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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:10:44 GMT -5
and Perez greats Whitlock with a ground rule 2B
and he is stranded there.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:20:50 GMT -5
Dalbec leads the 7th off HBP Santana flies out 0-4 DFA him now.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:23:26 GMT -5
Micheal Taylor robs Verdugo there with a great catch this dude has made some great plays the last 2 days
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:25:52 GMT -5
Great play by Merrifield to rob JDM in RF.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:30:23 GMT -5
come backer to Whitlock off the leg and Xander makes a great play
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:45:39 GMT -5
Sawarama has the 8th
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 17:59:19 GMT -5
Bobby Dalbec goes Oppo big time power in KC 7-1 top 9
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 18:03:24 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 2m Brandon Workman will pitch the ninth for the Red Sox, who if they hold on, will improve to 38-4 when scoring four or more runs in a game.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 19, 2021 18:11:55 GMT -5
Sox win 7-1
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 19, 2021 18:37:50 GMT -5
according to Rex, the Red Sox are last in the AL in walks, and I checked and he is right and I agree that is something with this team... We're 2nd BABIP, which is supporting our scoring. But slightly less than sustainable. The league average is .292. An even bigger issue, imho, is that some of our players have bad K/W rates. Our only guy with a good K/W is Verdugo with a 33/20, we have a couple that are close to 2/1, and we have some that are egregious.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 19, 2021 19:49:11 GMT -5
JDM a looooongggg Hr to LF 5-1 Good Guys 5th Good. The dude's been struggling for a while. It doesn't get much press, but he's had 4 HRs in 156 ABs since May 1st, with a 41/12 K/W. Maybe a long HR will ignite him.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 20, 2021 3:39:11 GMT -5
'Relentless' J.D. notches 100 homers for Sox Milestone jack caps pivotal 4-run 5th as Boston evens series against Royals June 19th, 2021 Jordan Horrobin
Jordan Horrobin @jordanhorrobin
To the extent that it’s possible for an eight-game hit streak to be subdued, that’s what J.D. Martinez had entering Saturday afternoon’s game at Kauffman Stadium. With a 9-for-33 (.273) clip in that span, Martinez actually cost himself a few batting average points.
Nothing was subdued about the way he stretched his hit streak to nine, though. On a fifth-inning sinker that didn’t live up to its name, Martinez drilled a two-run homer to help the Red Sox earn a 7-1 series-evening win over the Royals. That marked the slugger’s 100th homer with Boston, making him just the eighth player to accrue 100-plus home runs and an OPS of .900 or better with the franchise.
“This is what we envisioned,” manager Alex Cora said, thinking back to that February day in 2018 when Martinez’s deal became official.
“I think, obviously, it worked out for both of us. For J.D., financially, and finding a home and becoming the player he is in Boston. And obviously for our organization. This guy is not only a great hitter; he helps everybody out, he’s a great teammate, he’s relentless with his craft.”
The five-year, $109.95 million contract Martinez inked with Boston four offseasons ago began paying dividends immediately: In his first year, he led the Majors in RBIs (130) and total bases (358), becoming the first player ever to receive an American League Silver Slugger Award for two positions in one season (outfield and designated hitter). Oh, and he had an .880 OPS or better in all three rounds of the team's World Series title run.
Martinez was an All-Star again in 2019 before taking a huge step back in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, posting a .213/.291/.389 slash line in 54 games.
“Like I keep saying, I don’t call it ‘last year,’” Martinez said. “I call it the last two months of last year.”
The good news for the Red Sox, though, is that those two months of struggles likely contributed to his decision to opt in for the final two years of the deal. Now, he’s back to the Martinez of old, ranking in the AL’s top 15 in home runs (14), RBIs (44) and OPS (.914).
His homer on Saturday capped a four-run frame for the Red Sox, putting them ahead for good and forcing Sunday's rubber match in this set behind five solid innings from starter Martín Pérez. No player needed a bounce-back as badly as Pérez, who’d allowed 11 earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in his previous two starts (29.70 ERA). This time, he worked five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and a pair of walks.
The changeup was particularly effective for Pérez, who threw that pitch a game-high 26 times and induced an 81 mph average exit velocity on eight balls in play. The left-hander did have to work around baserunners in all but one inning, though a pair of tag outs at home were key in preventing further damage.
In the second inning, Pérez blew a fastball past Michael A. Taylor for the third out, but he didn’t leave the mound right away. He’d miscounted the number of outs, which led to a funny moment with Cora.
“I was like, jokingly and sarcastically, ‘You’re not used to getting past the second inning,’” Cora recalled telling Pérez. “But that’s the relationship we have. This guy, he’s very important to us.”
In a different way, Martinez is very important to the Red Sox, too. And with the way he’s swinging, there figures to be plenty more production -- home runs, namely -- coming from his bat.
“I hope I can hit 100 more for them going forward,” Martinez said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 20, 2021 3:52:00 GMT -5
Red Sox’ patience with Bobby Dalbec pays off in 7-1 victory By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated June 19, 2021, 9:18 p.m.
KANSAS CITY — The Red Sox knew patience would be required with rookie first baseman Bobby Dalbec this season. But that reservoir nearly ran dry in early May.
Dalbec went seven games without a hit and struck out 11 times. That dropped his batting average to .174 with only six runs batted in. Dalbec appeared overmatched.
“At one point it looked ugly to be honest with you,” manager Alex Cora said. “And he knew it.”
That the Sox were in first place and the rest of the lineup was producing saved Dalbec from a demotion to Triple A, although he did start to lose playing time.
Now the payoff from that patience is starting to come.
Dalbec reached base four times Saturday and drove in three runs as the Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-1.
On a day the Sox needed to help lefthander Martín Pérez get back on track, Dalbec was 3 for 3 with a triple and home run from the ninth spot of the order.
Dalbec is 11 of 30 (.367) with 6 extra-base hits, 8 RBIs, and 6 runs in his last eight games. That has boosted his OPS to .699, not too far away from the major league average of .712.
“He has a good feel right now and you have to ride that,” said teammate J.D. Martinez, who had a two-run homer.
Dalbec started choking up on the bat 10 days ago to gain more control and cut down on what was a long swing. It’s not something he’s made a habit of in his career, but obviously adjustments were necessary given the poor results.
“Less length on the bat, less bat to get through the zone. It creates more time,” Dalbec said.
Saturday provided a good example of Dalbec’s progress.
He went the other way with a two-strike fastball from Brad Keller for a single in the second inning. With a runner on first in the fifth inning, Dalbec drove a slider into the gap in left for his team-leading third triple of the season.
“Sneaky speed,” Dalbec said.
Facing Jackson Kowar in the ninth inning, Dalbec crushed a two-strike changeup to the opposite field for his ninth home run.
Three hits on three different pitches.
“I think the quality of the at-bats are a lot better,” Cora said. “We’ll keep working with him.”
Dalbec also is learning how to keep one bad game from turning into a bad series.
“Just trying to ride the wave, you know? Let go of things quicker,” he said. “Don’t put as much pressure on myself day to day, pitch to pitch.
“Trying to have more fun. Team’s winning, that’s all that matters.” Related: The Red Sox’ best leadoff man remains out of Alex Cora’s reach
The offense was a boost for Pérez, who allowed 11 runs on 12 hits over 3⅓ innings in his two prior starts. This time he gave up one run on five hits over five innings to improve to 5-4.
Pérez struck out Michael A. Taylor to end the second inning, but stayed on the mound, having lost track of the outs. He sheepishly smiled before jogging back to the dugout.
That Pérez had enough outs to count was an achievement.
“Today I was attacking, and it was hard for them to hit the ball,” he said.
Keller held the Sox to one run over four innings, retiring seven in a row at one point. That changed in a hurry in the fifth inning as the Sox scored four runs to take control of the game.
Kiké Hernández saw seven pitches and led off with a walk. He scored on Dalbec’s triple.
Dalbec scored on a contact play when Danny Santana tapped a grounder down the first-base line. After Alex Verdugo worked a nine-pitch walk, Martinez drove a fastball over the fence in left. It was his 14th home run of the season and 100th with the Red Sox.
Garrett Whitlock pitched two scoreless innings following Pérez, dropping his earned run average to 1.57 in 20 appearances.
That allowed Cora to use Hirokazu Sawamura and Brandon Workman to close the game out and give closer Matt Barnes his fourth consecutive day off.
The Sox are 3-1 on their eight-game road trip and have won seven of eight overall. They finish the series on Sunday afternoon with Nate Eovaldi facing Mike Minor.
The Royals have lost seven of eight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 20, 2021 3:55:12 GMT -5
Martín Pérez bounces back against Royals after recent struggles By Kris Rhim Globe Correspondent,Updated June 19, 2021, 10:08 p.m.
After striking out Kansas City Royals center fielder Michael Taylor to secure the final out in the bottom of the second inning Saturday, Martín Pérez remained on the field for a minute.
Alex Cora joked with his pitcher.
“You’re not used to getting past the second inning?” Cora said he asked Pérez while laughing. “That’s the relationship we have. He’s very important to us, and I’m glad that he was able to come here and have a good game. We needed it.”
The joke had some truth to it. Pérez has struggled significantly in his last two starts. During a lopsided 18-4 loss against the Blue Jays on June 13, the lefty lasted just 1⅓ inning, allowing five runs and three of the Red Sox’ franchise-record eight home runs allowed.
Against the Astros on June 8, Pérez allowed six runs and one homer, through only two innings in the Red Sox’ 7-1 loss to Houston. The rough outing was shocking because just five days earlier, Pérez had arguably his best start of the season against the Astros when he pitched 7⅔ scoreless innings, allowing six hits and zero runs in a 5-1 win.
The timing of Pérez’s struggle came with some suspicion, too.
In his ten starts before those two outings, Pérez hadn’t allowed more than three runs. And the slump began just after the MLB informed owners it would be cracking down on pitchers using foreign substances. He wasn’t alone as the entire Red Sox rotation struggled, but their poor performance seemed to be unrelated as their spin data stayed consistent. Illegal substances like SpiderTack are supposed to generate abnormal amounts of spin. Pérez, a ten-year veteran, has denied any use of foreign substances.
Before Saturday’s game, the New York Daily News reported the Red Sox, Rays, Brewers, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Angels were the prime offenders of the foreign substance rule.
Cora declined to comment on the report during pre-game availability, saying he had not seen it.
Regardless of the report, Pérez returned to form Saturday. He earned the 7-1 win over the Royals, moving him to 5-4 on the season. The lefty pitched five innings, struck out three, and allowed one run.
“We all were obviously pulling for him,” Cora said. “We didn’t like what we saw in the last two. We were feeling for him, and for him to bounce back, it feels great.”
Pérez said the difference in Saturday’s start was his location on pitches.
“In my last two outings, everything was on top of the plate,” he said. “Today, everything was out, and when I needed to throw up, I was able to throw my fastball up and my cutter up, and I think that was the difference. When you are not locating good, it’s hard to have a good game. My focus now is trying to locate the ball.”
Cora also credited the bounce-back performance to Pérez’s adjustment on his pitches.
“He went upstairs with the fastball, and the change-up was a lot better today,” Cora said. “He went through a lineup with some guys that did some damage against lefties, and he kept them off-balance. He had some good pitches against [Carlos] Santana too, up in the zone.”
The win gave Pérez a confidence boost, and he learned to be more confident with his approach to hitters.
“You have to attack the hitters. You know sometimes we give too much credit to the hitters, and that’s when they get comfortable,” he said, “so today I was attacking, and you know it was hard for them to hit the ball and score.”
The win gave the Sox a split of the first two games in Kansas City, where they will wrap up the series Sunday.
Pérez’s next start is projected to be Jun. 25 against the Yankees.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 20, 2021 3:57:33 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook The Red Sox’ best leadoff man remains out of Alex Cora’s reach By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated June 19, 2021, 8:47 p.m.
KANSAS CITY — Through Friday, the Red Sox were third in the majors in runs scored.
Remarkably, that has happened despite having the worst on-base percentage at the leadoff spot (.284) in the major leagues. The league average is .338.
It makes little sense, and you wonder how long the Sox can get away with having a series of weak hitters leading off.
The championship teams of 2004 (Johnny Damon), 2013 (Jacoby Ellsbury), and 2018 (Mookie Betts) had dynamic leadoff hitters.
The 2007 team tried Julio Lugo atop the order to start the season but gave up on that in mid-June. Terry Francona tried different players the rest of the season before settling on Dustin Pedroia for the playoffs.
Alex Cora, a member of the 2007 team, is reliving Francona’s dilemma. He started the season determined Kiké Hernández would have the job but has since given opportunities to Christian Arroyo, Marwin Gonzalez, and Danny Santana.
It’s been a four-headed monster with no teeth. J.D. Martinez has come to the plate with men on base only 45 percent of the time. It was 63 percent in 2018.
“We’re working on it. Trying to find good matchups,” Cora said Saturday before a 7-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals. “Hopefully the guy we put in the leadoff spot comes through. We’re trying to be consistent, but we haven’t been. That’s real.”
Santana was 1 for 5 with an RBI on Saturday. He came into the game hitting .118 with a .211 on-base. The switch-hitter has batted first more this season (seven times) than he did from 2017-2020 (four times) with the Twins, Braves, and Rangers.
Santana was the fourth different leadoff hitter in as many games. Cora is making his decisions based on the opposing pitcher and who represents the best matchup.
“It’s been a challenge,” he said. “We’re just searching right now.”
Cora remains opposed to the idea of moving Alex Verdugo and his .347 OBP into the leadoff spot. He wants to keep Verdugo second with Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and Hunter Renfroe following.
There’s no Pedroia on this roster to take over the spot. But perhaps Triple-A outfielder Jarren Duran will do a passable impression of Ellsbury later in the season.
Duran has hit leadoff for Worcester and has a .363 OBP. But he has played only 29games in Triple A and nothing in the way chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has run the team suggests Duran will be rushed to the majors. Sale has a plan
Chris Sale has his next bullpen sessions scheduled for Tuesday and Friday. With Worcester on the road, he will likely continue his rehab work with Double-A Portland at Hadlock Field.
Sale has picked up the pace in his comeback from Tommy John surgery in recent weeks.
According to Cora, Sale is scheduled for his first session of live batting practice July 1. A typical spring training progression would be two rounds of facing hitters before starting a game.
The Red Sox have won seven of their last eight games at Kauffman Stadium, scoring 65 runs, and are 11-3 against Kansas City since 2018 . . . The Sox improved to 23-11 on the road with victories in seven of their last eight games . . . Brayan Bello, a 22-year-old righthander, allowed one run on two hits and struck out 10 with one walk in his second start for Portland on Friday. “Eye-opening,” Cora said. “The report said he was very aggressive, very efficient and with good stuff.” In Bello, Tanner Houck, and Josh Winckowski, the Sox are building starter depth that has taken the sting out of losing Bryan Mata and Thaddeus Ward to Tommy John surgery . . . Kansas City has Mike Minor scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. The Sox haven’t faced Minor since Sept. 26, 2019, when he was with Texas. That was the game when Minor shouted at a teammate to drop a foul pop-up so he could get another chance to strike out Chris Owings to get 200 on the season. Minor did strike out Owings and the Sox took exception to his lack of professionalism, Cora in particular. Minor is 6-10 with a 5.02 ERA since. Nate Eovaldi starts for the Sox.
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