Astros @ Red Sox Game Thread/8th-10th June 2021

Boston Red Sox notebook: Kevin Plawecki removed from game but doesn’t have concussion, Martín Pérez’s ERA goes from 3.09 to 3.88; Bobby Dalbec’s struggles continue
Updated 9:38 AM; Today 9:38 AM

By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com

BOSTON -- Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki was removed from Tuesday’s loss after taking a foul ball off his mask in the fifth inning. According to the team, Plawecki has a jaw contusion but does not appear to have suffered a concussion.

Christian Vázquez entered for Plawecki during the top of the fifth inning and played the rest of the game.

“He’s doing okay,” said manager Alex Cora. “Just a little bit sore. He looked a little bit out of it for a little bit there. I decided to take him out. He’ll be sore tomorrow morning. We’ll obviously pay attention to how he feels tonight.”

Plawecki was making his second straight start in place of Vázquez, who entered the night hitting .200 with a .452 OPS in his last 10 games. Plawecki was 1-for-1 with a single before exiting Tuesday’s game and is now hitting .313 (10-for-32) with an .874 OPS in 14 games (nine starts) since May 1.

“This is a guy we have to get involved,” Cora said. “I do believe his at-bats are that good. It’s refreshing to see him go the other way. His numbers are down, but he’s actually hitting the ball harder than last year. We’re very happy with him.”

Plawecki has been a bit of a liability with base-stealers, allowing steals on 16 of 18 attempts so far this year. Cora downplayed that number.

“It’s not a concern, to be honest with you,” Cora said. “Obviously, in a one-run game, we’ll probably use Christian. We’ve been very pleased with the way (Plawecki) has been catching, the way he has been calling the games. And his at-bats have been amazing so we’ll give (Vázquez) another day.”

Pérez has worst outing of year

Five days after giving the Red Sox their longest start of the season, lefty Martín Pérez gave them their shortest. He lasted just two innings against Houston, allowing six runs on six hits in a 7-1 loss.

Pérez got in an early hole when he allowed a home run to Carlos Correa in the first inning and things unraveled in the second. He was tagged for five runs in that frame.

Pérez tossed 7 ⅓ scoreless innings in Houston on Thursday. The rematch with the Astros was a different story.

“That’s going to happen,” Cora said. “He pitched great against them last week. They made some adjustments. You could tell. It wasn’t a good one, but that’s going to happen throughout the season.”

Pérez threw only 57 pitches in the first six innings last week at Minute Maid Park but needed 56 to record six outs Tuesday. The Sox had to turn to three relievers -- Matt Andriese, Brandon Workman and Phillips Valdez -- for two innings or more.

“I don’t have my best stuff tonight,” Pérez said. “I think my two-seamer just ran inside too much. When I tried to throw good pitches, they hit it. It’s one of those nights where you’ve got to go out and compete no matter what.”

Pérez’s next outing will come Sunday afternoon against the Blue Jays, who he has not faced yet this year. He’ll try to quickly forget Tuesday’s debacle.

“That’s what happens at this level,” he said. “When they see something that they can hit you, they’re going to do it. They won’t wait. That happened to me tonight and I’ll come early tomorrow and figure out a couple things I think I was not doing okay.”

Dalbec’s struggles continue

Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, continuing a brutal stretch that dates back to May 19.

In his last 14 games, Dalbec is 6-for-46 (.130) with a .449 OPS. He has struck out 25 times in 48 plate appearances (52.1%).

“It’s tough right now,” Cora said. “We know he can get to it, he can get hot. We talk about making adjustments, being on time, pitch recognition, discipline in the zone. Lately, it has been hard. Especially against lefties, too. He has struggled controlling the strike zone against them.”

Dalbec’s platoon splits -- a .462 OPS against righties and .824 OPS against lefties -- have caused Cora to mostly play him against lefties. But at this point, all pitchers are giving the 25-year-old trouble.

Cora believes Dalbec is chasing hits instead of trying to put together good at-bats.

“Timing is very important at this level.,” Cora said. “When you’re off balance, the timing is going to look that hard and the breaking ball is going to be a chase pitch for you. We need to get back to his pace and being able to recognize pitches. If we can accomplish that, I do believe he’s going to be okay. At the same time, obviously, right now, he’s struggling.”

Workman posts solid outing

Workman made his first appearance at Fenway Park since rejoining the Red Sox last week and had his best outing so far, throwing two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. The righty allowed two baserunners but recorded a strikeout and a double play ball. He threw 17 of his 28 pitches for strikes.

In three appearances for Boston this year, Workman now owns a 5.40 ERA.

Eovaldi tries to even series

Red Sox righty Nathan Eovaldi (7-2, 3.78 ERA) will start Wednesday night, making his first start against his hometown team since the 2018 ALCS. Righty Jake Odorizzi (0-3, 7.16 ERA) will start for Houston in the battle of former Rays starters. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Game 62: Astros at Red Sox lineups and notes
By Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 9, 2021, 2 hours ago

After their five-game win streak was snapped Tuesday, the Red Sox will look to resume their winning ways when they host the Astros Wednesday night.

Nate Eovaldi, who has won his last three starts, will get the start for the Red Sox. Eovaldi didn’t face the Astros during last week’s series in Houston, but held the Yankees to two runs (one earned) on eight hits in six innings in his last start, a win in New York. He struck out seven for the second straight outing.
Lineups

ASTROS (34-26):


1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B
2. Carlos Correa (R) SS
3. Alex Bregman (R) 3B
4. Yordan Alvarez (L) LF
5. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
6. Michael Brantley (L) DH
7. Kyle Tucker (L) RF
8. Myles Straw (R) CF
9. Garrett Stubbs (L) C


Pitching: RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-3, 7.16 ERA)

RED SOX (37-24):


1. Danny Santana (S) 1B
2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
3. J.D. Martinez (R) LF
4. Xander Bogaerts (R) DH
5. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
6. Marwin Gonzalez (S) SS
7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B
8. Christian Vazquez (R) C
9. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF




Pitching: RHP Nate Eovaldi (7-2, 3.78 ERA)

Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Astros vs. Eovaldi: Altuve 5-15, Brantley 1-7, Bregman 1-3, Correa 4-13, Gurriel 0-3, Maldonado 2-4.

Red Sox vs. Odorizzi: Arroyo 1-2, Bogaerts 10-34, Dalbec 0-1, Devers 3-6, Gonzalez 1-7, Martinez 5-14, Plawecki 0-1, Renfroe 1-1, Santana 1-7, Verdugo 1-2, Vázquez 1-8.

Stat of the day: Xander Bogaerts is 10 for 24 (.417) during his six-game hitting streak (four runs, two doubles, five RBIs, two walks).

Notes: Eovaldi is 1-1 with a 3.19 ERA in five career starts against the Astros. His 4.47 ERA at home is two full runs higher than his average on the road (2.42) this season. Eovaldi hasn’t lost since April 24 against the Mariners … The Astros lead the majors in runs (320) and batting average (.268). They are 20-12 (.625) vs. teams with a winning percentage of .500 or better … Odorizzi is 4-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 career starts against the Red Sox. In 10 appearances at Fenway, he is 1-4 with a 6.26 ERA.

Song of the Day: Sheryl Crow - "A Change Would Do You Good"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikjmz_SlGhg