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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:24:12 GMT -5
How the Red Sox ended their road trip could be considered one of the high points of the season By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 3, 2021, 12:01 a.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s not often when winning four of seven games on a road trip can be considered a resounding success, if not one of the emotional high points of the season.
But for a Red Sox team that has been losing players along the trail like a beleaguered baseball version of the Joad family, taking two of three in Cleveland and splitting four games against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field felt like a real accomplishment.
“September is not a grind anymore. It’s actually fun,” manager Alex Cora said Thursday after a 4-0 victory against the Rays.
The Sox have placed eight players on the COVID-19 injured list since last Friday, All-Stars Matt Barnes and Xander Bogaerts among them.
That Cora was able to open his pregame press session without announcing another positive test made Thursday a success before the first pitch was thrown.
Eduardo Rodriguez and Garrett Richards then made it even better, holding the first-place Rays to five hits, all singles. Tampa Bay never advanced a runner beyond second base.
For the Sox to maintain their hold on a wild-card spot, Cora and pitching coach Dave Bush will have to be creative until Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Josh Taylor return.
The Sox blew a 4-0 lead in Cleveland on Sunday, a depleted bullpen allowing seven runs in the final three innings. They then allowed 14 runs in the first two games against the Rays as a series of emergency call-ups were hit hard.
But Chris Sale went six innings on Wednesday with Garrett Whitlock and Adam Ottavino following. Ottavino briefly warmed up on Thursday before Cora trusted Richards to go the final three innings for his second save.
“Regardless of the results of the first two games [against Tampa Bay], we were able to reset our bullpen,” Cora said. “We feel we can pitch. We can pitch with anybody in the league.
“But when you’re limping into series, it’s tough.”
Rodriguez held the Rays to four hits, walked one, and struck out six over six-plus innings and said afterward it was his best start of the season. The Rays agreed.
“Rodriguez was really good,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He came out of the gate with a really good changeup, got everybody kind of out front, then he reversed course and went back to the fastball that’s about as much of a power fastball as I’ve seen him have.”
Rodriguez pitched like somebody who understood how important the game was to the Sox, especially after Oakland won earlier in the day.
The Sox haven’t solved their roster issues, that’ll take another week or so. But after being in scramble mode, they moved forward.
“It feels really good. It feels amazing,” Rodriguez said.
The Replacement Red Sox at the bottom of the order — Danny Santana, 28-year-old rookie Jack Lopez, and Jonathan Araúz — were significant contributors.
In his first game since July 21, Santana walked twice and scored a run. Araúz did the same. Lopez had a sacrifice that led to a run in the second inning and played well defensively at second base.
“This is who we are right now with these kids playing,” Cora said. “The bottom of the lineup, it doesn’t look great. But if they can put [up] competitive at-bats and get that pitch count up, we’ll take that.”
The Sox return to Fenway Park on Friday to play Cleveland with a two-game hold on the second wild-card spot. They trail the Yankees by only 1½ games for the first wild card.
Cora said Sale was loud and animated before the game, encouraging his teammates to keep pushing. That the Sox have won all four games Sale has started since he came off the injured list added heft to his words.
“There was a good vibe,” the manager said. “He’s been saying all along nothing’s going to stop us … When you have guys like that who can speak up in the clubhouse but then they go out there and perform, it’s a lot easier.
“There was a lot of energy today. The guys were into it from the get-go. To be able to do that is a testament to them as a group.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:29:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h That's quite a road trip for the #RedSox to finish 4-3.
COVID disaster, gave one way at Cleveland, lost the first two at Tampa Bay, still managed to fight back.
Perhaps they did indeed hit rock bottom Tuesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:30:26 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h The people that have a problem with how Febles handled Raffy when he was melting down at the ump are insane in my opinion. He was trying to cover his mouth to keep him from being ejected in a close, important game, with a completely decimated roster. Give him the coach chain.
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h This is the correct take.
Rafael Devers might have been right. I couldn't tell. But there is a time and place to pick battles, and this wasn't it.
He gets ejected there, the #RedSox lineup gets flipped upside-down. No telling where the game goes. Febles should get a save.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:32:34 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h Richards as a reliever: 11.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 14 K.
Update: 12.1, 7, 1 1 4 15.
Sox (77-59) finish their road trip 4-2. They trail the Yankees by 1.5 games in the wild card race and lead the Athletics by 2 games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:32:59 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Eduardo Rodriguez said he felt tonight was his best start of the season
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:34:57 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 9h The @woosox scratched Kutter Crawford from his scheduled start tonight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:37:07 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 6h Cora: ‘We feel like we can pitch with anyone in the league.’
Cora on Richards out of bullpen: ‘He embraced the opportunity. He didn’t see it as a demotion…He’s been outstanding. A lot more competitive pitches out of the bullpen.’
Cora says Chris Sale was vocal in the clubhouse today, saying repeatedly that the Sox were going to be ok. Cora expressed appreciation for that sort of player-to-player leadership.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:40:04 GMT -5
Chris Sale ‘has been very loud’ in Boston Red Sox clubhouse, telling teammates to ‘keep pushing’ Updated: 1:24 a.m. | Published: 1:20 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox’s seven-game road trip can be described as both brutal and successful.
Seven players, including All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts and leadoff hitter Kiké Hernandez, tested positive for coronavirus. Boston lost eight players, nearly one-third of its active 26-man roster, to the COVID-related IL. Josh Taylor also is quarantining in a St. Pete after being identified as a close contact.
Still, the Red Sox won 4-0 over the Rays here Thursday to complete their road trip with a winning record (4-3).
“It was a successful road trip, looking forward to go home,” manager Alex Cora said.
Not everyone will be going home. The players, including Bogaerts, who tested positive here will remain at The Vinoy.
How did Boston, with a depleted roster, come back to win the final two games at Tropicana Field against the first-place Rays and split the series after three straight losses, including Sunday’s bullpen collapse in Cleveland?
It started with ace Chris Sale’s 6 strong innings Wednesday and continued with the ace’s influential voice inside the clubhouse Thursday.
“Chris was talking to the guys today,” Cora said. “He’s been saying all along, ‘Nothing’s going to stop us.’ He’s been very loud in the clubhouse just letting everyone know, it doesn’t matter what’s going on. We’re going to keep pushing. We’re going to be OK. We’re going to be OK.”
Maybe the Red Sox will be OK.
“When you have guys like that who can speak up in the clubhouse, but then they go out there and they perform, it’s a lot easier,” Cora said. “There was a lot of energy today. The guys were into it from the get-go. And to be able to do that is a testament to them. As a group, they understand that teams go through stuff like that. It’s not the first team that has had a COVID issue. But there have been teams that have went through this and then they took off. So hopefully, they start taking off and we can play solid baseball all the way through September and get to October and play in October.”
Eduardo Rodriguez followed Sale’s strong start with a more dominant performance Thursday. Rodriguez tossed 6-plus scoreless innings. He allowed just four hits and one walk. He struck out six.
“I feel like that’s been my best start of the season,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the way I feel today. Velocity-wise. Control-wise. Body-wise. Everything.”
Twenty-six games remain in the regular season and Boston holds a two-game lead on the Athletics for the second AL Wild Card.
“Obviously Sunday wasn’t perfect and we came here and we lost the first two,” Cora said. “With everything that was going on, we have to rely on other guys. Regardless of the results of the first two games, we were able to reset our bullpen. And we feel like we can pitch. We can pitch with anybody in the league. But when you’re limping into (a) series, it’s tough.”
Everyone contributed, including Boston’s two inexperienced middle infielders. Jack López, who made his major league debut Wednesday after 883 games in the minors, started the final two games of the Tampa series at second base.
Jonathan Araúz took over at shortstop when Bogaerts’ positive test came back in the second inning Tuesday. He has played every inning there since.
“This is who we are right now with these kids playing,” Cora said. “The bottom of the lineup, it doesn’t look great but if they can put competitive at-bats and get that pitch count up, like Jonathan did with his walk. I think it was 11 pitches, right?”
Araúz’s 11-pitch walk to lead off the fifth inning proceded J.D. Martinez and Bobby Dalbec’s RBI singles to put Boston ahead 4-0.
“We’ll take that,” Cora said about Araúz’s at-bat. “They (Araúz and López) make plays back there. That’s what we’re looking for. And the last two days have been solid defensively.”
Garrett Richards replaced Rodriguez with two runners on base and no outs in the seventh. He struck out both Manuel Margot and Brandon Lowe, then retired Mike Zunino on a flyout to center field.
Richards — who declined a request to speak with the media after Thursday’s win — has allowed only one earned run in 13 ⅓ innings since the Red Sox moved him from the starting rotation to the bullpen Aug. 11.
“He embracing the opportunity,” Cora said. “He didn’t see it as a demotion. We wants to help us win. And he’s been outstanding. A lot more competitive pitches from the bullpen. The slider is playing. And just looking around the league, that’s a pitch that we were missing in the bullpen. And he’s been amazing. His changeup is playing, too.”
Richards recorded a three-inning save. He struck out four. He pitched around one walk and one hit.
“There’s certain guys that they love the fact that they have to compete on a daily basis,” Cora said. “And he has to be ready for that. He pitched three days in a row. He didn’t pitch in a while. Today he goes three and he loves that. He’s a workaholic. He works hard on his craft. And he’s locked in right now. It’s fun to watch.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:41:22 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Eduardo Rodriguez enjoys his ‘best start of the season’; Bobby Dalbec taking grounders at SS Updated: 2:01 a.m. | Published: 1:54 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Eduardo Rodriguez was pleased with how he pitched Thursday.
“I feel like that’s been my best start of the season,” the lefty said after Boston’s 4-0 win over the Rays here at Tropicana Field. “That’s the way I feel today. Velocity-wise. Control-wise. Body-wise. Everything.”
Rodriguez pitched into the seventh inning. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out six.
He recorded 14 swings-and-misses, including nine with his four-seam fastball. His 43 four-seamers averaged 93.7 mph, up from his 92.5 mph average velocity this season, per Baseball Savant. He topped out at 95.6 mph.
“He had good velocity, a good changeup,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He’s been really, really good the last two (starts). And this is the guy we envisioned. He understands that this is fun. There’s a lot of guys in there that regardless of what’s going on with the group, we know we’ve got a chance to make it to the playoffs. September, it’s not a grind anymore. It’s actually fun.”
Dalbec wins AL Rookie of the Month
Bobby Dalbec was named AL Rookie of the Month for August before Thursday’s game. He then went out and ripped two RBI singles to lead Boston’s offense.
Dalbec put the Red Sox ahead 1-0 in the first inning. He gave Boston a 4-0 lead in the fifth with an RBI single to center field.
He went 21-for-62 (.339) with a .431 on-base percentage, .774 slugging percentage, 1.205 OPS, seven homers, four doubles, one triple, 21 RBIs, 12 runs, eight walks and 18 strikeouts in 24 games (72 plate appearances) during August.
His 25% strikeout percentage during August was much improved from his season strikeout rate (35.1%). His 11.1 walk percentage for August was up from his season walk rate (5.7%).
“It feels good to contribute,” Dalbec said. “I feel like I’m contributing on a daily basis.”
Dalbec or Devers at SS?
Don’t be surprised to see Dalbec or Rafael Devers at shortstop late in a game while Xander Bogaerts, Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández remain on the COVID-related IL.
Dalbec already has played shortstop twice (4 innings) late in games this season.
Jack López has started at second base and Jonathan Araúz at shortstop the past two games.
“We have to be open-minded,” Cora said. “Like with Raffy and Bobby, it’s just one of those where if we hit for one of the kids (López or Araúz), who’s going to play up the middle? We talk about Raffy. He plays there in the shift. When Bobby plays third base, he plays there in the shift. So I told him to get some groundballs at short. Actually, he was pretty good. He was actually good at short, the way he moves. It’s very similar to the way he moves at third base. And I like what I saw.”
Duran’s defense
Rookie Jarren Duran, who converted from second base to center field after Boston drafted him in 2018, is at negative-6 Defensive Runs Saved in center for Boston.
“He’s been OK,” Cora said when asked about Duran’s defense. “I think honestly he still has to work on a few things out there. For how fast he is, he does a good job closing the gaps. He does that.”
Red Sox coaches are working with him on his first step.
“That’s something that will benefit him,” Cora said. “We can see it with Enrique (Kiké Hernández). Enrique is not fast but he’s quick. I think he has the best first step of any outfielder in the big leagues. ... So that’s something that we have to keep working with him.”
Red Sox claim Motter
The Red Sox claimed infielder Taylor Motter off waivers from the Colorado Rockies before Thursday’s game.
Bogaerts, Christian Arroyo and Yairo Muñoz all are on the COVID-related IL after testing positive. So Boston needed to acquire infield help.
“Athletic, versatile,” Cora said. “It’s one of those situations where we’re at right now. I think if we recognize talent, it would be good to add it to our structure. We don’t know what could happen in two hours or three hours or tomorrow. He was having a good season in Triple A, got called up by the Rockies and he got put on waivers. So we jumped into the opportunity. So we’ll see. There’s obviously other stuff that goes on before he joins us. So we still have to wait.”
Motter has appeared in 154 big league games in four major league seasons. He has played for the Rays, Mariners, Twins and Rockies.
He has batted just .189 with a .261 on-base percentage, .304 slugging percentage, .565 OPS, 10 homers, 15 doubles, 44 runs, 37 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 433 plate appearances in the majors.
He went 3-for-20 (.150) in 13 games for Colorado this season.
The 31-year-old right-handed hitter slashed .335/.460/.759/1.220 with 24 homers, 16 doubles, one triple, 54 runs and 57 RBIs in 67 games for Triple-A Albuquerque this season.
COVID update
There were no new COVID cases Thursday.
“Guys are feeling OK, feeling better, especially Enrique,” Cora said. “He feels like he’s close to 100%. So we’ll see what happens in the upcoming days. Christian is feeling better, too. He was able to actually rest.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:45:18 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h Like I said today, just survive the next week. What huge win. Erod was fantastic. Richards as well
4-3 during Covid road trip. Gotta take that especially splitting with hottest team in baseball
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:50:25 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 8h Eddie with a 3.60 ERA over his last 65 innings dating back to mid-June. OPS allowed under .700. Very nice first 5 IP tonight, hopefully a few more good ones to go.
April - June 15th... 6.21 ERA, 3.62 FIP....... 3.60 ERA since then.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:51:34 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 6h Sox showing some marbles![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E-U2mF1XMAIg025?format=png&name=small)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:53:01 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 6h 6th shutout win of the season for #RedSox. Was also 6th shutout loss of 2021 for #Rays.
Tonight's game was first shutout win for #RedSox over #Rays since August 5, 2020 (a 5-0 win for BOS also at Tropicana Field).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:54:17 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 6h #RedSox Manager Alex Cora: "Regardless of the results of the first 2 games, we were able to reset our bullpen…Yesterday it was [Whitlock] and Ottavino, today it was [Richards], and it was a successful road trip. Looking forward to going home."
#RedSox Manager Cora on Eduardo Rodríguez: "He had good velocity, good change up…This is the guy we envisioned…September, it's not a grind any more. It's actually fun…We were able to reset, we added some guys here that did an amazing job today…It was a total team effort."
#RedSox Manager Cora on Garrett Richards: "He embraced the opportunity [to relieve]. He didn't see it as a demotion. He wants to help us win and he's been outstanding…The slider is playing…that's a pitch that we were missing in the bullpen and he's been amazing."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2021 3:55:21 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 6h #RedSox Eduardo Rodríguez on tonight's outing: "I feel like that's been my best start of the season, velocity-wise, control-wise, body-wise. Everything." #Agreed
#RedSox Eduardo Rodríguez: "For the first time in the whole season, I finally feel like completely me…The cutter, the change up, the curve ball, everything, four-seam, I feel like, for the first time, I feel good. That's how I want to feel the rest of the season."
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