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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:36:35 GMT -5
Red Sox workhorse starter’s favorite stat isn’t on Fangraphs or anywhere
Updated: Apr. 03, 2024, 6:11 a.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2024, 5:39 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta’s favorite statistic can’t be found on Baseball Savant, Fangraphs, Baseball-Reference or the back of his baseball card.
“Nothing really crazy. How good of a teammate I am I guess,” Pivetta said, laughing a bit when asked the stat most important to him. “How good of a person I am.”
But the 31-year-old righty also mentioned an actual stat, too.
“Obviously I like to punch guys out,” he said. “I think if I were to be selfish and picked one of all, I think it would probably be K per 9.”
Pivetta will start for the Red Sox against the Athletics on Wednesday. He struck out 10 batters in 6 strong innings in his first start vs. Seattle on Friday. He averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings last year. He punched out a career-high 31.2% of the batters he faced.
Pivetta has evolved as a pitcher over the past year. He added a sweeper last June, then held opponents to a .114 batting average when he threw it. He has piled up strikeouts as his repertoire has expanded. But being a good teammate to the young pitchers who share a rotation with him is just as important.
“I think it’s just bringing good energy,” he said. “Being there for guys when they need you to be. And being able to help guys go through their big league careers in any which way. Always being able to be there for my teammates and leading by example.”
Pivetta posted a 3.05 ERA (97 ⅓ innings, 33 earned runs) and 3.27 FIP in his final 28 games (eight starts) last year. Opponents batted just .197 against him during the stretch. He was overpowering at times. Does he think he could post those numbers for a full season and be someone who receives Cy Young votes?
“Of course I do,” Pivetta said. “But it’s the same with Tanner (Houck). Tanner just struck out 10 guys (Monday) with no walks and no runs. He does a lot of the same things I do. (Brayan) Bello does some of the same things I do. Maybe he does it a little bit differently. I think we all have potential to win a Cy Young and we all have the potential to put together seasons like that.”
Bello has a goal to win 17 to 20 games. Pivetta’s goal is much more simple.
“Just to put together a healthy, full season,” said Pivetta, who is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.
Pivetta has been a workhorse for the Red Sox, leading the team in innings in 2022 (179 ⅔ innings) and finishing second on the team in 2023 with 142 ⅔ innings despite 22 of his 38 appearances coming out of the bullpen. His 155 innings in 2021 ranked third among Red Sox pitchers behind Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez.
“I think just keep it narrow-focused,” he added about his goals. “Go out, stay healthy, attack the strike zone. ... I think if I throw strikes, not walk guys and put myself in advantage counts, then I should have success.”
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pointed to starting pitching as one of the team’s top needs at his introductory press conference and then at the GM Meetings. But the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster consisted of five starting pitchers who all were on last year’s team. Boston did sign veteran Lucas Giolito but he will miss the 2024 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure on the partially torn ligament in his pitching elbow in March.
“For the guys here, it puts a lot of confidence in them that we didn’t add and we’re comfortable with these guys,” Pivetta said. “They all put the work in all offseason. They’re very dedicated. I worked out with Tanner. Bello was working out all offseason between the D.R. and I think he came to Boston as well. (Garrett) Whitlock was doing his thing over in Alabama and then he was at the (JetBlue Park) facility with Kutter (Crawford). So I think us just being around each other all the time as much as we can. And then these guys, they are in their second, third year in the big leagues right now. So they’ve moved past their growing pains and now they are trying to develop who they are as big leaguers.”
Pivetta is pleased with how well all five starters pounded the strike zone in the first turn through the rotation. Boston starters had just one walk in 28 innings, which manager Alex Cora called “hard to do.”
“I think that’s probably the most important stat (from the rotation so far),” Pivetta said. “That just proves to us as a rotation that we’re going out there and attacking the strike zone, getting ahead of guys and executing pitches when we need to. The less walks we have the more success we’re going to have. Hitting is extremely hard, even if you’re throwing the ball down the middle.”
Pivetta is intense. His fiery celebrations during the 2021 ALDS and ALCS became popular among Red Sox fans. See a compilation video here. Fans certainly enjoyed his emotion, even making GIFs of him being fired up on his way to the dugout after recording a big out.
He has enjoyed pitching in front of the Fenway crowd.
“I mean, I like pitching anywhere,” Pivetta said. “I think it’s very special to be able to pitch for an organization that’s been around for so long and has had such a great history of winning. Really good standards. Really good community. Really good baseball fans that show up and just want us to have success. ... I like the expectations of wanting to win and wanting us to show up and do our best every single day.”
He also enjoys the area beyond the baseball. Pivetta and his wife Kristen live outside of the city.
“We like to go to some of the farmer’s markets out there (Arlington/Winchester area),” Pivetta said. “We like to go walk the lakes. We have a dog so we find different parks to go to. We go into the city. We go eat food.”
One of their favorite spots is O Ya, a Japanese restaurant in Boston. He and his wife also enjoy eating out in the North End.
“We go down to little Italy,” he said. “And then we just enjoy the structure of the smaller, downtown space where you can walk around and gather the history of what Boston has.”
Fun fact: Pivetta writes left-handed
The righty actually writes with his left hand.
“My stepdad taught me to write,” Pivetta said. “He was sitting across from me. And then I just started picking up the pen with my left hand. My biological father is mostly left-handed though. So that’s probably where it came from.”
He does only one other thing left-handed.
“Fish,” he said. “Just fish.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:40:53 GMT -5
SportsMLBBoston Red Sox Cora gets creative, Rafaela’s defense secures unique extra-inning Red Sox victory
By Gabrielle Starr | gstarr@bostonherald.com PUBLISHED: April 3, 2024 at 1:37 a.m. | UPDATED: April 3, 2024 at 1:38 a.m.
After cruising to a 9-0 victory in Monday’s series opener, the Red Sox found themselves struggling to overcome the Oakland A’s in a follow-up meeting that went to extra innings.
Though the contest ultimately provided chaotic entertainment and obscure baseball education before Boston pulled off a 5-4 victory in the 11th inning, the evening began normally enough. Brayan Bello’s second start of the season extended the Red Sox rotation’s streak of five-plus inning starts, though it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. After a 1-2-3 first, the righty ultimately allowed four earned runs on five hits, including a pair of two-run homers, walked one, and struck out six before his evening was over. (He’s now in line to pitch the home opener on Tuesday, Apr. 9.)
The Boston bats got their knocks early against the Oakland arms, and scored a run in each of the first three frames. Jarren Duran led off the game with a hit-by-pitch, then scored the first run of the game on Trevor Story’s two-out double. In the second, Duran’s two-out single plated the second run, before he was tagged out trying to stretch a single into a double to end the frame. After Bello gave up a game-tying homer in the bottom of the second, Pablo Reyes’ one-out single brought in the third run in the third, giving Boston the lead back, albeit briefly.
But when Bello gave up two leads in two innings, the Sox lineup appeared to deflate. Between the fourth and sixth, they failed to get a hit, only managing to get on base via Duran’s second hit-by-pitch of the night and Triston Casas’ leadoff walk in the sixth.
After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, they’d collected 10 hits, but were 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and had left 10 men on base.
As the innings grew late and the lineup still couldn’t retake the lead, Alex Cora began playing musical chairs with his defense. For the bottom of the sixth, Wilyer Abreu took over in right field, Tyler O’Neill moved from right to left, Ceddanne Rafaela moved from center to second base, and Jarren Duran moved from left to center.
In the bottom of the eighth, Cora went for a double-switch, sending Rafaela back to center and putting Enmanuel Valdez in at second. This also meant giving up the DH and putting the pitcher into the lineup, which would rear its head in an unexpected way a few innings later.
Thus for the second time in four days, and only six games into the season, the Red Sox found themselves playing free baseball on the west coast.
With Enmanuel Valdez beginning the 10th as the ghost runner on second, Rafaela worked a full count to join him on the bases. But let this contest serve as a reminder that a team’s payroll is no guarantee of talent or lack thereof, because Oakland righty Mason Miller blew Abreu and Connor Wong away with 100-102 mph fastballs to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the inning.
When Josh Winckowski intentionally walked J.J. Bleday to put runners on the corners with only one out in the bottom of the tenth, Cora went back to his bag of tricks. He called for a five-man infield – which is allowed, unlike the shift – and brought Rafaela his infielder’s glove. After getting the second out via fielder’s choice, Rafaela headed back to the outfield, and Winckowski finished the frame with a swinging strikeout.
Things got even weirder in the top of the 11th, when Abreu became the ghost-runner on second despite not being the last out of the previous inning. He found himself back on base because Wong, who’d struck out to end the tenth, had ceded his spot in the lineup to the pitcher. The rules stipulate that in such cases, a team may use the preceding player instead. (Cora later told reporters that pitching coach Andrew Bailey had reminded them of said loophole.)
With their first lead in nine innings, the Sox headed to the bottom of the 11th. Winckowski headed back out for his second inning, and began with a leadoff strikeout looking. With almost anyone else manning center, Shea Langaliers likely would’ve tied the game with his flyball to deep right-center, but Rafaela not only made the catch look effortless, but held the ghost-runner at second. The league is already learning not to run on the rookie.
“That’s what we do now,” Cora said. “We play better defense, and we pitch a lot better… I knew he had it, he had it the whole time.”
Buoyed by the Gold Glove-caliber moment, Winckowski got Lawrence Butler to strike out swinging. After 11 innings, the west was won.
“Unbelievable,” Winckowski raved to NESN’s Jahmai Webster. “Ceddanne’s speed is just unbelievable. That’s an unbelievable catch, and obviously, 100-percent saves the game and gives me a chance to keep battling.”
The Red Sox collected 12 hits, four walks, struck out 15 times, used six pitchers, made roughly nine defensive substitutions and switches, emptied the bench, and won the series, which wraps up on Wednesday afternoon.
“The whole coaching staff was part of it,” the skipper said. “We haven’t done this in a while, the double-switch and all that stuff… It was fun.”
“Total team effort.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:43:55 GMT -5
Matt McCarthy @mattmccarthy985 The amount of swing-and-miss in a lineup that features Bobby Dalbec and Trevor Story is too much for anybody to handle.
Trevor Story's last 3+ seasons: 284 games, .238 BA, 43 HR, 272 Ks, 96 BB.
Bobby Dalbec's last 3+ seasons: 274 games, .226 BA, 38 HR, 305 Ks, 61 BB
It is disturbingly closer than it should be. 11:49 PM · Apr 2, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:46:34 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe Hard to say beating the beleaguered A's qualifies as a good win. But that was a good win. Sox used 17 players.
Oakland finished 1x15 with RISP. 1:47 AM · Apr 3, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 5:53:03 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Alex Cora, Red Sox look back on good times with former team president Larry Lucchino By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 2, 2024, 9:17 p.m.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Before taking questions about his team’s final two games against the Athletics, Red Sox manager Alex Cora reflected on the life of former team president Larry Lucchino, who passed away Tuesday morning.
“Thoughts and prayers to Larry’s family,” Cora said. “What he meant to this organization, what he meant to this game, what he meant to everybody that somehow in some way that he was a part of our lives.”
Lucchino served as Sox president and CEO from 2002-15. He played an instrumental role in breaking the 86-year World Series curse with the team’s 2004 title and added two more World Series championships (2007, ’13).
“He was all about the Red Sox,” Cora said, an infielder for the 2007 World Series winners, said. “He was all about the home team. It was great, man. Like I said, it’s a sad day for all of us. But when you think about the impact that he had on this organization and this game, he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. To me, he’s a Hall of Famer.”
Lucchino was responsible for hiring a young Theo Epstein as general manager ahead of the team’s 2004 and ’07 championships. Epstein , who left to take over the Cubs in 2011 and helped break another title drought in 2016 when Chicago won its first title in 108 years, is back with the Sox as a part-owner of Fenway Sports Group and senior advisor.
“Larry leaves behind a giant baseball legacy full of historic accomplishments with three different organizations,” Epstein said. “For me and for so many of my best friends in baseball, Larry gave us our start, believing in us and setting an enduring example with his work ethic, vision, competitiveness and fearlessness. He made a profound impact on many in baseball — and on the game itself — and will be missed.”
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pitched for the team for parts of four seasons, including in 2013 when it posted Lucchino’s third title.
“Larry Lucchino leaves a lasting impact on the Boston Red Sox and on Major League Baseball,” Breslow said. “As an executive, he was a visionary, someone who saw our great game not just for what it was, but what it could be for each other and for our communities. As a humanitarian, he was a champion for causes like the Jimmy Fund and the Red Sox Foundation. All the while he maintained an incredible balance of discipline, fervor, and compassion.”
Jason Varitek, the Red Sox’ game planning coordinator and former catcher who played his entire 15-year career in Boston and was on the 2004 and ‘07 title teams, also reflected on Lucchino’s impact on the organization.
“Red Sox Nation lost a legend today,” Varitek said. “Larry was larger than life and loved to win, something that drive his teams to do the same. It was an honor to play for him, know and learn from him, and to see his visions brought to life. The mark that he has left on the Red Sox, on baseball, will never be forgotten.”
The A’s honored Lucchino with a moment of silence prior to the game. Abreu stays ready
Tyler O’Neill has cemented himself as a key piece for the Red Sox early in the season. Ceddanne Rafaela’s defense and game-changing ability on the bases ignites the club. Jarren Duran’s maturation to go along with his speed provides much-needed athleticism.
As a result, Wilyer Abreu’s time in the outfield has been limited.
“I just keep doing my routine,” Abreu said through team interpreter Carlos Villoria Benitez. “I keep getting ready for when I’m going to play that day. Obviously, working hard and just being ready for when that time and opportunity comes and taking full advantage of it.”
Abreu has started just two of six games. The lefthanded hitter was out of the lineup again Tuesday night against the A’s, who started lefty Alex Wood.
A rough time at the plate during spring training has carried over into the season. It’s a small sample size, but Abreu has one hit in nine at-bats and is chasing pitches at a 35 percent clip.
“I need to calm down a little bit,” he said. “Be relaxed and I feel like if I am able to do those things, I’m going to be OK. I feel like I put the work in and everything, so everything should be fine.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 7:43:22 GMT -5
Off to opposite starts, A's host Red Sox in series finale FLM
Nick Pivetta will try to get Boston's rotation back on track when the Red Sox wrap up a three-game series with the host Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.
Red Sox starters were stunning through the first five games of the season, combining to allow just five runs (four earned) across 28 innings, good for an ERA of 1.29.
Of the five pitchers who started, Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) was among three who worked six innings, while the other two lasted five. Opponents mustered 17 hits against the starting rotation, which racked up 37 strikeouts against just one walk.
But Boston finally experienced a hiccup on Tuesday when starter Brayan Bello was knocked around for four runs on five hits in five innings against Oakland. Still, the Red Sox came away with a 5-4 win in 11 innings, and now they have a chance to complete a three-game sweep of the A's.
"Total team effort," Boston manager Alex Cora said of Tuesday's victory. "From the beginning, we had to grind."
Even though it got to Bello, Oakland couldn't break through against Boston's bullpen, which logged six scoreless innings.
Josh Winckowski, who earned the win by silencing the Athletics in the 10th and 11th, said it's not just the starters who are clicking. It's the relievers, too.
"We're pitching for each other to pick each other up," Winckowski said. "Our leaders (Chris Martin) and Kenley (Jansen) are doing their things as always, and we're just trying to follow their footsteps. The guys are rolling good."
In his season debut, Pivetta took a loss against the Seattle Mariners on Friday despite giving up just one run on three hits. He didn't walk anyone and fanned 10 in the 1-0 loss.
Pivetta is 5-0 with a glistening 0.82 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against Oakland.
Fellow right-hander Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will oppose Pivetta on Wednesday after allowing five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Stripling was tagged with the loss, and he hasn't picked up a win since Oct. 1, 2022, while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The most recent team he beat? The Red Sox.
With that victory, Stripling improved to 4-3 in 12 career appearances (11 starts) vs. Boston. He has a 4.47 ERA in those games.
If he wants to take down the Red Sox again, he will need help from the Athletics' lineup, which has yet to score more than four runs in a game this season. Oakland already has been shut out twice, limping to a 1-5 record to start the campaign.
Esteury Ruiz had been one of the few bright spots for the A's in the early going, but he was surprisingly sent to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Ruiz was 3-for-7 (.429) with two runs, an RBI, a double and a triple in three games.
"The reality is, to use his skills, he needs to get on base," Oakland general manager David Forst said. "He needs to be able to do that on a consistent basis. I'm hoping with him leading off every day in Triple-A, it's not a long stay for him down there."
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 9:03:21 GMT -5
Game 7: Red Sox at Athletics lineups and notesBy Emma Healy Globe Staff,Updated April 3, 2024, 1 hour ago Nick Pivetta will try to get Boston’s rotation back on track when the Red Sox wrap up a three-game series with the host Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon. Red Sox starters were stunning through the first five games of the season, combining to allow just five runs (four earned) across 28 innings, good for an ERA of 1.29. Of the five pitchers who started, Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) was among three who worked six innings, while the other two lasted five. Opponents mustered 17 hits against the starting rotation, which racked up 37 strikeouts against just one walk. But Boston finally experienced a hiccup on Tuesday when starter Brayan Bello was knocked around for four runs on five hits in five innings against Oakland. Still, the Red Sox came away with a 5-4 win in 11 innings, and now they have a chance to complete a three-game sweep of the A’s. Righthander Ross Stripling is on the mound for the Athletics. Let’s get into it. Lineups RED SOX (4-2): Jarren Duran (L) LF Rafael Devers (L) 3B Trevor Story (R) SS Triston Casas (L) 1B Masataka Yoshida (L) DH Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B Reese McGuire (L) C Wilyer Abreu (L) RF Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) ATHLETICS (1-5): Ryan Noda (L) 1B Zack Gelof (R) 2B JJ Bleday (L) CF J.D. Davis (R) 3B Seth Brown (L) RF Brent Rooker (R) DH Kyle McCann (L) C Tyler Nevin (R) LF Nick Allen (R) SS Pitching: RHP Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20 ERA) Time: 3:37 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Stripling: Triston Casas 0-3, Bobby Dalbec 2-10, Rafael Devers 8-22, Jarren Duran 2-3, Reese McGuire 0-4, Pablo Reyes 0-1, Trevor Story 5-14, Connor Wong 0-2, Masataka Yoshida 0-1 Athletics vs. Pivetta: Nick Allen 0-3, JJ Bleday 0-3, Seth Brown 1-13, J.D. Davis 2-3, Zack Gelof 0-1, Shea Langeliers 1-4, Tyler Nevin 1-3, Ryan Noda 0-4, Brent Rooker 0-4 Stat of the day: Pivetta is 5-0 with a glistening 0.82 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against Oakland. Notes: In his season debut, Pivetta took a loss against the Seattle Mariners on Friday despite giving up just one run on three hits. He didn’t walk anyone and fanned 10 in the 1-0 loss. ... Fellow right-hander Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will oppose Pivetta on Wednesday after allowing five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Stripling was tagged with the loss, and he hasn’t picked up a win since Oct. 1, 2022, while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. ... That last win, however, came against the Red Sox. With that victory, Stripling improved to 4-3 in 12 career appearances (11 starts) vs. Boston. He has a 4.47 ERA in those games. ... Oakland already has been shut out twice, limping to a 1-5 record to start the campaign. ... Esteury Ruiz had been one of the few bright spots for the A’s in the early going, but he was surprisingly sent to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Ruiz was 3-for-7 (.429) with two runs, an RBI, a double and a triple in three games. Song of the Day: Joe Walsh - Lucky That Way (Live) www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-UCjiQkLlQ
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 3, 2024 13:57:35 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe Hard to say beating the beleaguered A's qualifies as a good win. But that was a good win. Sox used 17 players.
Oakland finished 1x15 with RISP. 1:47 AM · Apr 3, 2024 · It was a good win, regardless of how beleaguered the As may be. These are the teams that you have to beat. We finally came out on the right side of a one run game, thanks to some great defense. The home plate ump was terrible last night, BTW.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 3, 2024 17:03:59 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne Sloppy day for the Red Sox on defense today.
Somehow, the Red Sox win this game, 1-0. Not their finest performance. But it's a big-league win as Alex Cora would say.
Obscure but interesting fact. Pivetta becomes the first Red Sox starter to have a 1-0 loss and win by that same score in back-to-back starts since Earl Johnson in 1947. Johnson then lost 1-0 again in the third start of that sequence. Thanks to @_dadler for digging that out. 6:56 PM · Apr 3, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:14:41 GMT -5
Pivetta continues Oakland dominance as Red Sox sweep April 3rd, 2024 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
OAKLAND -- For Nick Pivetta, the “O” in Oakland actually stands for the number of runs he allows every time he pitches at the Coliseum.
Boston’s righty fired five scoreless innings in Wednesday’s matinee, leading the Red Sox to a 1-0 victory over the Athletics.
It was the fourth time (third start) Pivetta has pitched in Oakland, and he increased his scoreless run at the Coliseum to 25 innings.
“Yeah, I've had a lot of success here,” said Pivetta. “I definitely enjoy the extra foul territory. I definitely enjoy the mound.”
In fact, Pivetta has performed well home and away against the A’s, running his record to 6-0 and lowering his ERA to 0.71 against them in six career appearances.
That said, Pivetta admitted he had far from his best stuff, calling the day “a grind.” And it’s fitting because that’s what the day was for the Red Sox, who made several misplays on defense.
And aside from Jarren Duran (4-for-4 on Wednesday and 9-for-12 in Boston’s three-game sweep), it wasn’t much of a day for the bats.
But it was a win -- the fourth in a row for the Red Sox, as manager Alex Cora’s team improved to 5-2 heading into Thursday’s off-day and a three-game series in Anaheim that starts Friday.
“Yeah, we didn't play well,” said Cora. “Defensively we were bad and we ended up winning the game, which is the most important thing. The guys kept grinding. We hit a lot of ground balls, a lot of non-competitive at-bats and all that, and we didn't play good defense. We pitched well enough and we ended up winning.”
On a day Pivetta had a minimal amount of run support, standout rookie defender Ceddanne Rafaela made another tremendous play.
This time, on a drive by Brent Rooker with two outs in the fourth, Rafaela roamed back to the wall, timed his jump perfectly and took away an extra-base hit that would have tied the game. Instead, Pivetta ran back to the dugout with the lead still intact.
“Gold Glove,” said Cora, when asked about Rafaela’s ceiling. “I mean, he’s good. He has good instincts. He has a great arm. He moves well. I think that's what he's shooting for, and hopefully he can get it, but it’s still early.”
An inning later, Pivetta wiggled out of trouble, getting out of bases-loaded, one-out jam with a 6-4-3 double play. That was Pivetta’s 90th and final pitch of the day, and he roared back to the dugout with a show of emotion.
“Too much. Too much at times,” Pivetta said of his reaction. “But I just care about my teammates and I care about this game a lot and I never take anything for granted.”
Pitching, the clear weakness of the 2023 Red Sox, has been the overwhelming strength on this season-opening road trip. Boston’s ERA is 1.54, the best in the Majors.
For Cora, as he said in the early stages of Spring Training, the key number he is looking for is five innings or more from the starters. Pivetta made Boston 7-for-7 this season in reaching that number on Wednesday.
Cora elaborated on why that is so important.
“We always talk about the bullpen and all that, and, yeah, that’s great,” Cora said. “The bullpen is great in October. You can be creative and use guys in different spots. For us to win series, to win the week, and keep going, they’ve got to go five, and [Pivetta] did.”
Kenley ties Wagner On a day closer Kenley Jansen had to battle, working around two walks, he earned career save No. 422, tying him with Billy Wagner for sixth on the all-time list. Wagner came just five votes away from making it into the Hall of Fame in January, and many expect he will be elected next year.
“I think it’s awesome to tie a guy like that,” said Jansen. “He’s one of the greatest who ever did it. Probably the best lefty closer who ever did it.”
With two more saves, Jansen will tie John Franco for fifth place. Next in his sights is Francisco Rodríguez, who notched 437 career saves.
“I think I’m having fun right now. Stay in the moment,” Jansen said. “God blessed me with another day to be in the big leagues. I’m all in. I’m dedicated. We’re going to try to get this team to the promised land. That’s the goal. We’re going to continue to battle.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:16:56 GMT -5
Five Red Sox pitchers combine to shut out A’s; Jarren Duran records 4 hits
Updated: Apr. 03, 2024, 8:02 p.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — Five Red Sox pitchers combined to shut out the A’s on Wednesday. Jarren Duran also enjoyed a four-hit day as Boston swept the three-game series by winning the finale 1-0 at Oakland Coliseum.
“We didn’t play well,” manager Alex Cora admitted. “Defensively we were bad and ended up winning the game, which is the most important thing. The guys kept grinding.”
Enmanuel Valdez’s fourth inning sac fly drove in the game’s lone run.
Starter Nick Pivetta tossed 5 shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out three.
The righty has thrown 25 scoreless innings at Oakland Coliseum in his career. He has allowed just nine hits and seven walks here while striking out 33.
“I’ve had a lot of success here,” Pivetta said. “Definitely enjoy the extra foul territory. Definitely enjoy the mound.”
Pivetta threw 33 four-seam fastballs, averaging 94.1 mph and topping out at 96.9 mph, per Baseball Savant. He mixed in 19 cutter, 18 sweepers, 13 curveballs and seven sliders.
Joely Rodriguez followed Pivetta and recorded two outs.
Rookie reliever Justin Slaten followed Rodriguez and retired all four batters he faced (three groundouts, one fly-out). Slaten, who reached 97 mph with his fastball, has retired 11 straight batters over two outings.
Chris Martin pitched around a hit and error in the eighth.
Jansen ties Billy Wagner on save list
Kenley Jansen recorded the save in the ninth, pitching around two walks and an error. He tied Billy Wagner for sixth all-time on the career saves list with 422.
Rafaela does it again
Ceddanne Rafaela made another tremendous catch racing back to the warning track to save a run and end the fourth inning.
He leaped and caught Brent Rooker’s 403-foot, 104.3-mph smash to center field. It had a .880 expected batting average.
“That was a good one,” Cora said. “Our defense is good. Today we had a bad day but that play was great. We’ve just gotta keep getting better and keep going.”
It would have scored J.D. Davis who hit a ball to center field that Rafaela just failed to catch against the wall.
Rafaela made a game-saving catch in the 11th inning Tuesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:18:55 GMT -5
Red Sox Rule 5 pitcher has ‘shown real stones’ with 11 straight outs
Updated: Apr. 03, 2024, 7:36 p.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2024, 7:27 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — Garrett Whitlock understands the situation Justin Slaten is in.
Whitlock had never pitched above Double A before the Red Sox selected him in the December 2020 Rule 5 Draft and then used him as a high-leverage multi-inning reliever throughout the 2021 season.
Boston already has used Slaten, a December 2023 Rule 5 Pick, in a tie game in the bottom of the 10th inning in his MLB debut Friday and a one-run game in the sixth and seventh innings Wednesday.
Slaten, who only pitched in five Triple-A games before this season, retired all four batters he faced in the Red Sox’ 1-0 victory over the Athletics here at Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday.
He replaced Joely Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning, one runner on base and Boston ahead 1-0. He retired Brent Rooker on a groundout. He then induced two groundouts and a fly-out in the seventh inning.
“It’s huge. He’s shown real stones,” Whitlock said after Wednesday’s win. “You love to see a guy come in right away in close games and do the stuff he’s done. So I’m really proud of him and really excited for what he’s doing.”
Manager Alex Cora gave Whitlock the ball for his MLB debut in a low-leverage situation. The Red Sox were down 10-0 to the Orioles in the third inning April 4, 2021.
“We went through this in ‘21 with Whit. He pitched one game when the game was 10-0 and after that, every time he pitched was in a high-leverage situation if I’m not mistaken,” Cora said. “He (Slaten) has got good stuff. He throws strikes, which is the most important thing. We aren’t going to burn guys right away. There were certain guys today that we needed to stay away from so we can take advantage of today and tomorrow. He’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
The Red Sox told Slaten entering spring training “to throw his stuff and let the results happen.”
“That’s just the mindset that I’ve tried to carry over,” Slaten said. “Just throw all my pitches in the zone and see what happens.”
Slaten faced just one batter Saturday in his MLB debut, giving up a walkoff single to superstar Julio Rodriguez in a Mariners’ 4-3 win. But Slaten retired all seven Seattle batters he faced Sunday on 15 pitches (12 strikes). He then retired all four Oakland batters he faced Wednesday on 10 pitches (seven strikes). He has thrown 76% strikes in the last two outings.
“He’s filling the zone up,” Whitlock said. “He’s using all his pitches really well. He’s looking really sharp and really on command right now. His delivery looks really good. So he’s in a really good spot.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:21:27 GMT -5
On ‘bad day,’ Red Sox rookie makes ‘great’ play, hurler fired up ‘too much’
Updated: Apr. 03, 2024, 9:57 p.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2024, 9:47 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Red Sox made two errors and a few other sloppy plays Wednesday.
“We didn’t play well,” manager Alex Cora admitted. “Defensively we were bad and ended up winning the game, which is the most important thing. The guys kept grinding.”
The Red Sox won 1-0 over the Athletics on Wednesday at Oakland Coliseum to sweep the three-game series. Boston improved to 5-2.
The defense was sloppy overall but center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela saved a run in the fourth inning with a leaping catch. The A’s had a runner in scoring position when Rafaela rushed back to the warning track and snared Brent Rooker’s 403-foot, 104.3-mph smash to center field. It had a .880 expected batting average.
“Today we had a bad day but that play was great,” Cora said.
Cora said Rafaela — who made a game-saving catch Tuesday — has Gold Glove potential.
“He has good instincts. He has a great arm. He moves well,” Cora said. “So I think that’s what he’s shooting for. And hopefully he can get it but it’s early.”
Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta didn’t have his best stuff but he still pitched 5 scoreless innings. He had runners at the corners and one out in the fifth inning. Left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez was warming up in the bullpen.
But Pivetta got Zack Gelof to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep it a one-run lead.
“Huge,” Cora said. “That was his last hitter. We were going to Joely against the lefty. Today we grinded. We did. Good teams find a way to win games like that and we did.”
Pivetta screamed as he walked off. Discussing his reaction to the 6-4-3 double play, Pivetta said he might get too fired up at times.
“Too much at times,” Pivetta said. “But I just care about my teammates. I care about this game a lot. I don’t take anything for granted.”
Pivetta appreciated the defense from Rafaela and others.
“The double plays, Rafaela stretching out there in the outfield for me, it took a team effort and it was a team effort win,” Pivetta said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:32:06 GMT -5
Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen matches Billy Wagner for the sixth most saves in MLB history By Julian McWilliams and Brendan Kurie Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent,Updated April 3, 2024, 6:47 p.m.
It wasn’t his cleanest inning, but Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen recorded his 422nd save on Wednesday afternoon in the Red Sox’ 1-0 victory against the Athletics in Oakland, Calif., moving him into a tie with Billy Wagner for the sixth-most saves in MLB history.
“That’s probably the best lefty, probably closer to tie with,” said Jansen. “So it’s great to tie with him. Get my rest tomorrow and be ready for the next one, helping this team win ballgames.”
Jansen walked two and allowed the potential tying run to reach third, but he finished the win off with a strikeout of Ryan Noda for his second save of the season. He threw 47 pitches while pitching back-to-back days.
Jansen has 31 saves since joining the Red Sox last season. He posted 41 during the 2022 season with the Braves after recording 350 in 12 years with the Dodgers.
Jansen, 36, needs two more saves to match John Franco (424) for fifth all time, and if he stays healthy he has have a good shot at surpassing Francisco Rodriguez (437) this season to move into fourth.
“I’m having fun right now,” he added. “Staying in the moment. God blessed me with another year in the big leagues. To me, that’s awesome. We all know the stories here with Boston. I’m all in. I’m dedicated and we’re going to try to get this thing to the promised land. That’s the goal. So, we’re going to continue to battle.”
Yankees great Mariano Rivera is MLB’s all-time saves leader with 652 in 19 seasons, followed by Trevor Hoffman (601 in 18 seasons) and Lee Smith (478 in 18 seasons).
Jansen’s career 2.52 ERA is lower than every player ahead of him on the career saves list except Rivera.
Jansen is in his 15th season and has former Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (417 career saves) nipping at his heels. Kimbrel saved 108 games for the Sox from 2016-18.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2024 5:35:00 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Oakland Coliseum, though on hard times, is still a special place to Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks By Alex Speier and Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 3, 2024, 2:54 p.m.
OAKLAND, Calif. — As the Oakland Coliseum nears its end as the home of the A’s, the facility has become mostly a punch line because of its sparse crowds and creeping decrepitude. But for rehabbing Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks, it remains a special place.
Hendriks, who is traveling with the Sox while continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, pitched for the A’s from 2016-20, emerging in those final two seasons as one of the most dominant relievers in the game. And while crowds of fewer than 10,000 have become the norm in the final years of the Coliseum, Hendriks has fond memories of the A’s fan base.
“Passion per pound, I think they win every day,” he said. “They have some of the most avid, true, diehard fans that I’ve ever been around. It was a treat to be part of the bleacher creatures out there between left field and right field with the signs and everything. They made coming to the field every day enjoyable as a player.
“There were some times when we weren’t a very good team. We struggled, we weren’t expected to do anything, and we didn’t do anything — and they were out here every single day cheering us on, knowing the guys.”
To Hendriks, the commitment of the fans was all the more notable given the constant roster churn that saw the A’s dealing away established veterans and star-caliber performers while replacing them with unfamiliar, less-expensive players trying to establish themselves.
“It was a very community-based team because unfortunately they’re used to the cycle — guys cycling through, being here for a certain amount of years before they moved on,” said Hendriks.
“It’s unfortunate, but they embraced every new guy the same way and with the same vigor that they did the guys who had been around a while.”
The A’s are potentially in their last season in the Coliseum. They have an agreement to move to Las Vegas, eyeing 2028 as their first year in Nevada, and their lease in Oakland expires after this season.
It’s possible that the A’s and the city of Oakland negotiate an extension, but if not, the A’s may leave after this season for three nomadic seasons (Salt Lake City and Sacramento are possibilities) while waiting for the ballpark in Las Vegas to be completed.
Hendriks aches for the team’s fans.
“It’s upsetting as a fan base, because the fans they do have are so avid,” he said. “It’s upsetting in that regard. It’s upsetting for the city of Oakland and the fact of this is now the third team [after the Warriors and Raiders] that’s moved out of the area.
“My biggest issue with everything is the owner got rewarded for being inept. That’s my biggest issue with the whole thing. They were never given a chance to succeed. It’s almost like ‘Major League.’ It’s like the owner’s working against them to get them out of the city. That’s unfortunate.
“Both sides aren’t blameless — the city council and the organization — but it’s an unfortunate thing that fans are stuck in the middle.”
Uphill climb
Kenley Jansen notched his 422nd career save in Wednesday afternoon’s 1-0 win over the Athletics, tying Billy Wagner for sixth on the all-time list.
“It’s great to tie with him,” said Jansen. “Get my rest tomorrow and be ready for the next one, helping this team win ballgames.”
Jansen, who needs just two saves to tie John Franco for fifth, said he hasn’t taken much time to reflect on career accomplishments.
“I’m having fun right now,” he said. “Staying in the moment. God blessed me with another year in the big leagues. To me, that’s awesome. We all know the stories here with Boston. I’m all in. I’m dedicated and we’re going to try to get this thing to the promised land. That’s the goal. So, we’re going to continue to battle.” What’s next?
The Sox will continue their three-city West Coast trip with a visit to Anaheim. They have an offday Thursday before beginning a three-game set with the Angels Friday night. Kutter Crawford will oppose Griffin Canning in the opener, followed by Garrett Whitlock against Reid Detmers Saturday and Tanner Houck against Chase Silseth Sunday.
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