5+ IP, <= 1 walk, <= 2ER.
The others: The 2020 Clevelands, the 1993 Cardinals, the 1988 Giants.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 5:51:10 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats I think the most errors in a game against the Red Sox were 9 by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1923. The attendance for that game was as 4000, quadrupling the size of the crowd in Oakland tonight.
The last time a team made 5 errors against the Sox was KC in 2009. (6, CHW, 1995). 11:47 PM · Apr 1, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 6:00:14 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox throw support behind plan to use more breaking balls and offspeed pitches By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 1, 2024, 9:14 p.m
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Red Sox went into the season-opening series against the Mariners with a clear plan of attack: throw breaking balls and offspeed pitches.
Last season, Seattle struggled against such pitches, hitting just .214 with a .360 slugging percentage on breaking and offspeed pitches, the sixth-lowest mark in the majors.
But the Mariners feasted on four-seam and two-seam fastballs, however, and were tied for 10th in batting average (.272) and fifth in slugging percentage (.474) on those offerings.
The plan worked well for Sox pitchers, who held the Mariners to eight runs across four games in their series split.
And the strategy wasn’t exclusive to just the Mariners. In fact, it’s an approach the pitching staff will certainly weaponize moving forward. Less fastballs, more spin.
“I think if you look at the history of baseball, fastballs for the longest time, get hit the hardest,” pitching coach Andrew Bailey said before the Red Sox continued their West Coast trip with a 9-0 win in the series opener against the Athletics. “They have the most damage attached to them, year in and year out. It doesn’t matter who you are. Obviously, there’s some unicorn fastballs out there, but we just want our guys to stick to their strengths and know that every pitch we make you’re making a bet on trying to limit damage and induce swing and miss or weak contact. Generally, your softer options have that more attached to them.”
Bailey has a history of employing offspeed and breaking balls. In fact, when he was the pitching coach for the Giants from 2020-23, Bailey’s pitchers employed the tactic 51 percent of the time, tops in the majors. Meanwhile, in that same span, the Red Sox utilized those pitches at a 41.8 percent clip (21st).
Last season, when Dave Bush was still the pitching coach, the Red Sox ranked 21st in the majors with a fastball percentage of 47.7 percent. In contrast, Bailey’s Giants had the lowest fastball percentage in all of baseball, coming in at 42.6.
The shift is, in part, due to Bailey’s teachings, but it’s also where the game is beginning to trend with fastball usage seeing a dip in recent years. As hitting advances, pitching is doing its duty by trying to stay ahead of the batters.
Nevertheless, this maneuver to more spin isn’t necessarily the death of the fastball. Velocity is still important.
“Velocity is the difference-maker with all pitch types,” Bailey said. “But we want them to throw their nasty stuff in the zone. Whether its the fastball with high velocity or spin option or changeup or split, whatever that is. Velocity the higher you go, the less damage, but still damage is attached to heaters pretty globally.”
Casas thrown off
Speaking of spin, that’s all the Mariners offered Triston Casas. The Red Sox slugger saw 78 pitches in Seattle, and just 10 were four-seamers or sinkers. The rest fell under the category of cutters, breaking balls, and offspeed pitches.
Similar to Mariners hitters, Casas appeared out of sorts at the plate, producing one hit in 15 plate appearances while striking out six times.
“When guys are throwing offspeed pitches you have to take into account their height,” Casas said. “They’re all different height. So every pitcher has a different height, different release height, different extension point. And ultimately, that results in a little different perspective, just in terms of when you’re trying to recognize the pitch.”
The first baseman is one of the Sox’ most feared hitters, one with a large enough sample size for teams to construct a clear scouting report.
As such, teams are highlighting Casas’s name more, game-planning for him with a lot more detail and intent. The adjustment to this new maneuver won’t be the easiest, Casas noted, because he can’t just sit soft because the hitter can run the risk of getting blown away by a fastball. Related: The speedy Red Sox: Athleticism could change how Boston plays, and other thoughts
So, for Casas, the adjustment comes in his recognition of shape.
“It’s going to take a lot of work, off the machines, trying to throw them harder, trying to simulate, you know, a little more breaking stuff,” he said. “But even when you try to hit the machine it doesn’t throw three different types of [breaking stuff].”
Headed for home
Second baseman Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) and outfielder Rob Refsnyder (toe) will join the team for Opening Day next Tuesday at Fenway Park. Manager Alex Cora is hopeful the pair can begin rehab assignments soon after.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 9:19:47 GMT -5
Error-prone A's challenged to cut mistakes vs. Red Sox FLM
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay finds himself searching for answers to a question he wasn't expecting as the Athletics seek to turn around a sloppy start to the season in a rematch with the visiting Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
The Red Sox routed the hosts 9-0 in the series opener Monday, taking advantage of five Oakland errors in the first three innings to build an eight-run lead.
Kotsay insisted "we couldn't get out of our own way the first three innings" and challenged his players, who have an MLB-worst 13 errors already this season, to flip a new switch overnight.
"I wish I had an answer for the defense. I don't," Kotsay said. "They're going to have to get better; that's all there is to it.
"These first five games, if you had told me we were going to play as bad defensively as we have, I'd have said you were dead wrong. We'll see how they respond (Tuesday)."
Interestingly, just one of Oakland's five errors Monday came on a traditional fielding play, that occurring in the second inning when center fielder JJ Bleday turned a routine fly ball into a three-base miscue.
Otherwise, catcher Shea Langeliers threw wildly on a steal attempt, and right fielder Lawrence Butler (after catching a sacrifice fly), first baseman Ryan Noda (attempting to get a forceout) and pitcher Joe Boyle (on a pickoff) also committed errors.
On a night when two pitchers limited the A's to four hits with 13 strikeouts, the Red Sox didn't need the help. But with Tanner Houck going the first six innings of the shutout, it gave each of Boston's five starters a strong effort the first time through the rotation.
Seeking to make it six straight will be the starter who got the run going, right-hander Brayan Bello (1-0, 3.60 ERA). On Opening Day in Seattle, he held the Mariners to two runs and five hits in five innings in a 6-4 win.
Bello struck out just two and didn't walk anyone, the latter becoming the first of four outings already this season in which the Boston starter didn't issue a free pass. The only one who did, Kutter Crawford, walked just one in his six innings.
"We build off each other," said Garrett Whitlock, who pitched five innings of Sunday's 5-1 win at Seattle. "We're all there competing with each other and cheering each other on."
Bello will look to avenge what happened to him when he faced the A's for the only time in his career last season. The 24-year-old gave up two-run home runs in each of the first, second and fourth innings before leaving in a July game in Oakland, taking the loss in a 6-5 defeat.
It was the only time Bello has allowed three homers in the same game in his career.
Home runs have been hard to come by in the five games played in Oakland this season. The A's and Cleveland Guardians combined for just four in their season-opening, four-game series, before no balls left the yards Monday.
A's left-hander Alex Wood (0-1, 16.20) didn't allow a homer Thursday in his first start, but he did little else right as he was crushed for six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings in an 8-0 loss to the Guardians.
The 33-year-old has beaten 21 teams in his career, but never the Red Sox. He's faced them three times, once as a starter, without a decision and a 2.79 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 14:08:04 GMT -5
How many bases can Jarren Duran steal? ‘Sky’s the limit.’ By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated April 2, 2024, 2 hours ago
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jarren Duran ran a one-man track meet at Rickey Henderson Field Monday night.
In evident homage to the Athletics great who owns both the career and single-season stolen-base records, Duran singled in each of the first three innings and almost immediately swiped second each time, in a 9-0 Red Sox trouncing of Oakland.
“He’s a menace on the basepaths,” pronounced teammate Tanner Houck.
Not only did Duran match a career-high in steals in a game with three, he also became the first player in Red Sox history to swipe five bags through the first five games of a season. There is satisfaction in such exploits, as he views speed as the primary tool of his baseball identity.
“Being able to cause havoc for the guys behind me is always a good thing,” said Duran. “Every time I get on the bases, I’m looking to cause havoc, run in guys’ faces, make guys fumble the ball running down the line.”
Presumably, Duran isn’t going to sustain the steal-per-game pace. But on a night when he was a blur, it was hard not to wonder where the limits of possibility lie. How many bases is Duran capable of stealing?
“Sky’s the limit,” pronounced Houck.
Fine sentiment, but too vague. How about a number?
“I’m pretty sure we said 50, something like that — setting the bar high,” said Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson. “He has the ability to do it.”
That’s a big number. After all, Duran stole a solid but not eye-popping 24 bases in 102 games last year before suffering a foot injury that required surgery. That’s a 38-steal pace.
That said, Duran determined to take his baserunning to another level this year. His auspicious start opens the door.
There have been 30 instances since the introduction of the 162-game schedule in 1961 of a player stealing five bases in the first five games of a season. The average full-season total after those starts was 54 — with 20 on the low end and Henderson’s record 130 in 1982 at the upper.
As Hudson contemplated those precedents, he started recalculating the goal that he and Duran had set prior to the season.
“I think he can do more [than 50]. I definitely think he can do more,” said Hudson. “That was just kind of the bar we set. Actually, I might have even set it higher than that.”
What about Jacoby Ellsbury’s Red Sox record of 70 in 2009?
“I think he has more than enough ability to do that,” said Hudson. “Staying healthy and all that type stuff plays into it, but he has the ability to do it, because when he gets over there, he does a really good job of understanding what the pitcher is doing. He does a really good job of not wasting pitches.”
What about even loftier goals? What about triple digits? No one in baseball has stolen that many since hypersonic Cardinals leadoff hitter Vince Coleman stole 109 in 1987 (he had seven through the first five games).
“That’s a high bar,” said Hudson. “To be honest with you, in today’s game, it’s not easy.”
That said, Hudson declined to define an upper boundary, noting that rule changes instituted in 2023 — limited pitcher disengagements and throws to first, as well as a pitch clock that at times makes it easier to time deliveries — produced an explosion of stolen bases. Atlanta superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. swiped 73 bags, becoming the first player since Ellsbury in 2009 to steal at least 70.
Teams are aware that the upper limits have moved, and players like Duran are poised to take advantage if they can get on base at a reasonable clip and stay healthy.
“It’s coming back into the game,” Hudson said.
Of course, steals themselves are less important than what they accomplish. That’s measured not only in an extra 90 feet (or sometimes 180, when catchers throw errantly, as Oakland’s Shea Langeliers did Monday) but also in the distraction and confusion that a player like Duran can engender on the bases.
Hudson also noted that Duran’s running impact isn’t limited to stealing bases. Already this year, Duran has advanced three times on wild pitches when he got excellent reads on pitches in the dirt — an area of emphasis for a Red Sox team that acknowledges it may be short on power.
“I’m more proud of the dirt-ball reads than I am the stolen bases,” said Hudson, “because the thing about the dirt-ball reads is that guys are breaking before the ball gets to the dirt. It’s something that we talk about.
“It’s something we talked about today — continuing to develop an identity. That identity is, we’re going to put pressure on the defense and on the bases. Teams are going to have to prepare for us because we’re athletic, and we can get around the bases.”
There will be times, of course, when that approach backfires — when the Sox run into costly outs or create self-inflicted havoc. Duran’s dance down the third-base line in the second game of the season, when Triston Casas seemed vexed while anticipating a steal of home, perhaps contributing to a strikeout, offered one such instance.
But for now, Duran has become a catalyzing presence, and the Red Sox have little intention of subduing him.
“We’re going to push the envelope as a group,” said manager Alex Cora. “And he’s the leader.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2024 14:12:02 GMT -5
Game 6: Red Sox at Athletics lineups and notesBy Emma Healy Globe Staff,Updated April 2, 2024, 8:44 a.m. The Red Sox opened their second series of 2024 with a rout of the Athletics in Oakland on Monday and will resume at the Coliseum Tuesday for the second game of a three-game set. Brayan Bello will take the mound for the Red Sox for his second start. His first came on Opening Day, when he threw five innings and allowed two earned runs. Lefty Alex Wood has the ball for the Athletics. Wood gave up six runs to Cleveland in three innings of work on Opening Day. Here’s your preview. Lineups RED SOX (3-2): Jarren Duran (L) LF Tyler O'Neill (R) RF Rafael Devers (L) 3B Trevor Story (R) SS Pablo Reyes (R) 2B Triston Casas (L) DH Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Brayan Bello (1-0, 3.60 ERA) ATHLETICS (1-4): Ryan Noda (L) 1B Zack Gelof (R) 2B JJ Bleday (L) CF J.D. Davis (R) 3B Seth Brown (L) LF Brent Rooker (R) DH Shea Langeliers (R) C Lawrence Butler (L) RF Nick Allen (R) SS Pitching: LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 16.20 ERA) Time: 9:40 p.m. TV, radio: NESN+, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Wood: Pablo Reyes 0-2, Trevor Story 6-23 Athletics vs. Bello: Nick Allen 0-2, JJ Bleday 1-2, Seth Brown 0-1, Shea Langeliers 1-2 Stat of the day: Each Red Sox starter went at least five innings in the rotation’s first turn, making Boston just the fourth team in MLB history to open a season with five starts of five-plus innings pitched, one walk or less, and no more than two runs. Notes: In the first game of the series, leadoff hitter Jarren Duran set the tone for the rout with three hits, three stolen bases, and two runs scored. Triston Casas, who entered with one hit through four games, was 2 for 4 and drove in Duran with the first run on a first-inning single. ... The A’s are 1-4 and have committed 13 errors in five games. ... Second baseman Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) and outfielder Rob Refsnyder (toe) will join the team for Opening Day next Tuesday at Fenway Park. Manager Alex Cora is hopeful the pair can begin rehab assignments soon after. Song of the Day: Collective Soul "Heavy" www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjTnYSlXQMM
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 2, 2024 14:38:43 GMT -5
One of my friends explained that to me. In the early days , a lot of the IT stuff was centered in Boston. When Silicon Valley took over, a lot of Bostonians went out there with the business. My friend made the same trek much later. When I had to go to Santa Rosa for an inventory count, he asks if I want to catch an As game. Turns out that not only were the RS in town, but Pedro was pitching. The A's were ahead 1-0 by the time we get in, but I don't remember the A's touching Pedro after that. The park was nice. but dated, and that was 15+ years ago. Good stuff. That would have been fun to catch a Pedro game in Oakland. I didn't catch the attendance number last night but the place looked pretty empty.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 2, 2024 14:44:14 GMT -5
Hapless Athletics commit five errors in Red Sox 9-0 win
The As looked really bad in those first 3 innings. That said, I have to give a lot of credit to their long reliever Muller who pitched 5 1/3 really good innings, saving the As bullpen in the process. It was a completely different game after the 3rd inning. And credit to the Red Sox pitchers Houck and Anderson who also pitched very well.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 2, 2024 14:46:37 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb Through five games (one turn through the rotation), Red Sox starting pitchers have allowed just four earned runs, one walk and 17 hits while striking out 37 in 28 innings. 12:40 AM · Apr 2, 2024
Awesome. It's been a lot of fun to watch. Let's see how the second turn goes.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:29:17 GMT -5
Rafaela saves game for Sox with 'unbelievable' catch 3:48 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
OAKLAND -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora pulled out all the stops in an effort to win Tuesday night’s game against the Athletics, from giving up the designated hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning to emptying out final reserve Reese McGuire as part of a double switch in extra innings to temporarily playing with a five-man infield.
But when it came right down to it, Ceddanne Rafaela was still in the game until the satisfying end, and that’s a big reason the Red Sox prevailed in this 5-4 victory in 11 innings.
Rafaela, MLB Pipeline’s No. 73 prospect, is known for his stellar defense in center field. That’s the biggest reason he earned a spot on the team late in Spring Training.
When Josh Winckowski’s 96.5 mph sinker caught too much plate with one out in that bottom of the 11th, the reliever was bracing for the fact the game was about to be tied on the strong swing that Shea Langliers took.
But Rafaela was off with the crack of the bat and roared to the warning track, jumping with his final step, corralling the out a step or two from the wall.
“I think it was a pretty good jump,” said Rafaela. “I think that was the main part of why I made the catch. I mean, in my mind, everything that’s in the park, I have to catch it there.”
Langliers screamed in disgust as he went back to the dugout.
“Having some time to decompress from it now, it’s just baseball,” Langliers said. “He made a hell of a play. It seemed like he just floated to it. In my head, off the bat, I thought I at least tied the game with a double. It just sucks. But that’s just baseball.”
The deflation of Langliers was elation for Winckowski.
“That was unbelievable,” Winckowski said. “I was watching it turn and kind of keep going to right-center even farther and farther away from Rafaela, and the fact that he caught it was unbelievable. Obviously, it 100 percent saved the game and it was a crazy play.”
But not all that crazy for Cora, who sounded from the first day of Spring Training like a manager who was rooting for Rafaela to make the team because he knew the impact the 23-year-old from Curaçao could make on the team’s outfield defense
“From my end, yeah, I knew he had it,” said Cora. “He had it the whole time. That's what we do now. We play better defense and we pitch a lot better.”
Per Statcast, Rafaela chased after the drive at a sprint speed of 29.3 feet per second and covered 92 feet to catch the 391-foot drive.
And perhaps Winckowski deserved the gem of a play from Rafaela, considering the way he avoided defeat in the 10th.
With runners at the corners and one out in a tie game, all Oakland had to do was get a sacrifice fly or a well-placed liner to the outfield, which suddenly only had two Boston players in it.
Rafaela had moved to the middle of the diamond to give the Sox a five-man infield, and Winckowski did exactly what he needed, getting J.D. Davis to hit his sinker on the ground. The ball never made it to Rafaela. Winckowski snared it, catching lead runner Ryan Noda between third and home.
“The call was honestly to turn two, but Noda kind of jumped toward home and I kind of jumped toward him,” said Winckowski.
All’s well that ends well. After Rafaela’s big play for the second out of the 11th, Winckowski pumped his first when he struck out Lawrence Butler to end an eventful game which Trevor Story (3-for-5) tied up on an RBI single to right with two outs in the seventh.
Story’s most impressive hit came in the ninth, when he doubled on a 101.1 mph fastball by Mason Miller.
“When I hit the ball on a line to right field with those fastballs, I think that's a good sign for me,” Story said. “And then, if something’s hung in the zone, maybe I can pull that pitch. But that's always an indicator for me -- how those balls are coming off my bat. If they’re coming off on a line to the right side, it’s good for me.”
Just as good for the Red Sox was the fact the critical fly ball of the game was hit in Rafaela’s direction.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:32:17 GMT -5
Will Red Sox’ offseason free agent signee get promotion to start in April?
Updated: Apr. 02, 2024, 10:14 p.m.|Published: Apr. 02, 2024, 10:01 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — Cooper Criswell pitched 5 scoreless innings in Triple-A Worcester’s home opener Tuesday, a 2-0 loss to Buffalo.
The righty allowed four hits (three singles, one double) and one walk while striking out five.
Criswell, a 27-year-old offseason free agent signee, battled for a major league starting rotation spot throughout spring training. The two final spots ultimately went to Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck.
But Criswell might receive a chance to start for Boston sometime in April. Manager Alex Cora has said the Red Sox might use a sixth starter for a spot start during Boston’s tough stretch in April that includes 13 games in 13 days from April 9-21.
Cora wouldn’t say if Criswell is the leading candidate for that potential spot start.
“Him or others, yeah,” Cora said smiling about who they would consider.
Long reliever Chase Anderson also might be a candidate.
Cora said Criswell’s strike throwing ability and slider especially stood out when the Red Sox became interested in the righty during free agency. Boston signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract.
“We do believe we can help him with the velocity,” Cora said. “If we can accomplish that, then we’ve got the whole package.”
Criswell threw 30 sliders in his start for the WooSox on Tuesday at Polar Park. He added 21 sinkers (averaged 88.7 mph, topped out at 90.2 mph), 17 changeups and six cutters, per Baseball Savant.
“From my end, watching him in spring training, he has a feel of pitching,” Cora said. “And that changeup is good (vs.) righties. So you’ve got the sinker/changeup there. You can expand with the slider. Obviously the cutter is a work in progress for the lefties. But overall, he made it tough on us, not only rotation-wise but to stay here.”
The Red Sox considered carrying Criswell as a reliever after Whitlock and Houck beat him out for a starting rotation spot. But they decided it would be best to keep him stretched out as a starter in Worcester.
“He was a pro. When we told him, there was no complaining,” Cora said. “‘I’m gonna keep going. I know I’m gonna contribute at one point.’ And he did an outstanding job today.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:33:56 GMT -5
Red Sox win: Josh Winckowski escapes jam, Ceddanne Rafaela makes huge catch
Updated: Apr. 03, 2024, 4:04 a.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2024, 12:47 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Winckowski escaped a massive jam in the bottom of the 10th inning to help the Red Sox win 5-4 in 11 innings over the Athletics here at Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday.
Zack Gelof sacrifice bunted the automatic runner to third base to begin the bottom of the 10th. Manager Alex Cora then had Winckowski intentionally walk JJ Bleday to put runners at the corners with one out. J.D. Davis grounded back to Winckowski who caught the automatic runner,
“The call was honestly to turn two,” Winckowski said, pointing out he should have thrown the ball to second base to try for an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play. “But Noda kind of jumped towards home and I kind of turned towards him. At that point, took too long. I had to commit to the play at third. But truthfully, I was probably supposed to turn two there.”
That left Winckowski telling himself, “Better get this guy.”
He did. Winckowski struck out Seth Brown on a 96.2 mph sinker to escape the jam and keep the score tied 4-4.
Reese McGuire singled off Mitch Spence to put runners at the corners with no outs in the 11th. Wilyer Abreu, the extra-inning automatic runner, then scored the go-ahead run when Tyler O’Neill grounded into a double play.
Winckowski returned for the 11th. He pitched a perfect inning that included Ceddanne Rafaela running down Shea Langeliers’ 391-foot flyout to right-center field.
“That was unbelievable,” Winckowski said. “I knew the hitter got a good chunk of it. I was watching it turn and kind of keep going to right-center — even farther and farther away from Rafaela. And the fact that he caught it was unbelievable. Obviously 100% saved the game. Just (a) crazy play.”
Rafaela said he got a good jump on it.
“I think that’s the main part of why I made the catch,” he said.
“In my mind, everything is in the park. I have to catch it there,” he added. “Off the bat, I was going for it 100%.”
Bello gives up two homers
Brayan Bello gave up four earned runs in 5 innings after Boston’s five starters had allowed just four earned runs in 28 innings over their first five games.
Bello allowed five hits (two homers) and one walk while striking out six.
The scoring
Trevor Story gave Boston a 1-0 in the first inning when he smashed a two-out RBI double. Jarren Duran made it 2-0 in the second inning with an RBI single to center field. Duran was thrown out trying to extend his single into a double.
Oakland tied it on Langeliers’ 386-foot home run in the bottom of the second inning. Langeliers connected on an 87.8 mph slider from Bello.
Boston regained the lead in the third inning when Pablo Reyes delivered an RBI single to center field.
That lead was short-lived. JJ Bleday connected on an 86.1 mph changeup and sent it 409 feet to center field for a two-run homer that made it 4-3 Oakland.
Story tied it 4-4 in the seventh with a two-out, opposite field RBI single to right field.
Wednesday’s finale
The Red Sox and Athletics will play the final game of their three-game series Wednesday at 3:37 p.m. eastern. Boston righty Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) will start opposite A’s righty Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20 ERA).
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