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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 19, 2021 14:52:41 GMT -5
according to NESN Whitlock was removed with right pectoral soreness.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 19, 2021 18:52:34 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 16m AL Wild Card
Red Sox 86-65 Blue Jays 84-65 Yankees 83-67 - 1.2 Athletics 82-67 -2 Mariners 80-69 -4
Monday: Texas at NY, Toronto at TB, Seattle at Oakland.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:12:52 GMT -5
Wild Card-leading Sox take care of business 'Every game matters': Boston overcomes blown lead, injury to win fifth in a row September 19th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- By doing what they needed to do and sweeping the Orioles in a mostly stress-free weekend at Fenway Park, capped by Sunday’s 8-6 victory, the Red Sox have put themselves in strong position in the American League Wild Card standings with two weeks and 11 games left in their season.
Heading into Monday’s off-day, the Sox remain in possession of the first Wild Card slot by one game over the Blue Jays, who held serve by beating the Twins, and by 2 1/2 over the Yankees, who were routed by the Indians for the second straight game.
Winners of five straight, the Sox are 21 games above .500 (86-65) for the first time since July 30.
“When it’s coming down to the end and you don’t have a big lead or anything and you get to the end and every game matters, it starts getting a lot of fun,” said leadoff man Kiké Hernández, who went 2-for-3, scored twice and had two RBIs. “When games matter [like this], every game becomes a playoff game, every pitch matters, every inning matters. It’s a lot of fun, and hopefully we can keep playing good baseball and winning some games.”
Granted, there was some stress in Sunday’s series finale when key reliever Garrett Whitlock was taken out after 25 pitches due to right pectoral tightness.
“We’ll know more tomorrow, obviously, on the off-day,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It’s too soon to know what’s going on.”
There was yet more stress when Hirokazu Sawamura tried to pick Whitlock up after his abrupt exit in the top of the seventh and didn’t, walking two straight batters and allowing a three-run double that turned a 5-3 lead into a 6-5 deficit.
But it was back to business for the playoff-driven Sox in the bottom of the seventh, as Boston's bats jumped all over the 47-102 Birds to get back the three runs they allowed in the top half.
First, it was José Iglesias with a double high off the Green Monster. Then it was Hernández with a nice knock and some good fortune, a single up the middle that ticked off the second-base bag and rolled wildly into right-center, allowing Iglesias to easily score the tying run.
“That’s exactly what I was trying to do. Not surprised at all,” quipped Hernández. “Yeah, I was a little bit happy that the ball hit the bag and went the other way and allowed me to get a hit and drive in that run to tie the game.”
Hunter Renfroe -- who has been huge down the stretch -- stepped up next and came up with his latest big hit, hammering an RBI double off the Monster to put his team back in front. And Rafael Devers put an RBI single through the shift and up the middle for insurance.
Given how big every game is from here on out, the Red Sox weren’t up for any mishaps against the Orioles. And they didn’t have any, setting themselves up nicely for the final stretch.
“We feel better than yesterday, but it doesn’t guarantee you anything,” said Cora. “Tomorrow is a good day to reset. Just get your rest. If you gotta come in, you do that and be ready against the Mets. We’re facing two great pitchers, [Marcus] Stroman and [Taijuan] Walker. They’re really tough. It’s a team that, obviously, they haven’t played up to expectations, but they’re still very talented, so we gotta be ready for that.”
After the two-game set against the Mets comes the biggest series left -- the three-game weekend tilt against the Yankees, who will try to break out of their skid by the time they get to Boston on Friday.
And for the final week of the season, the Red Sox face two non-contenders on the road in the Orioles and Nationals.
“I like our odds,” said All-Star righty Nathan Eovaldi, who took a no-decision for a sixth straight start, all Boston victories. “I like our chances. I like our schedule coming up. We just have to keep doing the small things right, going out there and competing and keep winning.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:15:16 GMT -5
Injuries & Roster Moves: Whitlock hurt September 19th, 2021
RHP Garrett Whitlock (right pectoral tightness) Expected return:TBD It wasn’t a good feeling at Fenway Park on Sept. 19 when Red Sox manager Alex Cora had to lift top reliever Garrett Whitlock (1.99 ERA) in the top of the seventh due to right pectoral tightness. Whitlock did put his hand near his chest, but there wasn’t much inkling that he had been injured. Third baseman Rafael Devers was the one who motioned to the dugout to get the attention of Cora and the training staff. Losing Whitlock for an extended period down the stretch would be tough for the Red Sox, who have relied heavily on their Rule 5 rookie.
“[Devers] saw it. Velocity was down. He threw a pitch at 92, and Raffy was the one that got my attention,” said Cora. “We’ll know more tomorrow, obviously, on the off-day. It’s too soon to know what’s going on.” (Last updated: Sept. 19)
COVID-19 IL
INF Christian Arroyo Expected return: Sept. 21 at the earliest Of all the Red Sox players who tested positive for COVID-19 during the recent outbreak, Arroyo suffered the worst symptoms, and that’s why his recovery has taken the longest. Arroyo continued his rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Sept. 19 and started at second base, going 1-for-5. In three games, he is 1-for-11, which could lead to the Red Sox giving him some more time before he gets activated. José Iglesias has done a nice job of filling in for Arroyo at second base and in the lineup, but he isn’t eligible for the postseason because he was acquired after Sept. 1. (Last updated: Sept. 19)
OF Jarren Duran Expected return: TBD Duran suited up at Triple-A Worcester for the third straight day and went 1-for-4 with a double. Given the way Boston’s current roster is constructed, there’s no guarantee the Red Sox will activate Duran even once he’s a full go. He could wind up being optioned to Worcester and staying there for the rest of the season unless someone else is injured. (Last updated: Sept. 19)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:20:12 GMT -5
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 12h Red Sox will resume playing major league teams Tuesday
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:33:24 GMT -5
Red Sox rally to beat the Orioles and win fifth straight, completing sweep By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated September 19, 2021, 9:27 p.m.
The Red Sox like where they are in the standings.
After cementing a series sweep with an 8-6 win over the Orioles at Fenway Park Sunday afternoon, the Sox are still in command of that first wild-card spot. Yet that doesn’t mean anything. Not yet, at least. The Red Sox understand there’s still work to be done.
“We feel better than [Saturday], but it doesn’t guarantee you anything,” manager Alex Cora said. “[Monday] is a great day to reset.”
The Red Sox have a day off Monday before taking on the Mets for a two-game set. Then they will host the Yankees, who dropped to 1½ games out of a wild-card spot after suffering a 11-1 beating from the Indians Sunday. The Blue Jays, who have won seven of nine, are a game behind the Red Sox after beating the Twins, 5-3.
The Red Sox have a favorable schedule for the next 11 games. After the Yankees, the team finishes off its season with series against the Orioles and the Nationals, respectively.
Toronto starts a three-game set in Tampa Bay on Monday, while the Yankees end the season with three games in Toronto, followed by three games with the Rays in New York.
“We’re coming off of five wins now,” said Nate Eovaldi, who tossed five innings Sunday, striking out eight and yielding three runs. “With that momentum coming into the schedule that we have, it’s going to be key for us to, you know, continue that success and try not to look too far ahead and focus on our goal.”
Certainly, the Sox should like their chances to get to the playoffs. Yet the Red Sox also know what it’s like to underestimate an opponent. In April, the same Oriole team that now has 102 losses came into Fenway and swept.
“That was a hard lesson,” Cora said. “The first three games of the season against them. We felt coming into the season, we were going to be a good team. And then that happened. And it was a wake-up call. It wasn’t the end of the season. But it’s a good reminder that when you play bad baseball, you’re going to get beat. When you play good baseball, you’ve got a chance to win.”
The Red Sox are 12-1 against the Orioles since that weekend. Sunday was much of the same.
The Red Sox pounced on Orioles starter Alexander Wells for three runs in the first inning. After loading the bases. he hit Bobby Dalbec with a pitch to bring in the first run. A Kevin Plawecki two-run single made it 3-0.
The Sox took a 4-0 lead into the third inning, but Eovaldi endured a three-run inning of his own after an RBI double by Anthony Santander and a two-run single by Austin Hays.
The Red Sox got a little more breathing room when J.D. Martinez homered in the third.
If there’s concern for this Red Sox club moving forward it’s as a result of the seventh inning, when Garrett Whitlock — who took over for Eovaldi in the sixth — exited the game with right pectoral tightness.
Cora then called on Hirokazu Sawamura, who issued two straight walks and yielded a two-run, bases-clearing double to Trey Mancini, putting the Sox in a 6-5 hole.
That would be short-lived, though, following a three-run seventh by the Sox which put away the Orioles for good.
The Red Sox can smell October, but, again, aren’t looking ahead. They can feel the weather changing here in New England, turning from humid to brisk, but, again, they aren’t basking in it just yet. It’s too close. Still some things to be determined. Despite the weekend sweep coming against the decrepit Orioles, you play who’s in front of you.
That counts for something — maybe even a shot at a one-game playoff.
“When games matter every game becomes like a playoff game. Every pitch matters, every play matters,” Kiké Hernández said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:35:31 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook Red Sox’ top reliever Garrett Whitlock exits early against the Orioles with right pectoral tightness By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated September 19, 2021, 3:24 p.m.
The Red Sox hope it’s good news as it relates to Garrett Whitlock.
Whitlock exited Sunday’s game in the top of the seventh inning with right pectoral tightness. Now, a huge part of the bullpen, the team’s best reliever this season, could be on the shelf for the Sox’ most important part of the season.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” manager Alex Cora said after the Sox’ 8-6 win which completed a sweep of the Orioles. “Obviously, it’s an offday. But it’s too soon to know what’s going on.”
Whitlock worked a scoreless sixth inning but after walking Cedric Mullins to begin the seventh, Whitlock winced slightly in pain.
“[Rafael Devers] was the one who saw it,” Cora said. “I believe [Whitlock’s] fastball was down to 92. And Rafi was the one who got my attention.”
Whitlock then walked off with a team trainer and was replaced with Hirokazu Sawamura.
Not only has Whitlock been the Sox’ best reliever but also their most consistent, too. In 72⅓ innings of work, Whitlock has a 1.99 ERA, 79 strikeouts, and a 1.12 WHIP.
“I mean, the guy’s been absolute nails for us,” Chris Sale said recently. “And being able to go out there and throw one inning, two innings, two-plus, and do what he’s done, it has alleviated a lot of pressure off of a lot of other guys. And to be able to go out there and do what he’s done throughout the entire year, he’s like autocorrect. As soon as he has a bad one, it’s boom, right on to the next one.”
To Sale’s point, the Red Sox can weaponize Whitlock in various ways. He can close or be a long reliever who can navigate his way through a daunting lineup during crucial games. When the stakes are high, the Sox have gone to Whitlock.
Just recently, the team decided it will need to lean on its bullpen even more, relying essentially on just two starters (Sale and Nate Eovaldi) to get them to this season’s finish line. Everyone else has a quick hook. Nick Pivetta, for example, tossed 3⅔ innings Saturday before Cora went to his bullpen. That tactic makes Whitlock’s role even more valuable. Losing him for any amount of time as the Sox enter the last two weeks of the season could rupture the biggest piece of their plan. Kiké bouncing back?
Kiké Hernández was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI Sunday. He’s 4 for 8 in the team’s last two games after an 0-for-14 skid. Following his bout with COVID-19, and a stint on the COVID-related injured list, Cora said his leadoff hitter struggled to find his timing. Now, Hernández feels as if he’s slowly getting back to feeling like himself again.
“I’m feeling better,” Hernández said. “Like I’m getting close. Not great, but better. Ten days without a swing, I mean, it is what it is. If you think too much about it, it’s just going to pile up on you. My timing wasn’t right. But I’m not going to sit here and put up excuses. I just wasn’t getting the job done. I’m feeling a little bit better now and taking some better at-bats.” Jarren Duran, Christian Arroyo play for Worcester
Jarren Duran and Christian Arroyo (COVID IL) both were in the lineup for Worcester on Sunday. The team still hasn’t made a decision on what’s next for either just yet … The Red Sox have a two-game series against the Mets beginning Tuesday. Eduardo Rodriguez will take the ball against Marcus Stroman. Wednesday’s starter for the Red Sox is still to be determined. The Mets will have Tylor Megill on the hill.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:39:22 GMT -5
Red Sox star rookie Garrett Whitlock exits with right pectoral tightness, but severity unknown Whitlock left in seventh inning of 8-6 win
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: September 19, 2021 at 5:43 p.m. | UPDATED: September 19, 2021 at 6:51 p.m.
The Red Sox may not be in the playoff hunt without Garrett Whitlock, and now they’re hoping they don’t lose their star rookie reliever at the worst possible time.
Whitlock suddenly left Sunday’s win over the Orioles with right pectoral tightness. After issuing a leadoff walk in the seventh inning, a Red Sox trainer came out to see Whitlock and he was removed from the game. The team is now in a waiting pattern as they find out the severity of the injury.
“We’ll know more (Monday) obviously on the off day,” Cora said. “It’s too soon to know what’s going on. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
Whitlock’s velocity was noticeably a tick down before he left the game. In one inning of work, his fastball averaged 94.4 mph, which was down almost two full mph from his season average of 96.3.
Losing Whitlock for any time would obviously be a huge blow to the Red Sox in the middle of their wild card push. Whitlock, who missed the 2020 season after having Tommy John surgery in 2019, has been arguably the Red Sox’ best reliever this season after he was snatched from the Yankees in last year’s Rule 5 draft. He owns a 1.99 ERA in 72 1/3 innings, the best mark of any Red Sox reliever.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:41:31 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 11h The Red Sox have scored 7+ runs in 5 consecutive games, matching their longest streak of the last 15 seasons (also 5 straight from June 30-July 4, 2017).
The Red Sox have won each of their last 5 games and are 17-11 (.607) in their last 28. They are 21 games above .500 for the first time since July. The Sox are 37-18 (.673) in their last 55 home games.
The Sox are 12-2 in their last 14 games started by Eovaldi or Sale.
2.32 ERA, 77.2 IP, 20 ER
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:44:14 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 10h #RedSox Manager Alex Cora: "Overall, another good win, obviously. We got the off-day tomorrow. We'll reset tomorrow and be ready for the #Mets."
#RedSox Manager Cora: "It was a grind today…we felt like we were set with [Whitlock] going 2 innings, then that happened, and we had to grind…We were unable to throw strikes,…but then we got the out at third, that was huge. That was a huge out for us."
#RedSox Manager on Hansel Robles: "He's been really good for us. We have put him in tough situations. He's done the job…Robles has thrown the ball well…For him to get us 3 outs in the 8th was huge."
#RedSox Manager on Garrett Whitlock's right pectoral tightness than caused his early departure from today's game: "We'll know more tomorrow…it's too soon to know what's going on."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:45:43 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 10h #RedSox Manager Cora on heading into the final stretch: "We control our own destiny…We feel better than yesterday, but it doesn't guarantee you anything. Tomorrow is a great day to reset…be ready against the #Mets…they're still very talented so we got to be ready for them."
#RedSox Nathan Eovaldi: "I feel like we've been doing a lot of the small things right. This was a big series for us. We got the #Mets coming up next. I like our chances…I like our schedule coming up…We just got to keep doing the small things right…keep winning.
#RedSox Eovaldi on his 3rd inning today: "I've got to do a better job of attacking the batters in that situation, especially when we're up 4-0…I ended up throwing too many pitches that inning. I felt like I might have been nibbling too much instead of going right after them."
#RedSox Eovaldi: "The win-losses, they're hard to come by. You can't control everything. But the main fact is that we're winning those games that I'm able to start and that's all that matters to me…I'm going to keep going out there every 5 days and be ready to compete."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 1:48:37 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h AL Wild Card
Red Sox 86-65 Blue Jays 84-65 Yankees 83-67 - 1.5 Athletics 82-67 -2 Mariners 80-69 -4
Monday: Texas at NY, Toronto at TB, Seattle at Oakland.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 20, 2021 9:11:29 GMT -5
It's a good time to appreciate importance of Garrett Whitlock By Rob Bradford an hour ago
The conversation outside the Red Sox' dugout before their 8-6 win over the Orioles Sunday seemed like logical one.
Garrett Whitlock had never pitched into late September in his professional life, was coming off Tommy John surgery and had found himself in the intensity of a big league pennant race.
"How do you feel?" he was asked.
"Just about the same as everyone else," Whitlock said with a chuckle, adding, "I appreciate all the medical staff and what (Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush) Bushy and (manager Alex Cora) AC have done for me, taking care of me this year. I’m just glad I’m still healthy so far and glad to be at this point."
At it turned out, it was a bad day to bring up the subject.
In the top of the seventh inning Whitlock was forced from his 44th appearance with what was later classified as right pectoral tightness. After third baseman Rafael Devers noticed the pitcher putting his hand on his chest, Cora was taking no chances.
“[Devers] saw it. Velocity was down. He threw a pitch at 92, and Raffy was the one that got my attention,” said Cora. “We’ll know more tomorrow, obviously, on the off-day. It’s too soon to know what’s going on.”
Needless to say, the news will be of significant importance to the Red Sox.
The optimism regarding the Red Sox is higher than it has been in months, with Cora's club on a five-game winning streak while continuing to fill out its regular roster. But Whitlock represents a piece of the puzzle that would be hard to replace.
For starters, the Red Sox are 31-14 in games the rookie has pitched, including 15-4 in outings of two innings or more. There have also been a major league-best 30 appearances that have lasted at least one inning that hasn't included a single run.
Whitlock's ERA sits at 1.99, having struck out 79 in 72 1/3 innings, walking just 17.
He absolutely has a case for American League Rookie of the Year, although his lot in life as set-up man has buried him when it comes to Vegas odds for the honor. Outside of Boston, the appreciation for what the Rule 5 pick is doing most likely won't trump the numbers being put up by Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, Ryan Mountcastle and even Houston starter pitcher Luis Garcia.
But no matter what the perception is of Whitlock is around baseball circles, the reality is that he has become one of the most valuable members of a team trying to push their way through the postseason.
Cora's master plans to bob and weave his way through these big games using a variety of pitchers hinges greatly on Whitlock's skill-set. That was supposed to be the case Sunday, and now the Red Sox can just hold their breath that nothing will change.
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