|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 3:51:11 GMT -5
'Total team effort' highlighted by Marwin's HR April 17th, 2021 Mark Feinsand
Mark Feinsand @feinsand
New opponent, new uniforms, new hero.
Marwin Gonzalez had his biggest swing since joining the Red Sox, belting a go-ahead home run against Codi Heuer in the eighth inning to lift Boston to a 7-4 win over the White Sox in the first of four games at Fenway Park.
Three other newcomers left their mark on Saturday, too. Adam Ottavino struck out the side in the eighth, his finest outing in a Red Sox jersey -- albeit a bright yellow one designed to match the color scheme of the Boston Marathon for Patriots’ Day weekend. Kiké Hernández went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Matt Andriese allowed only one unearned run in three innings to help bridge the gap after Nick Pivetta couldn’t get through the fourth.
“It gets loud here when things are not going good; it gets louder when things are going really good,” manager Alex Cora said. “They know how it works; they’ve played against us before. They understand how it goes here. They have to cancel the noise outside Fenway, and it’s good for them to contribute right away during the season. They're a big part of what we're trying to accomplish.”
Boston’s longest-tenured player also had himself a day, as Xander Bogaerts went 4-for-5, raising his average to .412 this season. His two-run double capped Boston’s four-run eighth, giving Matt Barnes some breathing room in the ninth.
“It was a total team effort,” Cora said.
The Red Sox have now won 10 of 11 games, improving to 10-4.
“We feel really good about our chances each and every day,” Andriese said. “It's next man up; it's going to take all 26 guys.”
Neither Pivetta nor Chicago starter Dylan Cease were particularly sharp Saturday, though neither team was able to take advantage of its opportunities. The game was tied 2-2 after five innings, and after the Red Sox took a lead in the sixth, the White Sox answered with a run in the seventh, sending the 3-3 game to the eighth.
Ottavino, who struggled with a 9.82 ERA in his first five outings with Boston, came in and struck out the side as Yermín Mercedes, Zack Collins and Luis Robert each looked at called third strikes.
Gonzalez, who hadn’t gotten off to a great start himself, stepped to the plate to lead off the eighth in search of his first extra-base hit of 2021. He wasn’t thinking about going deep, setting a more reasonable goal of simply getting on base -- something he had done at a .357 clip this season despite his paltry .212 average.
“I was just trying to have a good at-bat and get a good pitch to hit,” Gonzalez said. “I’m trying to get on base for my teammates behind me, try to create a rally.”
Heuer started the at-bat with a pair of changeups, but his 1-1 sinker didn’t fool Gonzalez, who turned on the waist-high 96 mph pitch and launched it to center field. The ball landed in the Red Sox bullpen for a 4-3 lead, kick-starting what would become a four-run Boston eighth.
“Right now he’s not hitting for average, but you see his on-base percentage; he knows the strike zone, he knows when to get to a fastball,” Cora said. “He's into the game the whole time, in the dugout talking to guys; for the short time that he's been here, it's been amazing the way people gravitate to him in that clubhouse. It's fun to watch.”
These days, fun seems to be contagious for the Red Sox, who became the first team in the American League to reach the 10-win mark this season.
“Every time you win, you have the confidence and everybody's positive,” Gonzalez said. “Things are easier when you're winning. It's easy to go out there and get things done when everybody's on the same page and everybody's positive.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:10:43 GMT -5
Marwin Gonzalez homer sparks four-run burst in the eighth inning as Red Sox beat White Sox By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 17, 2021, 7:41 p.m.
Marwin Gonzalez is a baseball player. Despite playing multiple positions on any given day, manager Alex Cora is certain his veteran utilityman will make the smart baseball play. In a sense, Gonzalez’s play and the ultimate success of his team is largely based on what the game calls for.
In the eighth inning Saturday, the Red Sox just needed one run. A run that would enable the club to hand the ball to their dominant closer, Matt Barnes, to shut the door on a Chicago White Sox team that had given the Red Sox its best punch.
Yet when the switch-hitting Gonzalez stepped to the plate to lead off that bottom frame against White Sox reliever, Codi Heuer, he was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts. But that didn’t matter at that point. Gonzalez knew what that one run represented.
So, on the third pitch of the at-bat, Gonzalez who was without an extra-base hit in his first 12 games this year, drilled a high sinker beyond the wall in right-center. The go-ahead homer paved the way for a four-run Sox inning and an eventual 7-4 win.
“He knows the strike zone,” Cora said afterward. “He knows when to get to a fastball. He’s into the game the whole time in the dugout talking to guys. You know, for the short time that he’s been here. It’s been amazing.”
Gonzalez wanted to just make contact, but once he connected another thought immediately came across his mind: He needed a homer out of it. In fact, he was so fixated on the ball reaching the seats that he forgot to drop the bat, and instead kept it in his hand until he saw the ball clear.
“I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I was kind of like ‘Please go. Please go.’ We have seen a lot, a lot of balls that should be out of the ballpark and then they stay short. They’re being caught. So I was almost blowing the ball to get out of the ballpark.”
The Red Sox are now 10-1 in their last 11 games after beginning the season 0-3. The team speaks about its togetherness, which was on display in this game.
Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta lasted just 3⅔ innings Saturday. He can lose command, which is the reason he’s walked 5.7 batters per nine innings in his previous two starts. During his Saturday start, Pivetta was true to form, submitting four walks while tossing 83 pitches.
In the top of the first inning Pivetta struck out White Sox leadoff hitter Tim Anderson, but immediately walked the next two batters, Adam Eaton and Yoán Moncada. It came back to haunt the Red Sox and Pivetta when White Sox four-hole hitter, José Abreu, stung a double past a diving Rafael Devers. The ball trickled into the corner in left field, allowing Moncada to score all the way from first and give Chicago an early 2-0 lead.
The Red Sox battled back to tie it in the third behind two sacrifice flies by Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers to tie it against White Sox starter Dylan Cease.
Cease, too, saw his outing cut short after 4⅔. White Sox manager Tony La Russa called on reliever Evan Marshall to finish off the fifth. It appeared Marshall would get through the entire sixth unscathed, yet with two outs in the frame, Kevin Plawecki laced a double to the center field wall, and Kiké Hernández, who was 4 for 5 with a double, singled up the middle to give the Sox their first lead of the game.
The Red Sox got three huge innings from Matt Andriese, who took over for Taylor in the fifth. Andriese breezed through the White Sox lineup for much of his three innings. The one run that tied it came in the seventh on an error by Xander Bogaerts, who couldn’t come up with Plawecki’s throw down to second on an Anderson steal play. It allowed Anderson to advance to third and ultimately score the tying run.
But the following inning swung back in the Red Sox’ favor, as it has during most of this run, sparked by Gonzalez’s solo shot. Cora couldn’t help but notice what was taking place around him.
“That was a great atmosphere,” Cora said. “I don’t know how many people we have here today. But it was very loud into every pitch. And that’s what it’s all about in this city. And I’m glad that people are buying into the team.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:12:51 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook Matt Andriese has shown versatility in his pitching role By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 17, 2021, 5:32 p.m.
At the start of spring training, Matt Andriese didn’t care what role he would eventually fill for the Sox. Whether it was to be a reliever or starter, he just wanted to be out there to contribute.
Fourteen games into the season, Andriese is doing just that: Pitching. In that time he has had multiple roles out of the bullpen. He can work a clean inning or come in when the Sox are in a bit of a jam with runners on. He can give you one inning, or three if need be as the bulk guy.
Nick Pivetta lasted 3⅔ innings in the Red Sox’ 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox Saturday. Josh Taylor recorded the final out of the fourth. But once the fifth came around, it was Andriese’s show in a tight ballgame.
“I try not to look at the big picture, but just to go out there and attack the zone, mix my pitches, go over the scan reports and just attack,” Andriese said.
Andriese worked three innings, allowing an unearned run and three hits. He didn’t walk a batter, displaying a four-pitch mix which is made up of his four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball, and changeup. In 9⅔ innings this year, Andriese has a 1.86 ERA and has walked just three batters.
“I understand the role and how the team needs it. Today was a perfect example of it,” he said. “Pivetta working through until the fourth inning, I was mentally prepared right there just to keep the team in the ballgame. Eventually we were due for a breakout.”
When Alex Cora went through his interview process for the Red Sox’ managerial position prior to the 2018 season, former president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski asked Cora if he would mind having an experienced former manager working with the Sox in some capacity.
“I was like ‘Of course I don’t care,’ ” said Cora, reflecting on that moment prior to the Sox’ Saturday afternoon matchup with the Chicago White Sox. “I love talking baseball, I love learning about the game. So I had no issues with it.”
That person, though, wasn’t any ordinary manager. It was Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, who had had a strong relationship with Dombrowski and ended up serving as a special assistant to Dombrowski for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Now, La Russa is back to managing and is in his first season with the White Sox.
“He would always leave me a letter after each homestand,” Cora said. “So I could read it on the plane. The pros and cons, or actually the things that we could do better. That’s the way he put it. And one thing I really love in any conversation with Tony, he’ll come up to you and he’s like, ‘I got two things for you.’ It was never, it was never one or three. It was two things for you.”
Cora got to manage against former San Francisco Giants manager and likely Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy during Bochy’s final sendoff in 2019. He’s managed against Terry Francona, also a likely Hall of Famer. He has immense respect for both, but points out a distinct difference with La Russa.
“He is a Hall of Famer already,” Cora said. “It’s not a future Hall of Famer. So he meant so, so much for us as a group in ’18 and ’19.”
The relationship between the two extended beyond the baseball field, too. La Russa and Cora oftentimes would have dinner with each other. Wherever they were, the conversations always veered back to their shared passion: baseball. When the team dropped both games to the New York Yankees during the London series in 2019 by a convincing margin, it was Cora, David Price, and La Russa still talking baseball on the plane back home.
“I really enjoyed [him] being around,” Cora said. “Sometimes he felt I didn’t. But no, it was the other way around. I wanted him down here more.” Xander Bogaerts plunked a bases-loaded double just inside the right-field line in the eighth inning Saturday, plating Boston's final two runs of its victory.
At the start of spring training Xander Bogaerts knew his team was good, but if you were to tell him that they would rip off nine in a row, he might not have believed you.
“I didn’t know that we’re going to go nine in a row,” Bogaerts said. “Obviously, I didn’t think we would lose three in a row either.
“So we’re in a good spot right now. We’re happy where we’re at. Obviously, that turnaround that we did was pretty impressive, especially early on in the season. It’s really early so far. But for us to be capable of doing something like that. I think that’s something that can benefit us in the long run.”
If the team does get into a rut, Bogaerts said, they will have that winning streak as a reminder. The Sox’ upcoming schedule had a thorn thrown in it because of Friday’s rainout. They will play three games in less than 24 hours to finish out their four-game set with the White Sox. The Red Sox’ next off day isn’t until April 26, just before the team’s series against the Mets in New York.
“That’s going to be tough,” said Bogaerts on having to play three games in such a short period of time. But we’ve got to deal with it. The way I see it is it’s not only us, it’s also them, you. That’s the way I approach the cold weather. Also, it’s kind of tough for me to hit in the cold. But it should be tough for the pitchers also, right? I mean, I’m not the only one that’s going out there in the cold. So it’s definitely going to be tough on us, but it’s going to be tough on them also.”
On the positive side, Cora noted, the Red Sox have a fresh bullpen because of Friday’s rainout. And if anyone maybe needed an off-day, Cora added, it might have been Bogaerts.
“We were actually thinking about giving him the day off [Friday],” Cora said.
The team will monitor their players as they go through this long stretch of games, but Cora said so far everyone is healthy and rested. Different uniforms
The Red Sox unveiled their City Connect Series uniform on the field. The Sox collaborated with Nike on the project, adopting yellow and light blue to honor Patriots Day weekend in Boston both Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s something different. It feels good,” Cora said. “You look around the other leagues, and they’re very open-minded about stuff like this, and people like it. So from what I’m getting, the feedback and all that, people are very excited about it. So it should be a fun weekend.”
Bogaerts joked that it reminded him of home.
“It’s kind of the color of my country flag in Aruba,” Bogaerts said. “I don’t know if they had anything to do with that, but I feel like I’m playing for Aruba.”
The Red Sox’ Kiké Hernández wore a pair of custom MTB cleats honoring the city of Boston & “Boston Strong” for Patriots Day Saturday in support of More Than Baseball, a non-profit dedicated to the well-being of players everywhere.
Tanner Houck will start the first game of the Red Sox’ doubleheader Sunday ... Christian Vázquez didn’t play Saturday and will sit the first game of the doubleheader Sunday. He will play in the second game. Cora said nothing is wrong with his catcher. The team is just giving him rest ... The Minnesota Twins games Saturday and Sunday were canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak hit the Twins, beginning with shortstop Andrelton Simmons during their series with the Sox. Cora said the Red Sox haven’t undergone any extended testing, and so far, haven’t had any COVID-19-related issues.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:18:33 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 9h Alex Cora -- 'It was a total team effort.' #RedSox
Cora said the #RedSox are undergoing frequent COVID-19 tests after the positive among the Twins. Boston just left Minnesota.
Cora -- 'It gets loud here when things aren't going good. It gets louder when things are going really good.' #RedSox
Cora credits Taylor and Andriese for picking up Pivetta.
'Offensively, we're never out of the game.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'That's a good way to start the homestand.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:19:14 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 9h Cora said Plawecki will catch the first game and Vazquez will have the second on Sunday. #RedSox
Cora -- 'It was very loud. They were into every pitch. That's what it's all about.'
'I'm glad people are buying into the team and they like it.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:20:31 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 9h Matt Andriese -- 'It's been good. Just go about everything the right way. Work hard each day.' #RedSox
Andriese -- 'There's no panic really. We get down, we feel like we're going to fight back.'
'There's a lot of fight in this team. It takes 26 guys to do that. Today was a prime example of it.' #RedSox
Andriese -- 'Every single guy is next man up. They go out there with an attack mentality.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:21:39 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 9h Marwin Gonzalez -- 'I was just trying to have a good at-bat and get a good pitch to hit.'
'(The home run) wasn't intentional. I was just trying to get on base.' #RedSox
Gonzalez -- 'I think that's what makes it special. You're not relying on one or two guys every day.' #RedSox
Gonzalez on his homer in the 8th -- 'I almost was blowing the ball to get it out of the ballpark.'
He ultimately didn't need to. It cleared the #RedSox bullpen in right-center.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:24:42 GMT -5
Why this might have been the best Red Sox win of their young season Current Time 0:03 / Duration 1:12
By Rob Bradford 7 hours ago
There have been walk-offs. There have been comebacks. There have been blowouts. There have been all kind of wins during this run of 10 Red Sox' victories in the last 11 games.
But Saturday might just have been the most defining win of them all.
At first blush, the 7-4 victory over the White Sox would seem to be a good-but-not-great type of deal. This was a Chicago club that came into Fenway Park not exactly setting the world on fire, and this day's all-important Red Sox starting pitcher, Nick Pivetta, only lasted 3 2/3 innings.
The reason why this one should have stood out was because of which players actually sent (most of) the 4,668 Fenway fans home happy. Four guys, to be exact -- Matt Andriese, Adam Ottavino, Marwin Gonzalez and Kiké Hernandez.
None of them are considered foundational pieces of the big-picture puzzle, with each one of them besides Hernandez potentially eligible for free agency after this season. But, nonetheless, they represented how and why this thing can actually work for the Red Sox this season.
You need these type of guys. You need these type of performances.
Andriese: The 31-year-old has quietly been one of the most valuable players during these first couple of weeks, stepping up to make these sort of wins possible. This time it was Andriese who came on to hold down the White Sox after Pivetta's rough outing, going three innings without giving up an earned run. Using a live 93 mph fastball to complement one of the game's most unique changeups, he has represented one of Chaim Bloom's most valued offseason acquisitions.
"Keep the team in the ballgame, eventually we're due for a breakout"
Matt Andriese on his mentality entering the ballgame tonight pic.twitter.com/uvvJdIl8t3 — NESN (@nesn) April 18, 2021
Ottovino: Before the game Saturday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora talked about not running away from the reliever despite his rough start. Cora flat-out said that the righty would remain one of the two pitchers (along with Darwinzon Hernandez) to set-up Matt Barnes. As has been the case for the most part this season, Cora's instincts were on-point, with Ottovino earning the win after striking out the side in the eighth.
Gonzalez: The utilityman has been one of those players who can get two hours of vitriol from social media and then bask in a tidal wave of Twitter praise thanks to a key play, sometimes small, other times large. It happened again Saturday. After struggling through his first three at-bats -- leaving six men on base while striking out two times -- Gonzalez provided the pivotal swing, breaking a 3-3 tie with his solo homer into the Red Sox' bullpen.
Marwin GONEzalez pic.twitter.com/LfASNKHTDB — Red Sox (@redsox) April 17, 2021
Hernandez: Coming into the game, one of Cora's plans that hadn't worked as the Red Sox had hoped was defining Hernandez as the team's leadoff hitter, with the Red Sox carrying the eighth-worst on-base percentage at the lineup's top spot. Then came Saturday. The player who has become the Sox' primary centerfielder finished with four hits, including a clutch sixth-inning RBI single that broke a 2-2 tie. This was the kind of catalyst the Red Sox were banking on when inking him to a two-year deal.
Come through, Kiké! pic.twitter.com/ON5dXTvmWn — Red Sox (@redsox) April 17, 2021
They are the first-place Red Sox, the team that now resides five games up on the favorites to win the American League East, the Yankees. These are the type of days that keep that sort of separation.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:27:44 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Matt Andriese, bullpen save the day in series opener; Nick Pivetta’s uptick in velocity surprises Ron Roenicke Updated 12:30 AM; Today 12:28 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- For the first time in 11 games, a Red Sox starter did not last five innings Saturday afternoon. Luckily for the Red Sox, the bullpen stepped in and saved the day.
Nick Pivetta lasted just 3 ⅔ innings against the White Sox, allowing two runs and walking four in the shortest outing by a Red Sox starter since Garrett Richards’ disastrous debut against the Orioles on April 4. But four Red Sox relievers -- Josh Taylor, Matt Andriese, Adam Ottavino and Matt Barnes -- kept Chicago’s offense in check, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 ⅓ innings in a 7-4 Red Sox win.
After Taylor struck out Adam Eaton for the final out of the fourth inning, Andriese entered for his longest outing of the season. In three innings, the veteran swingman allowed a single unearned run on two hits and lowered his ERA to 1.86.
Andriese is Boston’s most versatile pitcher and has already been tasked with high-leverage innings late in games as well as long outings like Saturday’s. He thrived in his extended appearance against Chicago.
“I understand the role and how the team needs it,” he said. “Today was a perfect example of Pivetta working through into the fourth inning. I was mentally prepared right there, just to know, keep the team in the ballgame. Eventually, we’re due for a breakout. I knew my job was to minimize damage and go as long as I can until they take the ball away from me.”
After Andriese came Ottavino, who bounced back nicely from a rough last outing to strike out all three White Sox he faced on 12 pitches. Though there were some questionable strikes called, the outing was Ottavino’s best of the season and just his third scoreless appearance in six tries.
“His stuff is actually better than it was last year as far as velocity and movement,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s just one of those, we’re going to keep getting him good matchups in the seventh and the eighth, combined with Darwinzon (Hernandez) for now, and get him on the right track.”
Matt Barnes allowed his first run of the season in the ninth but held on as the Red Sox won their 10th game in 11 tries. Throughout the stretch, the bullpen has been a strength.
“Every single guy, it’s next man up,” Andriese said. “Go out there with an attack mentality and honestly, with our offense, we’ve just got to keep the guys in the ballgame. Today was a perfect example of it.”
No COVID problems for Sox after Twins’ positive tests
As of Saturday night, the Red Sox had not been contacted by Major League Baseball about additional COVID-19 testing despite the Twins -- who the Red Sox played from Tuesday to Thursday -- having to postpone back-to-back games due to multiple players testing positive.
Cora said every Sox player and coach had to be tested Friday at Fenway Park even though the game was cancelled due to weather. So far, there have been no issues.
“We’re good here,” Cora said.
It’s unclear if MLB protocols require a team who faced an opponent with positive tests to undergo contact tracing or more scrutinized testing.
Weekend will present unique schedule challenges
Because of Friday’s rainout causing a doubleheader to be scheduled for Sunday and Monday’s Patriots’ Day game being scheduled for 11:10 a.m., the Red Sox are playing four games in a span of less than 48 hours. That stretch will create some unique challenges for Cora and his group.
“It’s tough, timing-wise, but it’s not that tough,” Cora said. “One thing for sure, when you play here, you know you’re going to get an 11 a.m. game. I think that’s one of the coolest things that we have. People love that game. For what we’re living, it’s not the perfect day. That Monday is so special around here and it was special for me because I knew I was going to play that game regardless. I love it. I love everything about it. We love this weekend. It’s a fun weekend.”
Cora was hoping to give Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers some rest this weekend but now doesn’t think he will have to after Friday’s postponement. Also helping matters is that Sunday’s doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games, meaning the Red Sox and White Sox will play four fewer innings than originally planned.
“Now, you’ve got that sprint for seven innings, you grab a beer and a steak and then go watch the second game,” Cora joked. “I wonder who did that last year. It’s just fun. It’s a sprint. The urgency is something that I really like about it. For the player, it’s a lot better.”
Pivetta’s velocity surprises Roenicke
On Friday, Cora spoke with former Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke, who is now a special assistant in the Dodgers’ organization. When Cora mentioned Pivetta was throwing his fastball in the 96-97 mph range, Roenicke was shocked.
“I actually spoke to Ron yesterday and told him the velocity on the fastball and he was very surprised,” Cora said. “He was like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Yeah, he’s throwing that hard.’ That’s something good. It creates separation on his pitches. He has been good so far.”
In 2020, Pivetta’s fastball averaged 92.8 mph, according to Statcast, which was down from its 94.5 mph average in 2019. In 2021, Pivetta is averaging 94.9 mph while maxing out at 97.1.
“He has been good,” Cora said. “Results. He has not been perfect. He’s still working on his stuff. Erratic with the fastball but he has a good fastball. The slider has played. He’s given us give against Tampa and I think it was six against Baltimore. That’s what we ask about these guys. Just give us a chance to win. His stuff is a lot better than what we saw last year on TV.”
Bogaerts has high praise for Dalbec
Unsolicited, Bogaerts had some high praise for the defense of first baseman Bobby Dalbec, who was out of Saturday’s lineup.
“That’s a guy that has huge potential,” Bogaerts said. “Huge bat. I feel like he’s one of the best defensive first basemen in the game. I know he’s so young but I’ve seen it so much on a daily basis. I’m actually pretty impressed — with the little amount of time he has over there — how good he has been so far. I feel like he’s going to be really good over there for a long time.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:28:54 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 9h Red Sox pitchers have allowed 3 ER or fewer in 11 of 14 games this season.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:30:41 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 9h Pivetta wasn’t good today. They will and they’ll also have injuries. Houck is waiting his turn. Fans don’t know who Connor Seabold is. They will at some point this year. He’s legit. Sale at some point. Bazardo is coming for pen. They’ll be fine. More depth than they’ve had in yrs
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:31:54 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 9h Best records in the American League BOS 10-4, +26 run differential SEA 9-5, -7 run differential
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 4:42:52 GMT -5
Sox vs Sox Sunday April 18th 2021 Double Header @ Fenway
Game 1- 1pm
Keuchel 0-0/ 6.43
Was slotted into Rodon's slot for his last start, and worked 5 plus innings.
Houck 0-1/3.00
Allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in his last start vs the Orioles.
Game 2- 5pm
TBA
Perez 0-0/4.50
Is 2-5 in 11 career starts at Fenway but has not won a game there as a member of the team.
Red Sox to host White Sox in doubleheader According to STATS
The Chicago White Sox and host Boston Red Sox will continue a weather-delayed four-game series with a doubleheader Sunday.
The series, delayed by Friday's winter storm, got underway Saturday afternoon with Boston scoring four in the eighth to win 7-4.
Boston has won 10 of its past 11 games after having a nine-game winning streak snapped Thursday. The White Sox have lost three of their past four.
Chicago will start lefty Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 6.43 ERA) in the opener but the team has not announced a starter for Game 2.
This will be the fourth start of the season for Keuchel and his third away from Chicago.
Keuchel got a no-decision in his last start Monday against Cleveland in which he gave up three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in five innings.
He started that game in place of Carlos Rodon, who was scratched due to illness.
This will be Keuchel's fifth career appearance and his fourth start against Boston, which have all come at Fenway Park. Keuchel is 0-1 with a 9.15 ERA and 14 strikeouts against the Red Sox.
Chicago manager Tony La Russa told reporters Saturday the White Sox will activate a 27th roster player allowed for doubleheaders, and that player could be the starter.
As was the case last season, doubleheader games are seven innings each.
"As long as the minor leagues are not active, the 10-inning rule, the seven innings, that's more fair for pitching staffs," La Russa said. "You want to be fair to your pitchers if you want competitive baseball."
Opposing Keuchel in Game 1 for Boston is rookie Tanner Houck.
Last week, Houck was sent to Boston's alternate site in Worchester to clear a roster spot for start Eduardo Rodriguez.
Houck (0-1, 3.00 ERA) is expected to be officially recalled for Sunday's opener (as the 27th roster player) and likely be returned following the start.
"Keep working on his craft, on his pitches, keep throwing strikes. Keep developing his secondary pitches and just be ready," manager Alex Cora said when Houck was sent down.
"That's all he needs to do. Where we're at right now, we knew this was going to happen. ... He was a professional when we talked to him and he understands. Whenever we need him, he'll be here and he'll perform."
Houck, 24, won all three starts at the end of 2020 and had a 0.53 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 17 innings.
In his previous start April 3, he gave up two earned runs and struck out eight in five innings of a 4-2 loss to Baltimore.
Before being sent down, he came out of the bullpen to pitch the 11th inning against Tampa Bay on April 6 and gave up a run and struck out two in a 6-5 Boston loss in 12 innings.
The Red Sox will start Martin Perez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) in Game 2.
Perez went five innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits against Minnesota on Tuesday and is 1 1/3 innings shy of hitting 1,000 for his career.
Last year was Perez's first with Boston, and he led the Red Sox in starts (12) and innings (62). He is 3-2 with a 4.93 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox.
--Field Level Media
White Sox at Red Sox Sunday, at 1:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 51° F with a 2% chance of rain and 6 MPH wind blowing left to right in Boston at 1:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2021 8:40:17 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 14m Red Sox AL Rankings:
10 Wins – 1st .714 Win % - 1st +26 Run Diff. – 1st
82 Runs – 1st .281 AVG – 1st in MLB .346 OBP – 1st .463 SLG – 1st .808 OPS – 1st
3.52 ERA – 4th 3.78 Starters ERA – 6th 3.20 Bullpen ERA – 4th 0.5 HR/9.0 IP – 1st 4.3 Barrel % – 1st
|
|
|
Post by Kimmi on Apr 18, 2021 9:12:10 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 2h Bogaerts on the new uniforms, which will debut this weekend -- 'It's much different from red.'
'I feel like I'm playing for Aruba.' #RedSox
I can see what Bogaerts means. This is the flag of Aruba. The uniforms from yesterday were very pretty, IMO, but they have no business being part of the Boston Red Sox wardrobe.
(I love that shade of yellow.)
|
|