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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 26, 2021 14:59:45 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 10m Ryan Brasier says he has been cleared to return to baseball activities. First time since he was hit by a batted ball in Ft. Myers 3 weeks ago.
Brasier also revealed that his father, David, passed away in February.
He pitched in the minors for two seasons and they spoke after ever game he pitched.
Between that and the assortment of injuries since Dec. (broken hand, calf strain, concussion) he's had a rough stretch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 2:41:04 GMT -5
Sox use small ball to stay unbeaten vs. Yanks 1:21 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne Xander Bogaerts plates Chavis
Jun 26, 2021
BOSTON -- Make contact and good things will happen. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has preached that since Spring Training, and it materialized in a big way on Saturday night.
This was a game in which the Sox -- at least from an offensive standpoint -- simply scratched and clawed their way to a 4-2 victory against the Yankees in front of another packed house of 36,857 at Fenway Park.
• Box score
“We got enough today,” said Cora. “When we score four, we’re really good, so we should shoot for four every night.”
The Red Sox are 41-4 when they score four runs or more this season and 5-27 when they don’t.
How did the four runs score? On three sacrifice flies and an infield hit -- one of three that Hunter Renfroe had on the night. Overall, Boston had five infield hits.
To some managers, that might seem like winning ugly. To Cora, it was beautiful.
“Did a good job putting the ball in play. We had traffic early on, a lot of traffic,” said Cora. “We hit some balls hard. We got lucky on a few of them, but we ran the bases well, and we put pressure on them.”
The second sacrifice fly was a true work of art, hit all of 152 feet by Bobby Dalbec and caught in foul territory by first baseman Luke Voit.
You can bet that Voit never envisioned Rafael Devers would tag and try to score on the play. But sometimes the element of surprise is what is needed, and Devers came roaring home to beat the throw and the enthralled Fenway approved with hearty cheers.
“He’s a good player. He’s a good athlete,” Cora said of Devers. “The presence of mind, he sees Voit going back, he knows he doesn’t have a good arm, and he took off. He was flying. That was an amazing job by him and [third-base coach] Carlos [Febles].”
The gritty offense was just one element to this highly-satisfying win that pushed the Red Sox to 5-0 against their forever rivals this season, a monumental improvement from last year’s 1-9 mark.
Nate was great The tone-setter was Nathan Eovaldi. The flame-throwing righty turned in yet another dominant outing against his former team. In 7 2/3 innings, Eovaldi (8-4, 3.67 ERA) scattered seven mostly inconsequential hits, walking none and striking out six. The only run he allowed was to the last batter he faced, a homer off the bat of DJ LeMahieu.
Since joining the Red Sox, Eovaldi has allowed one earned run or fewer in seven of his eight starts against the Yankees. That includes his strong effort in Game 3 of the 2018 American League Division Series.
It was the first time the Red Sox have received a start of at least seven innings since June 3, and the fifth in 77 games this season.
“I felt like everything was working for me,” Eovaldi said. “The fastball command was there, I was able to throw it inside. We were able to establish that early in the game, and I think that opened it up for us later in the game as well. It helped the slider a lot, kept them off balance, and the curveball played really well, too.”
Ottavino didn’t buckle Eovaldi wasn’t the only former Yankee to thrive on Saturday night. Nobody was under more pressure than setup man Adam Ottavino, who inherited a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the eighth inning after the normally reliable Hirokazu Sawamura came on for Eovaldi and walked three straight batters. Ottavino got the Sox out of that precarious situation by getting Voit on a groundout.
With closer Matt Barnes unavailable due to his recent workload, Ottavino also took on that role on Saturday, coming back out for the ninth.
LeMahieu put all the pressure on Ottavino when he belted a two-out RBI single to slim the lead to 4-2. That brought the dangerous Aaron Judge to the plate.
Ottavino won the battle, ending the game on a 96.1 mph heater. Earlier in the six-pitch at-bat, Ottavino fired his hardest pitch of the season, at 97.8 mph.
“I was pretty tired at that point but just trying to find a way to get a swing and miss,” Ottavino said. “I think the crowd probably helped, but just kind of gave everything I had.”
Wong impresses in first start Considering that it was such an intense game, the way Red Sox catcher Connor Wong handled himself in his first MLB start was impressive.
Boston’s No. 16 prospect -- who is filling in as Christian Vázquez’s backup while Kevin Plawecki recovers from a left hamstring strain -- showed poise in the way he handled Eovaldi and Ottavino.
“He did a good job. There’s some calmness, right? The way he sets up, he’s not panicking back there,” said Cora.
While his work behind the plate was his most impactful element of the night, Wong experienced a thrill when he belted a single to right in the second inning, getting a hit in his first career at-bat.
“It was nice. It felt like it was my first hit in a long time,” said Wong. “Obviously, I was struggling in [Triple-A] Worcester, so it was nice to get that one and I’m looking forward to building on that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 2:54:12 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 6h Nate Eovaldi against the Yankees this year.
13 IP, 14 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
That'll do. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:07:50 GMT -5
Red Sox nickel and dime Yankees to make it five straight wins head-to-head By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 26, 2021, 10:39 p.m.
The Red Sox have had their way with the Yankees this month. They have shrewdly taken the extra bag when needed, keeping their stagnant and slow-footed rivals on their toes. They have overwhelmed them with precision, timing, and making pitches when the club needed them most.
Saturday was no different, as Boston made it five straight wins against New York to start the season, winning 4-2 at Fenway Park.
Nate Eovaldi (8-4) came within an out of eight shutout innings against his former team, while the offense delivered three of its four runs via sacrifice flies. The Sox nearly needed them all after Hirokazu Sawamura walked all three batters he faced in relief of Eovaldi, but Adam Ottavino got Luke Voit to ground out with the bases loaded.
Ottavino, working his third straight game, handled the ninth as well, Matt Barnes having worked the last two nights. New York got within two, DJ LeMahieu following an eighth-inning solo homer with a two-out RBI single for his fourth hit of the game. But Aaron Judge swung through a 96-m.p.h. outside fastball as the potential go-ahead run, giving the Sox a chance at a sweep Sunday.
“It’s definitely a big win,” Eovaldi said after his 7⅔ innings. “Everything felt really good for me tonight, other than the splitter, but I was still able to mix that early in the count. Just to keep the hitters off of it.”
Eovaldi put together a stellar performance that helped propel his club to a win, but so did its performance on the base paths.
The Sox loaded the bases against New York’s Jordan Montgomery (3-2) with no outs in the second inning, then went ahead on a Kiké Hernández sac fly. That’s when Rafael Devers caught Yankees first baseman Voit napping. Related: Peter Abraham | On baseball: For the Red Sox, the key players aren't even here yet
Voit drifted toward foul territory on a Bobby Dalbec pop up just behind first base. Voit recorded the out with an over-the-shoulder catch and Devers, on third base, took advantage of his failure to quickly turn back to the plate, tagging up and scoring standing up.
“He’s an athlete,” Cora said. “You know, it’s just the presence of mind when he saw Voit going back. He knows he doesn’t have a good arm. He took off. He was flying. That was an amazing job by him and [third base coach Carlos Febles].
The Sox weren’t done yet, though. Neither was Devers.
In the bottom of the third with two outs, Xander Bogaerts ripped a double off the wall in center. Devers then beat out a grounder to shortstop Gleyber Torres to keep the inning alive, the Sox getting the out call overturned via replay. Next, Hunter Renfroe beat out a soft grounder to LeMahieu — who double-clutched before throwing — for a 3-0 lead.
Cora’s emphasis on playing fast heading into spring training, coupled with attention to detail, has paid off.
“We do believe that we can take advantage in certain situations,” Cora said. “We were very aggressive against the Rays. We’ve been very aggressive against the Yankees. Playing fast works. It doesn’t matter. It’s not about stealing bases.”
Cora watched from afar last year as his then-former team struggled to play fast. Frankly, they didn’t have many athletes (with the exception of Jackie Bradley Jr.), and Devers lost a step due to an ankle injury.
Teams turned 51 double plays against the Red Sox last year in the 60-game shortened season, tied for the third-most in the majors. Through 77 games this year, teams have converted just 45. Meanwhile, opponents have turned 74 double plays against the Yankees.
Ottavino’s save took guts. The reliever said he felt fatigue on the mound, so his strikeout pitch to Judge brought out emotion in the often-stoic reliever.
“I was just trying to mix it up and not give him anything that he can put in the air,” Ottavino said.
Indeed, it was an all-around team win, but Cora’s demand to play faster early this spring certainly made its way to the forefront.
“It’s about good leads, good secondaries, taking the extra base,” Cora said. “And we did a good job.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:09:42 GMT -5
Nate Eovaldi showing he can pitch in where the Red Sox need it most By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated June 27, 2021, 12:46 a.m.
Because they both live in the Houston area, Connor Wong caught Nate Eovaldi when baseball shut down because of the pandemic last year and again in the weeks leading up to spring training this season.
That familiarity was a big part of the reason manager Alex Cora gave the rookie his first start Saturday night.
“Perfect situation for him to get into a game,” Eovaldi said. “I was able to whisper in his ear a little bit and let him know how I wanted to pitch these guys.”
But catching a bullpen session with nobody watching is a lot different than a Saturday night showdown against the Yankees in front of a full house at Fenway Park.
“This place is electric,” Wong said. “The atmosphere tonight was incredible. It was great.”
Bet on seeing this combination again. Eovaldi pitched one of the better games of his career, allowing one run over 7⅔ innings as the Sox beat the
The big righthander didn’t allow a run until DJ LeMahieu homered with two outs in the eighth. Eovaldi allowed only six other hits, all singles, and struck out six without a walk.
It was the deepest Eovaldi has gone in a game since Aug. 4, 2018, also against the Yankees in what was his second start for the Sox.
Eovaldi pitched eight shutout innings that night. He missed that by one pitch Saturday but gave the Sox a chance to stay away from some tired relievers.
“We needed an outing like that where we were bullpen-wise,” Cora said. “It was a challenge tonight.”
The Yankees didn’t advance a runner to second base until the sixth inning when LeMahieu and Aaron Judge had one-out singles. Gary Sanchez, who has nine home runs in 25 career games at Fenway, was next.
Eovaldi located a slider down and Sanchez grounded into a double play.
“He was locked in,” Cora said.
Could Eovaldi make the All-Star team for the first time? He’s 8-4 with a 3.67 earned run average and has been a rotation pillar.
Wong caught Eovaldi like it was a game of catch back in Houston. Then when the Yankees threatened in the eighth and ninth innings, he maintained his composure.
A passed ball or a wild pitch would have changed the game. But Wong handled the pressure.
“I can’t say enough about how well he did back there,” Eovaldi said. “We were on the same page from the get-go.”
It had to be gratifying for the Sox to see that from one of the prospects they obtained in the Mookie Betts trade.
Wong is pretty much a full-time catcher now but has started 23 games at second base and eight at third base during his minor league career.
The University of Houston used him as a catcher and outfielder. Wong’s athleticism and good hands were evident on Saturday.
“There’s some calmness, right?” Cora said. “The way he sets up; he’s not panicking back there.”
Wong also collected his first big league hit with an opposite-field single in the second inning.
It was a much-needed start for a rotation that has looked like a wobbly Jenga tower given the recent performances by Martín Pérez, Garrett Richards, and Eduardo Rodriguez.
It’s clear the Sox don’t fully trust Pérez, who has averaged 4⅔ innings in his 15 starts. Cora had the bullpen up in the third inning Friday when Pérez was pitching with a lead. He was out of the game in the fourth.
Richards has pitched well once in his last six starts and looked all together lost in the last two without being able to use anything sticky on the ball.
Rodriguez pitched better than the results showed in his last two starts and has more than earned the right to keep getting chances.
The lefthander faces Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on Sunday afternoon in what should be a revealing game.
Chris Sale threw 45 pitches off the mound before the game on Saturday, the last 15 to hitters. He’s on a schedule that would have him back in late July.
But the Sox can’t stop there with improving their rotation.
Tanner Houck has pitched twice for Triple A Worcester since returning from a flexor muscle strain and struck out 12 in 6⅔ innings. He’s another game or two away from being a better option than Pérez or Richards.
Come Aug. 1, maybe sooner, the rotation could look a lot different. But any decisions will be made knowing Eovaldi is somebody they can rely on.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:15:56 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Ryan Brasier’s struggle-laden 2021 includes losing his father in February By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 26, 2021, 7:52 p.m.
Ryan Brasier has dealt with his share of physical pain and setbacks this year. He broke his hand during the offseason. A calf strain sidelined him for much of spring training and the season. When Brasier finally looked like he was headed toward a rehab assignment, he was struck in the head with a line drive during a simulated game at the team’s complex in Fort Myers, Fla., setting back his timetable once again.
That, of course, took its toll, but injuries are minuscule when real life strikes. Ahead of Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Yankees, Brasier revealed that he lost his father, David, in February.
“It’s been tough,” Brasier said. “There are two or three people that I talk to on a regular basis. Now, you just kind of cut somebody out of that.”
Brasier’s dad played minor league ball for the Mets and Cubs organizations in 1965-66. Given David’s baseball background, he became a voice for his son to lean on in times of need.
“He meant everything,” Brasier said. “From the time I was little until he passed away. Every game, every time I pitched. Having a text message, good or bad, ‘I’m awake. Call me,’ in the minor leagues or big leagues, it didn’t matter.”
Brasier traveled to Boston this weekend so he could be examined by doctors. He suffered a concussion when he was struck in the head and is still dealing with some lingering issues, including some ear trouble. He still doesn’t know when he will make a rehab assignment.
Nevertheless, just being around teammates has offered Brasier some sense of peace.
“Walking in [Friday], getting to see everybody and being here and being at the game, it was awesome,” Brasier said. “Yesterday, was a little bit of a pep up, for sure.”
Chris Sale throws to hitters
Chris Sale reached another step in his progression: A live batting practice. He threw 45 pitches, with the last 15 against hitters Christian Arroyo, Bobby Dalbec, and Michael Chavis.
“We’re excited,” manager Alex Cora said. “He looked really good.”
Sale has another live batting practice next week. Debut day for Connor Wong
Catcher Connor Wong recorded his first big-league hit in his first big-league at-bat, a liner to right in the bottom of the second inning off Yankee starter Jordan Montgomery. “It was nice.” Wong said. “It felt like it was my first hit in a long time. Obviously, I was struggling in Worcester. So it’s nice to get that one and just looking forward to building off that” . . . Eduardo Rodriguez will take on Gerrit Cole in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Rodriguez has had a down year so far, carrying a 6.07 ERA in 14 starts this year. Despite his struggles, Cora remains confident Rodriguez is turning the corner. “Overall, we thought that was his best outing stuff wise,” Cora said of Rodriguez’s last start against Tampa, when he allowed five runs (three earned). “And the way he attacked, too. We’re comfortable with where he’s at. [Sunday], they’re gonna have a bunch of righties there. We need the changeup to work and we need to throw strikes.” The Yankees, as Cora noted, have a ton of righties in the lineup. Saturday’s contest featured eight. Righties have had their way with Rodriguez, hitting .308 with nine homers. Cole, meanwhile, has a 2.33 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 123 batters in 96⅔ innings . . . The Yankees placed two on the 10-day injured list: Reliever Zack Britton with a left hamstring strain — he exited Friday night’s game in the eighth inning while facing Hunter Renfroe — and lefthander Wandy Peralta with a low back strain. New York recalled righthanders Brooks Kriske and Albert Abreu from Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Abreu pitched the final two innings, allowing a run and two hits . . . The Dominican Republic earned the final spot in the Olympic baseball tournament with an 8-5 victory against Venezuela in Puebla, Mexico. Red Sox minor league outfielder Johan Mieses homered twice for the DR in the qualifying tournament. Another Sox prospect, catcher Roldani Baldwin, was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:19:09 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h Eovaldi's line: 7 2/3 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 HR
Eovaldi threw with catcher Connor Wong during the Covid shut down last year. The two connected after Eovaldi learned Wong lived 20 mins from the Sox’ complex in Fort Myers. "He knows my stuff," Eovaldi said.
Ottavino: "That was the most tired I've been on the mound this year. Glad it worked out."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:19:43 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h Imagine losing ottavino to the Red Sox because you wanted to stay under the CBT and you’re the yankees…
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:21:39 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h Hirokazu Sawamura just walked the bases loaded with two outs in the 8th. Adam Ottavino is summoned into a 4-1 game.
Man, was that ugly. Back-to-back nights apparently too much to ask on this occasion. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:23:44 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h Chavis is 1 for 11 with 5 strikeouts since his recall. Has swung 30 times and has whiffed 14 times.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:25:00 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h Connor Wong is doing a nice job with Eovaldi tonight. Seamless.
Jason Varitek was working with him throughout the Tampa series on his receiving and after every inning, Wong goes right to him in the dugout.
Big asset having a guy like 'Tek around.
Very impressed with Connor Wong tonight. Sure didn't look like a rookie in his first start.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:25:31 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h Ottavino said that the was most tired he's been on the mound this year.
Third day in a row and the fourth time in five days.
4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:29:31 GMT -5
Gary M @nuggetpalooza · 8h #RedSox have now batted 62 times vs #Yankees with bases loaded/no outs since their last extra-base hit (Ortiz, 5.20/2003, double).
NOTE: This is regular season only and doesn’t include Benintendi’s 3-run 2B in ‘18 to make it 7-0 in Game 3.
@bradfo @alexspeier @ianmbrowne
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:31:34 GMT -5
Red Sox rookie catcher Connor Wong records hit in memorable first career start Calls ‘calm’ game behind plate in Red Sox’ win over Yankees
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald June 27, 2021 at 12:27 a.m.
Connor Wong got a little bit of a tease of the big leagues last Tuesday, when he was called on to pinch run in the 11th inning and ultimately scored the game-winning run in a Red Sox win over the Rays.
But there was no teasing on Saturday night. When the lights came on at Fenway Park against the Red Sox’ heated rivals, he was more than ready for the moment.
Wong earned his first career start and didn’t look like a rookie at all in the Red Sox’ win over the Yankees. The catcher recorded his first career hit in his first major league at-bat, and he was calm and cool behind the plate on what was surely a memorable night for him as he helped the Sox hold on to their 4-2 victory and a series win.
“He did a good job,” manager Alex Cora said. “There’s some calmness, right? The way he sets up, he’s not panicking back there. … Amazing job. We’re very proud of him.”
Wong, who was acquired by the Red Sox in last year’s Mookie Betts trade, was called up last week when backup catcher Kevin Plawecki was put on the injured list. He was originally supposed to start in Sunday’s series finale, but it was moved up a day in large part because of his familiarity with Saturday starter Nathan Eovaldi.
After COVID-19 put a pause on the season last spring, Eovaldi and Wong learned that they lived close to each other. So, they regularly met to throw to each other, and continued during this past offseason.
When Eovaldi learned last week in Tampa that Wong would be his catcher on Saturday, they got to work on a plan of attack against the Yankees. The connection proved almost perfect. The two were in sync all night as Eovaldi pitched probably his best game of the season, a gem in which he allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings. He was pitching a shutout until D.J. LeMahieu took him deep in the eighth, which proved to be his last batter.
But he wouldn’t have gotten there without Wong.
“Wong did amazing,” Eovaldi said. “I think it was a perfect situation for him to be able to get in that game. … I can’t say enough about how well he did back there. We were on the same page from the get-go. I didn’t really have to shake that many times and he was framing the ball really well. …
“He was definitely calm,” Eovaldi added. “There were no nerves. He looked great.”
There didn’t seem to be any nerves at the plate, either. Wong came up for his first career at-bat in the second inning and drew the count 3-2 against Jordan Montgomery before lacing an opposite-field single to right. He rounded first and got a few celebratory smacks on the helmet from first-base coach Tom Goodwin as the milestone ball was sent back to the Red Sox dugout.
“It was nice,” Wong said. “It felt like it was my first hit in a long time. Obviously struggling in Worcester, so it was nice to get that one and I’m looking forward to building on that.”
Wong found himself in his first late-game, pressure situation, too. The Red Sox led 4-1 with two outs in the eighth when Hirokazu Sawamura walked the loaded the bases. But Cora called on veteran Adam Ottavino to escape the mess, and Wong called him through the ninth as they worked around two hits and a walk to complete a four-out save.
“I trust Adam’s stuff,” Wong said. “He’s been doing this for a long time. He’s got a good feel for what he wants to do to those guys. We got out there and talked to him a little bit and we had a good game plan, I thought. We were able to get through it.”
And with it, Wong got through his first career start. The rookie wasn’t sure where his first hit ball would go yet. He’s saving that decision for another day.
“I’m not sure yet,” Wong said. “I haven’t got that far. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 27, 2021 3:34:31 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 7h Yankees love hitting into double plays.
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