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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 5:43:27 GMT -5
Why Red Sox’ Jarren Duran (go-ahead HR) felt ‘so much pressure’ Friday
Updated: Apr. 06, 2024, 5:06 a.m.|Published: Apr. 06, 2024, 4:11 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran entered Friday 0-for-11 with six strikeouts in his career at Angel Stadium, which is right down the street from where he grew up.
The 27-year-old graduated from Cypress High, approximately 15 minutes from here. He played at Long Beach State, which is about 15-20 minutes from here.
What is going on with the Mets offensive struggles to start the season? - Around the Bases with Jon HeymanWhat is going on with the Mets offensive struggles to start the season? - Around the Bases with Jon Heyman
“To be honest, I put so much pressure on myself because there’s been people who have never seen me get a hit in person,” Duran said. “Like my roommates had never seen me get a hit in person. So I’m glad I got at least one of those out of the way for them. That was pretty fun.”
Duran — playing in front of family and friends — stroked an RBI single in the sixth inning, then blasted a go-ahead 409-foot solo homer in the eighth. He helped lead Boston 8-6 over Los Angeles on Friday.
Duran has been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression. He always has put a lot of pressure on him to perform well.
“I know what I’m going through personally, so it was just kind of like a relief for myself in a way,” Duran said about homering. “Just putting so much pressure on myself, it was nice to have a good hit like that and contribute to the team to help us get back in it. So yeah, it was a pretty big one for me.”
How many friends and family did he have here Friday?
“Too many to count,” Duran said. “It took up most of the right field line. But it was awesome to see them all smiling.”
This was a wild win for the Red Sox. Two errors behind reliever Josh Winckowski in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed the Angels to tie it 5-5.
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela dropped a 327-foot routine fly ball off the bat of Taylor Ward. Second baseman Enmanuel Valdez then made an error on the next play. Brandon Drury grounded to third baseman Rafael Devers who threw to second. But Valdez dropped Devers’ throw.
Winckowski hit Miguel Sanó with a pitch to load the bases. One out later, Logan O’Hoppe crushed a 407-foot grand slam to tie it 5-5.
“I feel like those kinds of games are really important, especially early in the season where you test yourself and teammates,” Duran said.
Duran has gone 11-for-17 (.647) with one homer, four runs, four RBIs, two hit by pitches and four steals in his past four games.
“It’s electric,” Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford said about watching Duran. “Any at-bat, any swing, he can hit the ball hard. He can do a lot with his legs. You saw the power tonight taking one to dead center. He’s fun to watch.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 5:45:02 GMT -5
Red Sox reliever’s incredible streak ends but then he records two big outs
Updated: Apr. 06, 2024, 5:15 a.m.|Published: Apr. 06, 2024, 4:53 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Red Sox setup man Chris Martin’s streak of 24 consecutive scoreless appearances ended Friday when he gave up an RBI single to Miguel Sanó.
But the 37-year-old righty, who had last allowed a run July 28, 2023, still recorded two huge outs to help lead the Red Sox to a wild 8-6 victory over the Angels here at Angel Stadium.
Sanó's RBI single tied the game 6-6 in the seventh inning. It put runners at first and third base with just one out. But Martin struck out Mickey Moniak swinging and retired Logan O’Hoppe on a fly-out to right field to keep the game tied.
The Red Sox regained the lead in the eighth on Jarren Duran’s go-ahead homer.
“Honestly, it was just a matter of time for Chris to give up a run,” manager Alex Cora said. “Sanó ... hit the base hit to left but then he did an amazing job of getting the next two outs and keeping the game in check.”
Reliever Greg Weissert also recorded a huge out. He entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth. He retired Mike Trout on a fly-out to center field to keep Boston’s lead at 4-1.
“We didn’t stop playing and that’s a good sign,” Cora said.
Cora actually spoke about Martin’s dominant run before Friday’s game. Martin has allowed just seven runs in 56 ⅓ innings (1.12 ERA) over 60 outings since the beginning of the 2023 season.
When was the last time Cora saw such dominance from a reliever? He pointed to Brandon Workman in 2019. Workman posted a 1.88 ERA (71 ⅔ innings, 15 earned runs) and 16 saves in 73 outings for Boston.
“Yeah, that was sick,” Cora said about Workman’s ‘19 season. “He only gave up like one homer. It was a 2-0 breaking ball to (Charlie) Blackmon. It was the game Chris (Sale) struck out like 17 and I took him out.”
Cora recalled everything exactly as it happened. Sale punched out 17 Rockies hitters May 14, 2019. Blackmon homered off Workman on a 2-0 count in the eighth inning to give Colorado a 4-3 lead at Fenway Park. The Rockies ended up winning 5-4 in 11 innings.
Martin has allowed just two home runs during his dominant stretch. The righty, whose calling card has always been his exceptional command, has walked only eight batters (1.3 walks per nine innings).
“It’s just pitchability,” Cora said about Martin. “The stuff is really good but he knows where to go with it. He keeps saying he’s learning. He keeps learning, which is awesome. He’s gotten better reading swings, reading at-bats. Yeah, you can have their scouting report. But when you face a guy over and over — you’re probably facing the same guy twice in a series. So the hitter should have an advantage. It’s the other way around. He sees stuff and the next at-bat, he’ll change the at-bats with throwing other pitches in other areas. He’s been solid and hopefully he stays healthy. That’s the most important thing. Because if we accomplish that, he’ll be in a good spot.”
Martin has 25 holds and three saves during his run. He spent from April 13-30 of last year on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Since returning, he has allowed three runs in 49 ⅓ innings.
“What Marty has done pitching in high leverage situations, facing the best of the best whenever he goes out there, that’s his pocket and he’s been great,” Cora said. “Last year, he was a little banged up early. He took his 15 days off on the IL and then after that, just kept going. He’s been awesome not only on the field but in the bullpen, in the clubhouse talking to young pitchers. (Josh) Winckowski. Helping (Nick) Pivetta last year.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 5:55:50 GMT -5
Bill Koch
@billkoch25
Resilient win for the Red Sox. They'll finish above .500 on this season-opening road trip.
But now we await news on Trevor Story (left shoulder) and Rafael Devers (hand). Story was in obvious pain when he departed. Devers finished the game after being hit by a pitch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 6:00:08 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
Concern for the inured Trevor Story. But the #RedSox beat the #Angels, 8-6.
They are 6-2 and have won five in a row. Best start since the 2018 team was 7-1.
Jansen gets the save, the 423rd of his career. One away from tying John Franco for 5th all-time.
Devers had his hand in a wrap after being hit on his knuckles in the sixth inning. He said he would be OK. Jansen also is dealing with a sore back but had enough to close the game.
2:18 AM · Apr 6, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 6:08:18 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Trevor Story suffers ‘frustrating’ left shoulder injury, exits game against Angels
By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated April 6, 2024, 4:01 a.m.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shortstop Trevor Story suffered a potentially significant injury to his left shoulder in Friday’s game against the Angels.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Mike Trout ripped a hard groundball to the left side of the Red Sox infield. Story made a spectacular play to grab the ball with a diving backhand, but when he hit the grass just beyond the infield with his right arm fully extended across his body, he immediately started writhing in pain, kicking his legs and holding his left shoulder as teammates winced.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora and trainer Brandon Henry immediately sprinted to check on Story. After two minutes, he stood up under his own power, but held his left arm pinned to his side as he briskly walked off the field and straight to the clubhouse.
“It’s painful. Just kind of landed all the body weight on the shoulder there. It doesn’t feel good,” he said in the clubhouse after the Red Sox beat the Angels, 8-6.
Story looked despondent as he walked across the infield, repeatedly shaking his head. He was replaced at short by Pablo Reyes.
He’ll be sent for an MRI on Saturday, with Story and the Sox holding off on a diagnosis beyond “left shoulder pain” until that imaging occurs. Still, though Story had some limited range of motion in his left arm, he became visibly emotional as he tried to describe the feelings caused by suffering an injury after he missed significant chunks of his first two seasons with the Red Sox.
“Frustrating, man. A lot of emotions,” said Story. “We don’t know how severe it is just yet, but [there’s] a lot of frustration.”
Story entered Friday’s game hitting .241/.313/.345, but showing the ability to get to high-velocity fastballs in a way that had been impossible while coming back from elbow surgery in 2023. He’d also played outstanding defense – a trait that continued with a terrific play to his left early in the game to turn a potential hit up the middle into an athletic 6-3 putout.
“It sucks. You go out there and he’s in pain and all that, and you start thinking of everything he did in the offseason to get to this point. He’s a guy that very quietly has become the leader of this team, took ownership of what we we’re trying to accomplish,” said Cora. “This kid, he’s done everything – everything right, everything possible – to post [for] more than 150 games and obviously the playoffs. Hopefully, we still can do that, but it was tough to go out there.”
Hendricks turns 10
Liam Hendriks’s locker in the visitors clubhouse was festooned with gold streamers and balloons. Next to it, there was what appeared to be a giant container of the Australian, um, delicacy, Vegemite. Upon closer inspection, the Vegemite was a fondant decoration of a cake celebrating a landmark in Hendriks’s career.
Thursday’s offday marked 10 years of big league service time for the reliever. The rehabbing righthander was taken out for a celebratory meal by members of the bullpen. His wife had the cake made and waiting in the visitor’s clubhouse when Hendriks arrived.
“I didn’t realize only 6 percent of big leaguers ever get to this mark. It’s something special, especially in this day and age where there’s a lot more fluidity on a roster. It hasn’t been the easiest of journeys,” Hendriks said, noting that he made his big league debut in 2011. “It took me four years [of shuttling between the big leagues and minors] to get my first year of service time, and then lost another couple months in 2018 getting [designated for assignment by the A’s]. So it’s taken me 14 years to get to this point.”
Of course, for Hendriks, the circumstances of the celebration were imperfect. He’s on the 60-day injured list while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and he wasn’t at the park Thursday for his actual 10-year milestone. Still, the 35-year-old is pleased with the progress of his rehab as he works toward a return this season.
On Friday, he threw on flat ground from 90 feet, part of a steady bulidup.
“I’m trying to push the envelope to let me get further. They’re trying to hold me back a little bit. We’re meeting in the middle,” Hendriks said. “Everything’s going in the right direction. And I’ve been recovering really well, which is the biggest part.”
Injury updates
Cora has an ongoing text chain with rehabbing second baseman Vaughn Grissom (groin) and outfielder Rob Refsnyder (broken toe), both of whom remained at the team’s facility in Fort Myers, Fla., to start the season while working their way past injuries.
“Ref said that Vaughn is dominating rookie ball pitchers over there in live [batting practice], and then Vaughn said that Ref is hitting the ball harder than anybody in camp,” Cora said with a chuckle.
The Sox are hopeful Grissom and Refsnyder will soon be testing their skills against more advanced competition than players who are mostly ticketed for rookie ball. They’re scheduled to be in Boston for the home opener Tuesday, at which time they will be reassessed to see if they are ready (or near ready) for rehab assignments.
Pitching in
The Red Sox entered the series opener with a 1.54 ERA, lowest not only in the big leagues but also for any Sox team through seven games in the Live Ball Era (1920-present) … They also entered Friday tied for third in the American League with eight steals while allowing just one theft, tied for the fewest in the AL … Friday marked the Angels’ 2024 home opener. Players in uniform and alumni (Torii Hunter, Tim Salmon, and others) walked down a fan-surrounded red carpet into the ballpark as part of the festivities … In the WEEI booth, Medfield native Tyler Murray, one of the play-by-play broadcasters for Triple A Worcester, made his big league debut. He continues the rich legacy of the PawSox/WooSox broadcast pipeline … A rain-or-shine open house at Fenway Park is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring access to many parts of the ballpark as well, alumni autographs, and a collection of memorabilia celebrating Tim Wakefield.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 8:51:58 GMT -5
Trevor Story injury puts damper on Red Sox' fifth straight win
My Player placeholder
By Rob Bradford
WEEI 93.7
3 hours ago
The Red Sox are in first-place. The Red Sox have won five straight. Tyler O'Neill just hit two more home runs has a better OPS than anyone in baseball other than Mookie Betts.
Alex Cora's club couldn't ask for anything more ... until they could.
While the resiliency of these Red Sox shined through in claiming an 8-6 win over the Angels Friday night in Anaheim - with Jarren Duran's eighth inning giving the Sox their lead back after blowing a four-run cushion - it was impossible to ignore the dark cloud that started hovering in the fourth inning.
Trevor Story lying on the ground after making a diving attempt at a Mike Trout grounder, grimacing due to the pain in his left shoulder, was too much to just glance over. That's how important Story is.
Life without Story for an extended period of time will be perhaps one of the least-desirable scenarios for the Red Sox, for multiple reasons.
First off, Story has anchored the shortstop position defensively at a level the Red Sox haven't seen in some time. It has been well-documented how his presence not only offers security to the pitchers, but also to third baseman Rafael Devers thanks to more coverage of the hole between short and third.
Then there is Story's right-handed bat in the middle of the batting order. It is his job to not only protect protection to Devers, but supply the presence in and around the perceived big bats of Devers, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran and Masa Yoshida.
And, of course, there is the issue of potentially replacing Story.
The Red Sox' short-term backup plan is Pablo Reyes, who came in for the injured shortstop Friday night. But few Reyes as a long-term solution. The likely move is to switch Ceddanne Rafaela from center field to shortstop, where he excelled in the minor leagues. That, obviously, thins out the outfield, with the Red Sox needing to lean on the struggling Wilyer Abreu more until Rob Refsnyder's return.
While Vaughn Grissom - who continues to come back from a groin injury - did come up as a shortstop, it is believed his skill-set is better-suited to second base. And in terms of solutions from Triple-A Worcester, Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton represent the most intriguing options.
Both Gonzalez and Hamilton have major league experience and are on the 40-man roster, although Gonzalez has only played six of his 83 big league games at shortstop. The former University of Miami star is, however, tearing up Triple-A during this first week, totaling a 1.414 OPS after his first five games.
There is also the on-and-off-the-field leadership Story presented, which hasn't lost on the Red Sox' manager, coaching staff or players.
All in all, there is a lot to like about what the Red Sox have presented through their first eight games. There is one huge exception: The image of Story painfully walking off diamond.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 9:28:43 GMT -5
'Settled down' Taylor Ward, Angels take on Red Sox
FLM
'Settled down' Taylor Ward, Angels take on Red Sox
Taylor Ward likely will start in left field for the Los Angeles Angels when they host the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif., a situation that has been the same in all seven Angels game this season.
But Ward's place in the lineup certainly has been tenuous considering what happened last year.
Ward was hit in the face by a fastball from Toronto's Alek Manoah on July 29, causing multiple facial fractures. It resulted in surgery that included inserting three metal plates and complete nose reconstruction.
Though he was physically healed by the start of spring training, the next step in his return would be related to his confidence in the batter's box and whether fear would be a factor.
He hit against live pitching for the first time on Feb. 17 during a spring training workout, and all of the questions were answered.
"Seeing that first pitch go by, I think after that, I settled down a little bit," Ward said. "I got back to my approach and do what I do. That's really all I was thinking about. I had no other thoughts creeping in or negativity, so happy with where I'm at."
Ward not only is comfortable in the batter's box again, but he is off to a hot start. Despite a 1-for-5 outing Friday in the Angels' 8-6 loss to the Red Sox, he has been the club's best hitter through seven games.
He leads or is tied for the club lead in runs (eight), hits (nine), doubles (two), homers (three) and RBIs (eight).
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story's status is questionable for Saturday's game after injuring his left shoulder in the fourth inning of Friday's game. Story made a diving, back-handed attempt to field a sharp one-hopper hit by Mike Trout and landed hard on his left side with his left arm extended.
Story writhed in pain on the ground for a few minutes before walking off the field. No test results were available as of late Friday.
Left-hander Reid Detmers (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will make his second start of the season for the Angels, coming off a victory against the Orioles on Sunday. After Angels pitching gave up 24 runs to the Orioles in the first two games of the season, Detmers allowed one run and two hits in five innings of the Angels' 4-1 win.
Detmers is 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA in three career starts vs. Boston, which has won five straight games.
Right-hander Garrett Whitlock will start for the Red Sox, and he had a similar performance in his first game, allowing one run and three hits in five innings of a victory over the Seattle Mariners last Sunday.
Whitlock (1-0, 1.80 ERA) had to earn his spot in the rotation during the spring, but instead of concerning himself with what his role might be, he heeded the advice of former major league pitcher Adam Warren, whom Whitlock considers a mentor.
"The last couple years, I felt that kind of chip like, 'Everyone says you need to be a starter, everyone wants to be a starter,' and I kind of took a page from Adam Warren," Whitlock said. "He told me, 'Once you adapt that mindset of that Swiss Army knife, where it's just like, 'Throw me in anything, and I'll go out there and do it,' it frees everything else up.
"It's like, I don't feel like this chip or this burden like, 'I've got to be a starter. I've got to be a closer.' It's like, 'Dude, you're on a freaking big league team, enjoy that, have fun and compete.'"
Whitlock is 1-0 with a 3.71 ERA in four career games (three starts) vs. the Angels.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 13:11:07 GMT -5
With Trevor Story hurt, Red Sox summoning WooSox SS to Anaheim
Updated: Apr. 06, 2024, 1:47 p.m.|Published: Apr. 06, 2024, 12:18 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
With Trevor Story set to undergo an MRI after suffering a potentially serious shoulder injury in Friday night’s win, the Red Sox are summoning a depth option to the west coast.
Shortstop David Hamilton is en route to Anaheim to join the Red Sox, according to multiple sources, and will be added to the roster if Story, as expected, needs to be placed on the injured list. After Friday night’s game, both Story and manager Alex Cora were mum on Story’s status, saying only that more testing would be done over the weekend. While the Red Sox are hoping Story avoided serious injury, there appears to be a good chance he misses at least some time.
“Obviously did something to the shoulder there. Pretty painful,” Story said. “We didn’t get images yet. So we’ll have that tomorrow. I’m not trying to put any words on it yet because we don’t know for sure. So yeah, painful. Just kind of landed on the body weight on the shoulder there.
“We’re refraining from kind of diagnosing it right now until we get more information tomorrow,” he added.
The two most logical options to replace Story on the active roster appeared to be Hamilton and utility man Romy Gonzalez, who is off to a torrid start at Triple-A (.350 average, 3 homers, 10 RBIs, 1.414 OPS in 5 games). Both are on the 40-man roster and have major league experience. Hamilton, 26, debuted last season and struggled in the majors, hitting just .121 (4-for-33) with two doubles in 15 games. He has gone 3-for-18 so far for the WooSox but has homered twice in the first five games of the year; the speedy Hamilton stole 57 bases in 103 games for the WooSox last year. He underwent thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament in late September but was full-go once spring training started.
Hamilton (three games) and Gonzalez (two) have split the starts at shortstop for the WooSox so far this season. Hamilton has more games under his belt at the position in the majors (13 to Gonzalez’s 6) but both players have an extensive track record of playing shortstop in the minors. Gonzalez played 595⅓ innings at short at Double-A and Triple-A in the White Sox organization in 2021 and 216 innings there in 2022. He was injured for most of 2023.
The Red Sox have a few different options when it comes to replacing Story in the short-term. Hamilton and Pablo Reyes could slot in, potentially as part of a righty-lefty platoon that would leave the club light on offense. It’s possible, too, that center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela could move to the infield until Story returns with Jarren Duran playing center between Wilyer Abreu and Tyler O’Neill. The Red Sox are also expecting Vaughn Grissom to rejoin the club in the coming weeks; while his defensive limitations have him slated to be the everyday second baseman, he has a track record of playing shortstop and could be an option there if the Red Sox wanted to keep Enmanuel Valdez in the lineup as the second baseman.
Cora will likely provide an update on Story’s status when he speaks to reporters in Anaheim at 7:20 p.m. ET.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 6, 2024 14:11:20 GMT -5
It'll be nice to get this long west coast swing over with. Let's hope the Sox pitching can keep it going. It would be nice to win the first. Then we can relax and root for a split of the last two. We won the first game, which is obviously good, but on the whole, it was a pretty rough day for the Sox. Houck looked good through 4 innings, then suddenly couldn't find the strike zone. Our defense faltered again, 2 games in a row. Thankfully, the offense decided to show up. The big concern, however, is the injury to Story. Our offense and defense will take a hit. |
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 6, 2024 14:13:59 GMT -5
Bill Koch
@billkoch25
Resilient win for the Red Sox. They'll finish above .500 on this season-opening road trip.
But now we await news on Trevor Story (left shoulder) and Rafael Devers (hand). Story was in obvious pain when he departed. Devers finished the game after being hit by a pitch. Rafaela was also hit by a pitch on the hand and looked like he might have to come out of the game. He seemed to be okay afterwards, so hopefully nothing flares up. |
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 16:48:43 GMT -5
still no word on Story
line ups are out
Whitlcok vs Detmers
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Pablo Reyes (R) SS
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Tyler O'Neill (R) RF
Bobby Dalbec (R) DH
Triston Casas (L) 1B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Connor Wong (R) C
Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
Nolan Schanuel (L) 1B
Mike Trout (R) CF
Taylor Ward (R) LF
Aaron Hicks (S) DH
Logan O'Hoppe (R) C
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B
Mickey Moniak (L) RF
Zach Neto (R) SS
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2024 21:17:58 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
Sox: Trevor Story on the 10-Day Injured List with a left shoulder dislocation. INF David Hamilton called up from Triple-A Worcester.
Craig Breslow spoke to reporters in Anaheim. He offered little information other than to say Story would see a doctor in Boston on Monday. He did not say how long Story would be out.
Breslow said Hamilton was called up because they preferred a lefty hitter to platoon with Reyes. He downplayed the notion of using Rafaela, citing his positive impact on the outfield defense.
9:53 PM · Apr 6, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2024 5:43:58 GMT -5
Devers error, bat-power outage snap Red Sox win streak at 5
By Gabrielle Starr | gstarr@bostonherald.com
PUBLISHED: April 7, 2024 at 1:08 a.m. | UPDATED: April 7, 2024 at 1:09 a.m.
From start to finish, Saturday night’s 2-1 loss was a grind for Boston on both sides of the plate.
After homering five times off the Angels in the series opener, the Red Sox found themselves in a bat-power outage in the middle contest, held to one run on three hits.
The rotation opened the season with seven consecutive starts of at least five innings, but in the first two contests in Anaheim, neither Kutter Crawford nor Garrett Whitlock could complete the fifth. Whitlock managed to make it through Saturday’s outing without allowing a run, but it was a true team effort. Over 4 ⅓ innings, he gave up four hits, walked four, and only struck out four. Beginning with a leadoff single to Anthony Rendon and one-out walk to Mike Trout in the first, the right-hander allowed at least one baserunner in four of five innings he was on the mound.
No Sox starter had exceeded 90 pitches in their first eight games; Whitlock exited after 101, but only 64 were for strikes.
“His secondary pitches weren’t sharp so he battled through it,” Alex Cora told reporters.
While Whitlock slogged his way through, Angels starter Reid Detmers mowed down the Sox lineup, striking out 12 to match his career-high. He held Boston to three hits and a walk, and got them 1-2-3 in three of six frames.
In general, the pitching staff looked tired and ready to be done with the long west-coast trip. Pitching for the second night in a row, Greg Weissert bailed Whitlock out of his fifth-inning jam, only to leave behind a mess for Isaiah Campbell in the following frame.
By comparison Justin Slaten’s appearance was a breath of fresh air. The Rule 5 rookie punched out the side in the seventh, then opened the eighth with his fourth consecutive swinging strikeout. He completed his second 1-2-3 frame with a flyout to center and strikeout looking.
“That was electric,” Cora said with a smile. “That was fun to watch.”
Slaten’s outing was a highlight on a night in which positives were few and far between. Jarren Duran’s continued hometown heroics were another. The SoCal native drove in Wong for the only Sox run of the contest and made some stellar defensive plays, including a diving catch to rob Mike Trout of a hit.
But without the injured Trevor Story, there was a palpable energy shift. By and large, the defense stepped up, but it was still the reason for the loss. A fielding error by Devers gave the Angels a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, meaning they won without scoring an earned run; six of their eight runs in the series were unearned.
“That’s a routine play, he knows it,” Cora admonished.
Of course, routine plays have been something of an Achilles heel for the third baseman throughout his career. It’s the tricky ones he often makes look effortless.
Speaking of, Story’s postgame scrum did little to quell the fear that the Sox will be without the shortstop’s effortless-looking defense for a long time. After initially calling the shoulder subluxation “a freak thing,” he then described it a “significant injury.”
“I’m gonna miss games,” he said, visibly emotional. “Gonna miss a little time for sure.”
Asked if he thought he’d play again this year, he could only say, “I always have hope for that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2024 5:54:47 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats
@redsoxstats
28 foul balls against Whitlock tonight. 10th most in the last 500 starts by Red Sox pitchers.
19 over 81 pitches in his first start.
Bailey and co. need to figure out some swing and miss here. Only 12 in his first 182 pitches of the season.
2:05 AM · Apr 7, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2024 5:56:26 GMT -5
Matt McCarthy
@mattmccarthy985
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7h
I see the 2023 Red Sox are back. Two ground balls to the left side of the infield, no outs.
I think you’re going to see a lot of low scoring games when the Sox face lefties this year.
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