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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 6, 2021 15:12:48 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 1m Replying to @billkoch25 Cora said Chris Sale is expected to go 5-6 innings and/or 90 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Worcester.
'It feels like it's the last one.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 1:48:42 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:12:24 GMT -5
Red Sox pitching last night
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:16:59 GMT -5
'Not enough': Eovaldi, Sox falter in opener 2:10 AM ADT Megan Garcia
Megan Garcia @garciamegan_
It wasn’t the start the Red Sox had planned for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, much less the day after Martín Pérez recorded only four outs in his start.
Manager Alex Cora laid out his hopes for Eovaldi’s start prior to Friday’s series opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The right-hander had been riding a tough stretch of his own, with an 0-2 record and 4.94 ERA in his last four starts. He was being called upon to go deep into the game, as well as give the Red Sox an opportunity to right the ship after having lost seven of their last 10 games.
“It'll be good for him to go deep into the game,” Cora said during Boston’s pregame Zoom. “He's a guy that we rely on. Obviously, we got to do a few things better, but, hopefully, we can get a good outcome from Nate and give us a chance to win the game.”
Things didn’t pan out that way, as the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox, 12-4. After the Red Sox claimed the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth by Xander Bogaerts and an RBI single from Kiké Hernández in the fifth, the game unraveled for Eovaldi in the home half of the fifth.
"What's the most frustrating part is they've given me the lead and I feel like I've let this team down, so to speak," Eovaldi said. "I've got to do a better job of managing the game, especially tonight. I felt like I was in control and the bottom part of the lineup got to me.”
The 31-year-old was tagged for seven earned runs on six hits in the inning alone, as the Blue Jays put up nine runs in the contentious frame. When Hansel Robles took over for Eovaldi on the mound with two outs, the right-hander plunked Randal Grichuk, leading to home plate umpire Jim Wolf warning both teams.
The two teams nearly cleared the benches as players exchanged words in a heated back-and-forth as the managers approached the field.
“They thought there was intention when [Robles] hit Grichuk, and there were some words exchanged from the dugout,” said Cora of rushing to the mound. “I know [Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo] came out, obviously defending his player. That was the whole thing. I was trying to avoid whatever more words to be shouted and try to control the situation.”
Boston’s starting rotation has fallen flat, as of late. In the 10 previous games entering Friday’s match, the rotation posted an ERA of 7.81 in 40 2/3 innings. It has coincided with the Red Sox woes since the All-Star break as they’ve gone 9-11 in the second-half.
"At the beginning of the year we kind of hit that rut offensively, but the team staff was able to pick us up,” Eovaldi said. “Then when we hit the rut on the pitching side, the offense picked us up.
“Right now we're kind of both struggling at the same time after the All-Star break. We're a team, we're gonna get through this together and it's just gonna take that one person to step up for us and right the ship.”
Boston’s offense didn’t have an answer for Alek Manoah and the four relievers who followed. Though the lineup collected eight hits, including Hunter Renfroe's two-run homer in the sixth, the four runs on the board weren’t nearly enough.
As Eovaldi explained, both sides of the team are struggling unlike any other time during the season. But now the Red Sox are reaching a point where the struggles can’t be ignored in the standings. Though they have one of the better records in MLB at 64-47, the loss moves Boston to 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Rays in the American League East.
"I know it's not about a lack of effort, a lack of focus, a lack of work. It's none of that," said Bogaerts, who went 0-for-3. "Maybe we should try harder, because apparently what we're doing right now is not enough.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:31:37 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h So in the last two games against Toronto, Red Sox have been outscored 22-3.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:36:01 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 6h That was five runs in three pitches for Toronto, if you were curious. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:36:31 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 4h WORST 10-GAME STRETCHES, 2020 #RedSox
8/9-18 -- 1-9, Minus-43 run differential 8/10-19 -- 1-9, Minus-42 8/8-17 -- 1-9, Minus-37 8/11-20 -- 2-8, Minus-35
The 2021 #RedSox have lost 8 of 10, with a minus-35 (62 allowed, 27 scored).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:54:45 GMT -5
A really low five as Nate Eovaldi, Red Sox fall apart quickly in loss to Blue Jays By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 6, 2021, 10:44 p.m.
The Red Sox were in control.
Nate Eovaldi breezed through the first four innings Friday night against the Blue Jays. They scored their first run of the contest off Jays starter Alek Manoah on a Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning. An inning later, Kiké Hernández waved with a grin toward his teammates after an RBI single that increased the Sox’ lead to two runs.
Then, the fifth inning hit, literally. There were no more smiles. Just an onslaught by the Blue Jays that buried the Sox in what was ultimately an embarrassing 12-4 loss.
The Red Sox have lost seven of their last eight, a bad run that started when the Blue Jays won two of three at Fenway in late July.
Eovaldi got hit by a Toronto avalanche, allowing seven runs on six hits in that inning alone.
“I feel like I’ve let the team down,” Eovaldi said afterward. “I got to do a better job of managing the game, especially tonight. I felt like I was in control. The bottom part of the lineup got to me. They’re a great hitting team and I got to face the top of the lineup, and it just felt like I couldn’t stop the bleeding.”
Indeed, the Sox bled.
It began with three straight doubles by the bottom of the Blue Jays order. Randal Grichuk’s double plated the Jays’ first run. Breyvic Valera’s double knotted it at two apiece. With two out in the frame, Bo Bichette steered a high fastball off the top of the right field wall, bringing across the Jays’ third run. Teoscar Hernadez’s double brought across two more runs. Lourdes Gurriel then belted a two-run homer.
Newly-acquired reliever Hansel Robles took over for Eovaldi and allowed two more runs. What was once a 2-0 lead turned into a nine-spot inning.
Red Sox starters, meanwhile, have an 8.40 ERA in the last 11 games.
If there were ever a bottom for the Red Sox, that fifth frame, which happened in a blink, was it.
The Red Sox got two of the runs back in the sixth on a Hunter Renfroe home run. They loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs, bringing up Renfroe once more. But he popped out to shortstop to end the threat.
The Blue Jays added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth — the last against infielder Jonathan Araúz. Martín Pérez, who was moved to the bullpen, came on to pitch the seventh and allowed a run following a George Springer RBI triple. The Blue Jays racked up 17 hits, while the Red Sox had eight.
The Sox (64-47) fall to 2½ games behind the Rays in the American League East. They are 1-7 in their last eight contests and have three more against a Blue Jays team that is 13-7 following the All-Star break and 7-1 in their last eight contests.
“Maybe we have to try harder,” said a frustrated Xander Bogaerts, who was 0 for 3 on the evening. “Apparently what we’re doing right now is not enough. Coming from me it really sucks not to produce and help the team. We know this game is about whoever is putting up more runs. This is a really, really bad time to be playing bad right now.”
Despite the rotation’s woes, Bogaerts shouldered much of the blame, saying the offense could do more to help the pitchers out offensively. Heading into Friday, the Sox were hitting .247 after the All-Star break.
“You can say whatever you want about the pitching staff, but if you’re not putting runs up to help them feel a bit relaxed, it also falls on us,” Bogaerts said.
The Red Sox will have Nick Pivetta on the mound for Saturday’s split doubleheader followed by Tanner Houck for the evening contest. The Yankees won in 11 innings vs. the Mariners, which put them just three games behind the Red Sox for second place in the division. The Sox must figure out a way to respond to what has been a tumultuous skid.
“Come on, man. I mean, how many more do you want to lose?” Bogaerts said. “You’re not gaining any ground by losing.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:57:31 GMT -5
Red Sox’ Jarren Duran is placed on COVID-related IL; Sox to update his status Saturday By Julian McWilliams and Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated August 6, 2021, 5:07 p.m.
The Red Sox placed outfielder Jarren Duran on the COVID-related injured list Friday ahead of their series opener against the Blue Jays in Toronto. They recalled infielder Jonathan Aráuz in a corresponding move.
Duran is undergoing tests at the team hotel in Toronto. The situation is similar to what happened to Matt Barnes before this week’s series against the Tigers in Detroit. Barnes later tested negative.
According to his agent, Duran has had multiple negative tests for COVID-19. His placement on the list, as of now, is based purely on symptoms. The Sox will have an update on Duran’s status Saturday.
“Obviously it’s not great, but it’s where we’re at,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s going through the whole process and hopefully we get good news later on.”
The rest of the team went through extensive testing, too, considering the circumstances.
Duran is hitting .176 (9 for 51) with two home runs in the majors this year.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 2:59:27 GMT -5
red sox notebook Red Sox ship Martin Pérez to bullpen, move Tanner Houck to rotation By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 6, 2021, 4:49 p.m. 25
The Red Sox moved Martín Pérez to the bullpen, manager Alex Cora said Friday prior to a disheartening 12-4 loss in the series opener against the Blue Jays at Toronto.
Tanner Houck will take Pérez’s spot in the rotation.
Pérez was used immediately out of the pen, entering in the seventh Friday. He allowed a run on two hits as the Blue Jays took an 11-4 lead.
Pérez pitched well in his first 10 starts of 2021, posting a 3.55 ERA in April and May (50⅔ innings pitched). Opponents hit just .250 against him in that span. Since then, however, he has posted a 6.02 ERA in 12 starts, allowing 71 hits and 16 homers in 49⅓ innings. Batters have hit .343 against him with a .996 OPS.
In an 8-1 loss to the Tigers Thursday, Pérez lasted just 1⅓ innings — tied for his shortest start of the season — and allowed three runs.
“It’s something that, because of where we’re at and the people we’re adding in the upcoming days, it makes sense,” Cora said. “I’ve been saying all along, his stuff is a lot better than the results. But, obviously, it’s going to be where we’re going to be roster-wise in the upcoming days.”
With Darwinzon Hernandez on the injured list with a right oblique strain, Pérez gives the Sox that missing lefthander in the bullpen.
“It’s not easy,” Cora said of relaying the news to Pérez. “But he understands and he’s done it before. Having that third lefty is something that I’ve been telling [chief baseball officer] Chaim Bloom will be good. I do believe somehow, some way, he’s going to help us out of the bullpen.” One more rehab start for Sale
Chris Sale will make his rehab start Saturday for Worcester. Cora said they will treat it as a regular start with the hope that Sale can go five innings at 90 pitches.
“Obviously from there, we’ll make decisions,” Cora said. But it feels like it’s the last one.”
With the rotation struggling with a 4.65 ERA since the All-Star break, Sale’s return is something the Sox have looked forward to. Sale hasn’t pitched in almost two years, but the Sox believe he could be a significant boost to a rotation in dire need of it. Schwarber coming along
The Sox are also waiting on Kyle Schwarber. He ran the bases in Detroit prior to Friday’s contest.
“We’re still waiting to see how he feels today,” Cora said. “And we’ll keep moving forward. As far as rehab assignments, or games, whatever. We’re not there yet. So we’ll probably have more over the weekend.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 3:01:59 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h wow. 7-2. As @billkoch25 says, go up to Toronto, and you risk getting hit by a buzzsaw.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 3:06:31 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h Charlie Montoyo is right. The Blue Jays did nothing to deserve a warning here. Hansel Robles is pissed off because he can't throw a strike or get anybody out. He's looking for a way to escape.
This is a full meltdown from the #RedSox.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 3:09:16 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora -- 'We hate losing. One thing we have to do is turn the page tonight and be ready to play two tomorrow. They're playing good baseball.' #RedSox
Alex Cora -- 'It just happened so fast, right? We were (at) two outs and a strike away from getting out of the (5th) inning.'
'We were just unable to finish it.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'It's disappointing of course. But today I feel a little bit better than yesterday, although the results are the same. We put some competitive at-bats.'
'We've just got to do a lot of things better.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 3:09:56 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h #RedSox announce in a statement they expect the results of Jarren Duran's latest COVID-19 test on Saturday.
Duran was placed on the COVID IL prior to Friday's game after experiencing some symptoms. @alexspeier reported Duran had tested negative twice.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 7, 2021 3:11:32 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Xander Bogaerts -- 'It's a really bad time to be playing bad right now. Coming here tomorrow, we have two games. We have to try harder and win.' #RedSox
Bogaerts -- 'My wrist has been fine for -- I would say about a week.'
'After a couple days off my wrist has been fine.'
'I changed so much mechanically. Now it's just about fighting. I'm fighting to get back to the right mechanics.' #RedSox
Bogaerts -- 'All you need is one win. That's all you need. Obviously we had that one win in Detroit and we came back on that Sunday and those guys came out swinging.'
'It's enough of hoping and waiting to go on that winning streak. We have to go out and get it.' #RedSox
Bogaerts on the Blue Jays 5th inning -- 'Everyone was getting base hits.'
'When it's going bad, it's going real bad.' #RedSox
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