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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 19:27:29 GMT -5
Criswell line: 5.1 IP/ 6/2/2/1BB/6k/ 79-56
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 19:41:53 GMT -5
Interesting 8th so far Rafaela gets on Duran works a walk
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 19:44:42 GMT -5
Abreau smokes a single to right Sox plate runners on 1B and 3rd
3-2 Red Sox
and jesus
Abreau just got picked off at 2B
inexcusable.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 19:49:17 GMT -5
O'neil K;s Devers was walked
Gonzalez
Holy Devers and Duran run a 2b steal, ball went to 2B, no where near the plate
Duran raced in, and beat the throw to home
4-2 Red Sox
last call
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 19:57:40 GMT -5
Chris Martin was nasty in the 8th
Sox up 4-2 heading to 9
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 20:02:08 GMT -5
McGuire with a solo shot to RF 5-2 Red Sox 9th
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 20:05:20 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe Sox pitchers have retired 20 of the last 22 Rays, 10 by strikeout. 9:59 PM · May 21, 2024 · 2,139 Views
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 20:07:28 GMT -5
Jansen allows a lead off 2B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 21, 2024 20:10:50 GMT -5
Sox win 5-2
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:12:01 GMT -5
Duran homers and steals home as Red Sox beat Rays 5-2 AP
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Jarren Duran homered and stole home as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Duran scored to make it 4-2 during a double steal with Rafael Devers in a go-ahead, two-run eighth against Jason Adam (2-1). Duran headed home after Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt tried to throw Devers out at second and beat a return throw to the plate with a head-first slide.
“Stealing home to get us an extra run is always awesome,” Duran said.
Devers had his team record of homering in six consecutive games end. Only nine players have gone deep in seven straight games. Ken Griffey Jr. (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956) share the longest streak with eight.
“It was great run there,” Boston manager Alex Cora said, “It's amazing.”
Devers singled in three at-bats for an 11-game hitting streak, He was intentionally walked in the decisive eighth that saw Wilyer Abreu hit a tiebreaking single earlier in the inning.. It was Devers' first stolen base this season,
“It makes me happy to help the team win,” Devers said through a translator.
Rays manager Kevin Cash called the double steal a “good play by them.”
By winning the first two games of a three-game set, the Red Sox won their first road series against the Rays since July 22-24, 2019. Boston moved back over .500 at 25-24.
The Rays have dropped a season high-tying three straight games and fell to 25-25.
Duran homered leading off the sixth off Rays starter Zack Littell to tie it at 2. Reese McGuire had a solo drive in the ninth.
“With the new rules and everything, he’s the perfect player for this environment,” Cora said of Duran. “He can run, he can hit it out of the ballpark. He’s a good defender.”
Tampa Bay has allowed a major league-leading 41 homers at home.
Greg Weissert (2-1) struck out two in a perfect seventh and Kenley Jansen worked the ninth to get his 14th save in 17 chances..
Isaac Paredes put the Rays up 2-0 on a two-run single against Cooper Criswell in the first. Boston got within 2-1 on a second-inning RBI single by Vaughn Grissom.
Littell gave up two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings. Criswell allowed two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Cora said reliever Liam Hendriks (Tommy John surgery) is “trending in the right direction” and remains optimistic the right-hander will be back this season. … DH Masataka Yoshida (strained left thumb) is getting treatment and “improving but not there yet to do baseball activities,” according to Cora. … 1B Triston Casas (strained left ribs) has added throwing to his workout program.
Rays: SS Taylor Walls, out all season following right hip surgery, went 0 for 2 and played five innings of defense in his first game with the rookie-level FCL Rays.
UP NEXT
Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (3-2, 3.68 ERA) will make his first start Wednesday night since getting hit in the lower left leg by an 107.5 mph liner by the New York Mets’ Starling Marte on May 5. RHP Brayan Bello (4-2, 3.96 ERA) will be the Boston starter.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:21:45 GMT -5
Duran generally takes whatever the opposition gives him. And on Tuesday, the Rays created just the opening he was looking for. With his speed, Duran achieves Red Sox feat not done since 2016 12:35 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The only thing the ultra-fast Jarren Duran hadn’t done thus far in his career was steal home.
That changed at an opportune time on Tuesday night as the electrifying leadoff man was on the front end of a double steal that stood out as the highlight as the Red Sox downed the Rays, 5-2, at Tropicana Field.
After going 2-15 at Tropicana Field over the last two years, Boston has won its first two games under that roof this season and will go for its first three-game sweep at The Trop since April 19-21, 2019, on Wednesday.
Part of the reason the Red Sox are more equipped to compete at Tropicana Field is because of their young and athletic roster, and nobody exemplifies that more than Duran.
“Athleticism,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We’re in a better place. We’re versatile. We can play their game. We can come here and play defense and run the bases and be aggressive and hit the ball out of the ballpark. And we can pitch, too. So, we won the series. Let’s get greedy. Come here [Wednesday], put together another good game and finish the road trip the right way.”
Judging by his exploits on Tuesday, Duran certainly seems poised to finish strong. After belting a game-tying homer in the sixth, Duran worked a strong at-bat for a seven-pitch walk in the eighth to set up the first steal of home by the Red Sox since Travis Shaw on April 21, 2016.
Did Duran enjoy the homer or the theft of home more?
“I mean, both obviously, but stealing home to give us an extra run is always awesome,” said Duran. “So I liked to be able to help the team today.”
With two outs, Rafael Devers was on first and Duran was at third. On an 0-1 pitch by Jason Adam, Devers took off for second.
Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt fired over for what should have been a routine out of the slow-footed slugger to end the inning.
But second baseman Brandon Lowe instead fired home, where Duran dove in safely for an insurance run. Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.
“Looking back at the play, my fault,” said Lowe. “I jumped up to catch the ball, left my feet to catch the ball, and no matter what the situation is, I'm probably not gonna throw Duran out off my back foot. I've got to understand who's running at third and understand how close Devers actually was to me. I saw him stop out of the corner of my eye.
“I thought that he was probably going to backpedal. Didn't end up backpedaling, but it still falls back on me. I have to know that, the speed that's on third, I'm probably not going to throw him out, but I have a chance to run Devers down before he gets to the plate. And looking back on the video, it's obvious I should have done that from the beginning. It just sucks that it happened.”
Interestingly, Devers -- who saw his club record streak of homering in six straight games come to an end -- didn’t execute the play the Red Sox wanted him to.
“We talked about it. If we’re gonna stop in that situation, you have to stop a lot sooner,” said Cora. “You don't stop right by the bag, so it’s just a teachable moment.”
For the Red Sox, it was a case of all’s well that ends well. Get the latest from the Red Sox
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Once Devers took off, Duran took advantage of a primary lead of 21.6 feet and roared home at a sprint speed of 28.8 feet per second.
Duran celebrated the moment by pumping his fist on his way back to the dugout, where he was mobbed by his teammates.
“Me and [third base coach Kyle Hudson] were talking and he was just making sure that if they threw, he was like, ‘You’re going’” said Duran. “So as soon as I saw him throw the ball like I was full go to go home. So that's what we were looking for."
It was Duran’s first steal of home since last season, when he pulled off the feat for Triple-A Worcester at Scranton. That one was a rather unique straight steal.
“Their catcher was just lobbing it back to the pitcher and me and [coach Jose Flores] were just licking our chops,” said Duran. “And he's like, ‘Hey man, if they lob one, take it.’ So I just, I just end up taking it.”
Duran generally takes whatever the opposition gives him. And on Tuesday, the Rays created just the opening he was looking for.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:25:58 GMT -5
Tyler Milliken ⚾️ @tylermilliken_ Red Sox have won their first series at the Trop since July 22-24 in 2019.
Back over .500 at 25-24 and in 3rd place in the AL East.
Man, this team needed that badly after the last few series. Can’t let the AL East keep walking all over you.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:27:38 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats In May, O'Neill is batting .167with 40% strikeout rate. He's whiffed on 38% of his swings.
His whiff% in three segments this year, 22% → 33% → 40% 12:31 AM · May 22, 2024 · 9,222 Views
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:33:04 GMT -5
He didn’t hit a home run, but Rafael Devers still contributed in other ways for the Red Sox By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 22, 2024, 12:45 a.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The many Red Sox fans in the crowd of 12,274 at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night booed when Rays manager Kevin Cash had Rafael Devers intentionally walked with two outs in the eighth inning.
That essentially ended any chance of Devers hitting a home run for a seventh consecutive game.
But Devers found another way to contribute. With Jarren Duran on third base, he took off for second but stopped a few feet before he got to the bag.
Unable to tag Devers for the third out, Tampa Bay second baseman Brandon Lowe threw to the plate. It was far too late to get Duran and the Sox had an insurance run in a game they went on to win, 5-2.
“Did you like that?” Devers said.
Devers had a full night, going 1 for 3 with a run scored, the stolen base and a nice defensive play in the sixth inning to get an important out for the Sox in what was a 2-2 game at the time.
Devers snapped up a ball down the line hit by Jonathan Aranda and made a hard and accurate throw to second base to get Issac Paredes for the second out of the inning.
The home run streak was fun, but Devers has shown since his rookie year that he could hit for power. He wants to be known as a complete player.
“I had fun in that game,” Devers said. “I like home runs but I like singles, too.”
Devers was chagrined when he didn’t make the All-Star team last season after agreeing to a landmark 10-year, $313.5 million extension with the Sox.
It’s only 49 games into the season but Devers is hitting .285 with a .946 OPS, 10 home runs and 23 RBIs. He’s also riding an 11-game hitting streak (13 of 44 with nine extra-base hits and 11 RBIs).
Cleveland star José Ramirez is hard to top, but Devers is making his point that he’s again one of the best at his position.
“He’s showing us what kind of player he is,” teammate Tyler O’Neill said. “It’s fun to watch. Every night it’s something else.”
Devers has 30 stolen bases in his career, but Tuesday’s swipe was his first of this season.
“It’s very exciting when that works. Happy to be involved in that play,” he said.
With a straight face, Sox manager Alex Cora said he didn’t want Devers to stop. It was not a gimmick play to get a double steal and free run.
“We wanted to steal and they took a chance to throw to second,” Cora said.
Maybe so. But whatever it was, it worked perfectly. Now the 25-24 Sox have won three in a row led by Devers.
“It was a great run there, six days with homers,” Cora said. “It’s amazing … He’s in a good spot, man. He really is. He likes the group. They’re kind of like the same age. We love the way he’s playing. And we love the way he’s leading.”
Before he left the clubhouse, Devers was asked if he was disappointed not to join Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) as players who share the record with home runs in eight consecutive games.
“No,” he said. “I have time.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 22, 2024 5:36:22 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Once a liability, the Red Sox outfield now ranks among the best in the baseball By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated May 21, 2024, 7:53 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After a catastrophic defensive season in 2023, the Red Sox have been thrilled with a transformation this season — particularly in the outfield.
“It’s a lot different,” manager Alex Cora said of his team’s outfield play in 2024. “Now there’s a comfort level in the dugout. When they hit the ball in the air, we know we’re going to catch it unless it goes over the wall.”
The latest demonstration occurred in a 5-0 win over the Rays on Monday night. Wilyer Abreu made a spectacular throw on a hit down the right-field line to throw out a runner at second, Jarren Duran tracked down multiple balls in the gaps and at the fence in center, and Tyler O’Neill made a terrific running grab atop the Red Sox bullpen mounds in foul territory down the left-field line.
It was a display of, quite literally, line-to-line coverage by a group that has been a strength. Entering Tuesday, Sox outfielders ranked sixth in the big leagues, according to Baseball Savant, in both Outs Above Average (five) and runs saved (four). The Fielding Bible created the Sox with a major league-best 17 Defensive Runs Saved.
Duran — who entered the year slated to play mostly in left, but has been the Sox’ primary center fielder with Ceddanne Rafaela moved to shortstop — has been a standout. He entered Tuesday ranked seventh in the big leagues in OAA (six) and second in DRS (12).
“I’m seeing dramatic improvement from two years ago,” said third-base and outfield coach Kyle Hudson. “We saw some improvement last year in the numbers and everything else, and then he’s taking it to another level this year. He’s considered probably the one of the best defenders in the game right now. The metrics are saying that.”
Entering 2023, when Hudson joined the Sox, the team made improved jumps a focus for Duran.
“We did a thing with our analytic team. It said route efficiency doesn’t necessarily lead to making better catches. It’s your first step,” said Duran. “If you look to guys like Jackie Bradley [Jr.], [Kevin] Kiermaier, [Kevin] Pillar, the route efficiency isn’t the best, but their first step is so quick and they’re just able to move and adjust on the run. We were able to break stuff down and just say, ‘Trust your first step and just go.’ I feel like that’s helped me.”
Duran, who’d been slightly above average in outfield jumps in 2022, emerged as elite in terms of the ground he covers in the first second that a ball is off the bat in 2023. This year, he’s maintained that elite burst on contact while also, according to Hudson, improving the direction of his jumps, evident recently in a diving play in St. Louis that both Duran and Hudson identified as his best of the year.
He’s also cleaned up his running form (now more conventionally upright as opposed to what Hudson has called “the lizard” of side-to-side movement), making it easier for Duran to track the ball while he chases it down. They also incorporated drills in spring training, such as having Duran chase down tennis balls thrown from behind him, to get him more comfortable with ball tracking.
Duran says he’s gained confidence in the outfield, knowing that in center, he has priority to catch anything he can get. With that work and confidence, the results have often been spectacular.
“We’re seeing the benefits of a kid going out there and wanting to get better every day. It’s translating to the field. I’m proud of the kid. I tell him that every day,” said Hudson. “If he can stay healthy and continues to do what he does, I can absolutely see [him winning a Gold Glove]. That’d be an awesome reward for a guy who goes out there and works as hard as he does every day.” Corey Kluber surprisingly speaking up
Cora dropped a shocking nugget when he revealed that retired pitcher Corey Kluber — respected during his career as a man of few words — recently interviewed the Sox manager for a podcast.
“When he texted me a few months ago, he’s like, ‘AC, when you come to Tampa, I want you on my podcast.’ I was like, ‘What?!’ ” Cora revealed of his 2023 Opening Day starter. “Ironic. We didn’t see that coming.” Rookie league team visits Tropicana
The Red Sox’ Florida Complex League team, following a dramatic comeback win in Sarasota over the Orioles’ Rookie Ball affiliate in which highly regarded prospect Yoeilin Cespedes hit a grand slam, visited the big league team at Tropicana Field. For many of the players, it marked their first time on a big league field. Cespedes (.286/.382/.571) has been an early standout in FCL play. The 18-year-old, a bat-speed standout, has already hit a number of balls over 110 miles per hour … First-base coach Andy Fox left the team to attend his son Drew’s high school graduation. WooSox bench coach Jose Flores joined the team to coach first base in his absence.
Healthy outlook for Liam Hendriks
Reliever Liam Hendriks is with the Red Sox in Tampa Bay while continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. He’s now throwing at 120 feet from flat ground multiple times per week. He has yet to start throwing off a mound, but continues to make steady progress toward his goal of a late-summer return.
“I think it’s going to happen this year to be honest with you,” Cora said of Hendriks returning to the big leagues. “When I don’t know, but the way things are going and the way he’s working, I wouldn’t be surprised.” … Triston Casas, who landed on the injured list on April 21 with a cartilage tear in his ribcage, is slowly ramping up baseball activities, though he’s not eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until June 20. Designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (thumb) has yet to start baseball activities ... Garrett Whitlock had yet to see Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Alabama about his damaged elbow ligament, but is expected to soon with a strong possibility he’ll need season-ending surgery.
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