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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 17:23:31 GMT -5
Brasier one of the Gas Can crew has managed to load the bases 2 out
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 17:27:49 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 17:59:13 GMT -5
WTF was that Renfroe? Shitty defense has the Nats with a man on 2b 1 out and BTW Ottavino has the bump (start praying)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 18:08:59 GMT -5
Ottavino walks the bases loaded one out Out comes Cora I hope that is the last I see of Ottavino in a Red Sox uniform Davis into pitch has not pitched in over a week. jesus christ
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 18:12:03 GMT -5
Soto sac fly....I thought it was gonna go out anyway 1-1
and we head to the 9th
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Oct 2, 2021 18:24:56 GMT -5
I also don't understand bringing in Ottavino. Cora said it was all hands on deck, including Eovaldi & Pivetta. With an ERA of 7.45 this month, and an ERA of 12.00 in his last four outings, and a one-run lead in a huge game, are Pivetta and Eovaldi not better choices?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 18:28:58 GMT -5
Cora is full of shit to answer your question Joe
Vazquez with a HUGE 2 out hit plates Iggy
2-1 Red Sox
Shaw single plated Vaz
3-1 Red Sox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 18:32:54 GMT -5
Kiki dinger
5-1 Sox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 19:00:45 GMT -5
Sox win
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 2, 2021 19:07:54 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7m #RedSox 5, #Nationals 3, final.
Sox host the Wild Card Game with a win tomorrow.
They are guaranteed at least a tiebreaker game on Monday.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Oct 2, 2021 21:00:43 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne In the context of sports only, can there be anything possibly as stressful as watching the Red Sox bullpen?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 3, 2021 2:47:42 GMT -5
Ninth-inning rally fuels Boston's WC push 1:55 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
WASHINGTON -- One game to go, and the Red Sox suddenly hold all the cards in this mad scramble known as the American League Wild Card race.
Following a stress-filled, 5-3 victory over the Nationals on Saturday, the Sox now have this satisfying reality heading into Sunday: They win that game, and they will host the AL Wild Card Game on Tuesday.
This, after the Yankees lost for the second straight day at home to the Rays. Boston and New York hold identical 91-70 records, but the Red Sox own the tiebreaker by virtue of beating their rivals, 10-9, in the season series. The Blue Jays and Mariners (both 90-71) remain one game back, poised to create havoc on the last day if the Red Sox and/or Yankees give them the chance. There still could be a four-way tie for the two Wild Card spots.
“Total team effort,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It wasn’t easy. It hasn’t been easy the whole season. The fact that we know that tomorrow counts, it’s gratifying.”
To get to such an enviable spot, the Red Sox rode a game-breaking, much-needed rally in the top of the ninth, sparked by a two-out RBI triple by Christian Vázquez that snapped a 1-1 tie.
“Christian, he’s a gamer,” said Cora. “One thing about Christian, he hits good pitching late in games. He’s been here a while; he’s a World Series champ. What he did here today behind the plate was amazing.”
The big moments in that final frame came moments after Boston lost a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth on Juan Soto’s deep fly ball to center against Austin Davis that fortunately stayed in the park for a sacrifice fly instead of a grand slam.
“Yeah, it was scary,” said Vázquez. “Thank God it stayed in the ballpark. I take that over a four-run homer. So it was a big pitch there, up in the zone, but it was a big out for us.”
The intensity built during that Soto-Davis sequence. Three times during the at-bat, Soto asked for time. Davis hollered at him. Soto tried to answer with his bat. And nearly did.
“I just thought, ‘He’s lucky.’” said Soto. “I mean, I hit it pretty good, just a little bit too high and maybe a little bit up on my barrel. But yeah, I was praying for it to keep going, but it didn’t. I just tried to make good contact, but he started talking trash to me and my mindset just changed to kick his [butt]. He just got me mad, and I don’t like when [pitchers] talk trash to me.”
The Red Sox survived the terrifying Soto by a few feet and will be fully mindful of perhaps the best hitter in the National League again on Sunday.
They hope they can breathe a little easier than on Saturday -- a day Cora got clutch relief from a variety of arms, most notably Ryan Brasier, who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh even as he worked for the fourth-straight day for the first time in his career.
For Brasier, who endured the death of his father in February and then a barrage of injuries from Spring Training into the season and didn’t make his 2021 debut until Sept. 3, he’s thrilled that he’s been able to carry such a big load for his team in recent days.
“Somebody asked me if I needed a day [off],” said Brasier. “I said I’ve had five months worth of days. I am more than ready to keep it going and keep pitching in these situations and taking the ball whenever they need me to.”
After losing two out of three in Baltimore against the last-place Orioles, it seemed unlikely the Red Sox could get back in the drivers’ seat. But with a pair of crucial wins against the Nationals, they’ve done just that.
On Saturday, the Sox received five perfect innings from rookie righty Tanner Houck, who struck out eight and threw 53 pitches.
Without hesitation, Cora pulled his talented starter with the perfecto in progress because he knows that the pennant race and Houck’s long-term health were more important than a chance for a personal milestone.
“I didn’t struggle at all [with the decision],” said Cora. “He threw [41 pitches on Tuesday] and today, actually, the plan was to see where Soto was and see where we went. He did an amazing job.
“It’s one of those I was telling Bobby [Dalbec] like in the sixth or seventh inning, as a manager you want to manage with your heart, but you have to be smart, too. It might look bad outside our world, but the kid threw 40-something pitches the other day and today it felt like that was good enough for us to give us a chance to win. I’m glad we ended up winning the game.”
Now, it’s on to Sunday, when ace Chris Sale will start as Boston tries to punch its ticket to the postseason on the final day of the regular season.
No matter what happens, Sunday won’t be the final game of the season for the Red Sox. They can do no worse than be in some type of tie after Game No. 162.
“It feels great,” said Cora. “Obviously it wasn’t a great week, but we’re in this position right now. We’ve got the right guy and we’ve got to show up tomorrow and win. Do that, hop on that plane, go home, back to our families and be ready for whatever happens this week.” Did you like this story?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 3, 2021 2:48:31 GMT -5
'Spikes on' for Sox starters as options in 'pen October 2nd, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
WASHINGTON -- Spikes on. That is something manager Alex Cora probably hadn’t said to a group of starting pitchers since the 2018 World Series.
But that’s where he was on Saturday, with his team trying to solidify a spot in the postseason with two games left.
If the situation calls for it, you could see Nathan Eovaldi or Nick Pivetta in the bullpen on Saturday or Sunday.
Eduardo Rodriguez, who pitched five shutout innings on Friday, isn’t an option for Saturday. But who knows if he could be asked to get an out or two on Sunday.
The Red Sox have reached all hands-on-deck mode as they entered the final two games of the season one game behind the Yankees for the top American League Wild Card spot and a game in front of the Blue Jays and Mariners for the second spot.
“I texted them this morning. 'Hey, man, spikes on. Spikes on.' I'm not going to tell you who said, 'Are we taking BP?'” laughed Cora. “Out of the three guys, there's only one guy that doesn't know what ‘spikes on’ means. I'll leave that to you guys. Nate will be in the bullpen, Nick will be in the bullpen, and of course Eddie we'll stay away from. That doesn't mean we're going to use them, but they'll have their spikes on, we'll see.”
One thing that could help Cora preserve his starters for games to come is if veteran righty Adam Ottavino can get out of his current rut.
Ottavino had gone from Sept. 8, 2020, through Sept. 3, 2021, without giving up a homer, covering 65 appearances.
Since Sept. 4, he has given up five homers over 10 appearances, posting a 9.00 ERA in eight innings.
“I think the slider, there's been some damage on the slider. He thinks it's staying in the same plane,” said Cora. “He actually threw a good one to [Ryan Zimmerman] after the homer. He went fastball, fastball, I think it was, and the slider. His fastball is playing well. The slider is the one right now that's not where he wants it.
“We'll keep talking, keep working, keep finding good matchups for him to help us. As you know he's very important for us. That fastball is a good one. I'm not saying we're going to go out there and just throw fastballs. His slider has been a good one throughout the season. Keep working with it and let's see what we can do.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 3, 2021 2:49:31 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Whitlock '50-50' for Sun. October 2nd, 2021
RHP Garrett Whitlock (right pectoral strain) Expected return: Sunday at earliest While Whitlock took a big step toward being able to pitch again this season when he threw a bullpen session prior to Friday’s game, he was not ready for activation on Saturday.
“We'll see if he'll be active tomorrow,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It's a 50-50 chance. Obviously we have to think about the team and the roster and all that stuff, but also his health. We'll see how it goes today and what he can give us tomorrow if needed and then we'll make a decision.”
Cora emphasized that Whitlock is healthy, but it’s just a matter of making sure he’s recovered enough from his bullpen session before green-lighting him back to the roster. It seems all but certain he would be ready to pitch any game beyond Sunday. (Last updated: Oct. 2)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 3, 2021 3:01:15 GMT -5
Red Sox revisit some late-inning magic, win to close on playoff spot By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated October 2, 2021, 8:00 p.m.
WASHINGTON — After more than six months, 162 games have been distilled to one. The complexity of dozens of wild-card scenarios has been reduced to a simpler proposition for the Red Sox on the last scheduled day of the regular season: Win, and they’re in.
The Red Sox emerged from a thrillingly, sickeningly tense game against the Nationals on Saturday with a 5-3 victory. In so doing, the Sox (91-70) tied the Yankees for the best record among wild-card contenders, one ahead of the Blue Jays (90-71) and at least one ahead of the Mariners (89-71, hosting the Angels later Saturday).
A Sunday victory against the Nats, who will feature righty Joan Adon in his big league debut, assures the Red Sox will host the win-or-go-home Wild Card Game at Fenway Park — scheduled for Tuesday — for the right to play the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series.
That straightforward road obscures the headspinning subplots of a fascinatingly dense contest that featured Tanner Houck pulled amidst a perfect game; redlining relievers clawing for 12 outs; continued Red Sox offensive struggles and defensive misplays; a hold-your-breath, poke-the-bear at-bat that inspired the wrath of the game’s best hitter; and a breakthrough hit by a recently marginalized Sox staple.
“A tremendous game. It took a lot from both sides,” exhaled Sox manager Alex Cora. “It wasn’t easy. It hasn’t been easy the whole season.” Related: Dan Shaughnessy: The Red Sox’ playoff race has been great, even with their late-season stumbles
Nationals starter Josiah Gray dominated the Red Sox for six innings, save for one batter. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Gray left a mid-90s fastball over the plate to Rafael Devers, who launched his 36th homer of the season into the right-center bleachers for a 1-0 lead.
That was all the Sox could muster against the rookie, but it was sufficient to give the team a lead thanks to Houck’s brilliance. The righthander featured what he described as “A-plus stuff,” a mid-90s four-seam fastball, sinker, devastating slider, and effective splitter. That combination allowed him to overwhelm the Nationals through five perfect innings on just 53 pitches. He struck out eight of the 15 batters he faced.
But the electrifying performance was not enough to keep him in the game. Houck hadn’t started since Sept. 15. The subsequent 16 days, he made three relief appearances, none lasting more than 42 pitches. He was pitching on three days of rest. And so, Cora replaced him for pinch-hitter Christian Arroyo in the top of the sixth, asking his bullpen for four innings.
“You want to manage with your heart, but you have to be smart,” said Cora. “It might look bad outside our world but … today it felt like that was good enough.”
Denied a shot at a perfect game, Houck became the third Red Sox pitcher ever to be removed while at least five innings into the pursuit of one, with Cy Young (7 perfect innings in a 1904 contest) and George Winter (5 innings, 1907).
“Obviously it’s difficult to come out,” said Houck, “but for me, I’d much rather us get a win.”
That happened, but not without turbulence. Garrett Richards allowed a two-out, pinch-hit single by Gerardo Parra to break up the perfect game with two outs in the sixth, but followed with an inning-ending groundout.
Ryan Brasier — pitching for the fourth time in as many days for the first time in his life, and the first time by a Red Sox pitcher since 2015 — followed in the seventh. Brasier missed the first five months of the year due to a calf injury, then a concussion suffered when he was hit in the head by a liner while rehabbing.
He finally made it to the big leagues in September, only to be sent down in the middle of the month due to ineffectiveness.
“It lit a fire under my butt,” said Brasier. “I had to come back and prove myself.”
And so, he did not shy when asked before the game whether he needed the day off.
“I had five months worth of days,” he said. “I am more than ready to keep pitching in these situations.”
After two quick outs, Brasier loaded the bases on two infield hits sandwiched around a walk, but caught Jordy Mercer looking at a fastball. He howled with elation and exhaustion as he left the mound.
But the Sox could not run a perfect bullpen relay. With Adam Ottavino on the mound for the eighth, center fielder Hunter Renfroe lost a routine fly ball in the picturesque-turned-grotesque twilight. The pop-up fell for a one-out double, and Ottavino, pitching for a third straight day, walked the next two batters to load the bases for Juan Soto.
Cora brought in lefty Austin Davis. Soto stepped out of the box multiple times before the first pitch. Davis objected. Soto became furious.
“He started talking trash to me, and my mindset just changed to kick his [butt],” said Soto.
Soto crushed a fastball 393 feet, but to the deepest part of the park in dead center, where Renfroe caught it. For the Sox, a game-tying sac fly was cause for relief.
“It was scary,” said catcher Christian Vázquez. “Thank God it stayed in the ballpark. I’ll take that over a four-run homer.”
A half-inning later, it was instead Vázquez delivering a game-changing blow. Though he has lost playing time down the stretch due to his offensive struggles, he’s remained effective against mid-90s heat. And so, with a runner on first and two outs, he remained confident against Nats reliever Tanner Rainey.
He tripled to right off a heater, giving the Sox a 2-1 lead. Travis Shaw followed with an RBI single, and after a pitching change, Kiké Hernández blasted a two-run homer (his 20th) to put the Sox ahead, 5-1.
Each blow proved crucial, as Davis gave up a two-run homer to Andrew Stevenson in the bottom of the ninth. But Hansel Robles entered to restore order by recording the final three outs, restoring air to the lungs of teammates who had gone 3 hours, 53 minutes without a breath.
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