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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 4:33:04 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h Cora mentioned how much he likes Verdugo hitting 2nd again tonight. "5-tool player, game changer, young, learning... average, power, high baseball iq, his at bats are amazing. He's probably the most complete hitter we have; other way, average, power, works counts."
Earlier this week Bloom kind of shut down the leadoff idea: "May evolve into a different looks v. R, v. L, and that’s ok, that may be the best way to get leadoff production. We need to find something that clicks without disrupting all the good things in the middle of the order."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 4:41:18 GMT -5
Blue Jays @ Red Sox Saturday, 12th June 2021 4pm @ Fenway
Matz 6-3/4.50
Has run hot and cold this season but feels he is close to more consistency. There is buzz that the Blue Jays may make some moves to bring up bullpen arms today.
Pivetta 6-1/3.78
Labored in his last start throwing 92 pitches in just over 4 IP and getting the hook. Must cut down on the free passes to batters. He is 3-0/3.72 in 7 starts at Fenway this season.
Nick Pivetta faces challenge as Red Sox battle Blue Jays According to STATS
Nick Pivetta will try to stay unbeaten at Fenway Park as the Boston Red Sox host hot-hitting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays for the second game of a four-game series on Saturday afternoon.
Pivetta (6-1, 3.78 ERA) is 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in seven starts at Fenway this season. However, he will have to find a way to stifle one of the hottest hitters in baseball to help keep his home record unblemished.
Guerrero hit a two-run blast for his major-league-leading 19th home run and became the first in the majors to reach 50 RBIs in Toronto's 6-5 loss to Boston on Friday. The 22-year-old is batting .419 (13-for-31) with three homers and eight RBIs through his first nine games in June.
Boston rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win the Friday game on Alex Verdugo's walk-off single in the ninth inning. The Red Sox have won seven of their past nine and are 3-2 on their eight-game homestand. Meanwhile, Toronto has dropped four of its past five games.
The Blue Jays rank second in the majors in both batting average (.259) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.759).
"They're just good. Coming into the season, we knew it was going to be a tough division," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "(People) always talk about the Yankees and the Rays, but this (Toronto) team -- they made it to the playoffs last year. ... In this division, there's no off days."
Pivetta hasn't had many off days himself for the Red Sox this season. Boston has won 10 of the 12 games started by Pivetta, who didn't take his first loss until his 11th start on June 2 at Houston.
On Monday, Pivetta bounced back from that defeat -- in which he allowed just two runs and struck out nine over six innings -- with a short yet effective start in a no-decision against Miami. Pivetta held the Marlins to two runs on seven hits and struck out six, but he was pulled after only 4 2/3 innings.
Pivetta is 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA in three prior starts against the Blue Jays. He allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight over five innings in a no-decision at Toronto on May 20.
Steven Matz (6-3, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound for Toronto with hopes of settling in after a rocky stretch.
The left-hander has allowed four or more runs in three of his past four starts, including giving up four on eight hits while walking four over 4 1/3 innings in a 6-3 loss against Houston on Sunday.
"A lot of times I come out of the game and I'm like, 'Man, I just feel like I'm throwing the ball a little bit better.' I feel like I could go deeper into games," Matz said. "(I can't) panic, (I have to) recognize I'm doing some things well, I could do some things better, and then just take that mentality all the way."
Matz faced the Red Sox on May 20, when he surrendered five runs on a season-high 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision. He is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two lifetime starts against the Red Sox.
--Field Level Media
Blue Jays at Red Sox Saturday, at 4:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 67° F with a 2% chance of rain and 4 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 4:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 7:10:09 GMT -5
It was another feel-good night at Fenway Park Current Time 0:01 / Duration 2:09
By Rob Bradford 37 minutes ago
It's starting to feel like one of those summers.
it's the same vibe that was building in 2013, although that year the distraction was a Bruins Stanley Cup final run and then the craziness of Aaron Hernandez's arrest. By the time June 11 came around that year, the Red Sox were 40-26 and in first-place, but the excitement percolation was just beginning.
In 2018, the Red Sox were 45-22 11 days into June, just 1/2 game back of the Yankees. They were a good team that was just about to get great, and thanks to their stars being stars -- and that early-season taste of excellence -- most could feel something memorable coming.
This year? Well, after night's like Friday it's hard to imagine that a 2002-esque cliff is coming. (Remember that team? They were 41-21 on this date and in first-place before becoming very forgettable.)
Alex Verdugo's ninth-inning walk-off hit, scoring pinch-runner Danny Santana, was the punctuation for the latest feel-good story, handing the Red Sox a major league-best 23rd come-from-behind win.
This, however, was one of those that separates itself.
“Take advantage of Fenway,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Today was one of those days that, yeah, we were behind, but it never felt like it was out of hand. We were a few at-bats away from doing a few things. Today, Fenway was electric. It’s another great Friday night at Fenway. It was fun.”
The comeback came after falling behind by four runs and weathering the kind of starting pitching awkwardness that usually does in a team. In the first inning, when Garrett Richards loaded the bases with one out and a run already in while sitting at 35 pitches, it was already setting up to be one of those nights.
But next thing you know he isn't exiting in the sixth inning with his team still in it.
And when Hirokazu Sawamura came on and proceeded to surrender Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s MLB-best 19 homer, pushing the Toronto lead to 5-1 in the sixth, resignation started to set back in. (Guerrero Jr., by the way, hit the ball 110.3 mph or better three times on this night.)
Yet, sure enough, along came three Red Sox runs in the bottom of the sixth, followed by Christian Arroyo's second game-tying home run in as many nights in the eighth.
The imperfect Red Sox had once again found a path to a perfect ending.
They allowed the Blue Jays' hitters to 16 balls in play at 100 mph or better. Sox pitchers gave up 16 hits, ultimately stranding 13 runners. But no matter.
The Red Sox and their Fenway fans got to celebrate once again. It's a feeling everyone is getting used to.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 7:12:36 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Xander Bogaerts (sore knee) not expected to play Saturday; Josh Taylor hasn’t allowed a run since April Updated 7:14 AM; Today 7:11 AM
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts was scratched from the Boston Red Sox lineup about an hour and a half before Friday’s game against the Blue Jays because of a sore left knee.
Manager Alex Cora said Bogaerts “banged his knee” when Houston’s Alex Bregman hit a ball up the middle Thursday.
“He dove for it, he banged his left knee into the ground and today he didn’t feel great,” Cora said after Boston’s 6-5 walkoff win over Toronto. “He’ll have tomorrow (Saturday) off. Hopefully, he’ll be back on Sunday but we’ll be smart about it.”
Taylor hasn’t allowed a run since April 24
Josh Taylor continues to be one of Boston’s top relief pitchers. He replaced Brandon Workman with one out in the seventh inning, two runners in scoring position and Boston down 5-4.
The lefty struck out both Cavan Biggio and Riley Adams swinging to escape the jam.
He has thrown 12 ⅔ scoreless innings in 17 relief outings since April 30. He has 15 strikeouts and opponents are batting just .163 against him during the stretch.
“Taylor did an amazing job,” Cora said. “He comes in against the lefty and then against the pinch hitter, a right-handed hitter. And he’s been doing this for a while. You take away the Baltimore outing the third day of the season and he’s been great. His stuff is ticking up. His composure. This guy, he’s made an effort to change everything. From his workouts to his nutrition to everything and it’s paying dividends right now. And we’re very proud of him.”
Taylor gave up four runs while recording just two outs April 4 vs. Baltimore. He has a 2.21 ERA in his other 25 outings this season.
Dalbec’s leg kick
Bobby Dalbec crushed his seventh homer of the season to cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third inning. His blast to center went 441 feet and left his bat with a 106.7 mph exit velocity.
Dalbec has been working on timing with his leg kick.
The slugger is 3-for-8 with a homer, double, hit by pitch and three RBIs in his past two games after a 3-for-38 slump.
“Timing is everything,” Cora said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in Little League, college, minor leagues or at the big leagues. You’ve got to be on time. We’re living in an era where the hitters, they get caught up in talking about mechanics. I always mention Manny (Ramirez) because that was kind of like the best example for us when we were here. A guy that will come in and hit at 10 in the morning and work on his craft. But then at 7:05-7:10 (game time), he would say, ‘Just get there on time.’ If you’re on time, you’re going to see the ball, you’re going to recognize pitches, you’re going to make good swing decisions.
“And it felt like yesterday (Thursday) was the first time he (Dalbec) was on time this season,” Cora added. “And you saw the results. Hopefully, he doesn’t get caught up in the results and he stays with the process;.”
Whitlock K’s Guerrero Jr. on 3 pitches
Garrett Whitlock — who earned the win — pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning. He struck out AL MVP candidate to end the eighth.
Whitlock got Guerrero to swing-and-miss at a 96.5 mph four-seam fastball, then swing-and-miss at a 96.8 mph sinker. He then punched out Guerrero looking on a 97.6 mph four-seam fastball.
Saturday’s game
The Blue Jays and Red Sox play the second game of their four-game series at 4:10 p.m. Saturday.
Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta (6-1, 3.78 ERA) will start opposite Toronto lefty Steven Matz (6-3, 4.50 ERA)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 7:17:01 GMT -5
Rob Longley @longleysunsport · 45m Even the normally buoyant Charlie Montoyo was rocked by the #Bluejays latest bullpen disaster. "I don't know where we go from here. The guys in the bullpen need to do (a better) job."
In losing 4 of their past 5, #Bluejays are now 31-30 with a 10-12 record vs. AL East opponents and 17-21 vs. teams with a winning record.
Bullpen collapse in the sixth. Error to get the winning run on board in the ninth. Ball game.
Some want to blame Friday's nasty loss on the Fenway follies. But a 6-5 win (after trailing 5-1) was the Red Sox biggest comeback for a win this season. And Chatwood wasn't finding the plate in his back yard, never mind Fenway. #Bluejays
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 7:19:34 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 1h Just watched the last few innings of a huge Sox win this morning. Remy didn’t say a word the last 3 innings. Is everything Ok?
Chad Finn @globechadfinn · 9h Texted him, haven’t heard back. A couple of NESN contacts said they didn’t know. No response so far from PR.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 7:25:34 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 9:13:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 4m Red Sox to hit a home run and get hit by a pitch in back-to-back games:
Don Baylor (June 3-4, 1986) Christian Arroyo (June 10-11, 2021)
In June, Arroyo leads the Sox in HR (3), RBI (10), OBP (.394), SLG (.643), and OPS (1.037).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 9:15:33 GMT -5
Alex @katso1234 · 58m @loumerloni Do you think the Sox have something in Arroyo? Or is he more of a bench piece that happens to be playing well?
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 45m I think he’s finally comfortable for the first time in his career. When that happens, your talent comes out. He’s a lot better defensively than I thought. He should be their everyday 2B until he slows down.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 9:29:26 GMT -5
Game 65: Blue Jays at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Amin Touri Globe Correspondent,Updated June 12, 2021, 1 hour ago After walking off the Blue Jays on Friday night, the Red Sox return to Fenway Saturday afternoon for the second of a four-game set with Toronto. Nick Pivetta will take the ball for Boston in a matinee appearance, entering Saturday with a 3.78 ERA in 12 outings this season. Pivetta is 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA in three prior starts against the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays will throw Steven Matz in return, the southpaw coming off a tough evening in Houston in his last appearance — the Astros touched Matz for four runs on eight hits and four walks in just 4 1/3 innings on June 6. The Red Sox are just a game back of the Tampa Bay Rays, who host the Baltimore Orioles Saturday afternoon. Lineups BLUE JAYS (31-30): 1. Marcus Semien (R) 2B 2. Bo Bichette (R) SS 3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B 4. Teoscar Hernandez (R) LF 5. Randal Grichuk (R) CF 6. Rowdy Tellez (L) DH 7. Joe Panik (L) 3B 8. Cavan Biggio (L) RF 9. Reese McGuire (L) C Pitching: LHP Steven Matz (6-3, 4.50 ERA) RED SOX (39-25): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Marwin Gonzalez (S) SS Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (6-1, 3.78 ERA) Time: 4:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Blue Jays vs. Pivetta: Bichette 2-3, Biggio 1-3, Davis 0-2, Grichuk 1-3, Guerrero Jr. 2-3, Gurriel Jr. 0-3, Hernández 1-4, Panik 1-2, Semien 1-2 Red Sox vs. Matz: Bogaerts 1-5, Dalbec 1-3, Devers 1-3, Gonzalez 1-2, Hernández 5-18, Martinez 2-6, Renfroe 2-4, Santana 0-3, Verdugo 3-6, Vázquez 4-5 Stat of the day: The Red Sox have won 10 Pivetta’s 12 starts, and the righthander didn’t take his first loss until his 11th start on June 2 at Houston. Notes: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is batting .419 (13-for-31) with three homers and eight RBIs through his first nine games in June ... The Red Sox have won seven of their past nine and are 3-2 on their eight-game homestand. Meanwhile, Toronto has dropped four of its past five games ... The Blue Jays rank second in the majors in both batting average (.259) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.759) ... Matz has allowed four or more runs in three of his past four starts. Song of the Day: The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Tuff Enuffwww.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXT1clXc04
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 12, 2021 10:39:44 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h Replying to @billkoch25 Cora on Verdugo -- 'He's a good player. We believe this guy, he's a five-tool player. He's a game-changer.' #RedSox
Cora on Verdugo -- 'We got a good one. I know everybody is going to talk about that trade forever, I guess. But he's a good player.' #RedSox
Cora on Whitlock, who earned the win tonight -- 'We don't have to go to Ottavino or Barnes because he is that good.'
'His composure is tremendous. His stuff is great.' #RedSox
Cora said Bogaerts 'banged his left knee' diving for a ball on Thursday and 'didn't feel great.' Expected back in the lineup on Saturday. #RedSox Some of this is pure luck, like last night's comeback, but any time you can win a game with neither your closer, nor your setup, it's a big win. We've been getting big contributions from Whitlock, Sawamura, and even Taylor and Darwin. In the olde days, sometimes even with our good teams, we wouldn't games that didn't involve both the setup and closer.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 12, 2021 10:47:43 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 4m Red Sox to hit a home run and get hit by a pitch in back-to-back games:
Don Baylor (June 3-4, 1986) Christian Arroyo (June 10-11, 2021)
In June, Arroyo leads the Sox in HR (3), RBI (10), OBP (.394), SLG (.643), and OPS (1.037). I was wondering where the power was. He showed 15-20 HR potential before this season, but went 0-81 to start the year.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 13:23:37 GMT -5
Rob Longley @longleysunsport · 22m Latest on George Springer (from manager Charlie Montoyo) - still running the bases, still taking batting practice, early possible rehab game action would be Tuesday in Rochester but that’s still TBD. #Bluejays
Montoyo on Tyler Chatwood, after last night’s collapse: “Talking to Chatty today, he says he wants the ball again. That’s what you want to hear from one of your pitchers who is struggling.” #Bluejays
Montoyo on the state of the #Bluejays in general: "Our stars are doing a good job. They’re keeping us in the game."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 13:25:26 GMT -5
Mike Wilner @wilnerness · 23m Charlie Montoyo tells us that Jordan Romano is feeling better today and able to pitch.
Says there's still no consideration to using Hatch and Pearson as relievers, they're being stretched out as starters at AAA. #Bluejays
One thing that #Bluejays could do right now is sign John Axford and David Robertson out of the Americas Baseball Qualifier.
Ax was hitting 97, Robertson had 4 Ks in 2 innings and allowed one hit.
The "Try Anything" point has been reached. Probably passed, actually.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 12, 2021 13:27:08 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 20m Alex Cora on Garrett Whitlock: "He's not a Rule 5 guy. He might be by rule. But as far as his stuff he's part of the equation."
Sox want to use him multiple innings 2-3 times a week instead of as, say, the 7th inning guy.
Keeps him ready if they need an emergency starter.
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