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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 8:17:56 GMT -5
Game 13: Blue Jays at Red Sox preview and lineupsBy Matt Pepin Globe Staff,Updated April 21, 2022, 7 minutes ago It’s a quick turnaround for the Red Sox and Blue Jays, who wrap up their series at Fenway Park Thursday afternoon following Wednesday night’s 6-1 Toronto victory. The rubber game of the series features a starting pitching matchup of Blue Jays righty Kevin Gausman against Red Sox righty Tanner Houck. Here is a preview: Lineups BLUE JAYS (7-5): 1. Raimel Tapia (L) LF 2. Bo Bichette (R) SS 3. Vladimir Guerrero (R) 1B 4. Zack Collins (L) C 5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) DH 6. Matt Chapman (R) 3B 7. Cavan Biggio (L) RF 8. Gosuke Katoh (L) 2B 9. Bradley Zimmer (L) CF Pitching: RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 4.22 ERA) RED SOX (6-6):1. Trevor Story (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) DH 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 5. Bobby Dalbec (R) 3B 6. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF 7. Christian Vazquez (R) C 8. Travis Shaw (L) 1B 9. Christian Arroyo (R) RF Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (1-0, 3.00 ERA) Time: 1:35 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Blue Jays vs. Houck: Bo Bichette 2-4, Santiago Espinal 0-0, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2-4, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 0-2, George Springer 0-4, Bradley Zimmer 0-4 Red Sox vs. Gausman: Christian Arroyo 1-1, Xander Bogaerts 12-40, Jackie Bradley Jr. 2-20, Rafael Devers 1-8, Kiké Hernández 0-6, J.D. Martinez 5-12, Rob Refsnyder 4-9, Travis Shaw 3-18, Trevor Story 2-15, Alex Verdugo 0-0, Christian Vázquez 0-13 Stat of the day: Gausman, who was with the Baltimore Orioles from 2013-18, is 4-8 with a 4.53 ERA in 20 games (15 starts) against the Red Sox. Notes: In his last outing, Houck pitched 5 2/3 strong innings in a 4-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. The 25-year-old has not been involved in a decision in his career against the Blue Jays, but he has been effective, posting a 2.35 ERA and 13 strikeouts against just three walks in 7 2/3 innings over two starts ... Toronto center fielder George Springer exited in the sixth inning Wednesday after being struck by a Phillips Valdez pitch. Springer has a right forearm contusion, and he was due to be re-evaluated to assess his condition ... Boston designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who had two hits in his only two at-bats on Wednesday, was lifted in the third inning due to left adductor tightness. His status also had yet to be determined ... Gausman is seeking his first win with the Blue Jays after signing a five-year, $110 million contract in the offseason. The 31-year-old enjoyed a career year with the San Francisco Giants in 2021, placing sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting after going 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA ... After Thursday’s game, the Red Sox head to Florida for a three-game weekend set against the Rays. Song of the Day: Cream - Crossroadswww.youtube.com/watch?v=7HfkSzsyh1E
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 10:11:00 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey · 1m -Cora says it’s a day off for Kiké Hernandez but also trying to get offense going -Martinez still sore and getting treatment will travel to Tampa, likely won’t play Friday -Hill will start Sunday and Houck piggyback. Houck is unvaccinated and can’t go with the team to Toronto
With Hill pushed back that leaves an open start Saturday, Cora said they’re considering starting Whitlock that day. He’d be able to go 3-4 innings
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 10:16:14 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 7m Red Sox shuffling rotation a bit. After Houck today and Wacha tomorrow, it’s likely Whitlock on Saturday (unless he pitches in relief before then). Hill will pitch Sunday with Houck piggybacking him before being ineligible for TOR series. Tue (Houck’s day) TBA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 13:22:05 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h Cora didn't rule out moving Trevor Story to the leadoff spot for more than just today:
"One thing we haven’t done is put pressure on the opposition... Just to be a little bit more dynamic, we’ll think about it. If we have to re-adjust, we’ll do it."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 13:22:49 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 7m Alex Cora tested positive for COVID-19 and is not managing.
From the Red Sox: Alex Cora tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the game. He will not travel to St. Petersburg. Will Venable will manage today's game. Cora, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, has mild symptoms.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 13:26:06 GMT -5
Pitching duel until the 3rd Houck walks the #9 hitter to start it off. single later, and another single by Bichette Sac fly by Vlad
and it is 2-0 Jays
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 13:32:42 GMT -5
Gausman up to only 30 pitches he was thrown 24 for strikes
2-0 seems like 10-0
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:00:24 GMT -5
and there is some dumb base running Vazquez gets greedy putting a dent in the monster should of stayed at 1B trucked to 2nd and thrown out by a foot by Tapia
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:02:52 GMT -5
Houck is out of the game? WTF? damn analytics staff
Brasier has the 6th
Houck line 5ip/ 3/2/2/1bb/4k/71-57
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:07:13 GMT -5
Vlad deep right sails over Arroyo who then banged against the RF wall stand up 2B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:11:59 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5m Houck has thrown 77 sliders so far this season and teams are swinging at it less frequently and it has only generated 5 swings and misses.
Something to keep an eye on as his sample size grows.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:13:18 GMT -5
Brasier with a 2 out walk is no shock
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 14:17:24 GMT -5
dear jesus that was ugly Chapman pops it up in the infield no one calls it, Vazquez finally does, does not come close to catching it Brasier not covering home and the Jays plate a run 3-0 Jays
and the boos start and are loud.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 16:47:57 GMT -5
Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 3: The offense showed up just a bit too late
The Red Sox offense continues its slump against Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Apr 21, 2022, 4:40pm EDT 2 Comments
Boston’s bats just are not in a good place right now, and it is spoiling some solid pitching performances against key divisional opponents. Tanner Houck got the start for the Red Sox in this one, and with his fastball working extremely well he held the Blue Jays to a respectable two runs over five innings, with the bullpen adding one more over the final four frames. The Red Sox over the first eight innings didn’t manage a single run after scoring just three in the previous two games combined. Now, credit where it is due to Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who was lights out in this game. And the offense did turn it on with a rally in the ninth to score two and put another run 90 feet away, but it was too little too late as they dropped back down under .500 with a 3-2 loss.
More robust game notes below.
The Red Sox offense had a frustrating night on Wednesday, starting off that game teeing off on José Berríos with a barrage of hard contact, but only one run to show for it in the first inning. They’d end up with only one run for the entire game, too, with struggles in particular coming with runners in scoring position; they were 1-14 in those situations. Thursday they were up against a somewhat familiar face in Kevin Gausman, who spent the early years of his career with the Orioles as a middling pitcher on his best days. Since then, however, he’s transformed, and the Red Sox learned that the hard way in their series finale against the Blue Jays.
Gausman reshaped the way he pitches in his two-year stint with the Giants, now pairing his fastball with a splitter that has developed into one of the best singular pitches in all of baseball along with a slider with good movement that he locates well. The result is, well, a lot of trouble for opposing lineups. Throw in a Red Sox batting order that screams getaway day (which it was), and the results were about what you’d expect. Through the first three innings, Boston managed just one baserunner on an Alex Verdugo single. They got another base hit in the fourth too, but it was quickly canceled out by a Verdugo double play, and Gausman ultimately cruised through those first four innings with only 40 pitches.
That put a lot of pressure on Tanner Houck, who was coming off a strong start last time out against the Twins. He once again looked good, with his fastball in particular giving the Blue Jays fits with its movement and its location. He struck out the first two batters he faced with that pitch before getting a pop up to complete a perfect opening frame. Houck also kept the Jays off the board in the second, working around a two-out double from Matt Chapman in the process.
So it was still a scoreless game heading into the third, and the Blue Jays were able to strike first in this inning. Gosuke Kotah started the inning off with a leadoff walk, and a couple batters later he moved up to second on a base hit before Bo Bichette put one through the right side just out of reach of Trevor Story’s glove, bringing home Kotah and giving Toronto the first run of the day. With runners now on the corners, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came through with an easy sacrifice fly, and it was a 2-0 lead for the Blue Jays.
From there, Houck was able to get out of the inning and keep that score at 2-0 through five when he left the game. It was overall a positive start for the righty, who is expected to be back on the mound on Sunday in a piggyback role as he won’t be able to start in Toronto next week due to his not being vaccinated against COVID. Weirdly, he did not get a single whiff on his slider in this game, but his fastball was effective enough to keep his numbers above water in the outing.
After Houck exited the game, Ryan Brasier got the first call out of the bullpen and he got into some quick trouble when Guerrero smacked a double off the bullpen wall in right field. A two-out walk put a pair on, but it looked like trouble was averted when Chapman popped one straight up in front of the mound. Key words there are “looked like.” The wind took the ball for a ride and Christian Vázquez — who had ended the previous inning trying to stretch a wall-ball single into a double — couldn’t get under it. The ball fell on the infield, and Guerrero was running hard from contact and came around to score, making it a 3-0 game. Austin Davis was able to come in after that and finish the inning without any more runs being added on by the Jays.
Davis and Hirokazu Sawamura then combined to work around a pair of baserunners in the seventh, giving the offense nine more outs to get their act together and, at the very least, show some signs of life. They did get a base hit from Xander Bogaerts to start the inning, the first time the leadoff man reached in this game. But on brand for this game, Verdugo followed it up with his second double play ball of the game.
Sawamura came back out and worked around two singles in the eighth, thanks in part to an outfield assist from Verdugo, and the offense had another crack at getting some momentum in this game, with Gausman still in for Toronto. Instead, they went down in order.
That brought Gausman out for the ninth with only 87 pitches under his belt. He only threw one more pitch, though, giving up a leadoff, first-pitch single to Trevor Story before being removed for Toronto closer Jordan Romano. He would walk Devers to start off his evening, and suddenly Bogaerts was stepping up to the plate with nobody out, representing the tying run. He came through, too, pulling a base hit through the left side to bring one run home.
Suddenly it was only a two-run game, and Verdugo was coming up with two runners in scoring position, still with nobody out. They didn’t get the hit they were looking for, but a ground ball to the right side was still enough for Devers to come in to score and Bogaerts to move 90 feet away from tying this game. Bobby Dalbec swung at the first pitch he saw, but while he hit it hard it was a ground ball right to Chapman at third base, who was playing in enough that Bogaerts had to stay at third. So that left it all up to Jackie Bradley Jr., coming up with two outs and the tying run at third. He worked a full count, but ended up rolling one over to first base for the third out and to end the game with a 3-2 loss.
The Red Sox now head south to take on the Rays for their first series against Tampa of the season. Things will kick off with Michael Wacha facing his old team as the Rays counter with Corey Kluber. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 16:49:12 GMT -5
Red Sox
Boston Red Sox’s late comeback attempt falls short as Blue Jays take series finale, 3-2; Kevin Gausman dominates for 8 innings Updated: Apr. 21, 2022, 5:43 p.m. | Published: Apr. 21, 2022, 4:40 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- The weather at Fenway Park warmed up a bit Thursday afternoon. The Red Sox’ offense, though? Still cold, at least until the ninth inning.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman threw eight shutout innings before the Boston’s bats finally came alive in the ninth. But after plating two runs to make it a one-run game, the comeback attempt fell short as the Red Sox lost, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game series, while stranding Xander Bogaerts at third base in the ninth.
Gausman, one of the top free agent starters on the market over the winter, struck out eight Red Sox batters over 8+ innings behind a 3-0 Toronto lead. He needed just 87 pitches to complete eight frames before allowing a leadoff single to Trevor Story in the ninth and being lifted for reliever Jordan Romano. After Rafael Devers walked and moved Story to second, Bogaerts (RBI double) and Alex Verdugo (RBI groundout) each plated runs. Romano then battled back to retire Bobby Dalbec and Jackie Bradley Jr., stranding Bogaerts at third base to end the game.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck generally kept the Jays’ offense quiet but ran into trouble in the third. After a leadoff walk, Bo Bichette put the Jays on a board with an RBI single, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to left. Houck lasted five innings, striking out four batters while allowing two runs on three hits.
Toronto added some insurance in the sixth when Matt Chapman hit an infield pop-up that dropped in fair ground near home plate and plated Guerrero for the Jays’ third run. Boston’s offense started quiet and stayed quiet, as just one runner advanced into scoring position before the ninth inning.
Boston has now scored three or fewer runs in six of its first 13 games. Bogaerts had the best offensive day for the Red Sox, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Pop-up proves costly
With two runners on base and two outs in the sixth inning, the Blue Jays added to their lead in unusual fashion. Chapman hit a high infield pop-up that dropped between pitcher Ryan Brasier, catcher Christian Vázquez and first baseman Travis Shaw, allowing Guerrero to race around from second base. Nobody was covering home plate on the play.
Venable takes over big chair
With manager Alex Cora out after testing positive for COVID-19, bench coach Will Venable managed the Red Sox. Venable got a taste of the big chair last summer when Cora traveled to Puerto Rico to see his daughter, Camila, graduate high school. He’ll get at least a couple more games of managerial experience with Cora away from the team.
Road trip starts in St. Petersburg
The Red Sox will travel to Florida on Thursday night in advance of a three-game series against the Rays, which begins Friday at Tropicana Field. The Sox will then travel to Toronto for four games and then Baltimore for three. The trip is one of two 10-game road trips for Boston in 2022.
Here are the pitching probables for the Rays series:
Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET -- RHP Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.96 ERA) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (0-0, 1.86 ERA)
Saturday, 6:10 p.m. ET -- TBD (likely RHP Garrett Whitlock) vs. TBD
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. ET -- LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 7.00 ERA) vs. LHP Shane McClanahan (0-1, 2.40 ERA)
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