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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 3:59:49 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h Cora on Bogaerts: "If he's not the best shortstop in the league, somebody needs to show me someone else."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:02:59 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h
Sox (21-13) have won three straight and are 11-4 on the road.
Nick Pivetta starts Sunday at 1:05 p.m. vs. Dean Kremer.
Sox have scored 44 runs in five games at Camden Yards this season.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:04:20 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Alex Cora: Overall, Xander Bogaerts is the best shortstop in the majors.
"He's so good. He's really good ... This guy is amazing."
Red Sox now have 14 come-from-behind wins. At 21-13, season-best eight games over .500.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:07:52 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook: Michael Chavis not looking to prove himself in return to majors
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: May 8, 2021 at 6:45 p.m. | UPDATED: May 8, 2021 at 7:04 p.m.
Michael Chavis is back in the big leagues, and the circumstances are drastically different for him than when he was called up by the Red Sox two years ago.
One thing that didn’t change, though, was the feeling when he saw his name on the lineup card.
After not making the big-league roster coming out of spring training and starting the season in Worcester, the Red Sox recalled Chavis on Friday as they sent Kiké Hernandez to the injured list. He didn’t play in Friday’s win, but he was in Saturday’s lineup against the Orioles, batting leadoff and playing second base.
“As soon as I found out I was in the lineup today, I had a big old smile on my face,” Chavis said. “I called my family.”
Chavis was a wide-eyed rookie in 2019 when he made his debut. He made a strong first impression with 10 homers in his first 30 games but then struggled with inconsistency at the plate and ultimately finding a regular role on the team. There wasn’t any room for him on the roster when the Red Sox broke camp in March.
This time around, Chavis’ stint will likely only last until Hernandez is back. As a third-year player who has yet to earn an everyday role in the big leagues, Chavis recognizes the situation he’s in. The ultimate goal is to obviously find a steady place back in the majors, but he knows that’s not going to happen in 10 days.
“I asked our hitting coach (Tim Hyers) and I was like, ‘Do you think I should approach this 10-day stint as an opportunity to prove myself and maybe earn a spot?’” Chavis said. “And after really thinking about it with him and talking it through with him, I don’t think that’s the appropriate approach for my own mindset just because I think it’s going to cause me to kind of press or chase a result.
“I always talk about how staying process-oriented is not only just great for me, but in general just for sports. It’s the way you focus on getting those results and I feel like if I focused on what I had to prove in these 10 days, I wouldn’t be able to focus on the process leading up to that. It’s so easy to say I’m going to try and hit .500 and a bunch of home runs and not swing at bad pitches and everything like that, but the process is, I’m not going to swing at bad pitches, I’m going to have plate discipline and I’m going to focus on the process.”
Manager Alex Cora said Chavis has impressed in Worcester, though that comes with a caveat. He hasn’t seen consistent in-game at-bats, and though he’s seen live pitching at the alternate site, it hasn’t been under ideal circumstances with strangely structured sim games. But he put his biggest focus on staying as ready as he could, knowing an opportunity would eventually come.
With experience and prior lessons under his belt, nothing is really new for Chavis, who has a measured and mature approach as he makes something of a second impression in the majors.
“I know what to expect,” Chavis said. “I’ve been here before. The nerves are definitely a little bit less than my first time and I’m not absolutely terrified and unsure of everything that’s going to happen, so I definitely feel a little bit more comfortable.”
Sawamura scuffles
After a strong debut in which he gave up just one hit and no runs in his first big-league appearances, Hirokazu Sawamura has struggled since. The veteran Japanese reliever has a 6.00 ERA in his last eight appearances with four homers, including one in Friday’s win against the Orioles.
Cora said that one of the issues is the location of Sawamura’s fastball, which is down in the zone more than they’d like.
“We want him to elevate,” Cora said. (Friday), velocity was up, it was 97-98 but at this level, it seems like fastball down in the zone, that’s where they’re hunting and they put good swings on it. Besides that he’s been OK. … I think it’s just a slight adjustment, being able to elevate the fastball. I’m not saying just throw it up there all the time, you’ve got to get ahead but you can expand up. And then when he can go up, they get to the limit and then he can use that split, which I think has been playing better lately.
“I think that’s the next step, just to make sure where he uses his weapons, and I think that fastball should play up in the zone.”
Whitlock bounces back
Garrett Whitlock pitched two scoreless innings in Friday’s win, an encouraging outing after the rookie reliever allowed a game-winning three-run homer in Wednesday’s loss to the Tigers. But Cora didn’t want to overplay how much Friday’s performance would do for his confidence.
“It feels good to put up two zeroes but we have to be careful,” Cora said. “Talking about him struggling or not performing because of that inning (on Wednesday). For how cool it is for some people, it’s just man at second, no outs and a bloop and a blast is three runs. I think he’s still attacking the zone. You saw the movement of the pitches (Friday). He actually mixed up a few sliders, which is good, and he gave us a chance to rest the bullpen.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:10:11 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 7h Xander Bogaerts leads the majors with 7 HR since 4/20 (in 17 games).
Garrett Richards:
First 4 starts – 16.2 IP, 13 BB, 12 K, 6.48 ERA Last 3 starts – 19.0 IP, 2 BB, 22 K, 2.84 ERA
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:13:29 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Michael Chavis blasts homer; Christian Vázquez (.455 in May) ‘changes complexion of lineup’ Updated 12:36 AM; Today 12:36 AM
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BALTIMORE — Michael Chavis called his family after seeing his name in the Red Sox’s lineup Saturday.
“As soon as I found out I was in the lineup today, I had a big, old smile on my face,” Chavis said.
Chavis, who Boston recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, took advantage of his opportunity. He belted a 381-foot two-run homer to help lead the Red Sox 11-6 over the Orioles here at Camden Yards.
“Chavis, he comes up and gets a homer in his first game,” Xander Bogaerts said. “It’s contagious.”
The Red Sox stroked 14 hits. Everyone in Boston’s starting lineup, except for Rafael Devers, stroked at least one hit. Alex Verdugo and Bogaerts each recorded three hits. Christian Vázquez and Hunter Renfroe had two hits apiece.
“We controlled the strike zone,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We used the other side of the field. Overall, it was outstanding.”
Vázquez ‘changes this lineup’
Christian Vázquez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs and one walk in Saturday’s win.
He is 10-for-22 (.455) with a .480 on-base percentage, .545 slugging percentage, two doubles, five runs, seven RBIs, two walks and two steals in six games during May.
Cora said Vázquez has the ability to “change the complexion of the lineup.”
“When Christian is just hitting line drives all over the place, it gets the line moving,” Cora said. “Sometimes he gets caught up on hitting the ball in the air and all that. Understandably so because he can do it. But when he starts spreading the ball all over the place and becomes the complete hitter, he changes this lineup.”
Richards pitches 7 innings
Red Sox starter Garrett Richards improved to 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA. He pitched 7 innings, allowing four runs, eight hits and one walk while striking out five.
“For him to go seven (innings) was huge,” Cora said. “We were able to reset our bullpen and now we are at full force tomorrow.”
The sixth inning was a struggle. Richards gave up two runs on three hits (two doubles) and one walk.
“I feel like I got caught up in us having a big lead right there in the sixth inning,” Richards said. “I wish I would have thrown more first-pitch breaking balls and kind of got guys off the fastball.”
Richards allowed six earned runs in 2 innings his first start April 4 at home against Baltimore. He has allowed 12 runs in 33 ⅔ innings (3.21 ERA) in six starts since then.
Red Sox want Sawamura to elevate fastball
Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura has allowed four homers in 14 ⅓ innings.
The rest of the Red Sox relievers has allowed eight homers in 108 ⅔ innings (entering Saturday).
“Fastballs down in the zone,” Cora said about the common denominator. “We have talked about it. We want him to elevate. (Friday) velocity was up. It was 97, 98 (mph). But at this level, it seems like fastballs down in the zone, that’s where they’re hunting.
“Besides that, he’s been OK,” Cora added. “Obviously the walks against lefties, it concerns you. Walks from the bullpen, it always concerns you. But I think it’s just a slight adjustment. Being able to elevate the fastball. I’m not saying just throw it up there all the time. You’ve got to get ahead. But you can expand up. And then if he goes up, they get to the limit, and then he can use that split, which I think has been playing better lately. I think that is the next step, just to make sure where to use his weapons. And I think that fastball should play up in the zone.”
Lineup construction
Michael Chavis, who has a .302 career on-base percentage, batted leadoff Saturday, one day after Marwin Gonzalez (.317 OBP) led off.
Kiké Hernández (.312 career OBP) had been hitting in the leadoff spot until he went on the IL because of a right hamstring strain.
Cora likes a right-handed hitter at the top so he can separate Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers, both left-handed hitters. Verdugo has been batting second and Devers fifth.
But why not Verdugo at leadoff and Xander Bogaerts second?
Cora prefers Bogaerts always hitting behind No. 3 hitter J.D. Martinez.
“You saw what happened to us against Detroit,” Cora said. “J.D. got walked twice (intentionally) and they went to probably one of the best hitters (Bogaerts) in the big leagues. It’s not about protection. It’s about construction and how to manage the team against us. It seems like it’s pretty difficult for the opposition to manage the bullpen with this structure that we have.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:15:59 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h New mechanics Garrett Richards: 74 batters faced 22 strikeouts (30%) 2 walks (3%)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 4:31:01 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Orioles Sunday, 9th May 2021 1pm @ OPACY
Pivetta 4-0/3.23
Has allowed 3 runs or less in 5 of his 6 starts. Won a previous start at Camden Yards giving up 4 runs over six.
Kremer 0-2/ 6.43
In his last start, he held the Mariners to one run over 6IP.
Nick Pivetta, Red Sox look to keep rolling vs. Orioles
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made it clear before Saturday's game that he wanted to see his team's offense make life a little bit easier on its pitchers.
"It feels like we've been in every game from day one, and that's great -- but sometimes it's like this is too much. Either we win by a lot or, I hate to say it, they beat us by a lot," Cora said. "Offensively when we have leads -- if we add up, add on, it will be great for (the pitchers) too."
Boston's hitters heard Cora's message loudly and clearly as they pounded out 11 runs on 14 hits in a five-run rout of the AL East rival Orioles in Baltimore later that night.
The Red Sox moved eight games above .500 with their third straight win and eighth in the last 12 games.
Boston looks to build on the best record in the majors on Sunday afternoon when it faces the Orioles in the third of their four-game weekend series.
Nick Pivetta (4-0, 3.23 ERA) will be tasked with keeping the momentum rolling for the Red Sox on the mound as he seeks to match Eduardo Rodriguez (5-0) for the staff lead in wins.
The 28-year-old right-hander has allowed more than three runs just once through six starts -- on the road against the Orioles in a 14-9 win on April 11. Pivetta got the win after throwing a season-high 101 pitches, but gave up season highs in runs (four) and hits (seven) while walking three and striking out seven over six innings.
Maikel Franco drove in three of the Orioles' four runs against Pivetta and is 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs against him overall. Pat Valaika (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBIs), Freddy Galvis (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Trey Mancini (1-for-7, solo HR) have also had success facing Pivetta.
Pivetta is unbeaten in his career against the Orioles, posting a 4-0 mark with a 3.28 ERA in four prior starts.
Baltimore remains in last place in the AL East and has dropped four of six after winning five of seven. After winning their first three against Boston this season, the Orioles have dropped their last five.
"I think we're going to get better as a team," said Galvis, the Orioles shortstop, who hit a solo home run in Saturday's game before leaving with a groin injury. "We have to try to hit really early and try to put the runs (on the board)."
The Orioles turn to right-hander Dean Kremer (0-2, 6.43 ERA) with hopes of building off a strong start in his last outing.
Kremer lasted a season-best six innings and allowed just one run on two hits while walking two and striking out four on Monday in Seattle. Kremer did not factor into the decision in Baltimore's 5-3 win.
In his four prior starts, Kremer had pitched to an 8.40 ERA, and he allowed a career-worst seven runs in 2 2/3 innings in his final outing of 2020 on Sept. 23 at Boston, his only career start against the Red Sox.
Kevin Plawecki is 2-for-2 with two RBIs versus Kremer, while J.D. Martinez (1-for-2) and Michael Chavis (1-for-2) each have an RBI against him.
--Field Level Media
Red Sox at Orioles Sunday, at 1:05 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 55° F with a 2% chance of rain and 7 MPH wind blowing out in Baltimore at 1:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 8:01:47 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 44m The Red Sox have scored 45 runs in their last 5 games. They scored 11+ runs in 3 of those 5.
In May, Christian Vázquez, Hunter Renfroe, and Marwin Gonzalez are a combined 27-for-79 (.342). Renfroe leads the Sox with 8 RBI in the month. Bobby Dalbec has 5 RBI in his last 2 games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 9:18:56 GMT -5
Game 35: Red Sox at Orioles lineups and notesBy Brandon Chase Globe Correspondent,May 9, 2021, 1 hour ago The Red Sox got home runs from Xander Bogaerts and Michael Chavis on Saturday night to lead them to an 11-6 win over the Orioles. Nick Pivetta gets the start on Sunday, hoping to go to 5-0. Here are the lineups. Lineups RED SOX (21-13): 1. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 2B 2. Alex Verdugo (L) CF 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 6. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Franchy Cordero (L) LF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R) C Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (4-0, 3.23) ORIOLES (15-18): 1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF 2. Austin Hays (R) LF 3. Trey Mancini (R) DH 4. DJ Stewart (L) RF 5. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B 6. Freddy Galvis (S) SS 7. Pedro Severino (R) C 8. Rio Ruiz (L) 3B 9. Pat Valaika (R) 2B Pitching: RHP Dean Kremer (0-2, 6.43) Time: 1:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Kremer: Plawecki 2-2, Martinez 1-2, Verdugo 1-2, Chavis 1-2, Dalbec 0-2, Devers 0-2, Bogaerts 1-1 Orioles vs. Pivetta: Ruiz 0-8, Mancini 1-7, Severino 0-7, Mountcastle 1-6, Mullins 2-5, Sisco 1-5, Galvis 3-4, Stewart 2-4, Franco 2-3, Valaika 2-2, Urias 1-2, Hays 0-2 Stat of the Day: Pivetta has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts. Song of the Day : The Rolling Stones "Spider and the Fly"www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDedLtT5sno
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 9:27:30 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 14m Red Sox now have Jonathan Arauz on the taxi squad in the event Christian Arroyo lands on the IL.
Red Sox have shut down Tanner Houck with a sore flexor muscle. Came out of his start with it. Cora said they are not "overly concerned."
But given he's their first line of starter depth, obviously an issue.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 10:41:28 GMT -5
Tom Caron @tomcaron 27m Nick Pivetta (4-0, 3.23) on the mound for the #RedSox Boston is 15-4 when Pivetta, Eovaldi, or Rodriguez start. 6-9 when anyone else start. Pre-game starts at 1 pm on @nesn
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 11:02:07 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 14m Red Sox placed Christian Arroyo on the injured list with a bruised left hand. Jonathan Arauz was recalled.
Arroyo's IL stint was backdated to Friday.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 9, 2021 12:10:37 GMT -5
I was going to post that Verdugo hasn't struck out this month, and he strikes out his first AB.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2021 12:24:35 GMT -5
back to back walks for Pivetta gonna end up costing him and sure enough it just did 1-0 Orioles after Mountcastle knock.
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