|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:25:52 GMT -5
Hunter Renfroe: Boston Red Sox ‘came out with some hungriness and got the win’ Updated: 1:32 a.m. | Published: 1:28 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
WASHINGTON — The Red Sox have struggled against soft-throwing left-handed starters on this road trip.
Boston recorded just three hits in a loss to the Orioles on Tuesday when it went against southpaw Bruce Zimmermann whose 28 fastballs averaged 90.7 mph.
The Red Sox then stroked five hits Thursday, including just three hits in 6 innings against Baltimore rookie left-hander Alexander Wells who entered with a 7.61 ERA and whose 37 fastballs averaged 85.8 mph
Nationals lefty Josh Rogers held Boston scoreless through the first five innings Friday here in the series opener at Nationals Park. He was throwing a fastball that averaged 90 mph.
“We’ve been looking for a big swing,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It’s been a grind offensively.”
Hunter Renfroe provided that big swing with a three-run homer in the sixth that broke a scoreless tie. The Red Sox won 4-2 here at Nationals Park.
Renfroe connected on a 90.9 mph fastball from Rogers and sent it 423 feet for a three-run homer to center field.
“We’ve been swinging the bat hit or miss for the past few days,” Renfroe said. “Baltimore, I don’t know if we were just off a little bit on timing. The guy pitched pretty good. Tip your hat every once in a while. But came back today, came out with some hungriness and got the win.”
These are must-win games for the Red Sox who are fighting to make the postseason.
Boston is one game behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot. It is a game ahead of Toronto and Seattle for the second Wild Card. Each team has two regular season games remaining.
Renfroe has done his part with three homers in four games on the road trip.
He said these games don’t necessarily feel like playoff games already.
“They do feel like they matter though a lot,” Renfroe said. “These games matter a lot. Don’t let anybody say that they don’t matter because these are big situations that we really need to win. We’re not necessarily putting a ton of pressure on ourselves. But we do know the urgency. We do need to win.”
Bobby Dalbec went back-to-back with Renfroe to make it 4-0. Dalbec smashed a 79.2 mph first-pitch slider from Rogers 376 feet to left field.
“We’re playing for more,” Renfroe said. “We want more. We’re not pressing. ... We’re just going out with the hunger that we want to win.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:26:42 GMT -5
Eduardo Rodriguez effective in potential final start with Boston Red Sox: ‘Eddie has pitched some big games, too,’ Alex Cora says Updated: 4:03 a.m. | Published: 4:03 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- If Friday night’s outing against the Nationals was Eduardo Rodriguez’s last in a Red Sox uniform, the lefty ended his tenure with Boston on a high note.
Rodriguez tossed 5+ scoreless innings at Nationals Park, striking out six batters while allowing just three hits in Boston’s 4-2 win. Rodriguez is a free agent after this season, so it’s possible that Friday was his last time taking the mound in a Red Sox uniform, unless he pitches again during the postseason or re-signs in free agency.
“His fastball was great. He was able to elevate,” said manager Alex Cora. “Kept them off balance, made some pitches in the fifth inning. He was really good.”
Rodriguez faced trouble throughout his entire outing, but the tightrope he walked in the fourth inning was perhaps his most impressive feat. After issuing a leadoff walk and allowing back-to-back singles as Washington loaded the bases with no outs, Rodriguez battled back to strike out Jordy Mercer and got Carter Kieboom to pop out to the catcher before Andrew Stevenson grounded out to Kiké Hernández, who made a stellar, diving defensive play at second base to end the inning.
Rodriguez’s performance in a must-win game for the Red Sox, who are battling for a wild-card spot, didn’t come as a surprise to Cora.
“Eddie has pitched some big games, too,” Cora said. “People forget about ‘18, that game (Game 4 of the World Series) he pitched against the Dodgers. He was amazing... He was big for us.”
Rodriguez, who missed the entire 2020 season due to myocarditis (heart inflammation), has had an uneven 2021 season. In 31 starts, the 28-year-old owns a 4.77 ERA -- though his FIP (3.35 entering Friday) is much better. In his last 17 starts, Rodriguez owns a 3.64 ERA. His free agency case will be a fascinating one, though he said his focus is still on what he needs to do to help the Red Sox reach the postseason and be successful once they get there.
“That ain’t going through my mind yet, man,” Rodriguez said. “We’re still playing baseball. We still have a chance to go to the postseason, so we’ll be talking after we win the World Series. That’s my plan.”
Rodriguez’s future has been on his mind at least a little bit during season, as The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported Friday that Rodriguez and the Sox “had cursory discussions about an extension earlier this year but made no real headway and tabled conversations.” Notably, the lefty switched agents in September, firing Octagon and hiring Gene Mato to represent him.
For now, Rodriguez’s immediate future is up in the air, much like his team’s. With a potential tiebreaker on Monday and/or the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, Rodriguez might be called upon again in short order. He said he could be ready to pitch again as soon as Sunday in a one-inning bullpen stint or Monday in a longer outing.
“Next time they give me the ball, I’m going to be ready for that,” he said.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:30:51 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h Red Sox finally get to face a RH starter tomorrow. Josiah Gray - BA #59 - and half of the key return in the Scherzer/Turner deal. He throws gas but his fastball has been lit up, .614 SLG, .576 xSLG in his 64 innings. He's in the bottom 3% in Barrels Allowed%. 27 ER in last 28 IP.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:31:42 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 4h After the brutal 6 start stretch from mid-May to mid-June, Rodriguez finished up with a 3.70 ERA and 3.05 FIP over his final 18 starts / 90 innings. He's 10th in the AL in starting pitcher fWAR - his ERA wildly misaligned with all his other numbers - and I hope he's re-signed.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:35:45 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 5h #RedSox Manager Alex Cora on Eduardo Rodríguez: "Really good. His fastball was great. He was able to elevate, kept them off-balance…he was really good."
#RedSox Manager Cora on Kiké Hernández outstanding infield defense: "It's amazing, because he hasn't played second base in a while…Bobby with a great pick. It was outstanding. That tells you a lot about [Hernández], the fact that he's been playing outfield the whole time."
#RedSox Manager Cora: "We've been looking for a big swing…it's been a grind offensively. There were some good at-bats today…better than yesterday."
#RedSox Manager Cora: "Overall, great win. And we just got to move on to tomorrow…Not too many teams can say that they're still in the hunt. You just try to enjoy it as much as possible, but you got to get locked in for tomorrow."
#RedSox have not decided on a starter for tomorrow. "We're going to sit down and talk about it," says Manager Alex Cora.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:39:12 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Nationals Saturday, 2nd October 2021 4pm @ Nationals Park
TBA
Josiah Gray 2-2/5.85
2-2 with a 5.85 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) of 2021. Will be his 1st career appearance vs BOS.
Red Sox's pitching plans unclear ahead of key game vs. Nats According to STATS
After improving their playoff prospects Friday night, the visiting Boston Red Sox will look to carry that momentum into their Saturday game against the Washington Nationals.
A 4-2 Red Sox win, coupled with the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, pulled Boston (90-70) within one game of New York (91-69) for the top American League wild card. The Seattle Mariners (89-71) and the Toronto Blue Jays (89-71) are one game behind the Red Sox, with each team having two games to play.
Slumping Boston won for just the second time in seven games. Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec supplied all the offense with back-to-back, sixth-inning homers.
"You really want it a different way, right? That you can breathe and get ready for next week like some of the teams that have clinched already," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "But this is where we're at, and we've got to take advantage of every day."
With ace Chris Sale slated to pitch on Sunday, Cora hadn't named a starter for Saturday afternoon. One possibility is right-hander Tanner Houck (1-5, 3.80 ERA), who pitched two innings in relief on Tuesday, allowing a run on three hits against the Baltimore Orioles. He has appeared in 17 games, making 12 starts.
Rookie left-hander Josiah Gray (2-2, 5.85 ERA) will start for Washington (65-95). Gray, acquired as part of the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers, has won his past two starts after failing to record a win in his first 10.
Last time out, he gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings during a Monday win over the Colorado Rockies. Gray struck out four in that contest, and he has not allowed a home run in his past two starts.
"The kid has a lot of fire," Washington manager Dave Martinez said. "He competes, not only on the field, but every day he's trying to get better. That's pretty incredible for a kid his age. And he wants the ball. ... I think we've got something in Josiah, and he's only going to get better."
Playing without the designated hitter in a National League park and needing offense, Cora put as much power in his lineup as possible Friday night. He started an outfield of Kyle Schwarber (left), Renfroe (center) and J.D. Martinez (right) for the first time, with right-handed-hitting Dalbec at first base against Washington left-hander Josh Rogers.
It worked, as Renfroe smacked a three-run homer in the sixth and Dalbec followed with a solo shot to make it 4-0. Hansel Robles worked out of a jam he created in the ninth, and the Red Sox held on.
"We're not necessarily putting a lot of pressure on ourselves, but we do know the urgency. We do need to win," Renfroe said. "We've got to come out here and prepare every day and keep going. ...
"We can see the finish line. We've just got to keep going strong."
The Nationals got solo homers from Alcides Escobar and Jordy Mercer, and Juan Soto walked four times, the 26th time this season he has reached base four times in a game.
"They've been pitching around him a lot these last couple of weeks," Martinez said of Soto. "They'll make a mistake one of these times this weekend, and he'll hit one hard."
--Field Level Media
Red Sox Nation Stats @rsnstats · 5h #RedSox game time Saturday is 4:05 ET/1:05 PT. Expected conditions at Nationals Park in Washington: Mostly Sunny, 79°F / 26°C. Winds: SSW 8 MPH. #MLB #Nationals
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 3:41:08 GMT -5
AL Wild Card standings: Boston Red Sox can clinch wild-card spot with 2 wins to close season, now sit 1 game behind Yankees after New York loss Updated: 1:26 a.m. | Published: 1:26 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Red Sox owe the Angels a gift basket of some kind. After the Red Sox won at Nationals Park, the Angels beat the Mariners to give Boston some a little bit of breathing room in the wild-card race.
Boston is now in sole possession of the second wild-card spot and leads both Seattle and Toronto by one game. Put simply, if the Red Sox win their final two regular season games against the Nationals, they will play in the AL Wild Card Game on Tuesday. If the Sox win both games and the Yankees lose at least once to the Rays, the Wild Card Game will be played at Fenway Park (Boston holds the home-field tiebreaker with the Yankees). A Red Sox win on Saturday would guarantee that they play past Sunday in some form, whether in tiebreaker(s) or the Wild Card Game.
The Red Sox would clinch a berth in the Wild Card Game on Saturday with a win and losses by both the Blue Jays and Mariners.
Here’s where things stand entering Saturday (the second-to-last day of the season)
If the season ended today: Yankees would host the Red Sox in the wild-card game on Oct. 5.
Where the Red Sox stand:
1 game behind the Yankees for the first American League wild-card spot
1 game ahead of the Mariners and Blue Jays for the second American League wild-card spot SCORES:
Red Sox 4, Nationals 2
Rays 4, Yankees 3 (Red Sox pick up game on Yankees)
Angels 2, Mariners 1 (Red Sox pick up game on Mariners)
Blue Jays 6, Orioles 4 (Red Sox and Blue Jays stand pat) STANDINGS:
Yankees: 91-69 (1 game up on Red Sox; 2 games up on Mariners, Blue Jays)
Red Sox: 90-70 (1 game behind Yankees; 1 game up on Mariners, Blue Jays)
____________
Mariners: 89-71 (1 game behind Red Sox; 2 games behind Yankees)
Blue Jays: 89-71 (1 game behind Red Sox; 2 games behind Yankees) REMAINING SCHEDULES:
Yankees: 2 vs. Rays
Red Sox: 2 at Nationals
Blue Jays: 2 vs. Orioles
Mariners: 2 vs. Angels
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 6:57:45 GMT -5
Peter Gammons @pgammo · 1h Alex Cora plays his Boise State OF and plays the best analytical CF @2b , Kike saves the game with his barehnded, bases loaded play and CF Hunter Renfroe hits the 3 run jack.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 7:03:29 GMT -5
OverTheMonster @overthemonster · 36m Good morning to the Boston Red Sox as well as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
To clinch today we would need a Red Sox win AND a Blue Jays loss AND a Mariners loss
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 7:05:47 GMT -5
Mastrodonato: Red Sox, Alex Cora should keep rolling with the ‘big boy’ lineup
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald October 2, 2021 at 5:35 a.m.
Finally, the Red Sox went all-in on the style of baseball their roster is best suited to play with and let the chips fall.
Friday night, they fell right into the bleacher seats, where Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec demolished back-to-back homers to give the Red Sox the “instant offense” Alex Cora was asking for.
On a night when all the runs scored were scored via the long ball, the Sox earned an all-important 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Cora threw caution to the wind and wrote a lineup card with both of his designated hitters in the outfield and Dalbec at first base. Cora said he wanted to get his “big boys” in the outfield.
With National League rules, the only way to do it was to put Kyle Schwarber (6 feet, 230 pounds) in left, Renfroe (6-foot-1, 230) in center and J.D. Martinez (6-foot-3, 230) in right.
“Our offensive lineman playing outfield,” Cora later called them.
They combined to reach base five times, drive in three runs and score two more without making any mistakes on defense. Martinez even threw out Juan Soto at third base in an important moment to stop a potential Nationals rally before it got started.
With the Sox looking mediocre in all phases of the game in the second half, Friday’s lineup begged for more of the “big boy” outfield.
Kiké Hernandez moved from center to second and made the play of the game in the fourth inning, charging a slow dribbler, fielding it bare-handed and one-hopping it to first just in time for the third out of the inning, stranding the bases loaded.
“I’ve seen that plenty of times lately, slow grounders for an infield hit,” Cora said. “Everything one motion, Bobby with a great pick, it was outstanding. That tells you a lot about (Hernandez). The fact that he’s been playing outfield the whole time and today, because of our offensive linemen playing outfield, we decided ‘oh let’s put him at second’ with the big boys playing the outfield. He was good. JD was good in right, that throw to third, that was a good one.”
When chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom acquired Schwarber at the trade deadline, he said he knew it wasn’t a perfect fit, but the Sox would try to make it work in order to get an impact left-handed bat.
The imperfect roster has largely been a disaster as the Sox have tried to piece it together with slightly-better defensive lineups at the cost of keeping one of their better hitters on the bench most nights.
It was like a lightbulb went off on Friday, as if the Sox decided to stop trying to patch together a slightly-better defensive unit and just play their brand of baseball. Good defensive baseball isn’t their brand.
Why be mediocre at three parts of the game when they can try to dominate one part and stay passable in the other two?
“We’ve been looking for a big swing for the last, whatever,” Cora said. “It’s been a grind offensively. There was some good at-bats today.”
Renfroe broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when he blasted a monster shot 423 feet to left center for his 31st home run of the year. Dalbec came up behind him and lifted one high into left and just over the fence for his 25th of the year.
The Red Sox haven’t been the best home run hitting team this year, entering Friday ranked ninth in baseball with 213. But with Schwarber now getting everyday at-bats and Dalbec heating up at first base, the Sox have an offense that can chase long balls with the best of them.
“We came out with some hunger in us today,” Renfroe said.
Batting Renfroe and Dalbec back-to-back had the feeling of the old-school A’s lineups with Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco earning the “Bash Brothers” nickname.
Renfroe is four RBIs short of 100, a goal he’s got his eye on, while Dalbec’s 25th homer made him the first Red Sox rookie to reach 25 homers since Nomar Garciaparra hit 30 while winning American League Rookie of the Year in 1997.
It’s been hard for Dalbec to find playing time, but if the Sox are going all-in offensively, there should be more at-bats coming.
“Bobby is fine,” Renfroe said. “His first half, he had a bad few months and he was kind of in his head more than anything. The type of player Bobby is, he doesn’t need all the hitting coaches in his ear, talking, ‘you need to do this, you need to do this, you need to do this.’ Obviously those hitting coaches are players as well. When he got out of his own head and just went out there and played, he’s done incredible.
“He saved his whole entire season with his second half. And he’s stroking the ball like he can. He’s impressive. He’s a big boy. Anytime he makes contact it’s loud contact. It’s fun to watch him. He’s done a great job over at first base as well. He’s made some incredible plays for us. It was fun to watch.”
Martinez and Schwarber might not be Gold Glovers, but the guys playing defense regularly aren’t making the plays anyways. Jose Iglesias isn’t eligible for the postseason roster, making Hernandez a solid fit at second base. Renfroe doesn’t have elite range but can play center field just fine. And when the Sox are back in an A.L. park, there will be room for Alex Verdugo in the lineup somewhere, too.
At this point in the season, when the Sox have looked dead for a week, they might as well try something new.
The “big boy” lineup is worth another go.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 7:32:14 GMT -5
Chris Hatfield @spchrishatfield 13m With M's loss, Red Sox once again control their own destiny and could even clinch today with help. I presume Houck starts today with a very short leash. As Sam once said, hold on to your butts...
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 9:12:12 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2m The Red Sox are 277-184 in interleague play, the best winning percentage in MLB.
14-4 this season.
3-1 vs. ATL 3-0 vs. MIA 4-0 vs. NYM 3-3 vs. PHI 1-0 vs. WSN
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 12:51:46 GMT -5
Red Sox take on Nationals, control their own destiny in penultimate game of the season | Lineups and pregame notesBy Amin Touri Globe Staff,Updated October 2, 2021, 2 hours ago The Red Sox control their own destiny with two games to play, as a win Saturday would guarantee baseball after Game 162, and another Sunday would clinch a playoff berth. Tanner Houck has the ball on Saturday afternoon having pitched two innings in relief on Tuesday, allowing a run on three hits against the Baltimore Orioles. He has appeared in 17 games, making 12 starts. The Nationals will throw rookie Josiah Gray, picked up at the trade deadline as part of the deal that sent Max Scherzer to the Dodgers. Gray has had a difficult time in the late stages of the season, with a 7.66 ERA in five starts despite a 2-0 record. The Sox enter the day one game behind the Yankees — hosting Tampa this weekend — for the first wild-card spot, and a game ahead of Toronto and Seattle for the second. Lineups RED SOX (90-70):1. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B 2. Kyle Schwarber (L) 1B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Hunter Renfroe (R) CF 8. Christian Vazquez (R) C 9. Tanner Houck (R) P Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (1-5, 3.80 ERA) NATIONALS (65-95):
1. Lane Thomas (R) CF 2. Alcides Escobar (R) SS 3. Juan Soto (L) RF 4. Josh Bell (S) 1B 5. Keibert Ruiz (S) C 6. Andrew Stevenson (L) LF 7. Jordy Mercer (R) 2B 8. Carter Kieboom (R) 3B 9. Josiah Gray (R) P Pitching: RHP Josiah Gray (2-2, 5.85 ERA) Time: 4:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Gray: Has not faced any Boston batters Nationals vs. Houck: Has not faced any Washington batters Stat of the day: Juan Soto drew his 144th walk of the season — in the ninth inning against Hansel Robles on Friday — the most in the majors since Barry Bonds in 2004 (232). Notes: The Sox won for just the second time in seven games, stopping a skid that threatened their season ... Last time out, Gray gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings during a Monday win over the Colorado Rockies. Gray struck out four in that contest, and he has not allowed a home run in his past two starts ... Cora went with a power-heavy lineup on Friday, with outfield of Kyle Schwarber (left), Renfroe (center) and J.D. Martinez (right) for the first time, with right-handed-hitting Dalbec at first base against Washington left-hander Josh Rogers. It worked, as back-to-back homers from Renfroe and Dalbec in the sixth made the difference. Song of the Day: The Cult - She Sells Sanctuarywww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCOSPtyZAPA
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 12:56:33 GMT -5
Red Sox Bullpen Changing Shape
By TC Zencka | October 2, 2021 at 12:40pm CDT
The Red Sox bullpen – ranked 12th in the Majors with a collective 3.97 ERA – will have to make room for a couple of extra bodies today. With the season coming down to two final games against the Nationals, manager Alex Cora is all-hands-on-deck, telling starters Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta to be ready out the bullpen, if necessary, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (via Twitter). Both Pivetta and Eovaldi have spent the entire season pitching out of Boston’s rotation.
Eovaldi and Pivetta are a necessary safeguard in part because Garrett Whitlock still isn’t ready to return. Whitlock has a chance to return for Sunday’s game, which is more than can get said for Josh Taylor. The 28-year-old southpaw is out for the foreseeable future, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey (via Twitter). Taylor has been a major contributor, pitching in 61 games and serving as the primary southpaw among Boston’s relief corps. A back injury has ended his season. He has a 3.40 ERA/2.83 FIP, holding same-handed hitters to a measly .146/.222/.159 line in 90 plate appearances.
Without Taylor, Darwinzon Hernandez, Austin Davis, and deposed starter Martin Perez are the other lefties available to Cora against the Nats, who boast a lineup heavy on lefties or switch-hitters, most notably Juan Soto.
As for Whitlock, he’s been one of Boston’s most valuable players, which is certainly a surprising development for the Rule 5 pick. Regardless, the 25-year-old stabilized the Red Sox bullpen with 72 1/3 innings spread across 45 appearances, good for a 1.99 ERA/2.89 FIP. Whitlock has picked up eight wins, two saves, and 14 holds en route to a 1.5 fWAR season.
Without Whitlock, Cora will leave open the possibility of using Eovaldi or Pivetta out of the pen. Tanner Houck and Chris Sale are set to start the final two ballgames, making everyone else on the roster on call as they try to hold off the Mariners and Blue Jays for the final playoff spot in the American League. Presumably, Eduardo Rodriguez would be available to start a potential one-game playoff.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 12:57:17 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Games of AL Wild Card interest today (all times ET):
Rays at Yankees, 1:05 Orioles at Jays, 3:07 Red Sox at Nationals, 4:05 Angels at Mariners, 9:10
|
|