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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:46:13 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h Cora on Devers -- 'He's still learning. He's still a young kid. But he's putting in work.'
'His defense, when it's going this way, it eases him.' #RedSox
Cora said Sawamura went to his mouth while he was on the rubber. That resulted in a couple balls being taken out of play.
Was happy with his four-out performance. #RedSox
Alex Cora on six home runs -- 'That's part of who we are. We didn't hit too many early on, but it seemed like we put some good swings this series.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:48:07 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h Cora on Martinez -- 'He said it. He wasn't ready. He wasn't ready for last year.
'We can talk about video and all that. He wasn't physically ready for the season.' #RedSox
Cora on Martinez -- 'He's locked in. You can tell. Walking around, talking hitting -- this is the guy I saw in '18 and '19.'
'He has an idea of what he wants to do.' #RedSox
Cora on Martinez -- 'I know he talked about last year and he's on a mission to prove people wrong. It was only 60 games.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'We're staying with the program. Guys are working on their craft defensively. We're not taking anything for granted.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:48:44 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h Cora on Devers -- 'He hit some balls really hard.'
'It was just a matter of time.'
'He loves hitting here. But he hits anywhere.' #RedSox
Cora on Devers -- 'He's still learning. He's still a young kid. But he's putting in work.'
'His defense, when it's going this way, it eases him.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:50:42 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h Pivetta on Martinez and Devers -- 'Those two are really, really doing good. The rest of the guys have been great.' #RedSox
Pivetta -- 'It was my mistake to begin with. I crossed up Vazqy.'
Felt some extra urgency to cover the plate and make a tag. #RedSox
Nick Pivetta -- 'I thought it was an all-around great series. Great team effort.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:52:10 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h Rafael Devers with Bryan Almonte -- 'I made a couple changes here and there. But like I always tell you guys, I maintain my same approach every game.' #RedSox
Devers on hitting at Camden Yards -- 'Just doing what I do best. Trying not to change too much and stick to my game plan as I usually do. Things are just going my way here.' #RedSox
Devers -- 'Everything is going great over here. The vibe here has been great. Everybody has been behind each other.' #RedSox
Devers -- 'We're all putting our work in as we usually do every single day.'
'The pitching has been great. The starters in this series, they all pitched well.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 3:54:53 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11h J.D. Martinez -- 'I've been in a zone like this in spring training -- back in 2014, I think. That was it.' #RedSox
Martinez was a bit surprised he got a strike from Paul Fry on the 3-2 pitch in the 9th. He was swinging no matter what with three home runs in his pocket. #RedSox
Martinez has a request for clubbies at opposing ballparks -- a shallower laundry cart.
#RedSox loaded up on towels at Camden Yards to prevent players from sinking too deep during the post-homer dugout celebration.
Martinez on the last 24 hours -- 'Everybody is trying to take precautions. At the same time it's frustrating.'
'It's kind of the world we're living in right now. Everybody thinks every little thing is COVID.'
'We did everything we could to have me back today.' #RedSox
Martinez said he has asthma and allergies. Both of those conditions were bothering him in Baltimore -- warmer weather, pollen in the air, etc.
He's ready for Minnesota. #RedSox
Martinez said he was confined to his hotel room on Saturday. He was eager to get back to the ballpark on Sunday. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 4:10:56 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s J.D. Martinez had ‘frustrating’ day stuck in hotel, returned Sunday to hit 3 homers despite ‘ridiculously high’ pollen Updated Apr 11, 2021; Posted Apr 11, 2021
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
J.D. Martinez spent most of Saturday stuck in the team hotel in Baltimore because of cold symptoms that likely resulted from his allergies and asthma. MLB protocols required him to undergo both a rapid and PCR test to rule out COVID.
“Frustrating,” Martinez said. “I guess it’s part of it. Everyone’s trying to take the precautions and everything. But at the same time, it’s a little frustrating. It’s human nature. You’re going to feel a little thing here and there. It’s kind of the world we’re living in right now where every little thing everybody thinks is COVID. So it was frustrating obviously not being able to play yesterday. But I know we did everything we can to have me back today.”
The Red Sox certainly were glad to have him back Sunday.
Martinez was placed on the COVID-related injured list for Saturday’s game. The joint COVID-19 Health and Safety Committee cleared him to play about an hour before the series finale in Baltimore on Sunday — just in time for him to mash.
Martinez went 4-for-6 with three homers, four RBIs and four runs to lead Boston 14-9 over the Orioles. The Red Sox have won six straight games and Martinez has been their top hitter. The DH is 17-for-36 (.472 batting average) with five home runs, seven doubles, 16 RBIs and 10 runs in eight games.
He is slugging 1.083.
“I still felt (it Sunday) with my asthma and everything and with the allergies here,” he said. “The pollen has been like ridiculously high the past few days. It’s like a 10 out of 10, which I think is what’s really messing me up. And my lungs are just always sensitive to like sudden changes and stuff just because I have pretty bad asthma. Besides that, I felt OK. Obviously it was still bugging me. It still is. Kind of ready to get on the plane and go somewhere else.”
Martinez has hit at least one extra-base hit in all eight games he has played in 2021. He has a nine-game extra-base hitting streak dating back to 2020, tying a franchise record with David Ortiz, Bill Mueller, Butch Hobson and Ted Williams.
Martinez was asked to explain the feeling he has at the plate during this type of hot streak.
“Honestly, for me I don’t even notice it,” Martinez said. “I really try not to. You guys know how I am. ... I think the moment you’re aware of it, you’re no longer in it. So I try not to be aware of it and just try to focus on the small tasks and focus on my game-plan off certain pitchers and what I’m trying to do. That’s how I kind of control the whole thing.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 4:11:57 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: J.D. Martinez jokes Alex Cora told Rafael Devers which pitch was coming right before 439-foot homer Updated Apr 11, 2021; Posted Apr 11, 2021
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Rafael Devers crushed a 439-foot two-run homer in the eighth Sunday to give the Red Sox a 13-7 lead over the Orioles, then J.D. Martinez joked with the third baseman inside the dugout.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora had gone out to the field during Devers’ at-bat to check to see if he was OK for some reason.
“The next pitch he hits is a homer,” Martinez said. “I was like, ‘What? Did Alex tell you what was coming or something? Because the next one you put it 450.’”
The Red Sox won 14-9 in Baltimore to post their sixth straight victory.
Devers bashed two home runs Sunday. He homered four times in the three-game series sweep.
He also played strong defense. He ranged far to his right to make a play on a grounder down the line with the bases loaded Saturday, keeping the Red Sox within a run in the eighth inning. He jumped to his right to snare a 103.6 mph liner off Maikel Franco’s bat during the second inning Sunday. Devers then fired across the diamond to double DJ Stewart off first base.
“Defense is very important for him,” Cora said. “He takes his defense to the batter’s box. He needs to understand that he will make mistakes. That’s part of the game. He’s locked in defensively, which for him, it makes him at peace with the game. He doesn’t want to let his teammates down. ... His defense when it’s going this way, it eases him. He’s at ease with the game and great things happen.”
Pivetta’s play at the plate
Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta improved to 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts. He allowed four runs in 6 innings. He pitched pretty well until giving up a three-run homer to Maikel Franco in the sixth.
Pivetta maxed out at 97.1 mph and his 57 four-seam fastballs averaged 94.9 mph, per Baseball Savant. He also mixed in 26 sliders, 17 knuckle-curves and one changeup.
Pivetta made a nice play at the plate after he crossed up catcher Christian Vazquez in the third inning with two outs. Freddy Galvis ran home from third base after the ball got by Vazquez. But Vazquez quickly retrieved it and threw to Pivetta covering home for the final out.
“I was running in really, really hard,” Pivetta said. “When I heard the runner was coming from third, I just tried to get my body in front of the plate and beat him there. And get my legs in front so I could kind of block the plate the best I could ... I believe the rule is if the ball takes you into the plate, you can block it. So I just wanted to make sure that I got there, put myself in a good position.”
Cordero off to strong start
Cora has used left-handed hitter Franchy Cordero as a platoon player so far. All five of Cordero’s starts have been against right-handed starting pitchers.
Cordero has one hit in one at-bat against a southpaw this season.
“Obviously that’s something I’m continuing to work on — hitting against left-handers,” Cordero said through translator Bryan Almonte. “That’s something I know I need to improve on. But that’s what I’m putting in the work for — in order for when those situations come, to be able to contribute in that way as well.”
Cordero delivered an important pinch-hit single in Saturday’s win. He came off the bench to smash a hit to right field in the ninth inning, putting runners at the corners with one out. The Red Sox then tied the game and won in extra innings.
The 26-year-old left fielder, who Boston acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade, is 5-for-17 (.294) with two doubles, three RBIs, one walk and six strikeouts in his career as a pinch hitter.
“I’m always ready. I’m always watching film and trying to stay ready during the game as well,” Cordero said. “So whenever the moment comes, and I’ve got to get up there to bat, I’m certainly comfortable in doing so.”
Cordero has impressed so far. He had an infield single Sunday. He is 7-for-21 (.333) with two doubles.
“I love the coaching staff. I love the players here. It’s been great being here with this club because as you all know, I grew up a Red Sox fan. So being able to play for this organization is a dream come true. I feel great. I’m very comfortable where I’m at right now. And it’s a good feeling to be able to be a part of this.”
Cordero grew up watching David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew.
Starter workloads
No Red Sox starter had thrown more than 92 pitches in a game before Nick Pivetta threw 101 pitches Sunday. Cora is trying to protect his starters during a tough April that includes just two days off. The Red Sox are in the midst of stretch in which they play 16 games in 16 days.
“Right away that postponement Opening Day put us in a bad spot,” Cora said. “We don’t have too many off days. ... We have to grind but have to be careful, too, (not) to overuse the bullpen. There have been some games that we were up 7-0 and we ended up using (Adam) Ottavino and that’s not good either. So we’ll take care of them for a little bit. Obviously it’s not perfect but we’ve done this before in ‘18 and ‘19. What we sacrifice now is going to pay off later on.”
Cora said usually around the first week of May he begins to let his starters go deeper.
“We might need a few longer ones this week because of where we’re at schedule-wise,” Cora said.
Red Sox vs. Twins starting pitching matchups
Monday: LHP Martín Pérez (0-0, 5.40) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (0-0, 2.25)
Tuesday: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 1.46) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (1-0, 2.61)
Wednesday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 5.40) vs. RHP José Berríos (2-0, 1.54)
Thursday: RHP Garrett Richards (0-1, 10.29) vs. RHP Michael Pineda (1-0, 1.64)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 4:15:30 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 13h Red Sox hard hit balls so far today
JDM 111, 106, 105, 102 Kiké 106, 102, 96 Devers 111, 109 Bogaerts 114, 98 Vazquez 100, 97 Dalbec 110, 108 Verdugo 103 Marwin 103
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 12, 2021 4:19:15 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 13h This is the 34th instance of a Red Sox player hitting 3 HR in a game. J.D. Martinez is the 25th player to accomplish the feat for Boston.
This is the 31st time the Red Sox have hit as many as 6 HR in a game, the first since 6/14/19 at BAL (also 6). They have hit 7+ HR in a game 6 times (last: 9/4/13 vs. DET, 8 HR).
This is the 4th game in which one Red Sox player hit 3 HR and another hit 2 HR:
4/11/2021: Martinez (3) & Devers (2) 7/23/2002-G1: Garciaparra (3) & Ramirez (2) 7/24/1999: Nixon (3) & Garciaparra (2) 6/8/1950: Doerr (3) & Williams (2) & Dropo (2)
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