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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 4, 2021 16:41:58 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 26m Garrett Whitlock on his #MLB debut -- 'It was a dream come true. It was an honor wearing the #RedSox name making that dream come true.'
Whitlock -- 'The veterans, they've been talking me through how to go about my business and how to attack hitters.'
'All of those guys have been so much help.' #RedSox
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 4, 2021 16:44:14 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 57m Xander Bogaerts is 1-for-12, Alex Verdugo is 0-for-11, Kiké Hernández is 1-for-10, Bobby Dalbec is 0-for-10 and Hunter Renfroe is 0-for-7. The starting pitching was awful today, but this is a big reason why we are 0-3. Fortunately, the offense will turn itself around. We just need for them to do it very soon.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 4, 2021 17:58:59 GMT -5
Yankee cast off Whitlock very impressive. Can't tell much from one appearance, but he threw 59 pitches and 3.1 IPs. He was a starter in the minors, so I'm wondering if the RS would stretch him out, even if just for next year. If we were to develop both him and Houck as starters, we'd be doing okay.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 4, 2021 18:34:34 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 57m Xander Bogaerts is 1-for-12, Alex Verdugo is 0-for-11, Kiké Hernández is 1-for-10, Bobby Dalbec is 0-for-10 and Hunter Renfroe is 0-for-7. 2-50. Muy scary, but at least the math is easy. Though I'm not sure anyone would be interested in the math.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 1:30:43 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox swept by Baltimore Orioles for second-ever 0-3 start at Fenway Park
ESPN News Services
The early returns certainly look good for the Baltimore Orioles. For the Boston Red Sox, it looks a lot like last season.
Boston fell to their second-ever 0-3 start at Fenway Park and their first since 1948 as Trey Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning that carried the Orioles to an 11-3 win Sunday.
Cedric Mullins went 5-for-5 with three doubles and a walk for the Orioles, collecting four hits in the first four innings. Maikel Franco added a first-inning, two-run double, helping Baltimore to its first three-game sweep at Fenway since Aug. 25-27, 2017.
"I think the synergy we have is really strong," Mullins said. "Guys have been playing with each other for a few years now."
In last year's pandemic-shortened season, the Orioles finished fourth in the American League East with a 25-35 record, coming off 108 losses in 2019 and a club-high 115 the previous year. This early sweep gives Baltimore its first one-game lead in the AL East since May 1, 2017.
Boston is coming off a 24-36 record last year, its worst winning percentage since 1965.
"We got beat in every aspect of the game," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "We're off to a rough start."
The Red Sox lost their first four home games in 1948, rebounded to tie Cleveland at 96-58 after the scheduled 154-game regular season and lost a tiebreaker playoff 8-3 at Fenway.
Making just his third major league appearance, Baltimore left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (1-0) gave up three runs and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk for his first MLB victory.
"It's a long season, but if anything, it gives a great confidence booster for this team," Zimmermann said. "I think we're going to surprise a lot of people this season."
The Orioles held the Red Sox to five total runs in the series.
"You've got to pitch in this league, and we pitched these three games," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "We got really good starts from three guys, and our bullpen did a good job coming in and throwing strikes."
J.D. Martinez had a solo homer and an RBI double for the Red Sox.
Boston starter Garrett Richards (0-1) was chased with no outs after loading the bases in the third. He was charged with six runs and seven hits.
"It's three games into the season, kind of an early panic button," Richards said. "If we invested our entire take on three games, I don't think anybody would be able to predict a World Series winner. This is one series."
Richards loaded the bases with two walks and a single before Josh Taylor relieved. Freddy Galvis drew a four-pitch walk, and Hays doubled to left.
Three batters later, Mancini doubled to center. Christian Vazquez had a run-scoring passed ball, and Taylor gave up Ryan Mountcastle's RBI single.
Taylor ultimately faced eight batters, getting two outs -- both strikeouts -- and giving up five hits and four runs.
Boston right-hander Garrett Whitlock came in for Taylor and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut, striking out five.
NICE THOUGHT
Cora said before the game that Mancini should be the Comeback Player of the Year.
"He should be the Comeback Player of the Year, regardless," Cora said. "He could hit .330 or .180, and he's the Comeback Player of the Year already. I know there are other guys coming back from injury, but to come back from that is amazing."
Mancini missed the 2020 season due to Stage 3 colon cancer, completed six months of chemotherapy and returned in spring training.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Hays left the game after sliding into second base with right hamstring discomfort. ... Manager Brandon Hyde said right-hander Shawn Armstrong could be activated from the paternity list Monday. The pitcher's wife, Sarah, gave birth to a baby boy Wednesday.
Red Sox: Cora said before the game that "everything is trending that he'll be with us" about lefty starter Eduardo Rodríguez, who started the season on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. Rodríguez pitched a simulated game Friday at the club's new Triple-A facility in Worcester, Massachusetts.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Jorge Lopez is scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday at Yankee Stadium. LHP Jordan Montgomery is in line to pitch for New York.
Red Sox: RHP Nick Pivetta is slated to make his season debut against Tampa Bay on Monday at Fenway. Michael Wacha is set to make his first start with the Rays after signing a one-year, $3 million contract in December.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 1:55:28 GMT -5
'Dream come true' for Whitlock in debut Rule 5 Draft pick dazzles for Red Sox, providing needed positive from tough weekend April 4th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- It was an Easter Sunday at Fenway Park in which the Red Sox and their fans were just begging for a bright spot -- other than the sun that made the ballpark a pleasant place to be after a chilly first two games.
With Boston down 10-0 by the top of the third and on its way to being swept by the rebuilding Orioles in an 11-3 defeat, it was hard to see any positive developments on the horizon.
Then Rule 5 Draft pick Garrett Whitlock came out of the bullpen in the third inning for his Major League debut and pounded the strike zone with confidence. And there was at least a nice individual development, if not one that could help save the Sox on Sunday.
“Yeah, that was the highlight of the day, right? The positive of the day,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He did an amazing job. He was good. Pounded the strike zone, used his fastball up, mixed up his offspeed pitches, it was fun to watch.”
The rest of the weekend? Not so much. The Red Sox, who expect to have a high-caliber offense, mustered five runs in three games. In the first two games, they had defensive gaffes that led to losses.
“A tough one. Nothing else you can say,” Cora said. “We got beat in every aspect of the game. First two games, we didn’t play good defense, we didn’t swing the bat. Today we didn’t pitch. Off to a rough start.” J.D. Martinez's solo HR
Speaking of rough starts, that’s an apt way to describe the one the Red Sox got off to Sunday. Yes, it was a tale of two Garretts at Fenway.
Garrett Richards, the starter who signed a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason, was decidedly off in his Boston debut.
He pinned the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they even had a chance to hit. By the time Richards walked off the mound with the third inning in progress, the bases were loaded with nobody out. Josh Taylor came on, and things got worse as the Orioles scored seven in the frame.
At a point when the Red Sox needed something to go right, Whitlock brought some energy to the park when he came on and got Boston out of the nightmare inning by getting a quick out. Cora exhaled after knowing he put the kid in a tough spot.
“We’re just trying to get J.T. [through the inning] there, limit the damage and get [Whitlock] a clean inning,” Cora said. “To bring him in with the bases loaded in that situation I don’t think is smart, right? This is a kid that it’s obviously his first time in the big leagues, he hasn’t competed at this level or any level in a few years, so we were trying to make it a clean inning for him. He did a good job.”
Two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Whitlock was thrilled to fulfill his dream of pitching in the Majors. The former Yankees prospect struck out two in the fourth and came back with a couple more scoreless innings.
“It was definitely a dream come true, and it was an honor to be wearing the Red Sox name,” Whitlock said. “Just can’t thank everyone with the Red Sox enough for giving me a chance.”
Over 3 1/3 innings, Whitlock threw 39 of 59 pitches for strikes. The 24-year-old from Snellville, Ga., allowed three hits and no walks and struck out five.
Whitlock looks like more than a feel-good story. He has legitimate stuff, topping out at 96.6 mph Sunday. He mainly went with his sinking fastball and changeup, but he mixed in two sliders while generating eight swings and misses.
“First off, it was just an honor to be out there just to be with those guys who have been out there, and like I said, just the Red Sox's history that’s behind everything,” Whitlock said. “Yeah, adrenaline was rushing. I think anyone that tells you otherwise is lying to you. It was just a ton of fun, and I just loved soaking it up.”
Whitlock could help the Red Sox as a reliever or a starter this season. Sunday was a continuation of his outstanding performances during Spring Training.
What the Red Sox need more than anything is to find a way to win a game. Barring that, at least they had Whitlock on Sunday.
Starting Monday, when the defending American League champion Rays come to town, the Sox will look to start showing what kind of team they believe they have.
“We’ve got to show up,” Cora said. “We’re finished with the Orioles and we have a series against the Rays. We’ve got to show up tomorrow and try to get better. We’ve been saying all along that we’ve got a good team, but we’ve got stuff to do. We have stuff to work on, and we’ve just got to get better.”
The one good thing to come out of the opening weekend -- a lost weekend -- is that it can’t get worse.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 2:20:27 GMT -5
Garrett Richards hit hard in first start as Red Sox swept by Orioles, fall into 0-3 hole to open season By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 4, 2021, 4:41 p.m.
The Red Sox hit the cellar early this season.
The already-dour weekend became worse Sunday as the Red Sox were thumped by the Orioles, 11-3, leading to a sweep and an 0-3 start to the season.
“There’s nothing else you can say,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We got beat in every aspect of the game. And the first few games, we didn’t play good defense. We didn’t swing the bat. Today, we didn’t pitch. We’re off to a rough start.”
Garrett Richards didn’t have a feel for his pitches in a forgettable first start with the Red Sox, particularly his slider. He yanked a decent number of them in the dirt, enabling the Orioles hitters to eliminate that pitch entirely, and instead zero in on his fastball, which wasn’t all that competitive either. His four-seamer average was just 93.8 miles per hour on the day, which was roughly 2 m.p.h. slower than his career average (95.5 m.p.h.). Ultimately, those issues led to the Orioles tagging Richards for seven hits, with five of them coming on his fastball.
“It’s obviously disappointing that I didn’t come out and throw a complete game shutout, but I mean, I’ve got 32 more starts,” Richards said. “I’m not going to change anything that I’m doing right now. I felt great in my delivery. I felt strong. My arm felt good. You know, it’s just about building on it and gaining some momentum.”
Richards lasted just three batters in the third inning, which has become somewhat of a trend for the righthander. Dating back to last year, three of Richards’s last six starts have been two innings or fewer.
After Richards, Cora summoned Josh Taylor from the bullpen with the bases loaded and nobody out in the third. That’s when the game quickly spiraled for the Red Sox, who at the time were down just 3-0. But Taylor failed to get out the inning as well, surrendering five hits and a walk while recording just two outs. By the time it was over, the Red Sox’ deficit had ballooned to 10-0.
The Sox scored their first run on a Kiké Hernández sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning. J.D. Martinez’s homer in the fourth and double in the sixth each plated a run. But other than that, the hits for the Sox once again were hard to come by. They recorded just six hits on the day and have 15 in three games.
“We have stuff to work on,” Cora said. “We have a good team, but we still have to work on stuff. Go the other way, a little bit. Get your singles, get the line moving, and then maybe make big things happen.”
The Red Sox start a season with three consecutive losses for the first time since 2012. This is also just the second time they have opened a season with three consecutive home losses, the other being 1948.
The Red Sox now must turn the page and focus on the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that gave them tons of issues in 2020. They were just 3-7 against the Rays (0-4 at Fenway). Additionally, dating back to 2019, the Sox have a 1-12 record against the Rays at home. Heading into Monday, the Sox aren’t using the series against the Orioles as a wake-up call, Cora believing his team just got beat.
“It’s not that we were lackadaisical, or we were sleepwalking out there,” Cora said. “And the goal whether it’s Baltimore, Tampa, or Seattle, it doesn’t matter. You try to win the series. So tomorrow is a new series. We got a chance to win it and we’ll go at it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 2:22:50 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK On an otherwise dismal day, Garrett Whitlock gets high 5 for strong major league debut By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 4, 2021, 6:53 p.m.
Garrett Whitlock’s major league debut on the mound came a bit earlier than expected.
With the Red Sox already trailing by 10 runs in what eventually finished as an 11-3 Orioles win Sunday, the Sox were desperately searching for a way out of the top of the third inning. Starter Garrett Richards left the game without retiring a batter in the third and manager Alex Cora then went to Josh Taylor with the bases loaded. Taylor recorded two outs in the frame, but by the time that happened, seven more runs had scored.
That’s when Cora called on Whitlock, who went on to have an impressive outing in an otherwise forgettable game and series for the Red Sox.
Whitlock got the Red Sox out of that third-inning jam, inducing Maikel Franco to fly out to Kiké Hernández in center. Whitlock pitched the next three innings (3⅓ in total), allowing no runs and just three hits while striking out five. For him, personally, it was a game he will remember.
“It was definitely a dream come true,” Whitlock said. “And it was an honor to be wearing the Red Sox name making that dream come true.”
Whitlock’s road to the majors took its turns, and was marred by injuries as he tried to navigate his way through the New York Yankees system. He never played above Double A with the Yankees and was a Rule 5 draft pick by the Red Sox last offseason. The 25-year-old Whitlock turned heads during Sox camp, pitching nine innings, striking out 12 and yielding just one run, which earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster. He carried that spring success over to Sunday.
“I mean, that was the highlight of the day,” Cora said. “The positive of the day. He did an amazing job. He was good pounding the strike zone. He used his fastball up. Mixed up his offspeed pitches. He was fun to watch.”
Whitlock’s go-to pitch is his sinker. He used it 44 times Sunday, pounding the zone and suffocating Orioles hitters.
“It’s getting outs,” Whitlock said. “So hopefully it continues to do that.” Devers gets a break
Rafael Devers got an off day Sunday and is expected to return to the lineup Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Devers has struggled in the field at times, particularly with his throws. On Opening Day, Devers bounced two throws to Bobby Dalbec that the first baseman had to scoop out of the dirt. Then Saturday during the top of the fourth inning, Devers committed a throwing error on a potential force out at second, which ultimately led to the Orioles scoring two runs.
Devers’s defense at third is a big question mark. If he continues to struggle there moving forward, the club might have to look into finding him a new position. Yet the Sox and Cora still believe Devers has the potential to handle third.
“Whoever says that he needs to work on defense, they should join us in the mornings, and in the afternoons,” Cora said. “He puts in the work. I do believe he can play the position, he has a good arm. He has good feet. So we’ll keep working out. I’ll keep working with him.”
Devers led all major league players with 14 errors last season. Cora intimated the fielding miscues tend to weigh on Devers more than anything.
“That’s something we talked about,” Cora said. “ ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself.’ That’s the most important thing. And he realizes it. I think Rafi would rather go 0 for 4 with four strikeouts and make all the plays at third base.” Róndon signs on
The Red Sox signed righthander Héctor Róndon to a minor league deal and added him to the alternate training site roster. Yairo Muñoz was placed on the minor league injured list retroactive to April 2. He will receive a prorated $1 million salary if he’s called up . . . The Red Sox will make a decision this week on whether Eduardo Rodriguez (dead arm) will rejoin the rotation.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 2:28:22 GMT -5
RED SOX JOURNAL: Players' versatility already on full display Bill Koch The Providence Journal
BOSTON — The Red Sox made a quirky sort of club history on Sunday afternoon.
No Boston player had ever started the first three games of the season at three different defensive positions. Alex Verdugo and Marwin Gonzalez both did the honors to wrap up this opening series against the Orioles.
Verdugo completed a full outfield circuit by starting in left field and Gonzalez gave Rafael Devers a day off at third base. Never before have the Red Sox attempted to embrace the concept of position versatility in this fashion.
“That’s part of what we bring on a daily basis,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’ll be fine in the outfield. Today we felt like that was the best alignment for us to win a ballgame.”
Verdugo started Opening Day in center field and moved to right for Saturday’s matchup. Gonzalez played left field on Friday and second base in the middle game of the series with the Orioles. Christian Arroyo became the final Boston position player to debut this season when he opened at second base on Sunday.
“We tried every combination possible in spring training,” Cora said. “Maybe coming into the season I had some thoughts. But until you see how people move and what they do, then you get a better sense of what’s better for the team.”
Devers was the lineup casualty in this one against left-hander Bruce Zimmerman. His error in the fourth inning on Saturday helped contribute to a 4-2 Red Sox defeat, as he threw over the head of Gonzalez on an attempted force play. Devers continues to battle the defensive difficulties that led to 14 errors in just 57 games last season.
“You like the effort,” Cora said. “Sometimes the decisions are not sound, but the effort is there. He puts in work.”
The turning point for Devers in 2019 came after a miscue late in a May 2 loss at the White Sox. He played error-free defense until June 8 and committed only three through July 14. Boston is hopeful Devers is able to find some confidence and go on a similar run as he eases into 2021.
“I want him to understand people are going to make errors,” Cora said. “That’s part of the game. That’s something he needs to understand. It’s very hard for him to make an error and turn the page right away.” Getting closer
Eduardo Rodriguez has entered a five-day program typically reserved for starting pitchers.
The left-hander threw a simulated game on Friday at the alternate site in Worcester and went through his normal paces on Saturday at Fenway Park. Rodriguez was on the field playing catch early Sunday morning. His next step would be a normal bullpen session.
“Everything is trending that he’ll be with us sooner rather than later,” Cora said. “We’ll probably know as he goes through the day. We’ll have a decision to make tonight or tomorrow.”
Rodriguez was scratched from a possible Opening Day start for the second straight year. He was placed on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation, but he’s specifically dealing with the dead-arm symptoms pitchers generally encounter at some point during spring training. Tanner Houck took a loss in his place, let down by his defense through his five innings of work, on Saturday. Noteworthy return
Baltimore will play its home opener against the Red Sox on Thursday, and Cora is expecting a strong welcome for first baseman Trey Mancini.
It will be his first time at Camden Yards since beating colon cancer last year. Mancini missed all of the 2020 season after being diagnosed during spring training. He underwent surgery and subsequent chemotherapy before going into remission in November.
“He can hit .330 or .180 — he’s the Comeback Player of the Year already,” Cora said. “I know there are other guys who are going to come back from injuries, but to come back from this is amazing.
“He did an outstanding job in spring training getting ready. You can see the swings. He looks like he’s the same guy he was two years ago.”
Mancini finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting in 2017. He slumped to a .715 OPS in 2018 before thumping his way to an .899 OPS in 2019. Mancini clubbed 38 doubles and 35 home runs while appearing in 154 games. The Orioles' Anthony Santander, left, and Trey Mancini celebrate after scoring on a double hit by teammate Maikel Franco in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Red Sox. Mancini is back in the lineup after beating colon cancer last year. Adding a veteran
Boston formally announced the signing of veteran reliever Hector Rondon to a minor-league deal on Sunday.
The 33-year-old right-hander was released by the Phillies coming out of spring training. He debuted with the Cubs in 2013 and has also pitched for the Astros and Diamondbacks, making 444 career appearances.
Rondon will be assigned to the alternate site at Polar Park.
Yairo Munoz (right wrist inflammation) was placed on the injured list to clear a spot in the player pool for Rondon.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @billkoch25
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 2:42:43 GMT -5
Garrett Whitlock’s MLB debut is Boston Red Sox’s ‘highlight of the day’ but why didn’t Alex Cora use him sooner? Updated Apr 04, 2021; Posted Apr 04, 2021
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Garrett Whitlock became the first pitcher in Red Sox history to allow no runs and no walks while striking out five of more batters in his major league debut.
“That was the highlight of the day,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after Boston’s 11-3 loss to the Orioles here at Fenway Park on Sunday.
Whitlock — who the Red Sox selected in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees — entered with Boston down 10-0 in the third inning. He pitched 3 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out five.
“He pounded the strike zone, used his fastball up, mixed up his offspeed pitches. It was fun to watch,” Cora said.
Whitlock didn’t pitch in 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019. He never had pitched above Double-A before Sunday. He threw 44 two-seam fastballs, 13 changeups and two sliders. His two-seamer averaged 95.1 mph and topped out at 96.6 mph, per Baseball Savant.
“It’s getting outs so hopefully, it continues to do that,” Whitlock said about his sinker.
Red Sox starter Garrett Richards added, “I played catch with him a couple times in spring training and I had absolutely no idea that the guy threw 95-plus. He gets great extension on kind of all of his pitches and he throws a changeup. I guess I just didn’t know that (his velocity) to be honest with you. He came in behind (Josh) Taylor and ended up throwing really, really well. Throwing some really firm stuff up there. So impressed. He looks like a guy that wants to go out there and produce and stick around for a long time. So I’m on board.”
So why didn’t Whitlock enter the game earlier? Josh Taylor replaced Richards with no outs in the third inning, the bases loaded and the Red Sox already down 3-0. Taylor allowed all three inherited runners score, then allowed four more earned runs while recording just two outs.
The plan was for Taylor to limit the damage in the third inning, then likely hand the ball over to Whitlock to start the fourth. Cora didn’t want to bring in Whitlock in the middle of an inning with traffic.
“We were just trying to get JT there, limit the damage and get him (Whitlock) a clean inning,” Cora said. “To bring him in with bases loaded in that situation I don’t think is smart. This is a kid that obviously first time in the big leagues, he has’t competed at this level, any level in a few years. So we were trying to make it a clean inning for him. It just didn’t work out.”
The 24-year-old Whitlock had his mother and wife there to watch him.
“It was definitely a dream come true and it was an honor wearing the Red Sox name making that dream come true,” Whitlock said. “So I just can’t thank everyone with the Red Sox enough for giving me a chance.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 5, 2021 2:43:40 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Garrett Richards: ‘I’ve got 32 more starts. Yeah, today didn’t go great but I threw plenty of strikes and some competitive pitches’ Updated Apr 04, 2021; Posted Apr 04, 2021
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Garrett Richards lasted just 2-plus innings in his Red Sox debut.
The right-handed starter — who Boston signed to a one-year, $10 million deal with a club option this past offseason — gave up six runs, all earned, seven hits and two walks while striking out two vs. the Orioles.
The Red Sox lost 11-3 on Sunday and suffered a three-game sweep at Fenway Park to open the 2021 season.
Richards heard boos multiple times from Red Sox fans during his brief outing.
“To be honest, I was throwing a lot of strikes,” Richards said. “It just kind of seemed like every ball that was put in play just kind of fell. I got beat on the shift a couple times today. Walked a couple guys later in the count. The (Maikel) Franco at-bat, I just wasn’t going to give in with the base open at first. Other than that, the delivery felt good. Physically I felt good. Just trying to fill up the zone and unfortunately every ball that was put in play just wasn’t around somebody who had a glove on.”
Two hits went through the shift in the first two innings. But seven balls put into play — including six hits against him — had an exit velocity of 94.9 mph or more, per Statcast.
“Obviously disappointing that I didn’t come out and throw a CG (complete game) shutout the first time out,” Richards said. “But I’ve got 32 more starts. Yeah, today didn’t go great, but I threw plenty of strikes and some competitive pitches and threw some great pitches that honestly just ended up not going our way. That’s part of the game of baseball. I’m not going to change anything that I’m doing right now. I felt great in my delivery. I felt strong. My arm felt good. It’s just about building on it and gaining some momentum. As soon as I get that first good start out of the way, we build momentum and carry forward.”
Richards said he will review the film to see if anything stands out.
“Other than that, I only had one ball pulled on me today and it was a 3-0 fastball,” Richards said. “Like I said, I got beat on the shift two or three times today. And for the most part, guys were just letting the ball get deep and it just happened to be on the barrel. Like I said, every time it was put in play we just weren’t there. It will go that way every once in a while. You’ve just got to deal with the in-betweens. ... It’s not something I’m going to dwell on. I know I have good stuff. And I know I can get major league hitters out. Just today wasn’t the day.”
The Red Sox lost three straight games to open a season for the first time since 2012. This also marked the first time losing three straight games at home to open a season since 1948.
“This is one series,” Richards said. “Obviously as a group we’re not playing well right now. But everybody’s still working hard and everybody knows what they are capable of. Obviously I’m not happy about today from my personal performance, but as a collective group we know we’re better.”
Richards added, “It’s three games into the season. It’s kind of an early panic button.”
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