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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 4:14:23 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h In Eovaldi's 10 K, 0 BB start last week 42% of his pitches were called strikes + swing and misses (CSW%). Richards' 10 K, 0 BB start tonight was also 42%. The two highest marks by Red Sox starters this year. The team's starters average 28%, league average is 30%.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 4:15:16 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h Richards' side work and modified mechanics really cleaned up his release point. Tight for each pitch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 4:38:41 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Mutts 28th April 2021 630pm @ Citi Field
Pivetta 2-0/3.48
Was solid in his last start vs the Mariners giving up 2 runs, one hit and striking out 4 over 6IP. In 8 appearances vs the Mutts (7 starts) he is 3-2/6.08.
de Grom 2-1/0.31
Nuff said.
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Mets Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 6:40pm EDT Written by Doug Gilghrist
Citi Field in Queens is the site of Wednesday's battle between division leaders, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets. The BoSox enter play with a three-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, while the Mets are just a half-game up on the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Wednesday's game will be game two of a brief two-game series between these two teams. Boston won the series opener on Tuesday by a score of 2-1.
The Red Sox had just five hits in the game on Tuesday, but three of them went for extra bases, including Bobby Dalbec's first home run of the season in the third inning to tie the score at 1-1. Rafael Devers had two hits for Boston, including the game-winning single in the sixth inning to break the tie. Garrett Richards struck out 10 batters in seven innings to get his first win of the season. Michael Conforto had two hits, including a double, for the Mets, while Jeff McNeil went deep in the loss for New York.
Red Sox win second straight game The Boston Red Sox won their second game in a row on Tuesday, and ran their streak of non-losing series to seven. The Red Sox have now won or tied every series this season with the exception of their first series of the season, when they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game set. Boston is 3-0-3 in their six series since, and are guaranteed of at least a split versus the Mets. The Red Sox have now won three of their last four games and five of their last eight games.
“This is the guy we envisioned,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said about Richards on espn.com. “He can do this every five days.”
Boston has the best hitting team in the Major Leagues this season, as they enter action on Wednesday with a .272 team batting average. They have also hit 27 home runs this season in their 24 games. The Red Sox have three regulars who are hitting above .300 this season, as they are led by J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts, who are both hitting .353 this season, which is fourth in the majors. Alex Verdugo is hitting .325 this season for Boston. Martinez is also leading the team in home runs with seven (tied for second in baseball), RBI with 21 (tied for first), and OPS at 1.145 (third). The Red Sox have a 3.94 ERA this season with a 1.30 WHIP. They have given up just 15 home runs this season, which is the second-fewest total in the Major Leagues.
Nick Pivetta makes his fifth start of the season on Wednesday for Boston. He is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA this season, and has given up just 14 hits in 20.2 innings this season. Pivetta had walked 14 batters this season, however. In his last outing, he gave up two runs on just one hit, while he walked three and struck out four against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 against Pivetta this season. He has faced the Mets eight times in his career, seven times as a starter, and he is 3-2 with a 6.08 ERA in 37 innings pitched. The Mets have hit the ball very well off of Pivetta in their careers, as they have a .352 batting average (25-71) with four home runs.
Mets look to turn things around The New York Mets may be in first place, but that is more of a testament of how poorly the rest of the division is playing, as opposed to how well New York is playing. With their loss of Tuesday, the Mets have now lost five of their last seven games and six of their last nine games.
“Runners in scoring position is the biggest thing right now,” manager Luis Rojas said on espn.com. “It's almost like it's still haunting us.”
New York has played well in their wins this season, as they have three shutouts this season, and they have given up two or fewer runs in six of their nine wins.
The Mets have one of the best pitching staffs in the Major Leagues this season, as they are fifth in the league with a 3.17 ERA. They have also given up the fewest home runs this year, as just 10 balls have left the yard against their pitchers this season. New York's pitchers have the fourth-best WHIP in baseball at 1.10 this season. Offensively, the Mets have the seventh-best team batting average at .242, while they have hit the fewest home runs in the majors this season with 15 long balls in their 18 games. Brandon Nimmo leads the team with a .364 batting average, which is tied for fourth in baseball, while Pete Alonso has five home runs and 12 RBI to lead the Mets in both categories.
The best pitcher in baseball, Jacob deGrom, gets the start for the Mets on Wednesday. He is 2-1 with a 0.31 ERA, which is the lowest ERA in the league this season. He is also tied for second in the majors with 50 strikeouts. In the statistical oddity department, deGrom has give up more home runs (two) than earned runs (one) this season. He has given up just 13 hits and three walks in 29 innings this season. In his last start on Friday, deGrom pitched a masterful two-hit, complete game shutout, as he struck out 15 batters. It was his third straight game of at least 14 strikeouts. He has gone at least six innings in each of his four starts this season. Opposing batters are hitting just .134 against deGrom this season. He has faced the Red Sox three times in his career, going 0-1 with a 3.32 ERA. Boston's batters are hitting just .200 in their careers against deGrom in 45 career at bats.
Red Sox at Mets Wednesday, at 6:40 PM EST Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 78° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 10 MPH wind blowing out in New York City at 6:40 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 6:28:07 GMT -5
How Garrett Richards managed to flip the script in stunning fashion
By Rob Bradford 8 hours ago
"No jacket required."
If you're a headline writer, Garrett Richards' provided you with that layup after all the hub-bub following the postgame press conference last week. It was cold in his last start. Richards was bad. He didn't pack jackets. You remember, don't you?
It all seems like a lifetime ago. Four days of adjustments and a memorable seven innings at Citi Field will do that.
In the manner of two hours Tuesday night, Richards totally changed the conversation -- both regarding himself, and, to a certain extent, the Red Sox.
The pitcher that befuddled the Mets on the way to the Red Sox' 2-1 win not only offered the image of something completely different than he had previously delivered, but suggested Alex Cora's club might actually have a difference-maker on their hands.
"Besides everything, everything," said Cora when asked what was working for Richards, who finished with 10 strikeouts and not a single walk over his seven frames. "Mechanics. It was under control on the mound. Good fastball. Good curveball. Good slider. This is the guy we envisioned. Stuff-wise, he’s one of the best in the league. If he can repeat his delivery, stay under control we know he can do this every five days. He can be really good, give us a quality start and give us a chance to win. We will build up from this one, get him ready for the next one and keep working on the things he need to work on to keep getting better."
So, how did this pitcher who had allowed for one of the uglier first impressions to Red Sox fans in recent memory, suddenly turn the narrative inside-out?
Well ...
Start with his delivery. Pitching more out of a version of the stretch, Richards simplified things, eliminating the all-over-the-place release points and erratic cross-body offerings.
"Me and Bushy (pitching coach Dave Bush) over the last few days have really been working on simplifying my delivery to help me put myself in a better position to throw the baseball," Richards said. "Before I was working a little bit side to side, which was throwing off my release point and causing me to kind of add extra effort in some places of my delivery that were kind of throwing me off. We just kind of came up with something that would be simple for me to be able to repeat and importantly that gives me a chance to gather over the rubber instead of just kind of rolling through it like I was. So, just making an emphasis of getting that gather over the rubber at the top. That’s really helping."
Then go to his new favorite pitch, the curveball.
Coming into this season, so much had been made of Richards' slider, and for good reason. In 2020, the righty threw it 38 percent of the time with hitters managing just a .147 batting average against it. The curve? That was used hardly at all, coming in at seven percent.
This time around he offered the big 12-6 breaking ball (one that he threw with great effectiveness throughout spring training) just as many times (22) as his slider. The spin-rate king had found yet another way to use his God-given powers.
"Definitely. Without a doubt," said Richards when asked if this was the most confident he has ever been with his curveball. "Last year I started figuring out the delivery that was helping me throw it for strikes more consistently. Now, I put it right up there with my slider as far as confidence. I don’t have a problem throwing a 2-0 curveball. I don’t have a problem throwing a curveball to start a guy off or put a guy away with. It just helps complement all the other stuff that I have – fastball, cutter, slider, all of them move in to lefties and away from righties. I think that curveball, with the speed differential and different look, really sets up a lot of different things – the elevated fastball. Just, the look of it and the speed differential sets up a lot of different stuff."
This was why the Red Sox gambled on Richards to the tune of his $10 million deal. A tweak here. A tweak there. You've got something.
Well, as it turns out, they might have been on to something. It certainly finally seemed that way the moment Richards walked off the mound to end the seventh inning.
"I mean that’s the reason why we’re out there. We’re out there to put up zeroes and go deep into games and keep guys off bases," he said. "It was nice to be able to do that tonight, to be able to hand the ball off to Andriese and have him pitch the eighth, and Barnes slamming the door in the ninth. That’s how you envision every game going but to have it happen tonight, that was a big boost for the boys and we won a game, which was sick. We’re going to continue to play good baseball."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 6:34:11 GMT -5
Red Sox ready for toughest challenge yet against Mets ace Jacob deGrom deGrom is coming off complete game two-hitter
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald April 28, 2021 at 5:05 a.m.
The Red Sox have already gone against some of baseball’s top aces this season, facing the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Lucas Giolito and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
But they pale in comparison to the matchup that awaits them on Wednesday night in New York.
With the Mets’ Jacob deGrom on the mound, the Red Sox face a pitcher who’s on a historic run to start this season. In four starts this season, he’s given up just one earned run and allowed only three walks while striking out 50 batters over 29 innings, and he’s coming off one of the best starts of his career last Friday, when he tossed a complete game two-hitter with 15 strikeouts.
As far as April matchups go, this is as good as it gets: deGrom, arguably the best pitcher in the sport and at the top of his game, against the Red Sox and their league-leading offense.
“You want to believe that every night your group is ready to go and they prepare the same, but honestly when you have a guy like him on the opposing side, it’s going to be an extra vibe, an extra jolt of energy for our guys to be ready to meet the challenge,” Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers said. “Because if you don’t bring your A game, he’s got a chance to embarrass you and put you away really quick.
“I think that’s the thing I’m looking forward to is the excitement and the challenge and watching our guys go toe to toe and put their best foot forward and go battle. … I know that our guys will be ready.”
Hyers hadn’t started to prepare yet for deGrom as the Red Sox focused on their game Tuesday, but watching from afar, the coach was impressed with deGrom aggressiveness. He said that deGrom’s slider is nearly equal to or as fast as the average fastball in the majors, and when you combine his elite location and how Hyers described him as a “fierce competitor,” it’s a recipe for dominance.
The Red Sox have faced deGrom twice in the last three years — once last season, and once in 2018 — and Hyers said that should be beneficial, but to an extent. deGrom is just on another level right now.
“I think it helps to have the experience in the box with him and to see movement, patterns and how the ball comes out of his hand,” Hyers said. “I think that is a plus. But he’s in a groove right now from what I’ve seen from afar and feeling really good with his stuff, so that does add another element to it. I do think it helps to have guys that have seen the ball come out of his hand, but that’s only limited to being helpful for tomorrow night.”
Either way, the Red Sox will be ready for easily their toughest test of the season.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, arguably the best pitcher in the game and so it’s always a challenge,” Hyers said. “But one thing about our group is they love challenges and they love competing and so I think the competitor in all of our guys, it’s what brings out the best in both sides. I know he’s going to be ready, he’s going to be coming at us.
“It will be a challenge for us to have our A game and to battle on each pitch. … We’ve got to be focused for every pitch and hunt those mistakes and be ready to capitalize when he does make a mistake.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 9:42:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 1h MLB’s best records:
Royals 14-8 (.636)
Red Sox 15-9 (.625) A’s 15-9 (.625) Dodgers 15-9 (.625) Giants 15-9 (.625)
Brewers 14-9 (.609)
The Red Sox have won 3 of their last 4 games.
In their last 2 games, Red Sox pitchers have struck out 24 batters and walked 1.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 13:36:57 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6m This is what the #RedSox face tonight with Jacob deGrom. He's basically throwing a three-pitch peace sign to the plate, and the slowest of those is the changeup at 92 mph.
Seriously, how in the hell do you hit this.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 13:45:01 GMT -5
Game 25: Red Sox at Mets lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated April 28, 2021, 7 minutes ago After taking the opener, 2-1, the Red Sox look to complete a two-game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field Wednesday night. But they will be facing Jacob deGrom, who has been lights out this season. The Red Sox will counter with Nick Pivetta. After tonight’s game, the Red Sox will continue their road trip when they travel to Texas for a four-game series with the Rangers. Lineups RED SOX (15-9): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. J.D. Martinez (R) LF 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 2B 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Nick Pivetta (R) P Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (2-0, 3.48 ERA) METS (9-9): 1. Brandon Nimmo (L) CF 2. Francisco Lindor (S) SS 3. Pete Alonso (R) 1B 4. Michael Conforto (L) RF 5. J.D. Davis (R) 3B 6. Dominic Smith (L) LF 7. Jeff McNeil (L) 2B 8. James McCann (R) C 9. Jacob deGrom (L) P Pitching: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-1, 0.31 ERA) Time: 6:40 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. deGrom: Arroyo 0-3, Bogaerts 0-3, Cordero 1-3, Devers 2-6, Gonzalez 0-1, Hernández 0-3, Martinez 2-6, Renfroe 3-9, Verdugo 0-6, Vázquez 1-5. Mets vs. Pivetta: Almora Jr. 2-5, Alonso 2-5, Conforto 2-9, Davis 2-2, McCann 0-1, McNeil 4-8, Nido 2-6, Nimmo 0-6, Peraza 4-8, Pillar 2-8, Smith 4-9, Villar 1-4. Stat of the day: deGrom is the third pitcher to strike out at least 14 batters in three straight starts, following in the footsteps of Pedro Martinez (1999) and Gerrit Cole (2019). Notes: J.D. Martinez leads the majors in extra base hits (17) and total bases (61) and is tied for the lead in RBI (21) and doubles (10). He is also tied for the American League lead in home runs (7) … Pivetta is 3-2 with a 6.08 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) vs. the Mets. He is coming off a solid outing vs. Seattle on Thursday, giving up two runs on one hit and striking out four in six innings … deGrom will look to become the first pitcher in history to strike out at least 14 batters in four straight starts. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner has allowed four runs — just one earned — this season while striking out 50 batters, the most a pitcher has whiffed in his first four starts of a season. Song of the Day: Anthrax - "Got the Time?"www.youtube.com/watch?v=be7iNHw8QoQ
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 14:13:23 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 20m Cora on @omfonweei : JDM, Hernandez and Verdugo in the outfield tonight. Devers, Bogaerts, Marwin, Dalbec in the infield. Vazquez catching. Pivetta a sneaky good hitter.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 14:23:29 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 12m Devers is excited to have fans back in ballparks this season. His mother, wife and two daughters have been at Fenway games already this season. He's hopeful his father will be able to attend a couple games later this season. #RedSox
Devers -- 'I'm not really surprised at all that our record is what it is.' #RedSox
Devers on Tuesday's win -- 'It's great to see pitching performances like that. It does help us.'
'The starters all the way down to the bullpen, they've been really good for us this season.' #RedSox
Devers on facing deGrom tonight -- 'We know he's a great pitcher, but this is also a great team. We're going to go out there and try to win this ballgame.' #RedSox
Devers on the duo of Martinez and Bogaerts, who either front him when he hits 5 or back him up when he hits 2 -- 'Obviously those two guys are superstars.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 15:12:14 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 1m Cora said Christian Arroyo (left hand) is available off the bench today. They're hoping he can start at least one game in Texas. #RedSox
Alex Cora on Jacob deGrom -- 'For me right now, he's the best of the best.' #RedSox
Cora on full capacity at Texas in the upcoming four-game series -- 'We haven't talked about it. People have reminded me.'
'Just keep it very simple - from the room to the bus, from the bus to the stadium.'
'Just keep to what we're doing as far as testing.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 15:13:00 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11m Replying to @billkoch25 Cora -- 'Control the strike zone. That's what we do. Put the ball in play.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 28, 2021 15:15:55 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 20m (1/2) A few #RedSox tidbits:
* Sox have trailed in 12 of their 15 victories.
* Sox are 7-1 on the road.
* Visiting team has won 10 of the last 14 (5 in a row) in Sox-Mets series.
* 20 of the last 25 Sox-Mets games have been decided by 1 or 2 runs.
* Sox lineup today is 5x30 (167) vs. deGrom.
* deGrom is 0-1, 3.32 in 3 career starts vs. the Sox.
* Pivetta has a 4.85 ERA in 8 career appearances vs. the Mets.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 28, 2021 16:21:19 GMT -5
It doesn't get much better than this. We really needed the win since I don't relish the thought of facing DeGrom tomorrow. We got a 13/0 K/W from 3 guys I wanted a performance from. Dalbec finally went deep. Based on his HR/FB this year, he should have had 3 HRs already. Maybe this opens the flood gates. Who would have thought going into this game that it would be a pitcher's duel? Great game. Richards came through big time, as did Andriese and Barnes. As you said, Richards needs to follow this performance up with another good one. It would be nice if we could somehow get to DeGrom tonight.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 28, 2021 16:23:27 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 7h man... Cordero was nowhere near any of those pitches. It's tough to get anything going when you don't get regular playing time.
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