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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 4, 2021 3:25:59 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 9h Team effort. Good for them. Devers is a monster. Sox/Yanks. That’s going to be awesome Tuesday night
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 4, 2021 3:28:11 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 6h After today's game, Manager Alex Cora on #RedSox reaching the 2021 postseason: "It was a total team effort. They worked so hard to get to this point. They didn't get denied."
#RedSox Manager Cora: "You could feel the momentum building…That's a special group…We went through a lot over 162 games. To be able to [reach the postseason], it's a great feeling."
#RedSox Manager Cora on Rafael Devers: "Right away, when he went the other way in the 1st inning, we felt that it was going be a great night for him…control the strike zone and use the whole field, and that's what he did. He's an amazing talent."
#RedSox Manager Cora on his thoughts after the final out today: "I was thinking about my family. I put them in such a horrible spot last year. For me, I can deal with it…but for them, it was pretty tough. And the support system that I have is amazing…this is for them."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 4, 2021 3:30:19 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 5h #RedSox Alex Verdugo being down 5-1 in today's game vs #Nationals: "Being down, obviously, it's tough…but the biggest thing is don't get ahead of yourself. One at-bat at a time. Try to scratch away some runs…Don't try to get all four of them back within one swing…chip away."
#RedSox Verdugo on scoreboard watching today: "Yeah, I was checking in on Toronto, checking in on the Yankees, but at the end of the day, we knew we had our job to do. We had to go out there and take care of business and everything will be where we want it to be."
Verdugo on #RedSox doubters: "We know what kind of offense we have. We know what kind of team we have. We know we can put up a big spot and play and go really deep in this. We just got to play our baseball…Inside of our clubhouse we're all very confident with each other."
#RedSox Nick Pivetta on his save: "I just treated it as another start. I try not to make the moment too big…I did throw 3 balls to start off the batter…then I got back in the zone. And after I got that first guy I started being in the zone again and was able to shut it down."
#RedSox Pivetta on being down 4 runs today: "Always resilient, man, always resilient. It's never giving in, never giving up. We fought really hard to get to the point and we're a bunch of fighters and grinder on this team."
#RedSox Rafael Devers: "I just did the best I can. Anything I could to help the team. I know that nobody believed in us to start the season and I just stayed positive…This is just our first celebration."
#RedSox Devers on being down 5-1: "Just stay positive through the whole situation. We're going to come through, we're going to come through for each other, we're going to come through as a team…We knew we had a battle in front of us but we stayed positive the whole time."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 4, 2021 7:46:20 GMT -5
Reliving the 2018 blueprint, Red Sox turn to starting pitchers out of relief
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald October 4, 2021 at 5:35 a.m.
The Red Sox have no closer, so it was Nick Pivetta who handled the ninth on Sunday evening.
Pivetta threw the curveball of the century to freeze Juan Soto, record the 27th out in the Red Sox’ 7-5 win over the Nationals and lock in their spot for the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday against the New York Yankees.
“I just treated it as another start to be honest with you,” Pivetta said. “I try not to make the moment too big. It’s just staying within yourself.”
As for his curveball, Pivetta said, “That’s an 80 (grade). That’s an 80 right there.”
Four of the five starting pitchers who began the year in the Red Sox’ rotation pitched in Game 162.
“The other guys, although they were available, we felt (our starters) were our best option,” manager Alex Cora said.
Garrett Richards pitched the fifth, Martin Perez the sixth, Eduardo Rodriguez the eighth and Pivetta the ninth.
If history is any guide, it was a preview of things to come. Cora did the same thing in 2018, when the Sox had a closer, Craig Kimbrel, who was fading down the stretch and a bullpen without too many reliable arms.
Garrett Whitlock has been a force, while Ryan Brasier and Hansel Robles have looked like a pair of impressive late-inning relievers of late. But it feels like forever since Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino were the best options available.
Rodriguez and Pivetta were both impressive on Sunday, and it’s fair to wonder if they’ll be important bullpen pieces this postseason.
Cora said it was difficult to navigate on Sunday because he wasn’t sure how hard to push for the win, or if he should be saving those guys for a potential Game 163.
“It was like, ‘we have to be very careful with what we do tonight,’” Cora said. “We want to win, but at the same time, we have to be careful with certain guys… So we went with our freshest arms and it worked out. Eddie did an amazing job. Nick slowed it down after the first three pitches.”
Chris Sale threw just 62 pitches on Sunday, meaning he should be available for an inning or two on Tuesday. The question is whether or not he’s one of the most trusted pitchers right now.
He looked great to start Sunday’s game, then faded quickly and couldn’t throw strikes when he needed to.
“Chris wasn’t sharp and I think he came off his mechanics toward the end,” Cora said.
Nathan Eovaldi will get the start Tuesday, setting up Sale to start Game 1 of a potential Division Series matchup with the Rays beginning on Thursday.
But there’s no question it’ll be all-hands-on-deck for Tuesday’s game, meaning Sale, Rodriguez, Pivetta and Tanner Houck should be in the bullpen as Cora has a full stable of arms to choose from.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 4, 2021 13:36:08 GMT -5
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Post by Kimmi on Oct 4, 2021 16:23:21 GMT -5
Great series against the Nats. The Sox got it done when their backs were up against the wall. Good for them.
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