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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:09:14 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7m What's left of the announced 27,986 here at Fenway tonight is letting Matt Barnes have it. Might have preferred empty seats when struggling like this.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:12:54 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 8m I'd rather see Houck join Whitlock in the middle innings, slide Richards back to starter for now, and put someone like Taylor at closer for now. Sliding Whitlock to closer just makes getting to the end of the game a nightmare, would rather him and Houck pitch like 5 times a week.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:14:04 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 1h This pen is a mess right now. Something needs to be done. Move Whitlock to Closer. Move Houck into the Whitlock role. Call up Seabold and put him in rotation. It’s not going to solve all their problems but Houck isn’t going deep in games anyway. Why not?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:21:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 1m MIN 9 BOS 11 Final
#RedSox are 72-55.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:47:59 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 26m Red Sox less awful than Twins, 11-9.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 24, 2021 22:48:42 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2m Matt Barnes: "I picked a bad time to start sucking. But it's about winning ballgames ... But I'm going to keep grinding."
Says he expects the Sox to be in the postseason.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 2:56:33 GMT -5
Renfroe mashes 2 HRs: 'This is what I expect' 2:14 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- Hunter Renfroe has been the main noisemaker during an August that has otherwise been too quiet for the Red Sox offensively.
These clearly aren't dog days for Renfroe, who unloaded for a pair of moonshots totaling five RBIs while leading Boston to an 11-9 victory over the Twins on a hot and sticky Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Renfroe's two-homer barrage -- which totaled a projected distance of 794 feet per Statcast -- gives him 10 long balls this month and 25 for the season.
"It's amazing. You look up at the scoreboard and you see [25 homers] and [77 RBIs], hitting [.256] with an [.817] OPS and playing elite defense, people don't talk often about him," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He's been amazing for us against lefties. He has [402] at-bats already. Probably we didn't draw it that way, but he's earned every right to play."
The Sox (72-55) lead the A's (70-57) by two games for the second American League Wild Card spot and trail the Yankees (74-52) by 2 1/2 games for the first spot.
It turns out every bit of Renfroe's power-packed night was needed, as Boston's struggling bullpen had a near meltdown, turning a 9-3 lead into a slim 9-8 edge by the seventh inning.
Thanks in large part to Renfroe and an insurance, two-run, 30th-birthday shot by Kiké Hernández, the mishap by the 'pen didn't cost the Sox a victory.
It is fair to say Renfroe has been one of the best bargains in baseball this season, as Boston signed him to a one-year, $3 million contract after the Rays non-tendered him in December. Making that deal even better for the Red Sox is that Renfroe is still under club control for 2023.
Renfroe is proving that the 60-game season of 2020 was the product of a small sample size.
"Yeah, this is what I expect myself to do every year and even better most of the time," said Renfroe. "I look forward to around 30 home runs, around .250-plus, that's kind of my benchmark where I want to be every year, [also] drive in 100 runs. Sometimes you fall short, but you want to set your expectations high as possible and try to reach them. I think that's kind of the biggest thing, is at least staying available for Alex and being able to go out there every day and compete."
Boston trailed, 3-1, when Renfroe hammered his first homer of the night, a three-run shot that put his team up for good. An inning later, Renfroe seemed to put the rout in motion with a two-run rocket that soared out of Fenway Park and onto Lansdowne Street.
After hitting only three homers in July to go with a .650 OPS, Renfroe's resurgence in August (1.042 OPS) has been well-timed.
Though Renfroe pulled two missiles on Tuesday, he says the key to his turnaround was to stop himself from being so pull-happy.
"I was making sure I wasn't pulling off the baseball and staying to the big part of the field," said Renfroe. "It's kind of more of a mental state of staying to right-center and adjusting to the slider as quickly as I can."
Coming off a recent skid, the Red Sox have won three of their last four and seven of their last 12, though they clearly aren't firing on all cylinders these days.
"It is what it is. We won," said Cora. "People can criticize our team and the holes that we have or we don't have. This is a big league win. We'll take it, we'll work tomorrow, try to get better, but nobody is going to take the joy out of a big league win for us."
For much of that joy, the Red Sox can thank their right-handed- hitting masher, who is second only to Rafael Devers on the team in home runs.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 2:58:22 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Hernandez's side session August 24th, 2021
ROSTER MOVES
Aug. 24: OF Jarren Duran optioned to Triple-A Worcester To make room for Tanner Houck, the Red Sox decided to send down Duran, their No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The left-handed speedster struggled at the plate in his first Major League stint, slashing .221/.236/.372 in 89 plate appearances with 12 runs, three doubles, two triples, two home runs and eight RBIs in 27 games for Boston. But don’t rule out Duran returning for the stretch run.
“It was a good learning experience to be around him and be around us and understand what it takes to be a big leaguer,” said manager Alex Cora. “There are a few things he has to work on defensively, running the bases, bunting a little bit more. We gave him the homework, and he’ll work on it and we’ll see where he takes it.”
Aug. 24: RHP Tanner Houck recalled from Triple-A Worcester Though Houck has been a semi-regular in the rotation for the past few weeks, the Red Sox have been using his option to maintain roster flexibility. He was recalled on Aug. 24 to make his sixth start since July 22. The 25-year-old has a 3.12 ERA with 11.94 strikeouts per nine innings in his nine appearances this season. Red Sox manager Alex Cora also hinted that Houck won’t be optioned again this season.
“He’s been awesome. Looking forward for him to pitch tonight and stay with us and pitch every five days and be part of this finally on a more consistent basis,” said Cora. “He earned it, he deserves it, and obviously, he’s been helping us to get better and he will keep doing that.”
LHP Darwinzon Hernandez (right oblique strain) Expected return: September The lefty reliever took a big step on Tuesday when he threw his first bullpen session since going on the injured list. The Red Sox hope Hernandez can make a smooth progression from there. His re-addition would be big for a team that has had some struggles in the bullpen. (Last updated: Aug. 24)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:02:28 GMT -5
Sox may give Barnes break from closing 2:42 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- For the second straight game at Fenway Park, the Red Sox's bullpen turned in what could best be described as a high-wire act.
And for the second straight game, they somehow managed to hang on for the win, this time by an 11-9 score over the Twins.
Though the victories were needed for a team that is trying to stay in position to make it to the postseason, there is a significant problem brewing in the bullpen.
The main issue is this: Closer Matt Barnes is struggling mightily.
It stands to reason that manager Alex Cora might need to give Barnes at least a break from closing duties so he can regain the command that made him an All-Star in the first half of the season.
"We're concerned, yeah, we are," said Cora. "Obviously we're not going to pick on the guy, but we have to make adjustments, whatever it is. We keep talking about it."
Barnes, who has always been accountable, said he will understand whatever path Cora chooses to take.
"I'm going to leave that decision up to AC and [pitching coach Dave Bush]," said Barnes. "I'm going to be ready whenever that phone rings. We're going to continue to work. We're going to get this right. Make no mistake -- this is going to get fixed and I'm going to go back to being exactly what I was three weeks ago. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.
"Whatever AC and Bushy want to do that they feel is the right decision for the team to help us win ballgames, I will be completely on board with. That is the No. 1 goal right now. I'll say it over and over."
Garrett Whitlock bailed Barnes out on Monday with some stellar relief work and Travis Shaw belted a walk-off grand slam.
On Tuesday night, it was Hansel Robles to the rescue. After Barnes opened the ninth by giving up a homer and two walks, Cora came out to get him after just 12 pitches.
Robles converted the save in 21 pitches, striking out two of the three batters he faced. It was the 11th save of the season for Robles, but first with Boston. Robles got those first 10 saves for the Twins -- the team the Red Sox acquired him from in July.
"Hansel came in and did an amazing job. His stuff was electric. He was throwing 99 [mph] from the get-go and he picked everybody up tonight," said Cora.
"I was just pumped up," Robles said. "I had adrenaline flowing and I was excited to get the job done. I was waiting for a moment like this and I'm glad it happened. Obviously, Matt is our closer. I knew that was his moment. I always get myself ready just in case because you never know."
While Robles put out the fire, Barnes was the one doing the most emphatic cheering from the dugout.
"In a situation like that, I can be pissed at myself later. I can be selfish and slam stuff and go back to my apartment and be pissed off and worry about all that nonsense later, but the most important thing in that moment is me being a good teammate to Robles," said Barnes. "He's coming in, he's trying to clean up my mess trying to help us win a ballgame and close that down for us. My sole job there is to cheer him on."
In August, Barnes has a 16.88 ERA, having allowed 10 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings covering nine outings.
"I don't know if you're going to find someone that's more frustrated than me right now," said Barnes. "I picked a bad time to start sucking, but it's about winning ballgames. Even with my struggles the last couple of nights, guys have come through in the clutch to pick me up and we won both ballgames, which I think is really important -- to make sure everybody understands that."
On Wednesday, Barnes will go back to the drawing board and keep trying to make the adjustments that will get him back on track.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks for me," said Barnes. "I was dealing with some mechanical stuff with the ball leaking back over the middle of the zone. I feel like I've actually fixed that. I feel like the ball has been coming out pretty good and been pretty true. Baseball's a funny game, man. Between yesterday and today, I thought I made some really good pitches."
Barnes is far from the only player who has struggled on a team that led the American League East by 4 1/2 games on July 5 and now trails by 6 1/2 games.
However, the Sox are two games ahead of the A's for the second Wild Card spot.
"I anticipate fully getting to the postseason with this squad. I'm going to make sure that I do my part, and that's the end of it, right? It's not going to stop now," said Barnes. "I'll work with Bushy, I'll work with AC, [Jason Varitek], Kevin Walker, the video guys, see if anything is going on. See if we can draw up something, find something. We're going to keep working. That's kind of the bottom line."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:16:01 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 5h Hansel Robles, closer, does not really have a ring to it, if I'm being honest.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:26:44 GMT -5
Red Sox build big lead, hang on to beat Twins By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated August 24, 2021, 11:20 p.m.
Where would the fun be in games that didn’t require a high-wire act?
The Red Sox no longer win games so much as they survive them. For the second straight day, they managed to turn a seemingly comfortable game against an American League cellar dweller into a dramatic endurance test.
One day after nearly blowing but ultimately winning a game against the Rangers, the Sox built a six-run advantage before withstanding a near-implosion from their bullpen against the Twins. Once again, the Red Sox found their way to victory — or perhaps as accurately, avoided soul-crushing defeat — in an 11-9, 4-hour-9-minute outlasting of the Twins seen by the remnants of a Fenway crowd of 27,986. The win gave the Sox a two-game lead over Oakland in the race for the second wild-card spot.
“It is what it is. We won,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “People can criticize our team and the holes that we have or we don’t have. This is a big league win. We’ll take it, we’ll work tomorrow, try to get better, but nobody is going to take the joy out of a big league win for us.”
The complexion of the game shifted frequently and dramatically. The Twins struck immediately for a 1-0 lead against Sox starter Tanner Houck, with Max Kepler opening the game with a triple and scoring on a one-out single by Jorge Polanco. The Sox didn’t muster a hit through two innings before Travis Shaw led off the third inning against Twins starter Griffin Jax (3-2) by launching his second homer in as many days.
But the 1-1 score through three innings was no prelude. Both teams started swinging from their heels in the middle innings.
The Twins threatened against Houck all night, and broke through for a pair of runs on three hits — punctuated by a two-run single by Miguel Sanó — in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
The Sox returned serve and then some in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and one out, Jax left a 1-and-2 slider over the inner third of the plate to Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe launched a cloud-scraper into the Monster Seats for a three-run homer, his 24th of the year and his major league-leading ninth in August. The blast put the Sox ahead, 4-3. They weren’t done.
After a scoreless Twins fifth — one in which Cora pulled Houck with two outs in favor of Josh Taylor for a lefty-lefty matchup that resulted in an inning-ending, one-pitch ground out — the Sox erupted in the bottom of the fifth.
Rafael Devers delivered a one-out RBI double, Alex Verdugo drove in a pair with a two-out two-bagger, and Renfroe blasted yet another misplaced 1-and-2 slider from Jax (3-2), this one for a two-run homer to put the Sox ahead, 9-3. The multi-homer game was Renfroe’s second of the season and 14th of his career.
“This is what I expect myself to be every year — even better most of the time,” said Renfroe, who signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the Sox last winter after being designated for assignment and going unclaimed by 30 teams.
The Sox should have cruised to victory. But of late, no lead has seemed safe in the hands of their bullpen, which entered Tuesday with a 5.58 ERA in August, seventh-worst in the big leagues. Tuesday’s six-run advantage unsuccessfully tested the limits of that prevailing sense of insecurity.
Martín Pérez allowed one run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh when Polanco crushed his 23rd homer of the year. With the score at 9-6, Cora replaced Pérez with Hirokazu Sawamura. While the righthander has been one of the most consistent Sox relievers, he struggled on Tuesday, allowing two runs on a walk and two singles.
Tension built with Adam Ottavino on the mound for the Sox in the eighth. He issued a leadoff walk to No. 9 hitter Jake Cave — an uncomfortable development given Ottavino’s notorious difficulties with opponents’ running games. But when Cave predictably took off for second, Christian Vázquez gunned him down — just the second time in 21 attempts this year that an attempted act of larceny against Ottavino has failed. After a walk, Ottavino blew a four-seamer past Polanco to end the inning.
Kiké Hernández then afforded his team some breathing room with a two-run homer down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth that made it 11-8.
That shot proved critical, as beleaguered closer Matt Barnes allowed a leadoff homer to Josh Donaldson in the top of the ninth and walked two more batters before getting pulled in favor of Hansel Robles, the former Twins closer whom the Red Sox acquired at the deadline.
Barnes has allowed 10 runs over 4⅓ innings in his last eight appearances.
“We’re concerned,” said Cora. “We have to make adjustments.”
Barnes accepted that his hold on the closer’s job is in question.
“I’m going to leave that decision up to [Cora and pitching coach Dave Bush],” said Barnes. “Make no mistake, this is going to get fixed and I’m going to go back to being exactly what I was three weeks ago. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. Whatever A.C. and Bushy want to do that they feel is the right decision for the team to help us win ballgames, I will be completely on board with. That is the No. 1 goal right now.” Related: Inside the Red Sox’ players-only meeting that sparked the energy for Monday’s walkoff win
Toward that end, Barnes embraced the role of cheerleader while watching Robles unleash a succession of high-90s comets, striking out Nick Gordon and Sanó before retiring Cave on a soft liner to second. The escape act represented the 11th save of the year for Robles and his first with the Sox.
“It’s 27 outs. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s hard,” said Cora. “Sometimes wins like this keep building character … Big league wins are big league wins, regardless of how you do it, a 1-0 game or 11-9 with first and second and no outs.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:28:47 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook Red Sox send Jarren Duran back to Triple A WorcesterBy Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated August 24, 2021, 8:27 p.m. In May and June, a common question surrounded Jarren Duran’s dazzling performance at Worcester: What’s taking the Red Sox so long to call him up? That view always understated the magnitude of the jump from Triple A to the majors, a reality that became clear on Tuesday. With the Sox in need of a roster spot for starter Tanner Houck and Duran in need of playing time and a chance to recalibrate, the team optioned the rookie back to Worcester. Duran hit .221/.236/.372 with two homers, two walks, and 33 strikeouts in 27 games for the big club. From the time of his call-up, pitchers attacked him with fastballs at and above the top of the strike zone, and Duran struggled to make the adjustments necessary to handle it. He showed improvement in August (.277/.277/.426 in 14 games) but saw his playing time diminish with the activation of Kyle Schwarber. Duran had started just two games and had seven plate appearances in the last seven games. “It was a good learning experience to be around him and be around us and understand what it takes to be a big leaguer,” said manager Alex Cora. “We’ll be patient. There are a few things he has to work on defensively, running the bases, bunting a little bit more. We gave him the homework and he’ll work on it and we’ll see where he takes it.” Duran is not unique in struggling on his first exposure to the big leagues, particularly in 2021. Across the majors, rookies are hitting .226/.297/.383, well below the big league average for non-pitchers of .246/.321/.415. This year features the biggest gap between rookie and non-rookie performance in a full season since 2014. Evaluators suggest a sizable chasm this year between Triple A and the big leagues due to diminished quality of minor league pitching (a product of expanded big league staffs and injuries at all levels), the development gap created by the canceled 2020 minor league season, and the improving ability to game plan for players when they’re called up. “It is a big gap,” said Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers, who opined that rookies have struggled more this year than he’s ever seen. “He got thrown into the deep end. It’s not easy. You’re in the middle of a race. That’s an added pressure. I thought he did really well. I thought for the environment he had to come into, it’s only going to make him better. Yes, there were some holes that were exposed, like every hitter in there. It just takes a young guy asking, ‘How do I close that gap a little bit? What are the adjustments I make?’ It’s just a matter of time.” Cora concurred with the view that Duran will make the needed adjustments to emerge as a significant contributor. “We still like him the same way we like him when we called him up July 15 and somebody we trust,” said Cora. “He’ll be OK. We cannot make any promises that he’ll be here in 10 days or 15 days whatever, but one thing for sure, he’s part of the future.” Robles to the rescue With Matt Barnes struggling, the Sox turned in the middle of the ninth inning to Hansel Robles for the save. Robles responded with a pair of strikeouts and a game-ending lineout. While Robles has experience as a closer for the Angels and Twins — something of which Cora was mindful in bringing in the righthander — Robles did not show aspirations to defenestrate Barnes as Red Sox closer. “I’m not thinking about that,” Robles said through a translator. “Matt’s our closer. I’m not one to wish something bad on someone else.” Robles said he’s simply hopeful to be ready for any situation in which the Sox might summon him. He likewise took no added satisfaction in beating the Twins, who traded him to Boston at the July 30 deadline. “A win’s a win,” said Robles. “We needed it.” Bullpen session Lefthander Darwinzon Hernandez threw a bullpen session for the first time since landing on the injured list with an oblique strain on July 31 … Righthander Ryan Brasier and utilityman Danny Santana joined Double A Portland to continue their rehab assignments. Brasier pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout and Santana went 0 for 2 with a walk … Portland lefthander Chris Murphy struck out a career-high 11 batters in 4⅔ innings on Tuesday … Second baseman Nick Yorke, in his debut with High-A Greenville following a promotion from Low-A Salem, led off and singled in his first plate appearance on Tuesday. Jimmy Fund calling The 19th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon started on Tuesday. The event, which will continue through Wednesday, had raised more than $1 million by the early innings of Tuesday’s game against the Twins. WEEI’s Sean McDonough made an on-air donation of $10,000 to honor Jerry Remy as the NESN analyst continues his treatment for a recurrence of lung cancer. Donations can be made at www.JimmyFundRadioTelethon.org … Home plate umpire Tom Hallion left the game after the first inning after being struck on the top of his mask (the forehead) by a foul ball. The game was delayed briefly while second base umpire Phil Cuzzi put on the necessary equipment to move behind the plate.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:34:06 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h Red Sox and A’s just trying to figure out ways to surrender that second wild card spot.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:36:00 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Alex Cora -- 'It is what it is. We won. People can criticize our team for the holes we have or don't have.'
'It's a big-league win.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'You've got to manage the game all the way to the end. It's 27 outs. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's hard.'
'Sometimes wins like this can speak to your character.' #RedSox
Cora on Matt Barnes -- 'We're concerned. Yeah, we are.'
'Obviously we're not going to pick on the guy, but we have to make adjustments.'
'At the end of the day it's about winning the game. It's not about saves.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 25, 2021 3:37:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Replying to @billkoch25 Cora on Hunter Renfroe -- 'People don't talk often about him. He's been amazing for us.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'Offensively we did a lot of good things. Obviously, pitching-wise, we'll work on it tomorrow.' #RedSox
Cora on Renfroe -- 'I think right now his stride is a lot shorter. He's staying back.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'You've got to manage the game all the way to the end. It's 27 outs. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's hard.'
'Sometimes wins like this can speak to your character.' #RedSox
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