|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:39:09 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora said Sale was going out for the 7th to stall for Whitlock. Davis was warming up initially and Whitlock got going a little late -- and quickly -- when the game went to 2-2. #RedSox
Cora, in Spanish, said there were many positives in this one. The #RedSox have a chance for the split with the Rays on Thursday and could have a winning record on the road trip with a victory.
Alex Cora -- 'We played very good defense today.'
'We catch the ball behind these guys, let the big boys do what they do and see where it takes us.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:40:28 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Replying to @billkoch25 Cora said Jack Lopez and Jonathan Arauz are likely to continue as the 2B-SS combination. #RedSox
Cora on Chris Sale -- 'He made pitches when he had to and let the defense do their thing. They were really good today.' #RedSox
Cora on Christian Vazquez -- 'He's a proud individual. He's been with this team for a while.'
'It was a great all-around game for Christian.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:42:24 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Sale on the Wander Franco home run -- 'Those are the ones you don't lose sleep over.'
'Not too many guys can get to that.' #RedSox
Sale -- 'It doesn't matter where I'm at or who I'm pitching against. I'm bringing it regardless.' #RedSox
Chris Sale -- 'We've got some fight left in us. We've got some kick. No one in here is giving up.' #RedSox
Sale on the defense behind him -- 'That's everything. I didn't have but a coupe strikeouts tonight. That means I was really relying and leaning on my defense.' #RedSox
Sale on Garrett Whitlock -- 'He's got to be a lock for Rookie of the Year. The guy's been absolute nails for us.'
'He's like autocorrect. As soon as he has a bad one, boom -- he's right on to the next one.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:43:51 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Duran on resetting for his at-bat in the 9th -- 'You try to focus on what's in front of you.' #RedSox
Duran -- 'I was thinking about the team the whole at-bat.'
'This one was for the boys.' #RedSox
Jarren Duran -- 'Sale was outstanding today. We had a great team win. Everybody contributed.'
'It's good for us to put it together.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:45:59 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Vazquez said he's played a lot of Winter Ball games with Jack Lopez. They're both Puerto Rico natives. Was happy to see Lopez make his #MLB debut tonight. #RedSox
Vazquez on being sent and thrown out at the plate -- 'I'm the leader in stolen bases, but no -- I'm not that fast.' #RedSox
Christian Vazquez -- 'I think we needed it.'
'Just get a spot. That's our goal. Stay in the playoffs and get a spot. #RedSox
Vazquez, simply, on tying the game 2-2 in the 7th -- 'I think every homer is good.'
Vazquez on his one-hop stab and tag in the 7th -- 'I was trying to get the ball first. Then, after that, get the tag. And I got it. That was a big, big out there.' #RedSox
Vazquez on the Franco home run -- 'It was a great pitch -- a swing and miss pitch. But he touched it. He's a strong kid.' #RedSox
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:47:07 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h Heck of a win for the patchwork Sox. Rays had won nine straight and 13 of 14.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:48:57 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5h Red Sox win and A’s lose at almost exactly the same time. Red Sox back up to a two-game lead for the second WC. They’ll end this COVID-ravaged roadtrip still in possession of a postseason berth.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:51:11 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook: Xander Bogaerts asymptomatic after testing positive for COVID-19, Kiké Hernandez could return this weekend
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: September 1, 2021 at 7:13 p.m. | UPDATED: September 1, 2021 at 7:24 p.m.
The Red Sox continued to receive uncomfortable news on Wednesday as Yairo Muñoz became the seventh player to test positive for COVID-19. But with the health of their players being a priority, at least three of them are feeling better.
Xander Bogaerts, who was pulled during the second inning Tuesday with a positive test, is asymptomatic, manager Alex Cora said. The shortstop will need to be quarantined in Tampa for at least 10 days.
“He’s doing good,” said Cora, who noted Bogaerts was “obviously disappointed” when he learned the news. “He’s at the hotel. No symptoms, so that’s good news.”
Kiké Hernandez, who was the first member of the Red Sox to test positive last Friday in Cleveland, “feels great” and could return this weekend. Hernandez, who is vaccinated, is continuing to quarantine in Cleveland, but may be able to return before his 10 days is up.
“I don’t know where we’re at as far as like the protocols and what we have to do, but I don’t think, I don’t believe, especially Kiké and his situation, that he’ll be available (for Friday),” Cora said. “But hopefully he can join us over the weekend, Saturday, Sunday. It all depends how it goes with testing.”
Cora said that strength and conditioning coach Kiyoshi Momose is feeling “not so great,” and Christian Arroyo is “feeling better.”
“It’s hit some people harder than others,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said. “Some of those who were hit hard early on are doing better. Some are still going through it. Overall we’re optimistic that everybody is going to pull through here without long-term concerns, but obviously we don’t know that for sure until everybody is through it. The levels of the symptoms have varied.”
New routines
With the COVID-19 outbreak ongoing, the Red Sox are doing their best to avoid it getting worse. They’re arriving at the ballpark later than usual, and all meetings are being held outside. Cora is hopeful it will be temporary.
“Hopefully it’s just for a few days,” Cora said. “Have a few … positive days as far as testing, that we can get back to normal in a few days. For now, here at the Trop, we’ll adjust and we’ll go from there.”
Who’s in the middle infield?
With Hernandez, Bogaerts and Muñoz out, the Red Sox are going to need to get creative at second base and shortstop for the next week. On Wednesday, they called up Jack Lopez for his major-league debut to play second base, while Jonathan Arauz was at shortstop, his natural position.
“We will see where we’re at roster-wise later on and where we’re at roster-wise tomorrow,” Cora said. “It will be something on a daily basis, day by day. We’ll take it day by day. Hopefully we can get some of those guys quick, sooner rather than later, and we can adjust from it.”
The Red Sox made three other additions to their roster Wednesday, adding pitcher John Schreiber. He and Lopez were the corresponding moves for Bogaerts and Muñoz, who went on the COVID-19 related injured list. As expected, Ryan Brasier and Danny Santana were each reinstated from the injured list to be their September call-ups as rosters expand to 28.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:52:39 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 5h What a huge win. Cora had to go all in with Whitlock but when you use him you have to win. Tomboy it’s Erod and Richards. Defense matters and it did tonight.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 2:55:57 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Chris Sale: ‘We’ve been kicked. We’ve been punched. To see us fight like that and win ... that’s a momentum boost’ Updated: 1:17 a.m. | Published: 12:52 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox have lost nearly one-third (31%) of their active roster to the COVID-related IL with seven positive test results and one close contact since Friday.
Jack Lopez, a 28-year-old rookie with 883 minor league games on his resume, made his big league debut at second base Wednesday. Jonathan Araúz, a 23-year-old who’s hitting .167 in 48 plate appearances this season, started at shortstop in place of Xander Bogaerts, one of seven players with COVID.
But the Red Sox found a way to win after entering the seventh inning down 2-1 against a Rays team that owns the best record (84-49) in the American League.
Slumping rookie Jarren Duran stroked a two-out RBI single in the ninth. Boston won 3-2 here at Tropicana Field.
“We’ve been kicked. We’ve been punched. And to see us fight like that and win a game the way we just won that game, that’s a momentum boost,” ace Chris Sale said.
It has been a brutal road trip considering how many players the Red Sox have lost to the COVID IL. But Alex Cora’s team still has managed to go 3-3. Boston has a chance for a winning record when it wraps up the seven-game trip here Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
“That was big,” Sale said about Wednesday’s win. “There’s no doubt we’ve had some gut punches over the last week, week and a half. Obviously even before then. But to know that we’ve still got some fight left in us, we’ve still got some kick. Nobody in here’s giving up. Our attitude and our effort is staying the same no matter who’s in this clubhouse and who’s not. And that’s the most important thing. We’re still in a position most other guys would love to be in. We know that and we’ve got keep rolling with it.”
The Rays lead the majors in runs (714). So they provided a tough test for Sale who had won his first three starts back from Tommy John surgery against under .500 teams (Orioles, Rangers, Twins).
López and Araúz played strong defense behind Sale. Boston turned double plays in the first, second and fourth innings.
“That’s everything,” Sale said. “I didn’t have but a couple strikeouts tonight. So that means I was really relying and leaning on my defense. With those guys up the middle, Jack and Araúz, they made some really heads-up plays. With López, it was his major league debut and he made one of the most heads-up plays that saved our butt.”
López turned a 5-3 double play on Joey Wendle’s grounder with runners at the corners in the fourth. He tagged out Jordan Luplow, then fired to first to end the inning.
The Rays had the potential go-ahead run on third base with one out in the seventh and eighth innings.
In the seventh, Randy Arozarena grounded sharply to third baseman Rafael Devers whose throw home one-hopped Christian Vázquez.
Vázquez scooped it and tagged out Wendle to keep the score tied 2-2.
Araúz threw out Wander Franco at the plate in the eighth after Manuel Margot grounded to shortstop.
“We were scratching and clawing,” Sale said. “This by no means was an easy win. Tight ball game the entire way. And we did what we had to do. We found a way. ... Our bullpen was nails. Our offense did what they had to do in some big situations when we really needed it. That’s what you love to see.”
Sale pitched 6 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out three. The lefty also hit two batters.
He threw 95 pitches (57 strikes). He topped out at 96.4 mph and averaged 94.3 mph with his 48 four-seam fastballs, per Baseball Savant.
He recorded 14 swings-and-misses. He got eight with his four-seam fastball, four with his changeup and two with his slider.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 3:08:07 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Rays Thursday 2nd September 2021 7pm @ The Trop
E-rod 10-7/5.12
Rodriguez surrendered three runs over seven innings Friday in a victory over the Indians. It was a good night for Rodriguez to turn in his longest outing since April, as the Red Sox only took the lead in the top of the eighth. Rodriguez won despite giving up two homers and striking out just two. He's 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA for the season.
McClanahan 9-4/3.94
McClanahan pitched six innings of two-run ball to beat the Orioles for his fifth straight win Friday. Three of those wins have come against Baltimore. McClanhan gave up eight hits and struck out just four tonight, so this wasn't one of his best outings. Still, he's been remarkably solid for a couple of months now and not just against the Orioles. He's 9-4 with a 3.59 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings.
Shane McClanahan, Rays look to close out Red Sox According to STATS
The Tampa Bay Rays lost their ace to injury over the summer, but manager Kevin Cash didn't have to look far for a replacement.
The American League East-leading Rays (84-49) will send out rookie Shane McClanahan to wrap up their four-game series with the rival Boston Red Sox (76-59) on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The differences between McClanahan and first-half No. 1 Tyler Glasnow are as obvious as saying the Rays are having a pretty good season.
McClanahan is left-handed, with tightly cropped hair, just over 6 feet tall and a native of Cape Coral on Florida's west coast.
Glasnow throws from the right side, sports a shock of long hair, towers on the hill at 6-foot-8 and is a true West Coaster from California.
While the pair have high 90 mph fastballs in common, there is presently a major difference: availability.
Glasnow will miss this season's remainder and possibly could be out all of 2022 after having Tommy John surgery.
McClanahan (9-4, 3.59 ERA) probably hated to see August turn into September. He was 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts during the month.
In his lone career start against Boston, McClanahan fired six innings of one-run ball as he got the win in the Rays' 3-2 home victory on Aug. 1.
"I don't think you could ask anything more than what Shane's given us over 20 starts in his first season," Cash said. "He has been steady, and any time he's had to deal with a little adversity, he's shown the ability to bounce right back."
The Red Sox also will start a lefty -- Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA) -- in an effort to split the four-game series. The Rays took the first two games in the set before Jarren Duran's ninth-inning RBI single lifted Boston to a 3-2 win Wednesday.
Rodriguez is tied for the club lead in wins with Nathan Eovaldi, and Boston could really use No. 11 from the Venezuelan pitcher.
During a strong August, he went 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA. His only no-decision was an Aug. 10 start against the Rays, when he struck out eight while allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Over 11 starts during his six-year career against the Rays, Rodriguez is 1-3 with a 5.15 ERA. The Rays have hit .277 against him with 10 homers.
Boston is just looking to keep it together at this point as the club has been weakened by COVID-19.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and reserve infielder Yairo Munoz -- the latter just called up to replace Christian Arroyo, who is out with COVID-19 -- both tested positive and were added to the COVID-19-related injured list before Wednesday's game.
"I'm just tired, to be honest with you," manager Alex Cora said. "To be thinking about it the whole time and have to deal with this before a game and during the game and all that ... The season part, all that stuff -- that's the easy part for me. But to have to deal with all this, it's not easy."
The club now has eight players out, including reliever Josh Taylor, who was put in quarantine after being ruled a close contact of infected closer Matt Barnes.
With rosters expanding by two players on Sept. 1, Boston added relievers Ryan Brasier and John Schreiber. Tampa Bay recalled reliever David Robertson and infielder Taylor Walls.
--Field Level Media
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 6:26:46 GMT -5
Chris Sale offers much-needed clarity for the Red Sox Current Time 0:05 /
By Rob Bradford 2 hours ago
The Red Sox beat the Rays Wednesday night ... finally.
Jarren Duran's two-out, RBI single in the ninth inning sealed the Sox' 3-2 win. Christian Vazquez also played hero, tying the game in the seventh with a solo home run while also making two key late-game tags at home. And the combination of Garrett Whitlock and Adam Ottavino teamed to shut down Tampa Bay for the final three innings.
It had the tractor-pull kind of feel, which, considering the COVID-induced roadblocks the Sox' roster has been struck with, is probably a vibe Alex Cora and Co. will have to get used to.
But, fortunately for the Red Sox, there is always one player who can offer some semblance of calm and confidence. During and after the game, Chris Sale hasn't disappointed.
“That was big,” he said after the Red Sox beat the Rays for just the second time in the teams' last 11 meetings.
“There’s no doubt we’ve had some gut punches over the last week, week and a half. Even before then. To know that we’ve still got some fight left in us, we’ve got some kick. No one here has given up. Our attitude and effort is staying the same no matter who’s in this clubhouse or who’s not, and that’s the most important thing. We’re still in a position that most other guys would love to be in, and we know that, and we’ve got to keep rolling with it.”
Sale's words count, and so do his actions.
This time the lefty came way with three strikeouts, a level he had only failed to pass five previous times as a member of the Red Sox. But, still, with perhaps his best fastball since the starter's return (averaging 94.3 mph) and improved team defense (the middle-of-the-infield combo of Jack Lopez and Jonathan Arauz was implemented with the ace in mind), Sale delivered the goods once again.
He went six innings, giving up just two runs on six hits before giving way to Whitlock for the seventh and eighth innings. It was the kind of scenario that the Red Sox can certainly live with, even with the current paper-thin roster.
“It was awesome, man," Sale said. "That’s everything. I didn’t have but a couple of strikeouts tonight, so that means I was really relying and leaning on my defense. Those guys up the middle, Jack and Ruze, they made some really heads-up play. With Lopez, it was his major league debut tonight, and he made the most heads-up play that save our butt -- saved out rears tonight. So, hats off to them and everybody really. We were scratching and clawing. This was by no means an easy win. Tight ballgame the entire way, and we did what we had to do, and we found a way to scratch and claw through there and come up big. Our bullpen was nails. Our offense did what they had to do in some big situations when we really needed it. That’s what you love to see. We’ve been kicked. We’ve been punched. To see us fight like that and win a game the way we just won that game, that’s a momentum boost.”
The Red Sox gained a game on Oakland in the chase for the final Wild Card spot. They can actually split with the Rays if Eduardo Rodriguez can come through Thursday night at Tropicana Field. And, psychologically, the team managed a giant step away from the cliff that seemed a few losses away.
All in all, it was a good day for the Red Sox, thanks in large part to their best safety net, Chris Sale.
"We played good baseball today," Cora said. "Like I said yesterday, we're going to pitch, and if we play good defense -- I know we struggled offensively, but that's a really good pitching staff -- but we played really good defense, today. Those two kids up the middle did an amazing job turning double plays. I know Jackie threw the ball away on one of them, but they were very sound. They didn't panic. There's a reason they're probably going to play up the middle most of the time. We catch the ball behind these guys and let the big boys do their thing and see where it takes us. That was a great win. Everybody was into it. It was a great baseball game, let's put it that way."
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 8:07:50 GMT -5
Preview: Eduardo Rodriguez scheduled to start for Boston against Tampa Bay
By The Associated Press, Associated Press September 2, 2021 | 3:05 AM
St. Petersburg, Florida; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 150 strikeouts) Rays: Shane McClanahan (9-4, 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 117 strikeouts)
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox travel to take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
The Rays are 43-24 in home games in 2020. Tampa Bay is slugging .421 as a unit. Nelson Cruz leads the club with a .504 slugging percentage, including 44 extra-base hits and 26 home runs.
The Red Sox are 35-33 on the road. Boston has slugged .445 this season. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with a mark of .574.
The Red Sox won the last meeting 3-2. Garrett Whitlock recorded his seventh victory and Christian Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for Boston. Pete Fairbanks took his fifth loss for Tampa Bay.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Lowe leads the Rays with 56 extra base hits and is slugging .498.
J.D. Martinez leads the Red Sox with 136 hits and is batting .282.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 9-1, .265 batting average, 3.10 ERA, outscored opponents by 33 runs
Red Sox: 6-4, .259 batting average, 4.45 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs
INJURIES: Rays: Matt Wisler: (finger), Ryan Thompson: (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: (knee), Chaz Roe: (shoulder), Cody Reed: (thumb), Colin Poche: (elbow), DJ Johnson: (shoulder), Tyler Glasnow: (elbow), Oliver Drake: (forearm), Yonny Chirinos: (elbow), Jalen Beeks: (elbow), Nick Anderson: (elbow), Brett Phillips: (ankle), Ji-Man Choi: (hamstring).
Red Sox: Martin Perez: (covid-19), Darwinzon Hernandez: (oblique), Eduard Bazardo: (lat), Matt Barnes: (covid-19), Yairo Munoz: (covid-19), Kike Hernandez: (health protocols), Xander Bogaerts: (covid-19), Christian Arroyo: (health protocols).
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 13:09:08 GMT -5
Not much help from the Tigers as Oakland are up a touch down early.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2021 13:20:16 GMT -5
Game 136: Red Sox at Rays lineups and pregame notesUpdated September 2, 2021, 11:16 a.m. For all that has gone wrong with the Red Sox lately, including another player testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, they will have a chance to split their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox put themselves in position for a split with Wednesday’s 3-2 win, getting the victory on Jarren Duran’s RBI single in the ninth. After Thursday night’s game, the Sox will return to Fenway Park for a six-game homestand, beginning Friday night against the Cleveland Indians. Lineups RED SOX (76-59): 1. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 2. Kyle Schwarber (L) DH 3. J.D. Martinez (R) LF 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Danny Santana (S) CF 8. Jack Lopez (R) 2B 9. Jonathan Arauz (S) SS Pitching: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA) RAYS (84-49): 1. Randy Arozarena (R) RF 2. Nelson Cruz (R) DH 3. Wander Franco (S) SS 4. Yandy Diaz (R) 1B 5. Manuel Margot (R) CF 6. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B 7. Mike Zunino (R) C 8. Jordan Luplow (R) LF 9. Taylor Walls (S) 3B Pitching: LHP Shane McClanahan (9-4, 3.59 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. McClanahan: Bobby Dalbec 0-1, Rafael Devers 1-3, J.D. Martinez 0-3, Kevin Plawecki 0-2, Hunter Renfroe 1-3, Kyle Schwarber 0-1, Alex Verdugo 0-1, Christian Vázquez 1-3 Rays vs. Rodriguez: Randy Arozarena 3-6, Nelson Cruz 4-22, Yandy Díaz 6-12, Wander Franco 2-5, Kevin Kiermaier 1-10, Brandon Lowe 4-11, Jordan Luplow 0-2, Manuel Margot 2-8, Austin Meadows 1-10, Francisco Mejía 2-5, Taylor Walls 0-3, Mike Zunino 1-7 Get 108 StitchesGet everything baseball from the Globe's Red Sox reporters every Monday-Friday during baseball season, and weekly in the off season. Stat of the day: Among American League players with at least 50 plate appearances in August, Dalbec ranked first in OPS (1.205), second in OBP (.431), second in slugging (.774), and second in batting average (.339). He tied for the team lead in RBIs (21), and ranked second in home runs (7) and extra-base hits (12). Notes: Rodriguez went 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in August. He also had a no-decision in which he struck out eight while allowing two runs in 5 ⅓ innings. Rodriguez is 1-3 with a 5.15 ERA in 11 starts against the Rays … The Red Sox have homered in each of their last 10 games (21 home runs total) … McClanahan was 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts in August, In his only start against the Red Sox on Aug. 1, McClanahan allowed one run in six innings of a 3-2 win for the Rays. Song of the Day: The Beatles "Yellow Submarine"www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2uTFF_3MaA
|
|