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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 13, 2021 18:27:36 GMT -5
2-run HR from Bogaerts. He's making up for yesterday's mistakes. That's a winner move, imo.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 13, 2021 18:45:54 GMT -5
Production from the bottom of the lineup? Am I logged into the right game?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 1:25:55 GMT -5
Chavis, Bogaerts, Dalbec halt Red Sox's skid 12:25 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- A three-game offensive slump -- which turns into a three-game losing streak -- can send Red Sox Nation into a state of panic.
But slumps are going to happen for any team, and the good ones make sure they don't last very long.
By all indications so far, these 23-16 Red Sox are a good team, and they broke out their big bats and proved it in Thursday's 8-1 victory over the Athletics at Fenway Park that contained, quite fittingly, three signature hits.
Signature hit No. 1: In the bottom of the first, Michael Chavis belted a sinking liner to center. Ramón Laureano, a superb defender, came racing in to try to make a diving catch and nearly did. But the ball glanced off his glove. Chavis took advantage of the fact that the strong-armed outfielder was on the ground and he motored into second headfirst as the crowd roared with approval.
"I knew it was going to take him a second to get up," Chavis said. "So off the bat, I'm just trying to take a hard turn around first. And then it was kind of just a read where I was waiting to see what happens, seeing it unfold and he didn't hop up quite as quick as I anticipated. So once I saw that, I thought I had a chance. There's no kidding, he does have an incredible arm, so that was something to take into account. But good thing it turned out well."
It is the type of play that can spark a team when it works, and it did.
"I think Michael set the tempo, hit the ball hard, got to second," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
Chavis, who was recently recalled from Triple-A Worcester, is noticeably leaner this season. It's doubtful he would have even attempted the double on that hit in previous years.
"I'd say it helps a lot in regards to the performance, obviously it helps because I'm definitely faster, able to be a little more athletic," Chavis said. "But for the mentality, I'm also a little bit more willing to take those riskier plays and know that I have a good shot of making it. And that's potentially one of those plays I'm not sure if I take or one of those risks I'm not sure I take in 2020."
Signature hit No. 2: Still in that first inning, Xander Bogaerts stepped to the plate. And the steady shortstop was at the forefront of the team's recent slump, going 1-for-12 in his previous four games. Rather than being tentative, Bogaerts was aggressive, attacking the first pitch he saw from A's lefty Sean Manaea and hooking it just fair down the left-field line, where it glanced off the foul pole for a homer. Bogaerts didn't do any demonstrative, Carlton Fisk-type of body language as the ball soared in the air, but he did stand sideways and watch it, hoping it would stay fair, and the Sox had an early 3-0 lead.
It was an ideal night for Bogaerts, because he mainly stayed off his feet by being the designated hitter.
"I'm trying to convince him to DH tomorrow again, but he wants to play short," said Cora. "It was good to see him hunting the first pitch and putting a good swing on it. Then he keeps adding on. The walk tells you who he is. If he was somebody else, he'd try to hit the ball in the corner and see what happens to go for the cycle. But he took his walk and it was a solid night for him."
Signature hit No. 3: Bobby Dalbec, who was out of the lineup the previous two nights so the Red Sox could get a more extended look at Chavis, was back in there on Thursday. And in his first at-bat, he hammered an 0-1, 89.7 mph sinker to center field at an exit velocity of 110 mph and a projected distance of 432 feet for a two-run homer. The only thing stopping that baseball was the back wall to the left of the flagpole.
It was the third homer of the season for the rookie, who is trying to gain more consistent footing. His blast fueled the Red Sox to their second straight three-run inning and starting pitcher Garrett Richards, who was solid all night (six scoreless innings), had a 6-0 lead.
"We're going to keep pushing him and keep grinding," said Cora. "There's a lot of work to do, and he's put in the work. It's something that we're trying to put the best lineup out there on a daily basis, and I just thought the last two days was good for him to reset again and give Michael a chance to go out and play. The two were really good today. It was a solid day for everybody."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:23:13 GMT -5
Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox bust out of hitting slump in rout of A’s By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 13, 2021, 10:10 p.m.
The Red Sox were in an offensive funk heading into Thursday’s series finale against the A’s.
The Sox had dropped their last three games, beginning with a loss Monday in Baltimore against the Orioles. During that slide, the Sox hit just .141/.198./239 with a .437 OPS in 101 plate appearances and stranded 16 baserunners.
After starting the season on an offensive tear — especially from the heart of the order — the Sox were in a collective offensive rut. On Thursday, however, the Sox’ bats came alive again.
The Red Sox sent 17 hitters to the batter’s box against Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea, who managed to retire just six of them.
The Red Sox chased Manaea after two innings, battering the lefthander for seven runs on 10 hits, including a pair of home runs, in an 8-1 win at Fenway Park, which helped the Sox avert a three-game sweep.
Boston’s 13-hit assault came on the heels of a pair of setbacks vs. the A’s during which the Red Sox had nine hits combined. Related: Alex Speier | On baseball: Letting Nick Pivetta be himself is paying off big for the Red Sox
Michael Chavis led off the game with a scorching double that slipped underneath the glove of A’s center fielder Rámon Laureano, who appeared to make a bad read on the ball. Known for his accurate arm, even Laureano couldn’t nab the hustling Chavis, who safely reached after a head-first dive into second base.
“I knew it was going take a second for [Laureano] to get up,” Chavis said afterward. “So off the bat, I’m just trying to take a hard turn around first. Then it was just a read, where I was just waiting to see what was going to unfold.”
What unfolded afterward was a Red Sox offensive onslaught.
After J.D. Martinez’s single scored Chavis, Xander Bogaerts (3 for 3 with a walk and 3 RBIs) took Manaea deep for a two-run homer to left, giving the Red Sox a quick 3-0 lead.
In the second frame, Hunter Renfroe singled. Bobby Dalbec came to the plate and ripped Manaea’s second offering, an 89.7 m.p.h. sinker, to straightaway center for a two-run homer that expanded Boston’s lead to 5-0. It was Dalbec’s third homer of the season.
Manaea, who threw a no-hitter against the Red Sox three years ago in Oakland, was working on his second career no-hitter in his previous outing against the Rays. Manaea surrendered a leadoff double in the eighth to Mike Brosseau.
Before the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora knew the type of pitcher his team was facing in Manaea.
“He’s a good one,” Cora said. “We just got to make sure we get him up. Be very disciplined in the strikes zone, and if we do that we should be OK.”
The Red Sox proved to be more than OK.
Manaea appeared as if he was leaving the ball on a tee for the Red Sox, who registered seven hits with an exit velocity of 105-plus m.p.h. It was the hardest hits allowed by any pitcher since Jake Peavy gave up seven such hits in April of 2016.
“I think Michael set the tempo,” manager Alex Cora said. “J.D. got a hit, And then Xander, he was hunting a pitch in the zone. It just kept rolling. And it was cool to see them add on and give Garrett [Richards] a margin for error. We were able to do a lot of things today.”
Richards had his way with the A’s lineup, allowing five hits with four strikeouts over six scoreless innings. It marked the third time in his last four outings Richards has given the Sox at least six innings. He went seven innings in his other two outings.
“We’ve done a lot of work the last month and we feel like we’re in a good place right now for me to repeat my delivery,” Richards said. “Tonight I wish I would have been able to eliminate some of the walks. It probably cost me a couple of innings. But that’s part of baseball. There’s always stuff you can work on.”
In the sixth, with his club leading, 7-0, Richards walked Jed Lowrie to load the bases. It brought up A’s slugger, Matt Chapman, who grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Garrett Whitlock took over for Richards in the seventh and picked up his first save of the season after allowing one run on three hits over three innings of relief.
The Red Sox (23-16) next host the Angels and Mike Trout for a three-game set beginning Friday. After a brief halt to an offense that has been the best in baseball through the quarter of this season, the Red Sox hitters regained their stride. One that was rooted in conviction.
“It was electric,” Chavis said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:33:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7h A major focus for Alex Cora and the #RedSox -- could Michael Chavis turn double plays if they put him at second base. He certainly did so there, pivoting the 5-4-3.
Hunter Renfroe with yet another assist, this time with Jonathan Arauz as the relay man. #RedSox preserve the shutout into the stretch. #RedSox
Christian Vazquez made a nice pick and tag on the back end, by the way. Can't go unnoticed. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:44:50 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h That's Jim Ed Rice territory for Bobby Dalbec.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:45:44 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Hitting the cutoff man in the chest leads to good things. Renfroe knows his business in RF.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:53:00 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5h Chavis’s helmet has been flying off all night. Homage to Eduardo Nuñez?
6th career game for Chavis with multiple extra-base hits -- he had four in 2019 and one in 2020.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:53:53 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 8h NESN booth speculated that Renfroe's single off the Wall was the hardest hit ball by a Red Sox this year. It was: 114.7 mph surpasses a 113.6 mph Bogaerts double.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:54:37 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 7h The Red Sox had 7 hits with exit velocities of 105+ mph against Manaea. It's in the third inning. Their most hits in one game with that kind of exit velo since the introduction of Statcast is 8, done twice (most recently April 11 this year).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:55:49 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 7h Yeesh. Richards then threw a head-height fastball at Canha. Eck is livid that he'd throw there, even if trying to brush Canha off the plate.
Richards used a phrase that seemed to express dismay with Canha's proclivity to leave his elbow over the plate.
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h Good honesty from Eck on @nesn . He’s right, too.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 2:57:07 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 6h Garrett Richards is done. Garrett Whitlock is in.
Richards: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K. 91/52.
His ERA is now 3.89.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 3:04:10 GMT -5
Joe Boslin @joeboslin · 15h Replying to @loumerloni You over hyped the Sox in April when they had best record in baseball, why? As an analysts didn’t you see the glaring holes defensively, pitching, and awful back half of offensive lineup? Rose colored glasses for Red Sox media now hitting reality of .500 team
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 10h I said they were a good team and win about 87 games. if that's over hyping, I'm guilty. Never said they would win the division. I just got so deep in your dome that it bothered you. Yanks are still over rated if you think they are the best in the AL.....no shot
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 3:07:08 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 6h Garrett Richards’ season ERA is down to 3.89, 2nd-lowest among Sox starters.
First 3.0 innings of 2021 – 8 ER 38.2 innings since – 10 ER (2.33 ERA)
Last 4 starts (2.16 ERA):
7.0 IP, 1 R, 0 BB 5.0 IP, 1 R, 1 BB 7.0 IP, 4 R, 1 BB 6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 BB
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 14, 2021 3:08:52 GMT -5
Michael Chavis ‘set the tempo’ for Boston Red Sox with hustle double to lead off rout over A’s: ‘I’m just trying to earn a spot,’ he says Updated 12:06 AM; Today 12:01 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- After totaling just 13 hits in the last three games, the Red Sox were looking for an offensive spark against Athletics lefty Sean Manaea early in Thursday’s series finale. Leadoff hitter Michael Chavis provided one instantly in the first inning.
Chavis smoked a Manaea pitch toward A’s center fielder Ramón Laureano, but Laureano missed a diving catch by a few inches and gathered the ball on one knee. Laureano didn’t show much urgency in getting up, so Chavis kept sprinting and slid into second for a “hustle double.”
The Red Sox went on to score three runs in the inning and plate eight runs on 13 hits in an 8-1 rout. Manager Alex Cora credited Chavis with getting the lineup going.
“Three games in a row, we didn’t do too much, and right away, he hits a missile and just kept running,” Cora said. “He saw Laureano — he didn’t come up clean with it — and he kept going. Just set the tempo for the whole night.”
Chavis, who was called up from Triple-A on Friday when Kiké Hernández (right hamstring strain) was placed on the injured list, credited his offseason workouts for the successful play. The former first-round pick focused on getting leaner and more athletic this winter and has been faster on the basepaths as a result.
“When I saw him dive, I knew he was going to take a second to get up so off the bat, I’m just trying to take a hard turn around first,” Chavis said. “Then it’s just a read where I’m just waiting to see what happens and seeing it unfold. He didn’t hop up quite as quick as I anticipated, so once I saw that, I thought I had a chance.
“I’m a little bit more willing to take those riskier plays and know that I have a good shot at making it,” he added. “That’s potentially one of those risks I’m not sure I’d take in 2020.”
J.D. Martinez followed Chavis’ double with an RBI double to drive him in, then Xander Bogaerts put the Sox up 3-0 with a two-run homer two batters later. Boston doubled its lead in the second -- plating two runs on a Bobby Dalbec homer -- and chased Manaea before he recorded an out in the third.
After not making the team out of spring training, Chavis is trying to show the Red Sox that he belongs back in the majors. He had two doubles in Thursday’s victory.
“I’m just trying to earn a spot,” he said. “Every day that I get a chance to play, I’m trying to make the most of it. Just trying to make an impact, honestly.
“It’s sure as hell easier to play as hard as I do when I have a Red Sox jersey on,” he said.
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