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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2022 14:20:20 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 15m Today will be Garrett Whitlock's first start since 7-3-19 at Hadlock Field vs. Portland. He went 5 IP, allowed 9 R (3 ER) and had Tommy John surgery a short time later.
Bobby Dalbec, who homered off him, will be playing 1B behind Whitlock tonight.
Today is only the 56th time the Sox will have the DH bat ninth.
Bob Bailey did it 10 times and Midre Cummings nine times.
Most recent:
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 23, 2022 15:15:13 GMT -5
Key to win? 'Defense, defense, defense' Story's final play caps stellar all-around effort in series opener vs. Rays1:52 AM ADT Ian Browne Ian Browne @ianmbrowne "
This looks so much better than last year. Some by design, so a tip of the cap on the JBJ and Story acquisitions, but some of it is on the players as well. Devers, Verdugo & Dalbec all fielding better (imo) than last year, so kudos to them.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2022 19:25:30 GMT -5
a hit would be nice
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 23, 2022 19:34:48 GMT -5
Nice outing by Crawford. I had read his scouting report on FG a little earlier, and it's exactly true what they said. They said his FB plays up because of his short arm action, and that looks true. We got lucky because Zunino's 400 foot shot was dead CF, but he still pitched very well.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 23, 2022 20:21:23 GMT -5
Might be the worst loss I've ever seen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2022 20:27:20 GMT -5
Up 2-0 2 out in extras Robles, a proud member of the gas can gang, lights it up a extra WTF to Trevor Story and that error of his as well. Not shocking a damn bit
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 23, 2022 21:04:22 GMT -5
Up 2-0 2 out in extras Robles, a proud member of the gas can gang, lights it up a extra WTF to Trevor Story and that error of his as well. Not shocking a damn bit
The gas can gang has quietly been one of the best in the league. A 2.55 ERA if I'm not mistaken. Take off two really bad outings by Crawford, and we'd have the best ERA in the league. It's obviously early, and our peripherals aren't as good as our ERA, but we have 6 guys with an ERA of 1.35 or less.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:09:47 GMT -5
Whitlock dazzles in first career start: 'He's amazing' Offense breaks through in 10th after being no-hit, but Sox get walked off 12:11 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a zany Saturday night at Tropicana Field for the Red Sox in which they didn't get a hit for nine innings but were somehow one strike away from winning until Trevor Story made a throwing error and Kevin Kiermaier smashed a walk-off, two-run blast that gave the Rays a 3-2 win in 10 innings.
Though the loss was painful in the moment, there was a big-picture development that should bode well for the Red Sox not just for this season, but for the next several.
Garrett Whitlock, a dominant force in Boston's bullpen since the opening of the 2021 season, finally got a chance to start. And he seized the opportunity with a lights-out performance.
In four shutout innings, Whitlock stifled the Rays, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out seven. He was machine-like, throwing just 48 pitches.
"I try and stay in a rhythm," Whitlock said. "Obviously as a pitcher you try and dictate that and everything. I'm just always trying to attack the zone, and that has kind of been my key."
Until Saturday, the Red Sox had used Whitlock in every conceivable role except for the one he was groomed for during his time as a Minor Leaguer with the Yankees.
"It was a lot of fun," said Whitlock. "I hadn't done it in an actual game since 2019, so it was kind of fun to get back doing that again." Will Venable on 3-2 loss vs. Rays
A matter of when and not if Whitlock would eventually start for the team that plucked him from those Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft, the power righty was pinpoint when he got his chance. Of the 23 swings Whitlock induced, he generated 11 whiffs.
Every time the Rays blinked, they were behind in the count. In fact, anyone who did blink might have missed the bottom of the third inning, in which Whitlock threw six pitches.
"He's amazing. Just attacking," said Story. "That's why he's him. He's a really good pitcher and I'm glad he's on our side."
Making the might even more fun for Whitlock was a cheering section that included his mother, father, brother and grandmother.
"It was really special for them to be here," said Whitlock.
While it certainly seems reasonable to project Whitlock as a starter for the long term, the Red Sox are still formulating their plan with him for this season.
Whitlock got this start because Tanner Houck will have to miss his next turn in the rotation due to not being vaccinated and the Red Sox playing in Toronto. It's unclear if he will go back to the 'pen or start again in five days.
The debate for the Red Sox is if they need Whitlock more in the rotation or the bullpen. In his first 51 MLB appearances, Whitlock has a 1.76 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .590 OPS.
"Any situation you put him in, he's who he is," said Red Sox acting manager Will Venable. "He's calm and collected. Was just the same today. Just in a different role. But same Garrett."
One thing Whitlock won't do is try to influence the team's decision.
"I always say they make those decisions. They get paid for those decisions. That's not my job to do," said Whitlock. "I'll go out there and throw until they come and take the ball away from me."
The game definitely moves at a quick pace when Whitlock has it going.
"He's got a special arm and a good demeanor on the mound and he's fun to play behind," said Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec.
Story: 'Just a bad throw' After Friday night's 4-3 win by the Red Sox, all the talk was about Story and his brilliant defense, including a great play that ended the game.
Story had a chance to close it out again on Saturday when he went down on one knee to field a grounder by Taylor Walls with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the 10th. This time, his throw sailed wide right on Dalbec, giving Kiermaier a chance to be the hero.
"We've asked not to hit it to Story anymore, but maybe it worked out. KK really picked us up," said Kevin Cash.
For Story, who has prided himself on playing stellar defense during his slow start at the plate, it was a tough error to swallow.
"Just a bad throw. I probably had a little more time than I thought. It's on me. That's all on me, for sure," said Story. "That throw's got to be made every single time in my book."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:12:36 GMT -5
Kevin Kiermaier blasts walkoff homer against Boston Red Sox’s Hansel Robles in wild 10th inning after Rays pitchers throw 9 no-hit innings Updated: Apr. 23, 2022, 9:53 p.m. | Published: Apr. 23, 2022, 9:19 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Kevin Kiermaier blasted a walkoff two-run homer against Hansel Robles to lead the Rays to a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox here at Tropicana Field on Saturday.
Bobby Dalbec broke up a combined no-hit bid with an opposite-field RBI triple to begin the 10th inning in one of the wildest games of the 2022 MLB season so far. Six Tampa Bay Rays pitchers no-hit the Red Sox through nine innings. J.P. Feyereisen, Javy Guerra, Jeffrey Springs, Jason Adam, Ryan Thompson and Andrew Kittredge combined for 9 scoreless and hitless innings. They allowed five walks and struck out five.
Dalbec’s triple (97.1 mph off the bat) scored the extra-inning ghost runner. Christian Vázquez added an RBI sac fly to make it 2-0.
The Rays were down to their final out when Taylor Walls reached on a throwing error by Trevor Story with two outs in the 10th. That scored the ghost runner to cut it to 2-1. Kiermaier’s blast made it 3-2.
Boston’s pitching was almost as dominant as Tampa Bay’s, allowing only three hits to the Rays.
There were only five hits in the game, which remained scoreless entering extra innings. Dalbec connected on an 0-2 slider from Matt Wisler and drove it 322 feet to right field.
Garrett Whitlock, Austin Davis, Kutter Crawford and Tyler Danish combined for nine shutout innings for the Red Sox.
Whitlock dominates
Garrett Whitlock The Starter was as dominant as Garrett Whitlock The Reliever.
Whitlock, who entered with a 1.84 ERA in 50 relief outings (83 innings), made his first career MLB start against the Rays here Saturday.
He retired the first nine hitters he faced. He tossed 4 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out seven.
Whitlock was not stretched out enough to go more than 4 innings. He threw 28 two-seam fastballs, topping out at 97.8 mph and averaging 95.7 mph, per Baseball Savant. It had him for 12 changeups and eight sliders.
He threw 69% strikes (48 pitches, 33 strikes).
Davis threw one scoreless inning. Kutter Crawford hurled three scoreless innings. Danish added a scoreless ninth inning before Robles took over in the 10th.
Sunday’s series finale
The Red Sox and Rays will play the final game of their three-game series Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
Red Sox lefty Rich Hill (0-1, 7.00 ERA) is expected to return from the bereavement list to start for Boston. He will pitch opposite Rays lefty Shane McClanahan (0-1, 2.40 ERA).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:13:36 GMT -5
Red Sox
Trevor Story after error in Boston Red Sox loss: ‘That throw’s gotta be made every single time in my book’ Updated: Apr. 23, 2022, 10:38 p.m. | Published: Apr. 23, 2022, 10:24 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Trevor Story was the hero Friday when he made a game-saving play on a hard-hit ball to his left for the final out.
The opposite happened here Saturday. His throwing error with two outs in the 10th inning extended the game. Kevin Kiermaier, the next hitter, blasted a two-run walkoff homer to right field off Hansel Robles.
The Rays won 3-2 over the Red Sox here at Tropicana Field.
Taylor Walls’ ground ball left his bat at 96.4 mph. Story ranged to his right and slid to field it. He popped back up and threw wild to first base, allowing the extra-inning ghost runner to score to cut it to 2-1.
“Just a bad throw,” Story said. “I probably had a little more time than I thought. But that’s just on me. That’s all on me, for sure.”
Story has made two throwing errors this series. He also made an off-line throw to Xander Bogaerts at second base earlier in Saturday’s game to prevent Bogaerts from turning a double play.
Story never played second base until this year. All 722 major league starts he had made in the field entering this season came at shortstop. Has the different arm angle been an adjustment for him?
“A little bit, yeah, but that throw’s gotta be made every single time in my book,” Story said.
Bench coach Will Venable, who is managing this weekend in place of Alex Cora (COVID), said, “It’s tough play. Unbelievable play just to stop the ball. A ball that he’s got to get rid of quickly. And it didn’t go our way.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:14:35 GMT -5
Garrett Whitlock’s first MLB start for Boston Red Sox is preview of how dominant he can be in rotation for years to come Updated: Apr. 23, 2022, 11:11 p.m. | Published: Apr. 23, 2022, 11:07 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Garrett Whitlock The Starter looked exactly the same as Garrett Whitlock The Reliever.
The Red Sox lost 3-2 in 10 innings to the Rays here at Tropicana Field on Saturday but Whitlock dominated in his first ever MLB start.
The righty, who entered with a 1.84 ERA in 50 career relief outings (83 innings), retired the first nine hitters he faced. He tossed 4 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out seven.
“You come to expect that from him,” said bench coach Will Venable who is managing this weekend in place of Alex Cora (COVID). “Any situation you put him in, he is who he is. He’s calm and collected. He was the same today, just in a different role. But same Garrett.”
This was a preview of how dominant Whitlock can be in the starting rotation for years to come.
The Red Sox view him longterm as a starting pitcher. His new four-year contract extension has escalators based on innings pitched. The contract can max out at $44.5 million.
He’ll likely make another start Thursday in Toronto. How could the Red Sox justify putting him back in the bullpen if he pitches so efficiently again in his next start? It would be difficult.
Whitlock struck out five of the first six batters he faced. He then had a six-pitch third inning.
He allowed a leadoff double in the fourth, then seven of his next nine pitches were strikes to strand the runner.
“I try and stay in a rhythm,” he said. “Obviously as a pitcher you try to dictate that. Just always trying to attack the zone.”
He threw 69% strikes (48 pitches, 33 strikes).
Whitlock was not stretched out enough to go more than 4 innings. He threw 28 two-seam fastballs, topping out at 97.8 mph and averaging 95.7 mph, per Baseball Savant. Statcast had him for 12 changeups and eight sliders.
“My changeup wasn’t there to begin with,” Whitlock said. “(Christian Vázquez) helped me out with that, getting that going. It was good to finally get that going once we got in the third inning.”
What did Vázquez tell him?
“He was telling me to just finish through with my hand,” Whitlock said. “Just made sure that I stayed aggressive and didn’t just kind of try and lay it in the zone.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:16:08 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 6h Sox didn't have a hit for nine innings, lost. Seems pretty simple. [ducks]
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:24:19 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7h Trevor Story lost his footing and snatched the throw across his body. Not the most nimble from Bobby Dalbec at the bag.
The Rays have a lifeline with two outs in the 10th.
Kevin Kiermaier makes the Red Sox pay. That's an absolutely brutal loss at The Trop.
Boston didn't have a hit until the 10th. Trevor Story and Bobby Dalbec contrived to give the Rays an extra out. Kevin Kiermaier walked it off with a two-run shot against Hansel Robles, who left a fastball out over.
Just a terrible loss.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:39:13 GMT -5
The Red Sox were no-hit for nine innings, then blew their chance at a improbable victory in extra innings By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 23, 2022, 9:23 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Trevor Story went to his backhand Saturday evening, ranging to his right on a Taylor Walls grounder. It was just the night before Story ranged to his left following a Wander Franco bases-loaded grounder that would have likely won the Rays the game. Instead, Story slid to his knees, corralled the baseball, and converted the out with a crisp throw to first base.
On Saturday, with the Sox clinging to a 2-0 lead in the 10th inning, Story faced a similar scenario. It all felt as if he was set up to be the one to get the final out on Walls’ grounder with another crisp throw to first to steal yet another win at Tropicana Field.
But this game had a shocking plot twist at the end. When Story released the ball from deep second base, it took an errant twist of its own, getting past the reach of first baseman Bobby Dalbec at first base for a throwing error. It allowed Randy Arozarena — the automatic runner for the inning — to score from third, after advancing from second on a Hansel Robles balk, to pull the Rays within one, 2-1, and cut the Sox’ lead to 2-1.just one.
All of a sudden, the Rays had life. And when Kevin Kiermaier walked to the plate to face Robles, negotiated a 3-1 count, and stung a 3-1 fastball to right field for a two-run walkoff homer, the Red Sox were left to cope with the sobering reality of the 3-2 setback.
“It just was a bad throw,” Story said. “I thought I had a little more time than I thought. But that’s on me. That’s all on me, for sure.”
That the Sox were one out from winning the game in extras made to eluding this specific type of failure has to make Saturday’s the loss all the more devastating.
Consider: the Sox were no-hit by a combined six Rays pitchers through the first nine innings. The Rays, though, had just two hits through nine and failed to score, leaving the game a scoreless stalemate headed into extra innings.
After going 0-for-3 in regulation, Dalbec led off the 10th with an RBI triple to right off Matt Wisler that scored automatic runner Jackie Bradley Jr. from second. It marked the 15th time a team had broken up a no-hitter in extra innings. Christian Vázquez was next up at the plate and hit a towering sacrifice fly to deep left that allowed Dalbec to tag up and score easily from third to expand the lead to 2-0.
“We don’t like anytime we lose,” acting manager Will Venable said. “But there was a lot of great stuff out there.”
Offensively, however, the Red Sox fell flat.
Not having J.D. Martinez in the lineup (left adductor tightness) made it even more difficult to find a rhythm. The Red Sox came into the game ranked 18th in the majors in OPS (.660). The Red Sox went 13 consecutive innings without recording a hit from the sixth6th inning of Friday night’s 4-3 victory through the ninth inning Saturday.
While Story has shown himself to be an elite, sure-handed defender, the degree of difficulty in the arm angle in moving from shortstop to second base has become evident. Story’s errant throw to first base was his second off-target throw in the last two games.
That throw has to be made every single time in my books,” Story said. “The [arm angle at second] is a little different but that’s no excuse though.”
It sullied the effort of righthander Garrett Whitlock, who had made light work of the Rays in his first major league start.
Whitlock, who has successfully navigated multiple roles for the Red Sox since he was acquired in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2021 season, continued that success with four scoreless inning of one-hit ball while recording seven strikeouts.
Whitlock threw just 48 pitches, 33 of which were strikes. He drew 11 swings and misses with 10 called strikes. Through two innings, Whitlock had five strikeouts, with a pop out and a ground out. Through three, Whitlock had six strikeouts, a pop out and two ground outs.
Whitlock yielded his first hit to Brandon Lowe in the fourth, who roped a double down the right field line to begin the frame. But that didn’t faze the righthander, who then retired the Nos. 2, 3, 4 hitters in Tampa’s lineup on 10 pitches, seven of which were strikes.
“That’s kind of what you come to expect from him,” Venable said of Whitlock. “He is who he is.”
What wasn’t expected, however, was how the Sox unraveled in the 10th inning.
“Tough one,” Dalbec said. “That’s how it goes sometimes.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 24, 2022 3:44:34 GMT -5
It’s uncertain how Garrett Whitlock fits best on the Red Sox, but it looks like eventually he’ll be a starter By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated April 23, 2022, 6:55 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This was one of the early days of spring training in 2021. The Red Sox had a group of pitchers working in the bullpen in the far end of the complex and Alex Cora pointed to one of them.
“That’s the Rule 5 pick,” he said. “Take a look. We may have something.”
The tall righthander showed a turbo sinker, a lively slider, and command of a changeup. Pretty good.
But Garrett Whitlock hadn’t pitched above Double A and was coming off Tommy John surgery. The Yankees had made him available in the Rule 5 Draft and they’re not a team that generally makes mistakes with their own prospects.
Red Sox bench coach Will Venable had a similar experience.
“I remember watching [Whitlock’s] first live BP and his first fastball. I said to somebody, ‘Man, I don’t want to get too excited but that looks special.’ It was right away for me for him.”
Whitlock not only made the team, he pitched 73 1/3 innings over 46 games with a 1.96 earned run average and 81 strikeouts. Five postseason games were equally impressive.
Saturday night was the next step. Whitlock made his first major league start against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field and fired four dominant innings. He allowed one hit without a walk and struck out seven.
With his parents, brother, and grandmother in attendance, Whitlock allowed one hit without a walk and struck out seven.
The Rays didn’t get on base until Brandon Lowe doubled leading off the fourth. Whitlock threw seven of the next 10 pitches for strikes to quickly end the inning on a popup, a strikeout, and a fly ball.
It was remarkable composure for a 25-year-old whose previous professional start was 33 months ago.
“I try and stay in a rhythm. As a pitcher, you try and dictate that,” Whitlock said. “Always try and attack the hitters.”
Of his 48 pitches, the Rays swung and missed at 21 of them. His sinker averaged 97.8 mph.
With Tanner Houk unavailable in Toronto because he refuses to get vaccinated, Whitlock will likely stay in the rotation to face the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Perhaps Houck should have done more research.
For now, it’s uncertain how Whitlock fits best. For this particular Sox team, it could be as a multi-inning relief ace if veteran starters Chris Sale and James Paxton successfully return from injuries.
But eventually, either this season or next, Whitlock will be a full-time starter. Any otherwise is a waste of his talent.
The four-year, $18.75 million extension Whitlock agreed to earlier this month has escalators that will increase his pay if he becomes a starter.
Whitlock said Saturday he’d let the Sox decide all that. But it doesn’t seem complicated.
“You probably want your best pitcher throwing as many innings as possible,” Venable said. “How it’s all going to play out, how it works for us, we’ll figure it out.”
Whitlock was long gone before the Sox lost the game, 3-2 in 10 innings.
Their first hit of the game was an RBI triple by Bobby Dalbec in the 10th inning to score ghost runner Jackie Bradley. The Rays came back with three in the bottom of the inning, the final two on Kevin Kiermaier’s home run after Trevor Story’s throwing error kept the game going.
Saturday was the first time Whitlock started a game since July 3, 2019. Pitching for the Double A Trenton Thunder at Portland, he allowed nine runs [three earned] on eight hits over five innings.
Whitlock had Tommy John surgery later that month. That’s what prompted the Yankees not to protect him.
Dalbec homered off Whitlock in the third inning of that game in 2019. On Saturday he played behind him at first base.
“He was good then, but when you face him now it feels like he’s going to flick you in the nose with the ball,” Dalbec said. “His extension is incredible and he commands everything.
“I’m glad we have him. Great guy, too.”
One of Chaim Bloom’s first moves as president of baseball operations was taking Jonathan Araúz in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. He stayed on the roster throughout the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and has since gone back-and-forth from Triple A Worcester as a utility player.
Araúz is useful. Whitlock is definitely more than that.
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