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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 3:37:31 GMT -5
Blue Jays @ Red Sox Tuesday, 20th April 2022 7pm @ Fenway
Berrios 0-0/ 11.81
Pivetta 0-0/ 9.39
Starting pitchers look for fresh start as Red Sox meet Blue Jays FLM
Two pitchers who are looking for better showings -- and a victory -- will start on Wednesday night when the Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game set in Boston.
Boston right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-2, 9.39 ERA) has taken two losses in as many starts, allowing four earned runs in each and nine total hits, including three home runs. Last Friday, Pivetta lasted just two innings and gave up five hits in a home start against the Minnesota Twins.
"Hopefully the mechanics are right," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Pivetta before Tuesday night's series opener, a 2-1 Boston win. "The timing of his arm and everything else is not there. That's why you see the velocity down. If you look at the games, the fastball wasn't great and the slider was OK."
Pivetta didn't disagree with his manager.
"For me right now, that's what it kind of feels like," Pivetta said following last week's start. "... I didn't have that consistency with the velocity. Just didn't feel great. It was disappointing. But just gotta keep moving forward from here."
Pivetta has made seven starts against Toronto in his career, posting a 1-2 record and 5.77 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 39 innings.
He pitched six innings of one-hit ball and punched out five Jays in an Aug. 7, 2021, no-decision in his best outing of the year against Toronto.
On Tuesday, catcher Connor Wong produced the deciding run on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly in just his seventh career MLB game. Boston was held to three hits.
After Nathan Eovaldi needed 95 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings, four relievers held the Jays scoreless to clinch the victory.
"(The relief pitchers) attacked the zone, made really good pitches, and that's really all you can ask for," Wong told NESN. "... I wasn't trying to do too much (on the sacrifice fly) and just get a job done."
Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios (0-0, 11.81 ERA) is still looking for a decision entering his third start of the young season, though he has allowed seven earned runs in 5 1/3 combined innings.
Making his third career Opening Day start, Berrios recorded just one out on April 8 against the Texas Rangers.
"I wasn't locating well. I was throwing around the plate," Berrios said after the start, the shortest of his career. "But on those days, you have to go out there and just try to keep competing. And I will. I feel good and proud that I still competed."
Berrios did fare better in his most recent start Wednesday against the New York Yankees, pitching three-run ball with five strikeouts over five innings.
Berrios also will look to break a skid against Boston, as he is winless (0-5) with a 4.43 ERA in seven career starts. However, he has 46 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings in that span.
Toronto had won three straight series openers entering Tuesday. Designated hitter Zack Collins homered to highlight a 2-for-4 night.
Wong was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Monday after catcher Kevin Plawecki was placed on the COVID-19 list.
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he doesn't see an advantage against opposing teams dealing with COVID issues. Boston starting pitcher Tanner Houck isn't allowed to enter Canada because he isn't vaccinated, for example.
"Rules are rules, and that's why we couldn't play in Toronto for two years," Montoyo said. "And from experience, nobody (cares). Nobody cared about us when we were in Dunedin (Fla.) playing at the team's spring facility."
--Field Level Media
Blue Jays at Red Sox Wednesday, at 7:10 PM EST Clear According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 50° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 7 MPH wind blowing out in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 6:45:02 GMT -5
Why this was a message-sending win for the Red Sox Current Time 0:13 / Duration 0:15 By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago
It was the 11th game of season. April 19. One hundred and fifty-one to go.
No matter.
Sometimes, regardless of what the calendar looks like, it's important to understand relative magnitude of the moment. That's exactly what Alex Cora did in the Red Sox' 2-1 win over the Blue Jays Tuesday night at Fenway Park. ADVERTISING
They were going up against the head-and-shoulders favorites to win the American League East. Early-season returns hadn't allowed for much of an identity. And, to top it off, the Red Sox were bobbing and weaving their way through some more Covid chaos.
This win seemed like it might mean something more. Cora could feel that.
"We were very aggressive. It was an aggressive day, too," the manager said after his team improved to 6-5. "Sometimes those kids in the clubhouse, they deserve that. After everything that went on, we got Plaw (Kevin Plawecki) watching the game on TV, Christian (Vazquez) watching the game on TV, there are certain days that you know what the human element takes over and it seemed like a playoff game and I managed it like a playoff game. It was a very heavy day for everybody, a lot of stuff going on, and I went for the win."
Nothing about this was easy. And that was why Cora's intent wasn't difficult to decipher.
With the game sitting at 1-1 until Connor Wong's seventh-inning sacrifice fly, the manager used his current A-list of relievers to navigate through the potent Toronto lineup. Nathan Eovaldi had done his thing - allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings - but not leaning the bullpen was non-negotiable due to the starter's 95 pitches.
First came Matt Strahm. then Hansel Robles, who was followed by Jake Diekman. And, finally, the ultimate sign this one might mean something - a Garrett Whitlock sighting.
It's a bullpen that has become one of the saving grace's throughout these first 11 games (7 of which have been decided by two or fewer runs, by the way). The Red Sox relievers have totaled a 3.17 ERA and .199 batting average against, owning the third-best strikeouts-per-nine innings rate (10.80) of any group in the majors.
It's a group that certainly isn't born from shock-and-awe offseason acquisitions.
Strahm was signed for $3 million off an early March workout after totaling just 6 2/3 innings all of last season. (He already has 6 frames this year, striking out 6 while allowing just three baserunners.)
Robles came back from his first go-round having to life on a minor-league deal. He has now recorded 19 straight innings of scoreless regular season relief.
Diekman has become a revelation in the late innings after struggling through a spring training where his command - and best slider - hadn't quite been uncovered. The lefty has faced 15 batters, giving up just two hits and one walk while fanning seven of them.
And, of course, there is Whitlock. Of the 35 batters he has taken on, just six have reached base. He has become as automatic as anyone could hope a closer could be while doing it a little differently. Example: The righty has more scoreless outings of more than an inning (26) than any pitcher in baseball.
This time - with the Red Sox' offense managing just three hits - the relievers had to serve as the ultimate message-senders. Message sent.
"We’re still learning. It’s not easy," Cora said of finding early-season definition i the bullpen. "I’ve been saying it all along, there are certain guys that have to step up and hopefully Barnsey (Matt Barnes) can get to where we want him to get and take over. (Wednesday) is a big day for the other guys. We have a lead, we have to use them because we were very aggressive today. There are guys we trust. Their stuff should be there. It’s about executing. Hopefully, we can get more guys that start throwing the ball well. I do believe they’re getting close. They’re right there. If they do that, then it’s a lot easier for Bushy (Dave Bush), Walk (Kevin Walker) and myself."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 6:52:51 GMT -5
Mastrodonato: How Red Sox manager Alex Cora ‘managed like it was a playoff game’ to steal a win vs. Blue Jays Bullpen was supposed to be a flaw; instead it’s been a strength
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald April 20, 2022 at 5:32 a.m.
For all that’s been said and written about how well Alex Cora has been at getting the most out of his young players, his bullpen management can get overlooked.
It’s fair to say Chaim Bloom hasn’t overlooked it.
The Red Sox once again entered the season without any star relievers and no clear plan in the ‘pen, where last year’s All-Star closer Matt Barnes is now a middle reliever and the only sure-fire weapon at Cora’s disposal is sophomore superstar Garrett Whitlock, who was supposed to be used as a swingman.
And yet the bullpen played the hero on Tuesday night, as Sox’ relievers shut down one of the game’s premier offenses in the Toronto Blue Jays and preserved a 2-1 win at Fenway Park.
The Sox’ bullpen was supposed to be a weakness this year, but “everyone is working really hard to change that perception,” said Hansel Robles, who threw 1-2/3 perfect innings to extend his scoreless streak to 19 consecutive regular season appearances.
Cora admitted he had no clear plan of what to do with this group entering the season. But after Sox relievers tossed 4-1/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday, the bullpen now has a sparkling 3.17 ERA.
“We had an idea, but we’re still learning,” Cora said on how he’s navigating the late innings with a bullpen that includes four new guys, three of which were signed during training. “It’s not easy. I’ve been saying it all along, there are certain guys that have to step up.”
If you would’ve drawn it up during the off-season, Whitlock looks like the ace in the hole with Barnes as the defacto closer and perhaps Ryan Brasier and Darwinzon Hernandez as the set-up guys.
But Barnes and Brasier showed decreased velocity, and Hernandez was sent to the minors to get stretched out in a multi-inning role.
Bloom was able to snag Robles on a minor league deal late in spring, then spent small to bring in a pair of left-handers in Matt Strahm ($3 million) and Jake Deikman ($7 million over two years).
Diekman and Strahm have combined to post a 0.96 ERA with 13 strikeouts and just two walks in 11 appearances thus far, while Robles hasn’t allowed a run in a regular season game since last August, a span of 18-2/3 innings in which he’s held hitters to just six hits in 65 at-bats.
“We got him straightened up, mechanics-wise, and his stuff is really good,” Cora said of Robles.
Robles had a 4.91 ERA with the Twins before coming to the Red Sox in an at-the-buzzer trade at the July 31 deadline. He’s been one of their most reliable relievers since.
“He likes it here too,” Cora said. “He’s a guy that from afar, you see him and you’re like, ‘that stuff should play at the big league level.’ And so far it’s playing here in Boston.”
Said Robles, “There is a different taste to it (in Boston). There’s a different adrenaline when you go out there.”
Cora might have some reliable weapons after all.
Whitlock is a cheat code in the late innings. He’s allowed just one run on four hits in 9-2/3 inning this year. Tuesday, he collected his first career one-inning save when he was called on in the ninth to protect a one-run lead. He made a nice play on defense, too, sliding into the bag on a groundball to first base and tearing off a chunk of skin on his knee in the process.
“My dad said, ‘it’s too far from your heart to kill you so rub some dirt on it and you’ll be fine,’” Whitlock said
He’s primarily been a multi-inning reliever when Cora feels like he has a chance to steal a win, but Cora went for the jugular against the top-tier Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
It sounded like Cora wanted to send a message. The Jays are considered the class of the American League this year.
“We were very aggressive,” Cora said. “It was an aggressive day too. Sometimes those kids in the clubhouse, they deserve that. After everything that went on (with the COVID-19 outbreak), we got Kevin Plawecki watching the game on TV, Christian Vazquez watching the game on TV. There are certain days that, you know what, the human element takes over.
“It seemed like a playoff game. And I managed it like a playoff game. It was a very heavy day for everybody, a lot of stuff going on, and I went for the win.”
Cora’s brilliance as a manager shines through in many areas, but usually most in his ability to read the human element as well as anyone.
He’s somehow getting it done with Strahm, Diekman, Robles and Whitlock as his most reliable arms, but still hopes to utilize Barnes at some point this year.
“Hopefully Barnsey can get to where we want him to get and take over,” he said. “Wednesday is a big day for the other guys. We have a lead, we have to use them because we were very aggressive today.
“There are guys we trust. Their stuff should be there. It’s about executing. Hopefully we can get more guys that start throwing the ball well. I do believe they’re getting close. They’re right there. If they do that, then it’s a lot easier.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 6:54:44 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Alex Cora ‘went for the win’ and Garrett Whitlock tore a hole in pants locking down save Updated: Apr. 20, 2022, 7:06 a.m. | Published: Apr. 20, 2022, 5:48 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Alex Cora’s aggressive bullpen management Tuesday included bringing in Garrett Whitlock for the ninth inning to close out Boston’s 2-1 win over the Blue Jays here at Fenway Park.
“It seemed like a playoff game, right, and I managed it like a playoff game,” Cora said. “It was a very heavy day for everybody. A lot of stuff going on and you know what? I went for the win.”
A lot went on before the game. Christian Vázquez and Jonathan Araúz tested positive for COVID on Tuesday. Boston is without its top two catchers as Kevin Plawecki already had tested positive Monday.
Prospect Connor Wong stepped in and did a nice job behind the plate. He teamed with relievers Matt Strahm, Hansel Robles, Jake Diekman and Whitlock who combined for 4 ⅓ scoreless innings of relief. Wong also recorded the game-winning RBI in the seventh on a sac fly to right field.
Cora prefers to use Whitlock for multi-inning relief appearances. He feels that’s where the righty provides the most value. But he saw an opportunity to win a game against a tough Blue Jays team and he took it.
“I took a chance with Whit,” Cora said. “That’s not the perfect situation to use him. We’d like to stretch him out. But where we were in the game, and the game that it was, I felt going to him (was best).”
Of course, the ninth inning didn’t end without a scare. Bobby Dalbec dived to his right to field Raimel Tapia’s hard-hit grounder, then threw to Whitlock covering first base for the second out. But Whitlock slid into the bag awkwardly as he caught Dalbec’s throw and the trainer came out to check on him.
Whitlock said his knee “is all good.” He ended up with a hole in his baseball pants for the first time since “probably high school.”
“That was about as un-athletic as I could ever look,” Whitlock joked.
Cora added, “He’s doing OK. He just has a raspberry or strawberry, whatever they call it.”
Tarpia’s grounder had a 100.3 mph exit velocity.
“That was a good play by Bobby,” Cora said. “We played good defense.”
Whitlock added, “Bobby’s got a great arm.”
Strahm, Robles, Diekman and Whitlock have been Cora’s top four relievers so far.
Strahm hurled 1 ⅓ scoreless innings. He has allowed just one run, two hits and one walk while striking out six in 6 innings (six outings).
“He pitches inside, he’s very aggressive,” Cora said, adding Strahm’s stuff plays against both righties and lefties and that’s why he’s comfortable bringing in the lefty with inherited runners.
Robles pitched 1 ⅔ scoreless and hitless innings. He hasn’t allowed a run while giving up just one hit in 5 innings (four appearances) this season. Diekman recorded the final out of the eighth. He has pitched 3 ⅓ scoreless innings so far.
“We’re still learning,” Cora said about bullpen. “It’s not easy. I’ve been saying it all along. There’s certain guys that have to step up. And hopefully (Matt) Barnes can get to where we want him to get and take over.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 8:40:50 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 25m Red Sox asking fans to be in their seats tonight by 630 pm. They're hosting a pregame tribute to the late Jerry Remy at Fenway Park.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 13:28:30 GMT -5
Jerry Remy ceremony: Boston Red Sox to honor late NESN analyst at Fenway Park before Wednesday’s game Updated: Apr. 20, 2022, 11:34 a.m. | Published: Apr. 20, 2022, 11:16 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
The Boston Red Sox will hold a pregame ceremony Wednesday to celebrate Jerry Remy’s life and career.
The team is asking fans to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. for the ceremony. Tonight’s game between the Red Sox and Blue Jays will begin at 7:10 p.m. Fans can watch the game and pregame ceremony on NESN which is available on fuboTV.
Remy died of lung cancer at age 68 on Oct. 30, 2021. He worked as in-game NESN Red Sox analyst for more than 33 seasons.
The Red Sox also are paying tribute to Remy this season with No. 2 patches on their jerseys. The NESN booth at Fenway Park was named “Jerry Remy Booth.” Jerry Remy Booth
The NESN booth at Fenway Park has been named "Jerry Remy Booth."
The Red Sox played a video tribute during Opening Day at Fenway pregame ceremonies this past Friday.
“I think he brought a smile to everybody in the stadium,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, discussing the video tribute. “It was kind of like, ‘This moment, this is the man we want to remember. This is the way we want to remember him.’”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 13:30:01 GMT -5
Red Sox
Jerry Remy ceremony: How to watch Boston Red Sox honor late broadcaster before Wednesday’s game vs. Blue Jays Published: Apr. 20, 2022, 1:02 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
Wednesday night will be a special one at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox will honor late broadcaster Jerry Remy with a pregame ceremony. Remy died in October at 68 after multiple bouts with cancer.
The ceremony will honor the life of the beloved Somerset native who played for the Red Sox and later went on to spend more than three decades in the NESN booth.
How to watch the ceremony:
What time does it start? Where can I watch it on TV? - The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET and will air on NESN.
Live stream options: NESN | fuboTV | Sling - If you have a cable subscription, you can use login credentials from your TV provider to watch via NESN or the NESN app. You can also stream the broadcast on smart TVs and streaming devices via Sling and fuboTV, which has a free trial.
FROM THE RED SOX:
The Red Sox will celebrate the life and career of Red Sox Hall of Famer Jerry Remy in pregame ceremonies preceding tonight’s 7:10 p.m. game at Fenway Park against the Toronto Blue Jays. Fans attending the game are asked to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. for the ceremony. Remy, who logged more than 40 years of service to the organization as a player, coach, and broadcaster, passed away on October 30 at the age of 68 after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer.
Since the start of the season, Red Sox players have worn a black commemorative patch featuring Remy’s name in red with his jersey number 2 displayed in white beneath it to memorialize the honorary President of Red Sox Nation. The commemorative patch will continue to be worn throughout the season and will be distributed to all fans attending tonight’s game.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 13:35:52 GMT -5
Game 12: Blue Jays at Red Sox lineups and pregame notesBy Matt Pepin Globe Staff,Updated April 20, 2022, 8:46 a.m. The Red Sox have COVID issues — two more players were sidelined by the virus Tuesday — and there’s also some uncertainty on the mound Wednesday night. Scheduled starter Nick Pivetta has not been sharp in his first two outings, and three of the nine hits he’s allowed have been home runs. Peter Abraham outlined Pivetta’s issues in today’s Red Sox Notebook, including decreased velocity on his fastball. Abraham also reports that Pivetta has been working with pitching coaches on improving the rhythm and extension of his delivery. The Red Sox plan to honor Jerry Remy, the longtime NESN broadcaster and former Sox player who died in 2021, prior to Wednesday’s game. Fans are asked to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. The Red Sox have been wearing a patch honoring Remy on their uniforms, and fans attending Wednesday’s game will receive a patch as well. Here’s a preview of Wednesday’s game: Lineups BLUE JAYS (6-5): 1. George Springer (R) CF 2. Bo Bichette (R) SS 3. Vladimir Guerrero (R) DH 4. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF 5. Matt Chapman (R) 3B 6. Raimel Tapia (L) RF 7. Santiago Espinal (R) 2B 8. Alejandro Kirk (R) C 9. Cavan Biggio (L) 1B Pitching: RHP José Berríos (0-0, 11.81 ERA) RED SOX (6-5): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Trevor Story (R) 2B 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) RF 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (0-2, 9.39 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Blue Jays vs. Pivetta: Bo Bichette 7-14, Cavan Biggio 4-10, Matt Chapman 1-3, Zack Collins 0-2, Santiago Espinal 0-5, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 4-14, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2-10, Alejandro Kirk 0-2, George Springer 4-7 Red Sox vs. Berríos: Christian Arroyo 0-2, Xander Bogaerts 2-17, Jackie Bradley Jr. 1-14, Bobby Dalbec 1-2, Rafael Devers 3-14, Kiké Hernández 1-5, J.D. Martinez 5-18, Travis Shaw 2-5, Alex Verdugo 4-5 Stat of the day: Five players have appeared in all 11 games for the Red Sox so far this season (Verdugo, Devers, Martinez, Bradley, and Hernández) and they have accounted for 7 of the team’s 10 home runs. Notes: The Red Sox have a team batting average of .228, which is sixth in the American League ... The Red Sox lead the AL in doubles (25) and sacrifice flies (8) ... Pivetta has two losses in as many starts, and in his last outing, he lasted just two innings and gave up five hits in a home start against the Twins ... Pivetta has made seven starts against Toronto in his career, posting a 1-2 record and 5.77 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 39 innings ... Toronto’s Berrios is still looking for a decision entering his third start of the young season, though he has allowed seven earned runs in 5⅓ innings ... Berrios is winless (0-5) with a 4.43 ERA in seven career starts against Boston. Song of the Day: The Tragically Hip - Ouchwww.youtube.com/watch?v=17LjAbpzzp0
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 14:24:50 GMT -5
Steve Hewitt @steve_hewitt · 49m Alex Cora said on @merlonifauria that there’s a good chance one of the players on the COVID IL will be activated tonight or tomorrow
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 14:37:59 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey · 7m Whitlock just told me his knee is fine, bruised on the slide but he’ll survive
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 16:52:12 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey · 1h -Cora says there have been no more positive Covid tests. He’s hopeful some or all three of the postive cases rejoin the team this weekend -Cora thinks Barnes is getting close to himself and says once that happens they’ll use him in the ninth. Cora prefers defined bullpen roles
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 18:11:57 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 43m Vázquez re-instated to the active roster. Hernández optioned.
Checked with a few sources and any of the players on Covid-IL who are cleared to return will be OK for Toronto, too.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 18:13:24 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 20m Rice, Lynn, Evans, Burleson and Eck also at the Remy ceremony ... and Yaz.
Seeing Yaz, Rice, Lynn and Dewey on the field together is pretty cool.
"Buenos noches, amigos," says @tomcaron . Nice touch.
Remy's son and daughter threw out first pitches.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 18:49:54 GMT -5
Pivetta
getting the hell knocked out of him
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 19:24:40 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 4m JD Martinez leaving the game after a standup double.
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