Red Sox @ Pale Hose Game Thread/ 6th- 9th June 2024

Red Sox cautiously optimistic they won’t again lose Tyler O’Neill to knee discomfort
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 8, 2024, 5:25 p.m.


CHICAGO — The Red Sox are hopeful Tyler O’Neill, recently reinstated from the injured list for right knee inflammation, will avoid returning to it.

“He’s better. We’ll see how he feels [Sunday],” manager Alex Cora said prior to Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the White Sox. “If we can take advantage of the next three days, that’s what we’re going to do. He didn’t feel great moving around yesterday. We made a decision soon enough, probably before something worse happened.”

The Red Sox pulled the right fielder in the third inning Friday when Cora saw O’Neill limping. O’Neill, whose seven-year MLB career is littered with injuries, said he was frustrated by the recurring pain in his knee, which he felt all day Friday.

He was activated from the IL in time for Wednesday’s game, going 4 for 8 before departing Friday.

“We’re still trying to find solutions,” said O’Neill, who received a cortisone shot prior to his reinstatement. “I feel like I was really close to getting through it just based on how I was feeling earlier in the day, so it really sucks. But the boys aren’t too worried about it, so I’m pretty thankful for that. Hopefully it clears up quick.”

Monday is an offday for the club, which would give O’Neill the three days of rest Cora mentioned before a potential return.

Hampered by injuries all season, the Red Sox outfield is especially thin with Wilyer Abreu (ankle sprain) already on the IL. Cora is concerned that he might be overworking some of his healthy outfielders, particularly 33-year-old Rob Refsnyder.

“We have to avoid using Refsnyder out there. That’s one of my main worries, pushing him to the limit, and then we will really be in trouble,” said Cora. “He’s one of our best hitters, one of our best players . . . We have to take care of him.”

The Sox don’t have any further outfield depth on their 40-man roster at Triple A. So, in O’Neill’s absence, Bobby Dalbec and Jamie Westbrook might be a part of the mix.

Cora is unsure if O’Neill’s injury will be something that lingers, and if it’s something he can play through.


“I don’t know about managing the pain. That’s him, right? But this guy wants to play. He’s been very vocal about it,” said Cora. “It so happened that yesterday he didn’t feel great out there and we took him out.”
Duran’s starry start

Jarren Duran has been a force at the leadoff spot, answering Cora’s challenge to play in every game this year while also putting up respectable numbers at the plate and in the outfield.

Duran went 0 for 3 Saturday, walking twice and getting picked off first base once, but is batting .263/.331/.451 (.782 OPS) with five homers, 14 stolen bases, and a major league-leading nine triples. He also has been one of the best outfielders in baseball, his 10 defensive runs saved before Saturday’s play second in the majors.

“He’s been amazing. He’s been solid,” said Cora. “I don’t campaign for my players for the All-Star Game, but when you start looking at numbers, triples, doubles, defensive runs saved, leading off, playing every day, he should be in the conversation.”

Duran’s outfield play has improved since being called up for the first time in 2021. Third base coach Kyle Hudson has a lot to do with it, helping Duran with his first-step quickness and focusing on jumps more than the route to the baseball.

At the plate, Duran has found balance between aggression and control, a facet of the game in which he struggled.

“He understands that he doesn’t have to do too much to the pull-side in order to drive the ball,” Cora said. “He’s been taking pitches, fouling off pitches. And then when he gets on the bases, he can score from first.”
Devers battling knee, will sit Sunday

Rafael Devers came out of the game in the eighth, with Cora saying the third baseman’s knee was “bothering him.” Though the manager called the issue nothing more than a “little bit of soreness,” Devers will get the day off Sunday . . . Masataka Yoshida (right thumb sprain) went 1 for 4 in the first of his two rehab games as designated hitter for Triple A Worcester, telling reporters he felt no pain. He is scheduled to play again Sunday, and the Sox hope to have him back by the end of the week . . . Romy Gonzalez is still on target to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday for Worcester . . . Triston Casas (rib cage strain) hasn’t swung a bat yet. He recently said he aimed to by the end of this week . . . Cora was ejected by home plate umpire Alan Porter after the top of the fifth inning, following a called third strike to Jamie Westbrook. The manager was run before he ever reached home plate to argue, but made the most of his time, covering home plate with dirt and continuing to speak in both an animated and impassioned tone. It was Cora’s first ejection of the season and the 15th of his managerial career.

White Sox take on Red Sox in search of rare 3-game win streak
FLM

Seven losing streaks of at least four games -- including a franchise-worst 14-game skid -- have sent the Chicago White Sox spiraling this season.

Positive responses to the streaks by the team have been scarce but not non-existent.

On Sunday, the White Sox will try to extend their latest rebound and stretch their winning streak to three games in the series finale against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

A power surge has sparked Chicago to earn no worse than a split of its four-game weekend set against Boston. The White Sox regrouped from Thursday's 14-2 loss with victories Friday and Saturday that featured five combined home runs.

Gavin Sheets broke things open Saturday with his first career grand slam. Sheets has homered in consecutive games and is batting .308 with three home runs and eight RBIs in June.

"Just trying not to do too much," he said. "Being disciplined and trying to stick with an approach and be disciplined with that."

Chicago has won at least three straight games only twice this season, and not since a four-game surge from May 8-11.

Sheets said the White Sox have maintained the "same clubhouse" comportment while weaving in and out of lengthy struggles.

"We're just competing together, having fun together," he said. "Pulling for each other and supporting one another, win or lose."

Offensive success and improved pitching have put the White Sox on the verge of stopping a streak of six series losses in a row.

After yielding 24 hits to the Red Sox in the series opener, Chicago has allowed just 11 over the past two games.

The Red Sox, who have lost four of their past six games, went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position on Saturday.

Bobby Dalbec hit a solo homer for Boston's lone run. David Hamilton contributed two hits, and Rafael Devers walked to extend his on-base streak to 14 games but later was removed with a left knee issue.

"Hopefully, it's nothing worse than a little bit of soreness," said Boston manager Alex Cora, who added that Devers probably will get a rest day Sunday.

Right knee soreness forced Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill from Friday's game two days after the club activated him from the injured list because of a separate knee injury.

Cora said the team will rest O'Neill for the remainder of the series and hopes he can return to the lineup Tuesday against Philadelphia.

Right-hander Chris Flexen (2-5, 5.19 ERA) is set to start Sunday for the White Sox while Boston is scheduled to start righty Zack Kelly (0-1, 2.00) in a bullpen game.

Eyeing his first victory since May 8 vs. Tampa Bay, Flexen is coming off a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, when he allowed one run and three hits in five innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

A rain delay may have stunted the veteran's momentum. Flexen came out for the fifth and allowed a run before his night ended. The Cubs rallied for six runs against the White Sox bullpen to win 7-6.

Flexen is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four appearances against Boston, including two starts. Kelly has not faced the White Sox in his career.

--Field Level Media

Game 66: Red Sox at White Sox lineups and notes
By Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 9, 2024, 1 hour ago

It’s always nice to have a “get right” team on your schedule. You know, the kind of opponent that you can face and sort of have a reset and get back on track. It certainly felt like a four-game series with the White Sox would provide that opportunity this weekend, especially when the Red Sox belted 24 hits in a 14-2 thrashing in Thursday’s opener.

That dominant victory extended Chicago’s losing streak to a franchise worst 14 games. But the White Sox, owners of the worst record in MLB, have flipped the script, allowing just 11 hits total to take the next two games, including Saturday’s 6-1 win.

Now the Red Sox enter Sunday’s series finale needing a win just to salvage a split with a team 31 games below .500, and will attempt to do so without Rafael Devers, who will sit this one out after exiting Saturday’s loss with knee soreness.

Zack Kelly will get the start in what will be a bullpen game for the Red Sox.

Here is a preview.
Lineups

RED SOX (32-33):

Jarren Duran (L) LF
Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
Rob Refsnyder (R) RF
Dominic Smith (L) 1B
Connor Wong (R) DH
David Hamilton (L) SS
Bobby Dalbec (R) 3B
Reese McGuire (L) C
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) C

Pitching: RHP Zack Kelly (0-1, 2.00 ERA)

WHITE SOX (17-48):


Corey Julks (R) LF
Nicky Lopez (L) 2B
Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF
Gavin Sheets (L) DH
Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B
Paul DeJong (R) SS
Oscar Colás (L) RF
Lenyn Sosa (R) 3B
Martín Maldonado (R) C


Pitching: RHP Chris Flexen (2-5, 5.19 ERA)

Time: 2:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Flexen: Garrett Cooper 1-1, Bobby Dalbec 0-3, Rafael Devers 4-7, Jarren Duran 1-1, Reese McGuire 0-2, Tyler O’Neill 2-4, Rob Refsnyder 0-1, Enmanuel Valdez 0-1, Connor Wong 0-1

White Sox vs. Crawford: Korey Lee 0-1, Martín Maldonado 1-3, Luis Robert Jr. 2-3, Gavin Sheets 0-2, Lenyn Sosa 0-2, Andrew Vaughn 1-6

Stat of the day: White Sox DH Gavin Sheets has homered in consecutive games and is batting .308 with three home runs and eight RBIs in June.

Notes: Kelly is facing the White Sox for the first time. … Flexen is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four appearances against the Red Sox, including two starts. He will be looking for his first win since May 8 against the Rays. He received a no-decision his last time out against the Cubs when he allowed one run on three hits in five innings. … The Red Sox are 6-11 vs. the AL Central this season after going 19-13 in 2023. … After today’s matinee, the Red Sox will play 10 consecutive night games.


Def Leppard "Animal"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecFPU--vvf0

The rookie thing brings up an impressive point.  Even after this years, the number of years of control left.

Wong 4
Hamilton 5
Devers 9
Duran 4
Rafaela 8
Abreu 5
Casas 4
Bello 6
Houck 3
Crawford 4
Criswell 5

That's not exactly an AS team, but it is 11 regulars or better, at very cheap prices, except for Devers.

Red Sox rookie nails down extra-inning victory for ‘special’ first career save

Published: Jun. 09, 2024, 9:11 p.m.


By

Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com

CHICAGO — From outside the closed visitor’s clubhouse at Guaranteed Rate Field, the sounds of applause and wild cheering could be heard minutes after the Red Sox had secured a 6-4 win in 10 innings against the White Sox.

That noise could have been the manifestation of a team exhaling, having escaped the ignominious distinction of losing their third straight game to the worst team in the game.

But the sound was more joyous than that, more heartfelt. It was directed at Cam Booser, who had locked down the 10th inning out of the bullpen to record his first major league save.

Booser, whose tale of perseverance has been often told in recent months, waited a very long time for that distinction. It’s a cinch that he won’t soon forget it.

On a bullpen day, the Red Sox had already used six different relievers through the first nine innings, including two frames from closer Kenley Jansen. Then it was time for Booser, who retired the White Sox without difficulty, fanning the first two hitters before getting pinch-hitter Danny Mendick on a flyout for the final out.

At 32, some 13 years after his long, circuitous baseball journey had begun, Save No. 1 was in the books.

“It’s special, man,” conceded Booser. “It will probably sink in a little more tomorrow, on the off-day. The most important thing is we got the ‘dub’ and split the series. The boys battled today. They battled for all 10 (innings).”

Only last Sunday, Booser experienced one of his toughest outings in his brief major league career, knocked around for four runs by the Detroit Tigers in a loss. But he rebounded Thursday with two scoreless frames in a lopsided victory and was ready for what was being asked of him Sunday.

“Today was just trusting what Reese (McGuire, catcher) called, taking the opportunity and trying to make the most of it and compete,” he offered.

RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Brayan Bello receives a lesson in wisdom one day after losing his cool during another poor start
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 9, 2024, 7:13 p.m.


CHICAGO — Roughly two hours before the Red Sox’ series finale against the White Sox Sunday afternoon, manager Alex Cora wanted a word with young starter Brayan Bello. The 25-year-old trailed Cora inside the visitors’ clubhouse, stepping into the manager’s office — much like a student stepping into a principal’s domain.

Just a day prior, Bello had what he described as one of his most frustrating starts of his career.

Bello failed to get out of the fifth inning, registering just 4⅔ innings in what amounted to a 6-1 Red Sox loss. Bello yielded five runs in that final frame, including a Gavin Sheets grand slam that gave Chicago a 5-1 lead.

The homer, no question, was a low moment of the game for the Red Sox. Yet the most surprising moment, at least to Cora, was Bello’s reaction to the home run, slamming his glove on the mound in frustration.


Bello can be fiery on the mound. But Saturday seemed like a mental breakdown. For Cora, that required a conversation.


“ you cannot let you start to become a snowball effect, right,” said Cora prior to the Sox’ 6-4 10th-inning win that salvaged a series victory. “Like, you’re doing well and then everything starts going fast and it gets big, big, big, big and then you can stop it.

”About the emotion, I get it. But this is the first time I’ve seen that, so let’s give him a mulligan. We talked a little bit and expectations are a part of it.”

Bello, in some regard, has put pressure on himself to perform, given the fact that he signed a six-year, $55 million extension. The expectations have weighed on him and, to some degree, played a part in his struggles.

But Cora wanted to put the pressure, more so self-inflicted, in perspective.

“We’re still talking about a young kid that he’s secured his life for his family,” said Cora. “And like I told him today, I said, ‘See it this way, 10 years ago, five years ago, where were you versus where you are right now?’ And he smiled. He hasn’t smiled in a while. That put everything in perspective, right? He’s a kid that‘s going to be really good but like I said, he’s still a work in progress. There are a few things that he needs to do to become the guy that he envisions and that we envision.”


Bello’s ERA spiked to 4.78 on the season. The three walks hurt him Saturday, Cora said, coupled with his stuff being a couple of ticks off. But the mental has trickled over into the physical.

The Sox and Bello are doing everything they can to manage it.

“We expect him to go out there and compete every five days and give us six innings,” said Cora. “Maybe seven. Hopefully the next one is the one.”
Devers rests with achy knee

Rafael Devers exited Saturday’s contest with pain in his left knee, the same one that sidelined him earlier in the season with a bone bruise. Cora gave him a day off Sunday with the hope that he will be back in the lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Phillies at Fenway. “Hopefully [the off day will help] and he’ll be back in there on Tuesday.” … Tyler O’Neill (knee inflammation) felt better Sunday. It’s still to be determined if he will be ready for Tuesday. Wilyer Abreu (ankle sprain) is progressing rapidly, Cora said. Abreu ran sprints at Fenway Saturday … Masataka Yoshida got through Saturday’s game for Worcester without incident. He hit in the designated hitter spot again Sunday, going 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts. The Sox hope to have Yoshida back by the end of the week and will meet with him Monday to see where he is in his progression … Romy Gonzalez (hamstring) and Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) hit Saturday at Fenway. The Sox are optimistic that Gonzalez will begin a rehab stint Tuesday while Grissom is still some time away … Triston Casas (rib cage strain) hoped to begin swinging a bat this week. But Cora noted that Casas is still feeling pain and is still just taking ground balls.

Perales exits early with injury

Sox pitching prospect Luis Perales, who left Saturday’s start with Double A Portland after 2⅓ innings, has been diagnosed with right elbow inflammation. Perales has been dominant this year with High A Greenville and Portland, compiling a 2.94 ERA in nine starts. The Sox view this diagnosis as a source for cautious optimism. It has yet to be determined whether Perales will need an MRI.