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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 18, 2021 19:24:27 GMT -5
The press are going to have a field day tomorrow and I can't wait
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2m Sox answer the four-run inning by the Yankees by making three outs on eight pitches.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 2:37:27 GMT -5
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 4h Prepare for soft, frontrunning Red Sox to go on a tear now against Rangers, Twins and Indians. You will be told, ''they have turned it around.'' No. They just showed us who they are. This is who they are.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 2:56:03 GMT -5
Sox swept by Yanks: 'Everybody's frustrated' 1:50 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
NEW YORK -- After another frustrating night in which things were far too quiet for the Red Sox offensively, manager Alex Cora noticed a hush in his clubhouse that sounded unfamiliar.
This, after his team was swept in a three-game series by the Yankees that was capped by Wednesday's 5-2 defeat. The Red Sox have lost 14 of their last 20.
"It's very quiet today, I'll tell you that," said Cora. "It's very quiet in the clubhouse, and understandably so. It's a different feeling than early in the season when we came here and did what we did. All that stuff is in the past. It's part of the season."
Hitting slumps happen, but this one has come at a real bad time for the Red Sox.
In this sweep at the hands of the Yankees (69-52), the Red Sox (69-54) mustered five runs over 23 innings, and just two in the final two games while slipping a season-high six games behind the Rays (74-47) in the American League East.
Rafael Devers, one of the most dangerous hitters this season, went 1-for-10 at Yankee Stadium and expanded the strike zone numerous times. Fellow All-Stars J.D. Martinez (2-for-10) and Xander Bogaerts (2-for-9) didn't make much noise either, outside of his first-inning solo homer in the finale.
Kiké Hernández, who had a couple of game-turning hits when the Red Sox took three out of four from the Yankees at Fenway last month, was a nonfactor in this series, going 1-for-9.
"I think it's kind of what everybody sees," said Hunter Renfroe, who homered to lead off the ninth. "We're having trouble stringing hits together. When guys get on, we hit into a double play. Or if there are two outs, we are flying out or striking out. I think that's kind of an ordeal that we've been in. It's obviously just a struggle."
While the lack of firepower has been the most surprising thing about Boston's current slide, Cora didn't want to put the lost series in New York all on the offense.
"We got beat. We got beat in every aspect of the game," said Cora. "They pitched better than us, they hit better than us, they played better defense than us. It's that simple. We've got an off-day tomorrow. We've got to be ready for Friday. That's the way I see it."
The Red Sox led the Rays by 4 1/2 games on July 5 and led the Yankees by a whopping 10 1/2 games on that same date. Things have changed drastically in the span of six weeks.
New York now leads Boston by a game -- and two in the loss column -- in the AL Wild Card standings.
Making it sting more for the Red Sox is that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole didn't even pitch in this series. Andrew Heaney, who had struggled in his first three starts since the Yanks acquired him, held Boston to two hits over seven innings.
"There were some really good at-bats and then there were some empty ones," said Cora. "To produce at this level, you have to keep the line moving, you've got to walk, you've got to get deep into counts, you've got to recognize what's going on in-game. I'm not saying that's not the case. The guys have been watching, but we haven't been able to make adjustments."
After winning their first seven games against the Yankees this season, the tide has turned with New York winning six of the last nine. The rivals meet one last time -- at least in the regular season -- at Fenway Park for a three-game set that starts Sept. 24.
By that time, the Red Sox can only hope their current funk -- which includes a 6-14 record since July 29 -- is a distant memory.
"I firmly believe in not giving people too much credit," said losing pitcher Nick Pivetta, when asked about the resurgent Yankees. "You're going out and competing against them at all times. Yes, they have a good lineup. Yes, they have a good team. But we're better and we're going to move forward from this."
As the Red Sox left New York, it's doubtful you'd be able to find a smile on the team bus or the flight home.
"Yeah, I mean, obviously we're upset," said Renfroe. "We're pretty pissed at ourselves. We wanted to come out here and we wanted to win the series. I think that kind of sums up the whole … I don't know how long it's been … but a few weeks of us not playing up to our potential and I think everybody's frustrated with themselves and kind of beating themselves up.
"We're working our tails off in the cage and on the field and trying to do what we can to get better and do better for the team. That's where we're maybe trying to do too much instead of maybe just going out there and relax and just playing our game, because we know we're very, very good."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 2:57:33 GMT -5
Schwarber to play LF, will get time at 1B August 18th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
NEW YORK -- Although Kyle Schwarber was not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale at Yankee Stadium, there were no red flags.
It was simply a day for Schwarber to get some rest after starting both ends of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader.
When the Red Sox return home this weekend for a series with the Rangers, Schwarber will do something he hasn't done yet for Boston: Play defense.
Look for him to start a game or two against the Rangers in left field.
The Red Sox have been conservative with Schwarber in his first few days on the active roster. The left-handed-hitting slugger suffered a right hamstring injury on July 2 that kept him out of action for six weeks.
"He's feeling a lot better. You saw him running yesterday. He moved well," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He worked earlier today at first. Now, he'll go back out there for batting practice. We'll keep working with that, but first things first, he'll play the outfield, of course, before he plays first base."
If Schwarber can gain enough comfort at first to start some games there, it will be significant for a Boston squad that has lacked production at that position all season.
Though Schwarber hasn't gone deep yet for the Red Sox, he has reached base in seven of his first 14 plate appearances.
Plans for Houck? Righty Tanner Houck was returned to Triple-A Worcester after serving as the 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader. This was the fourth time Boston's No. 6 prospect has been used as a starter for a doubleheader.
Under normal circumstances, when a player is optioned to the Minors, he can't return to the big-league club for 10 days unless he is replacing an injured player.
But there are no such restrictions when it comes to the 27th player for a doubleheader.
Cora wouldn't say when Houck will return to make his next start in the Majors. But looking at the calendar, the Sox can get by without a fifth starter in the rotation until Aug. 28 at Cleveland due to upcoming off-days.
"You know, I can't go into details with that, but as you guys know, he's an important part of what we're trying to accomplish here," said Cora.
Venable to return Friday Bench coach Will Venable will be back in the dugout for the first time in two weeks when the Sox open their homestand Friday night.
Venable tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 7 and had to quarantine in a Toronto hotel room for the better part of the past two weeks.
Fortunately, Venable was at last cleared to leave Toronto. He will go to North Carolina to be there for his kids' first day of school, which is on Thursday's off-day for the Red Sox. And then he'll fly back to Boston that night.
"Spending all that time in the room, it's good for him to just relax, breathe, walk around and be ready for Friday," said Cora.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:06:48 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 5h It's incredible the degree to which this feels like 2011, in that disaster feels like a foregone conclusion every night when they really could turn this around and get themselves in the playoffs in like three days.
The #Yankees have won 16 of 21.
The #RedSox have lost 14 of 20.
In exactly three weeks, Boston has gone from eight games ahead of the first team out of the playoffs to percentage points out of the playoffs (with Oakland losing in Chicago and potentially putting them back in).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:21:35 GMT -5
4 takeaways as Red Sox drop three-game sweep to Yankees, fall back in standings The Red Sox threatened too late in the top of the ninth inning.
By Tom Westerholm August 19, 2021 | 12:15 AM
The Yankees completed their three-game sweep of the Red Sox on Wednesday, holding off a late charge for a 5-2 victory.
Here are the takeaways. The Big Picture
The Red Sox started strong, as Xander Bogaerts lifted a homer to right field in the first inning. Bogaerts looked uncertain whether the ball would leave the park as he left the batter’s box, but it carried to the second deck and gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
And that was nearly the extent of the Red Sox offense. Facing Yankees pitcher Andrew Heaney — who had a 5.78 ERA entering Wednesday’s game — the Red Sox were held scoreless and managed just one hit until the ninth inning.
The Yankees, meanwhile, scored four runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI singles. They tacked on another in the bottom of the eighth, which looked superfluous at the time.
The Red Sox finally threatened in the ninth facing Aroldis Chapman. Hunter Renfroe blasted a 456-foot solo homer, Bogaerts walked and J.D. Martinez singled, which put runners on first and third with two out and sent the Yankees back to their bullpen. Kevin Plawecki, however, grounded out to short on a play that required a replay review before the umpires declared the Yankees winners of their third game against the Red Sox in as many attempts. Star of the Game
Andrew Heaney – 7 IP, four strikeouts, two hits, one earned run
The Yankees’ offense stalled after the second inning, but Heaney carried them deep into the game, and the Red Sox never punished him despite facing him three times through the order. Heaney hasn’t had a particularly inspiring season — he gave up 15 earned runs in his last 15 innings pitched — but he stifled the scuffling Red Sox on Wednesday.
“There were some good at-bats and some empty at-bats, that’s the bottom line,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He pitched a lot differently than his previous one and then the one we saw him in Anaheim.” What It Means
The Yankees (winners of 16 of their last 21) officially moved ahead of the Red Sox (losers of 14 of their last 20) in the standings by a game. Takeaways
1. Cora told reporters after the game that the Red Sox’s offensive struggles start with their plate discipline, noting that he believed the Red Sox chased balls out of the strike zone on several of their outs.
“That’s the first thing you have to do,” Cora said. “We have done it in certain spots during the season, and we’ll do it again.”
Renfroe attributed the impatience to an anxious desire to be better.
“Trying to do too much, trying to be the guy to get the guy over, get the guy in, get a hit,” Renfroe said. “Like I said, trying to be a little too much, trying to be too aggressive. …
“Everybody wants to be better. Everybody wants to do better. This isn’t a thing where we are all pitying ourselves. We’re all going out there and working our tails off in the cage and on the field and trying to do what we can to do better and be better for the team.”
2. The final play was incredibly close. Most other batters would have comfortably made it to first and kept the rally alive. Plawecki has been lightning-hot over the last 50 games, but he is not lightning quick which set up what Cora called “a bang-bang play.”
A reporter noted to Cora that Plawecki looked safe.
“You think he was safe?” Cora said. “Thank you. I don’t know. … It was too close to overturn, probably. They called it safe, it would stay safe. If they called it out, it was going to stay out. From all the replays on the big screen, that’s how it looked.” Advertisement:
Plawecki would have been the tying run on first.
“One more swing of the bat, we tie the game,” Cora said. “But at the same time, those at-bats that we [have] late in games, they’ll be more than welcome early in the game and in the middle of the game. And we’ll do that. We are an offensive club. This club is supposed to score runs, and we will.”
3. In the second inning that damaged the Red Sox, J.D. Martinez took a circuitous route to a fly ball and was forced into a tough slide to try to catch it. He couldn’t quite hang on, and his throw to second — which would have resulted in a force out — was late.
Cora defended Martinez, who spent most of the season in the designated hitter role.
“He’s going to give you his best effort he’s going to make plays we’re going to put him in spots that he makes plays,” Cora said. “It’s not lack of effort. He’s been really solid for us in the outfield. It was one of those that one step, he makes that play.”
4. According to Cora, the clubhouse was uncharacteristically quiet after Wednesday’s game as the team looked gloomily ahead at an off day.
“Understandably so,” Cora said. “It’s a different feeling than early in the season when we came here and did what we did, all that stuff is in the past. It’s part of the season, we still put ourselves in a position where we control what we can do the rest of the season. …
“Today is very quiet in there, and I understand. It’s not a good feeling. But like I said, tomorrow, go home, relax enjoy the family and be ready for Friday.
Renfroe said the Red Sox were “pissed” at themselves.
“We know we’re good,” Renfroe said. “We know we have the guys we need to get us where we want to go. We just have to stay focused on ourselves and stay within ourselves and keep going.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:26:48 GMT -5
Red Sox bats mostly quiet as Yankees finish off sweep By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 18, 2021, 10:48 p.m.
NEW YORK — J.D. Martinez is an All-Star designated hitter who plays in the outfield on occasion. Since 2019, only 20 percent of his starts have required a glove.
The Red Sox stretched his capacity as a defender on Wednesday night, putting Martinez in the outfield for a fourth consecutive game for the first time this season.
Why? It allows manager Alex Cora to theoretically improve a struggling lineup by using the DH spot for Kyle Schwarber or Kevin Plawecki.
The strategy helped lead to a 5-2 loss against the Yankees as a ball Martinez didn’t make a play on in the second inning was the start of trouble the Sox could not ultimately escape.
Andrew Heaney and three relievers held the Sox to four hits as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep.
One of the hits was a 456-foot home run by Hunter Renfroe off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.
Xander Bogaerts then drew a walk off Chapman, who came off the COVID-19 injured list before the game and was pitching for the first time since Aug. 5.
Martinez singled with two outs to extend the game. Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulled Chapman for lefthander Lucas Luetge, and he retired Plawecki on grounder to shortstop Andrew Velazquez on a close play to end a nine-pitch at-bat. Related: Speier: Denied the storybook reunion with the Red Sox, Anthony Rizzo now a major part of the Yankees’ postseason hopes
Velazquez made a sliding stop from deep in the hole and fired a one-hop throw that first baseman Anthony Rizzo snapped up.
The Sox challenged the call, which was upheld after a wait of 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
It was more frustration for the Sox, who have lost 14 of 20 and are now six games out of first place. The resurgent Yankees have won six straight, seven of eight, and 13 of 16.
“It’s a very quiet clubhouse and understandably so,” Cora said after the game. “I understand. It’s not a good feeling.”
Said Renfroe: “Obviously we’re upset. We’re pretty [ticked] at ourselves. We want to come out here; we want to win the series. That sums up the whole last few weeks of us not playing up to our potential. Everybody’s frustrated with ourselves.”
It was the 15th time in 32 games since the All-Star break the once-potent Sox scored three or fewer runs. They scored five runs over 23 innings in the series, two in the final 18 innings.
“We got beat in every aspect of the game,” Cora said.
Nick Pivetta, in his first career start against the Yankees, couldn’t get through the second inning, allowing four runs. That was too deep a hole for the Sox to escape.
The Sox have lost 11 of their last 13 games on the road. They start a six-game homestand on Friday night against the Texas Rangers.
After scoring three runs in Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Sox had a promising start when Bogaerts launched an 0-and-2 fastball from Heaney deep into the stands in right field in the first inning.
But the Yankees came right back, scoring four runs against Pivetta in the second.
Giancarlo Stanton led off with a single before Rougned Odor drew a walk. Gary Sanchez followed with a popup to right field.
Martinez took a rainbow-shaped route to the ball, arriving late. He attempted a sliding catch and briefly had the ball in his glove before it popped out.
“That’s where we’re at right now,” Cora said. “It’s not lack of effort, I’ll tell you that.”
Martinez’s throw to second was late and the Yankees had the bases loaded. Related: Why chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom wasn’t with the Red Sox in New York
Brett Gardner followed with a sacrifice fly to center field. Pivetta then left a slider over the plate that Velazquez knocked into right field, scoring Odor.
Third baseman Rafael Devers saved a run, diving to stop a one-hopper by DJ LeMahieu and throwing him out from one knee.
But Rizzo followed with a two-run single past Bobby Dalbec down the first base line. Rizzo was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list earlier in the day.
“If you ask Bobby, probably he’ll tell you he needs to make that play,” Cora said.
Pivetta threw 38 pitches in the inning before Cora came to get him.
“Obviously I didn’t do a very good job tonight,” Pivetta said.
Deposed starter Garrett Richards replaced Pivetta and pitched four near-perfect innings, retiring 12 of 13 and striking out five.
Richards has worked seven scoreless innings since going to the bullpen.
Heaney allowed 15 runs on 15 hits over 15 innings in his first three starts for the Yankees after being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels.
He had no such trouble against the Sox. Heaney went seven innings and allowed one run on two hits. He walked two and struck out four, throwing 108 pitches.
Cora acknowledged the Sox had some “empty at-bats” against Heaney.
So befuddled were the Red Sox that Devers actually tried to bunt his way on leading off the seventh inning before striking out.
Heaney retired eight of the last nine batters he faced.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:32:00 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook Red Sox’ Kyle Schwarber has been cleared to play the outfield By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 18, 2021, 8:29 p.m.
NEW YORK — Kyle Schwarber has been an effective designated hitter for the Red Sox, reaching base seven times in 14 at-bats and scoring three runs in his first four games since coming off the injured list.
Now he’s ready for more.
Schwarber has been cleared to play the outfield and is likely to be in left field against the Texas Rangers on Friday night when the Sox open a six-game homestand.
“My legs feel good. If that’s what they decide, I’m ready to go,” he said Wednesday before a 5-2 loss against the Yankees. Related: Red Sox bats mostly quiet as Yankees finish off sweep
Schwarber was on the injured list with a right hamstring strain when the Sox acquired him from the Nationals on July 30. He played his first game on Friday and looked remarkably comfortable at the plate after being out for 41 days.
“The jitters were there the first game, but once that settled down I was fine. It’s just a regular game,” said Schwarber, who was out of the lineup for Wednesday night’s game against the Yankees after playing both games on Tuesday.
The longer-term plan for Schwarber is to play first base, a position he hasn’t played. He worked out there before the game on Wednesday, something he hadn’t done since Aug. 5 because of a groin strain.
It’s unclear when Schwarber will be ready to play first.
“That’s up to them,” he said. “I feel like I could do it. I feel pretty comfortable there, so hopefully it’s soon.”
The Red Sox were 63-42 and in first place when they traded for Schwarber. They have lost 12 of 18 since and fallen into third.
“These guys have done it all year. The panic button is not being hit. But there’s a sense of urgency. I see guys who want to work themselves out of it,” Schwarber said. “We have a lot of games left to play, that’s the biggest thing.
“We know we have to play better, but you can’t force that to happen. We’re in control.” Getting closer
Ryan Brasier pitched an inning for Triple A Worcester against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night, something the Sox plan to have him repeat on Thursday. Related: Denied the storybook reunion with the Red Sox, Anthony Rizzo now a major part of the Yankees’ postseason hopes
That could be the final hurdle before he is activated from the injured list.
“He’s getting close to joining the team,” manager Alex Cora said.
Brasier has allowed 10 runs on nine hits over 3⅔ innings in four appearances for Worcester and struck out only two.
Cora said the quality of Brasier’s pitches are approaching last season and the minor league results weren’t necessarily the team’s focus. The next step will be sharpening his command.
Brasier, 33, has been dealing with injuries since the early days of spring training, a strained left calf at first then a concussion suffered when he was hit by a batted ball.
Brasier made 121 appearances for the Sox from 2018-20 with a 3.70 earned run average and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Infielder Christian Arroyo had a day off on Wednesday and is expected to resume his rehab assignment with Worcester on Thursday. He has been out since July 19 with a strained left hamstring. Spring into action
Major League Baseball is reverting to a traditional spring training schedule for 2022 after teams in Florida played a regionalized schedule this year.
The Sox open with an exhibition game against Northeastern on Feb. 25 before starting the Grapefruit League schedule on Feb. 26 against the Braves in North Port, Fla.
The Sox host the Yankees on Feb. 27 and play them in Tampa on March 7. The Sox play the Twins seven times, including at JetBlue Park on March 29 to close camp.
The regular season is scheduled to open March 31 at home against Tampa Bay. Ups and downs
Tanner Houck, who was returned to Worcester after Tuesday’s doubleheader, was with the team at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday but is expected to report to Worcester on Thursday. With days off on Thursday and Monday, the Sox wouldn’t need a fifth starter until Aug. 28 if they go that route. “I can’t go into details on that,” Cora said. Houck is 0-3 with a 3.12 ERA in nine games, seven of them starts … Bench coach Will Venable, who was quarantined for 10 days in Toronto after testing positive for COVID-19, is back in the United States and will rejoin the team on Friday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:33:15 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 5h The Red Sox needed a first baseman. They didn’t get it. Yanks now-first baseman Rizzo makes two great plays to end it. No way Voit makes either of those plays. The Red Sox have figured out ways to recreate the bottom. This is it again
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:35:18 GMT -5
This sure has aged well Sam.
The Greg Hill Show @thegreghillshow · Aug 5 On the @yankees trade deadlines moves: "They had to do that... because they are 3-10 against us!"
#RedSox President/CEO Sam Kennedy w/ a nice jab at the Yanks during our front office report this am.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:39:21 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25
#RedSox are 69-54. They are 6-14 in their last 20. There is now daylight between them and the second AL wild card spot.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:40:58 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora -- 'It's very quiet in the clubhouse, and understandably so.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'When we pitch we don't hit. When we hit we don't pitch. It's kind of a bad combination.'
'I do believe we're getting closer to who we are and how we're supposed to be playing.' #RedSox
Alex Cora on the Yankees series -- 'We got beat in every aspect of the game.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:41:53 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora -- 'There were some really good at-bats and there were some empty ones. To produce at this level you've got to keep the line moving.' #RedSox
Cora on the Martinez drop -- 'He had a good jump. He had it in his glove and then he missed it.'
'He's going to give you his best effort.'
'One step and he makes that play.' #RedSox
Cora on the Rizzo grounder, which he called 'kind of an in-between hop' -- 'If you ask Bobby he'll probably tell you he should make that play.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:42:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora -- 'When we pitch we don't hit. When we hit we don't pitch. It's kind of a bad combination.'
'I do believe we're getting closer to who we are and how we're supposed to be playing.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 19, 2021 3:44:10 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h The Yankees trusting Andrew Heaney a third time through against Devers and Martinez tells you where the Sox lineup is at these days.
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