Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 23, 2021 3:55:31 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Nathan Eovaldi gives club jolt by walking, scoring run; Danny Santana homers in second straight game
Updated 3:07 AM; Today 3:07 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Nick Pivetta’s 10-pitch strikeout against Mets ace Jacob deGrom a few weeks ago might not go down as the best at-bat by a Red Sox pitcher this season after all.
In the third inning of Saturday’s game, righty Nathan Eovaldi worked an eight-pitch walk against Phillies rookie righty Spencer Howard, reaching base for only the 19th time in 172 career plate appearances. Eovaldi then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored the game’s first run on a Rafael Devers RBI double.
Eovaldi went down 1-2 before fouling off a pitch and then taking a ball from Howard. He fouled off another, then took two straight balls and took his base.
“It was actually a great at-bat,” said manager Alex Cora. “I always joke around with them about 3-2 counts at the big-league level right now. If you are a bad hitter and you have no chance, it should be auto-take because it’s 50/50. 50% it’s a ball, 50% it’s a strike. If you swing, the odds of you getting on base go way down. I don’t know how many hits he has. He didn’t say it was an auto-take but I’ll take credit for that one. They know about the 50/50.”
Eovaldi went 5 ⅓ strong innings, giving up only two runs in the win. He was happy to help the team in an unconventional way as well.
“I wasn’t going to be swinging at much up there,” he said. “I was able to get a walk out of it and got on the basepaths.”
Santana joins Darnell MacDonald, Sam Horn with rare feat
Newcomer Danny Santana, who homered in his Sox debut Friday night, added another solo shot Saturday, taking Sam Coonrod deep in the sixth inning to go back-to-back with shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He became just the fifth Red Sox player ever -- and first since 2010 -- to homer in his first two games with the club. The others were Darnell McDonald (2010), Sam Horn (1987), Lee Thomas (1964) and Jake Jones (1947).
It’s clear Santana is giving the club a jolt early in his tenure.
“He’s a good player. He had a great season a few years ago,” Cora said. “Just the way he controls the at-bat, there’s no panic. The way he takes pitches. He can drive the ball the other way and you know what that means at home. He can shoot it the other way with power.”
Devers’ start impressing Cora
Devers, who was 1-for-5 with an RBI double Saturday night, has impressed Cora with his hot start to 2021. The third baseman is not traditionally a quick starter but is hitting .279 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs and a .935 OPS in 44 games.
“Probably his best start in professional baseball,” Cora said. “In the minor leagues, he struggled the first part of the season and then finished where he always finishes. He did an outstanding job in the offseason, too, physically. I think last year wasn’t fair for him. Going into spring training, everything I heard and what I saw, he was in great shape. Then he goes to the Dominican Republic and for how tough things were in the States, it was tougher down there. He didn’t have the facilities to take care of himself. Actually, we spoke a few times during the shutdown and he was afraid. He was afraid of just leaving the house. He’s just a kid. We were all afraid, and for him not to be able to do the things he normally does to prepare for a season, it’s not an excuse but it’s the reality. I know a lot of people were hard on him. Nobody was harder than himself. I don’t think it was fair to judge him last year, body-wise, because nobody knew what was going on where he lives.”
Devers attributes his strong start to health.
“I think the most important thing is the fact I’ve bene able to stay healthy,” he said through translator Bryan Almonte. “If I’m able to stay healthy, I know the numbers I’ll be able to put up. That’s something I’m really grateful for, I’ve been able to play in games and not have anything that has been bothering me. I feel really good out there.”
Ottavino sharp in win
Though Darwinzon Hernandez’s performance made headlines, Adam Ottavino was also sharp in the eighth inning Saturday night. Ottavino struck out all three batters he faced, needing just 15 pitches to do so.
“Very aggressive,” Cora said. “You could see the body language on the mound. He made some great pitches on Herrera. He mentioned the other day that he’s close. I think the stuff is a lot better than last year. We know that. It’s just a matter of executing pitches and he did tonight. He was great today.”
Taylor’s hot month continues
Reliever Josh Taylor also played a big role Saturday night, recording two quick outs to escape the sixth inning. The outing continued a strong stretch for Taylor, who has not allowed a run in his last 10 appearances dating back to April 24 (7 ⅓ innings).
“This month of May, he has been throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “Overall, amazing against lefties, which is a big difference from ’19. In ’19, he was a reverse split guy. Now, you can mix and match with the rule. You’ve seen him. We’ve got two outs and there’s a lefty coming up, we use him there, then depending on where we’re at in the lineup with the opposition, we’ll push him out there or we shut him down. We’re very pleased with what he’s done.”
Cora said Taylor has shown improvements with his conditioning and is working harder in the weight room and training room. His ERA, which stood at 10.80 after eight outings, is now down to 5.17.
“This is the guy we envisioned,” Cora said.
Marwin scuffling in May
Utility man Marwin Gonzalez was out of Saturday’s lineup with Kiké Hernández starting at second base, Santana starting in center and Franchy Cordero making an appearance in left field. Gonzalez has started 37 of Boston’s first 47 games but has struggled in recent weeks, hitting just .114 (4-for-35) with two doubles since May 10.
“One thing he’s fighting is actually catching up with the fastball,” Cora said. “He has a gameplan, but it feels like — I don’t want to say he’s afraid — but he’s conscious he’s not catching up with it so he doesn’t want to buy into what he’s thinking or what he’s seeing. He feels like, ‘Ok, he’s going to throw me a breaking ball here,’ but in the back of his mind, it’s like, ‘I’ve got to catch up with it.’ This is like the toughest stretch for him with the strikeouts. It has been tough.”
Gonzalez has been a defensive asset for the Red Sox at multiple positions and is likely to start Sunday’s series finale at second base.
“It’s not that we’re going to unplug him, but we’re going to help him out to get some matchups that favor him and he’ll get out of it,” Cora said.
Updated 3:07 AM; Today 3:07 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Nick Pivetta’s 10-pitch strikeout against Mets ace Jacob deGrom a few weeks ago might not go down as the best at-bat by a Red Sox pitcher this season after all.
In the third inning of Saturday’s game, righty Nathan Eovaldi worked an eight-pitch walk against Phillies rookie righty Spencer Howard, reaching base for only the 19th time in 172 career plate appearances. Eovaldi then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored the game’s first run on a Rafael Devers RBI double.
Eovaldi went down 1-2 before fouling off a pitch and then taking a ball from Howard. He fouled off another, then took two straight balls and took his base.
“It was actually a great at-bat,” said manager Alex Cora. “I always joke around with them about 3-2 counts at the big-league level right now. If you are a bad hitter and you have no chance, it should be auto-take because it’s 50/50. 50% it’s a ball, 50% it’s a strike. If you swing, the odds of you getting on base go way down. I don’t know how many hits he has. He didn’t say it was an auto-take but I’ll take credit for that one. They know about the 50/50.”
Eovaldi went 5 ⅓ strong innings, giving up only two runs in the win. He was happy to help the team in an unconventional way as well.
“I wasn’t going to be swinging at much up there,” he said. “I was able to get a walk out of it and got on the basepaths.”
Santana joins Darnell MacDonald, Sam Horn with rare feat
Newcomer Danny Santana, who homered in his Sox debut Friday night, added another solo shot Saturday, taking Sam Coonrod deep in the sixth inning to go back-to-back with shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He became just the fifth Red Sox player ever -- and first since 2010 -- to homer in his first two games with the club. The others were Darnell McDonald (2010), Sam Horn (1987), Lee Thomas (1964) and Jake Jones (1947).
It’s clear Santana is giving the club a jolt early in his tenure.
“He’s a good player. He had a great season a few years ago,” Cora said. “Just the way he controls the at-bat, there’s no panic. The way he takes pitches. He can drive the ball the other way and you know what that means at home. He can shoot it the other way with power.”
Devers’ start impressing Cora
Devers, who was 1-for-5 with an RBI double Saturday night, has impressed Cora with his hot start to 2021. The third baseman is not traditionally a quick starter but is hitting .279 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs and a .935 OPS in 44 games.
“Probably his best start in professional baseball,” Cora said. “In the minor leagues, he struggled the first part of the season and then finished where he always finishes. He did an outstanding job in the offseason, too, physically. I think last year wasn’t fair for him. Going into spring training, everything I heard and what I saw, he was in great shape. Then he goes to the Dominican Republic and for how tough things were in the States, it was tougher down there. He didn’t have the facilities to take care of himself. Actually, we spoke a few times during the shutdown and he was afraid. He was afraid of just leaving the house. He’s just a kid. We were all afraid, and for him not to be able to do the things he normally does to prepare for a season, it’s not an excuse but it’s the reality. I know a lot of people were hard on him. Nobody was harder than himself. I don’t think it was fair to judge him last year, body-wise, because nobody knew what was going on where he lives.”
Devers attributes his strong start to health.
“I think the most important thing is the fact I’ve bene able to stay healthy,” he said through translator Bryan Almonte. “If I’m able to stay healthy, I know the numbers I’ll be able to put up. That’s something I’m really grateful for, I’ve been able to play in games and not have anything that has been bothering me. I feel really good out there.”
Ottavino sharp in win
Though Darwinzon Hernandez’s performance made headlines, Adam Ottavino was also sharp in the eighth inning Saturday night. Ottavino struck out all three batters he faced, needing just 15 pitches to do so.
“Very aggressive,” Cora said. “You could see the body language on the mound. He made some great pitches on Herrera. He mentioned the other day that he’s close. I think the stuff is a lot better than last year. We know that. It’s just a matter of executing pitches and he did tonight. He was great today.”
Taylor’s hot month continues
Reliever Josh Taylor also played a big role Saturday night, recording two quick outs to escape the sixth inning. The outing continued a strong stretch for Taylor, who has not allowed a run in his last 10 appearances dating back to April 24 (7 ⅓ innings).
“This month of May, he has been throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “Overall, amazing against lefties, which is a big difference from ’19. In ’19, he was a reverse split guy. Now, you can mix and match with the rule. You’ve seen him. We’ve got two outs and there’s a lefty coming up, we use him there, then depending on where we’re at in the lineup with the opposition, we’ll push him out there or we shut him down. We’re very pleased with what he’s done.”
Cora said Taylor has shown improvements with his conditioning and is working harder in the weight room and training room. His ERA, which stood at 10.80 after eight outings, is now down to 5.17.
“This is the guy we envisioned,” Cora said.
Marwin scuffling in May
Utility man Marwin Gonzalez was out of Saturday’s lineup with Kiké Hernández starting at second base, Santana starting in center and Franchy Cordero making an appearance in left field. Gonzalez has started 37 of Boston’s first 47 games but has struggled in recent weeks, hitting just .114 (4-for-35) with two doubles since May 10.
“One thing he’s fighting is actually catching up with the fastball,” Cora said. “He has a gameplan, but it feels like — I don’t want to say he’s afraid — but he’s conscious he’s not catching up with it so he doesn’t want to buy into what he’s thinking or what he’s seeing. He feels like, ‘Ok, he’s going to throw me a breaking ball here,’ but in the back of his mind, it’s like, ‘I’ve got to catch up with it.’ This is like the toughest stretch for him with the strikeouts. It has been tough.”
Gonzalez has been a defensive asset for the Red Sox at multiple positions and is likely to start Sunday’s series finale at second base.
“It’s not that we’re going to unplug him, but we’re going to help him out to get some matchups that favor him and he’ll get out of it,” Cora said.