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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 3:11:43 GMT -5
Halos @ Red Sox
Tuesday, 3rd May 2022
7pm @ Fenway
Snydergaard 0-0/2.12
Wacha 0-0/1.77
Red Sox stumble home to face Angels
FLM
The slumping Boston Red Sox will look to get back on track against the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series that begins Tuesday.
The Red Sox are returning home after going 3-7 during a 10-game trip through Tampa Bay, Toronto and Baltimore. The Angels, coming off a four-game split against the host Chicago White Sox, have won seven of their past nine games.
Before an off day on Monday, Boston dropped two of three games over the weekend against the Orioles. In the series finale, Baltimore scored all of its runs in the fifth and sixth innings on the way to a 9-5 win.
"A tough one, but it is what it is. Nothing has changed in our mind," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "We still (have) a good team that has to work. Do we have to work a little harder now? Yeah, of course. We're still good. ... We've got to get going."
J.D. Martinez went 3-for-5 with a ninth-inning grand slam to extend his hit streak to five games. Rafael Devers has hit in eight straight.
The Red Sox lost four one-run games during the trip, three of them in 10 innings.
"One thing I would say is if we go through a stretch like this in June or July, it's something that's really common, but it gets so blown up at the start of the season," shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. "When everyone gets hot at the same time, it's going to be a beautiful thing to witness."
Looking to get Boston back on track is righty Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.77 ERA), who won each of his past two starts. He allowed one run on four hits in six innings in a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Wacha made his only career start against the Angels with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 21, 2019. He pitched six innings of one-run ball and earned a win.
The Angels close a seven-game trip with the series in Boston, starting Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 2.12 ERA) for the first time since April 23. His scheduled Friday outing against the White Sox was moved due to an illness.
Syndergaard is the first pitcher to work at least five innings and allow two or fewer runs in each of his first three starts as an Angel since Andrew Heaney in 2015. He is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two career starts (13 2/3 innings) against Boston.
The Angels' pitching plan beyond Tuesday is in question, however. Shohei Ohtani left the Sunday game due to right groin tightness, and Angels trainer Mike Frostad said the injury wasn't severe enough to require an MRI.
Despite minimal concern from manager Joe Maddon, Ohtani wasn't in Monday's lineup after telling reporters that he expected to be, but he did pinch-hit. Maddon still hopes to have the reigning American League MVP pitch before the end of the series.
"We're just going to wait a day or two to figure that out," Maddon said of Ohtani returning to the rotation.
Los Angeles was shut out twice during the four-game set in Chicago, capped by a truly ugly performance on offense Monday. The Angels managed just two hits and no walks while striking out 15 times in a 3-0 loss.
Mike Trout fanned three times against the same pitcher, Dylan Cease, for the first time since 2016 and struck out four times total in the game.
"We actually pitched really well (Monday)," Maddon said. "They just pitched better. Cease was outstanding, and that's as good as I've seen (Liam) Hendriks in a while. They were both virtually unhittable today. ...
"We pitched and played well. They beat us."
--Field Level Media
Angels
at
Red Sox
Tuesday, at 7:10 PM EST
Partly Cloudy
According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 50° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 7 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 7:10 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 3:17:38 GMT -5
Probables for remaining series
TBD(Ohtani 2-2/4.19) vs Whitlock 1-1/0.54.......Wednesday @ 7pm
TBD(Detmers 1-1/5.19) vs Hill 0-0/3.71......Thursday@ 1:30pm
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 3:24:37 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Roster trimmed to 26
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season.
LATEST NEWS
May 1: OF Jaylin Davis, RHP Phillips Valdez optioned
Davis and Valdez will be optioned to Triple-A Worcester to get the roster down to 26 by the May 2 deadline. Davis had two hits against Baltimore on Sunday, but Valdez allowed four runs during the Orioles' six-run rally after a rain delay in the sixth inning.
May 1: DH Christian Arroyo (left calf tightness) day to day
Arroyo felt left calf tightness in his final at-bat Saturday night against the Orioles. Manager Alex Cora gave Arroyo the day off Sunday. Arroyo hit a two-run shot Friday night, his only hit in the series. -- Byron Kerr
May 1: OF/DH J.D. Martinez returns from adductor injury
Martinez returned to the Red Sox lineup Sunday. He had been nursing an adductor strain. This is his first appearance since April 27. The slugger has slashed .278/.344/.825 in 54 at-bats this season. -- Byron Kerr
May 1: LHP Derek Holland opts out of Minor League contract
Holland opted out and will become a free agent. The left-hander almost made the team out of Spring Training after appearing in 39 games last season for the Tigers. He is 82-83 with a 4.62 ERA in 13 big league seasons. -- Byron Kerr
• All Red Sox transactions
INJURY UPDATES
COVID-19-related IL
INF Jonathan Araúz (tested positive for COVID-19)
Expected return: TBD
Araúz began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday. He had been on the injured list since April 19 after testing positive for COVID-19. He hit .245 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 68 games for the WooSox in 2021. -- Byron Kerr (Last updated: May 1)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 3:35:28 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch Tuesday at Fenway Park, but could still play
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 2, 2022, 6:59 p.m.
Shohei Ohtani won’t be the starting pitcher for the Angels at Fenway Park Tuesday evening.
The two-way sensation and reigning American League MVP departed LA’s game Sunday in the ninth inning with left groin tightness; he had been the designated hitter.
The team reportedly doesn’t view it as a long-term issue. Ohtani grounded out as a pinch hitter late in LA’s 3-0 loss to Chicago on Monday.
“[The concern] is not heavy right now,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said before the game. “I talked to him [Sunday night] and it sounds OK. Let’s just wait and see. I’m always an optimistic person.”
The Angels hope Ohtani can pitch either Wednesday or Thursday in Boston. Noah Syndergaard, who was scratched from his start Friday due to illness, will fill Ohtani’s spot in the rotation Tuesday.
Ohtani turned himself into one of the faces of baseball last season, reaching box office status and drawing praise with his ability to excel at the plate and on the mound.
“I pitched up until I got drafted. He’s able to manage two different skills, and he does them both at a very high level,” Sox infielder Bobby Dalbec said over the weekend, referencing his own experience at Arizona and in the Cape Cod League. “Obviously the talent is there. The work ethic to do both over a full season is pretty awesome.”
Trevor Story said what it takes for Ohtani to prepare for both pitching and offense shouldn’t go unnoticed.
“I think, to me, the mentality and the mental capacity it takes to do both and prepare for both and have your body ready for both is most impressive,” Story said. “The way he’s done it, obviously, not many people have ever done that. It’s impressive.”
Ohtani finished last year batting .257/.372/.592 with 46 homers, 100 RBIs, and a .965 OPS. On the mound, Ohtani made 23 starts, tallying a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130⅓ innings. This year, he has appeared in 23 of LA’s 24 games, hitting just .226 with four homers in 100 plate appearances and with a 4.19 ERA in four starts.
He has not pitched at Fenway Park, but the Red Sox have faced him twice, with Ohtani allowing two runs in seven innings of a 5-3 win last July 6 in Anaheim.
Garrett Whitlock is starting call over Tanner Houck
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said there isn’t much to read into when it comes to Garrett Whitlock getting the start Wednesday, replacing Tanner Houck in the rotation.
“It’s just the best way for things to play out given some of the shuffling that went on over the past week for us,” he said. “Just due to all different circumstances — obviously, some of the adjustments that we needed to make around the Toronto trip, Rich [Hill’s] situation with his dad. It’s just how we have it lined up right now.”
Hill had his start last Saturday against the Rays pushed back a day, with Whitlock getting the call. Houck pitched Sunday, held back as a possible closer but eventually just the last arm in a 5-2 loss.
Houck remains unvaccinated against COVID-19, meaning he can’t pitch in Toronto. When the team visited the Blue Jays last week, Whitlock took Houck’s turn in the rotation. Despite his importance to the bullpen, whose 3.67 ERA ranked 16th in the majors entering Monday, Whitlock helps stabilize the starting staff a bit more.
“What I don’t want to lose focus on is I think at the end of the day, what this comes down to is we have a guy in Garrett who, every single pitch he’s thrown this year has been important,” Bloom said. “That doesn’t mean we’ve won every single game that he’s pitched in, but every single pitch that he’s thrown has been meaningful and has been in games that mattered and situations that mattered. And he’s been able to contribute quite a lot.”
Michael Wacha and his stellar 1.77 ERA in four starts this year will oppose Syndergaard at Fenway on Tuesday. Opponents for Whitlock on Wednesday and Hill on Thursday are yet to be announced.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 11:20:58 GMT -5
Red Sox vs. Angels Series Preview
A look at this week’s three-game set at Fenway.
By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins May 3, 2022, 12:01pm EDT
The opponent in one sentence
The Angels have some of the best top-end talent in all of baseball, and early on this year their depth finally seems up to par as well as they try to get this core into the postseason.
Record
15-9
Trend
Downish. The Angels have gotten off to a very hot start, and they are only playing poorly if you are only looking at the last series. They are coming off a four-game set in Chicago against the White Sox, and they split it while dropping two of their last three. Before that series, however, they had won six in a row, so it’s probably not fair to say they’re really trending down in any significant way.
Pitching Matchups
5/3: Michael Wacha vs. Noah Syndergaard, 7:10 PM ET
With the Red Sox desperately in need of a series win against a quality opponent coming off a brutal weekend series loss to the Orioles, they have the pitcher who has been their best performer early in the year. Just this morning Phil wrote about how much we should really be reading into this start from the veteran righty, so I’ll simply point you in that direction rather than just repeating all of his points.
Just like seemingly every offseason, the Angels headed into last winter mainly looking to beef up a pitching staff that has let them down time and time again. The big addition for L.A. on that front was Noah Syndergaard, a major risk/reward proposition for a former up-and-comer whose career had been derailed by injury. The early returns are good, at least in terms of results as the righty has pitched to a 2.12 ERA with a 2.85 FIP. He’s limiting his walks as he always has, but his strikeouts are down, with his success instead coming on the back of a lack of damage on contact. In a small sample like Syndergaard’s 17 innings this season that kind of success can often be looked at as a mirage — similarly to Wacha! — though he’s done a legitimately excellent job at limiting hard contact. Without a drastic change he won’t finish with results this good, but even without the strikeouts he is showing he can succeed. Syndergaard will feature a pair of fastballs that sit in the mid-90s to go with a changeup and a slider.
5/4: Garrett Whitlock vs. TBD, 7:10 PM ET (MLB Network for out-of-market)
For now, Whitlock remains in the rotation, though his leash continues to be a short one as the team is still stretching him out. The righty has now made two starts, and after dominating in the first he was a little more shaky in the second. Granted, it was not a bad start, but Whitlock struggled with efficiency and only made it through three innings on 61 pitches. Hopefully he’ll start to get a longer leash than that, but he also needs to get back to attacking the zone more confidently, which he struggled to do in that start against the Blue Jays.
Beyond the first game, the Angels have not yet announced their pitching plans for this series. That largely comes down to the status of Shohei Ohtani, who is dealing with a groin injury. He was originally supposed to start in the opener on Tuesday, but now they’re hoping he may be able to start later in the series. His 4.19 ERA to start this season looks mediocre, but he’s got a 2.10 FIP, striking out a whopping 37.5 percent strikeout rate and an impressive 6.3 percent walk rate. As a fan of baseball I would like to see him pitch. As a fan of the Red Sox, I would like to see him take some time for rest. If he doesn’t go in this series, I’d expect this game to be a bullpen game for the Angels, perhaps led by veteran Jamie Barría.
5/5: Rich Hill vs. TBD, 1:10 PM ET (MLB Network for out-of-market)
The one win the Red Sox were able to get over the weekend against the Orioles was mostly thanks to the performance from Hill, who held Baltimore’s offense hitless through four innings. I wouldn’t expect that kind of performance from him against this Angels lineup but it is a nice reminder that he can still handle major-league lineups when he’s on. It’s just that he hasn’t always been on this season. The veteran has a solid 3.71 ERA this year, but his strikeout rate is as low as it’s ever been. For Hill, it’s going to be all about the curveball. His fastball, when paired with the slow breaking ball, can play up and get batters even sitting under 90 mph. But without it, the fastball is basically just BP.
Again, we are TBD here, presumably opening up the possibility of Ohtani making the start in this game instead of Wednesday. If he doesn’t make the start, things would line up for Reid Detmers to get the ball. The southpaw, who made his major-league debut last season, was one of the better pitching prospects in the game coming into the season, though his 2022 has started off a bit rocky. A 2020 first rounder, Detmers has a sick curveball and racked up strikeouts in the minors, but homers have proven to be an issue as a pro, as has hard contact just in general. The Red Sox can’t consistently fall behind in counts in this game or it’s going to be a long night. But if they are disciplined, watching bad pitches go by and jumping on mistakes, they can have a good afternoon. Detmers throws a low-to-mid-90s fastball along with that aforementioned curveball, a slider, and the occasional changeup.
Notable Position Players
Mike Trout has missed some time with injury the last couple of years, but he’s healthy again this season and is reminding people that he remains quite good at baseball. The superstar has a 240 wRC+ (reminder: 100 is average) to start the year, doing just about everything well. Ya know, just what you’d expect from Literally Mike Trout.
Shohei Ohtani is now the biggest star on the Angels, and as I’m sure anyone reading this knows both pitches and hits. That groin injury did keep him out of the lineup in Chicago on Monday, so we’ll see what his status is for this series. At the plate, he’s gotten off to a bit of a slow start just hitting at a league-average rate as he waits for his power to show up like it did a year ago.
Anthony Rendon is something of a forgotten star in this lineup, especially after an injury-riddled, underwhelming 2021. His plate discipline this year, though, has been phenomenal, and has kept his head safely above water early on as he waits for the power to come through.
Taylor Ward has been the talk of this lineup of late and is perhaps the hottest hitter in baseball. A former first round pick, he’s finally showing some of that potential with an early 261 wRC+.
Brandon Marsh is another former well-regarded prospect, and he’s off to a nice start this season as well. He will strike out plenty, but when he puts the ball in play good things (for the Angels, anyway) often follow.
Jared Walsh was probably the Angels’ second best player last season, but he’s off to a slow start in 2022.
Max Stassi probably doesn’t get enough credit for his all-around skillset, pairing very good defense behind the plate with a bat that has been above-average — overall, not just for catchers — for the last couple of years.
Tyler Wade is not going to hit for a whole lot of power, but he’ll put the ball in play and that has worked out relatively well for him this year.
David Fletcher is an old school kind of player who almost never strikes out, but the lack of power has caught up with him in recent years.
Bullpen Snapshot
Raisel Iglesias anchors this Angels bullpen and has been his typical great self this season. If things get to the ninth inning with L.A. holding a lead, it’s going to be tough for the Red Sox. As a reminder, he was available for almost literally free — the player for whom he was traded was DFA’d not long after and picked back up by the Angels — a couple of years ago and the Red Sox passed. I’m still mad about it.
Ryan Tepera was the big bullpen addition by the Angels this winter, and while his ERA looks good early on this season the peripherals have all gone in the wrong direction. Given his track record the last couple of years, though, I wouldn’t assume his ERA will tank.
Aaron Loup has been a quietly consistent reliever for years now, with an ERA of 1.36 since the start of the 2020 season and a 2.81 FIP.
Injuries
Griffin Canning was placed on the 60-day IL at the start of the season, but it looks like he could be back right around when he’s eligible next month.
Archie Bradley just went down with an abdomen injury over the weekend and is expected to miss about a month.
Matt Duffy is currently on the COVID list.
Weather Forecast
It’s not going to be great baseball weather for the opener, with overcast and temperatures in the 40s, but Wednesday is the day we really need to worry about. There is rain in the forecast all day, and while it looks like it might taper off by the evening, we’re still looking at a roughly 50 percent chance of rain while the game should be taking place. The good news is Thursday should be good, with temperatures in the 60s and the sun shining.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 11:37:02 GMT -5
Game 24: Angels at Red Sox lineups and previewsBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 3, 2022, 2 hours ago The Red Sox are hoping a day off and a return to Fenway can help turn things around. After a 3-7 road trip through Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Baltimore, the Sox had Monday off and begin a six-game homestand Tuesday night. Up first are the Los Angeles Angels for three games, followed by a weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. Shohei Ohtani won’t be the Angels’ starting pitcher Tuesday. The two-way sensation and reigning American League MVP departed LA’s game Sunday in the ninth inning with left groin tightness, but could still be in the lineup as the designated hitter and may pitch Wednesday or Thursday. The Angels have won seven of their last nine games and are in first place in the American League West. Here is a preview: Lineups
ANGELS (15-9): 1. Taylor Ward (R) RF 2. Mike Trout (R) CF 3. Shohei Ohtani (L) DH 4. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B 5. Jared Walsh (L) 1B 6. Jack Mayfield (R) LF 7. Max Stassi (R) C 8. David Fletcher (R) 2B 9. Andrew Velazquez (S) SS Pitching: RHP Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 2.12 ERA)
RED SOX (9-14): 1. Trevor Story (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 7. Franchy Cordero (L) 1B 8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C 9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) RF Pitching: RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.77 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Angels vs. Wacha: David Fletcher 0-2, Anthony Rendon 3-10, Kurt Suzuki 0-4, Mike Trout 2-3, Andrew Velazquez 0-0, Tyler Wade 0-1 Red Sox vs. Syndergaard: Xander Bogaerts 2-6, Jackie Bradley Jr. 1-3, Rafael Devers 0-3, J.D. Martinez 3-5, Kevin Plawecki 0-2, Trevor Story 1-8, Alex Verdugo 1-3 Stat of the day: The Red Sox lost four one-run games during their recent road trip, three of them in 10 innings. Notes: Rafael Devers has a hit in eight straight games. … Wacha won each of his past two starts. He allowed one run on four hits in six innings in a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. He made his only career start against the Angels with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 21, 2019. He pitched six innings of one-run ball and earned a win. … The Angels close a seven-game trip with the series in Boston, having split a four-game series with the White Sox in Chicago … Syndergaard is the first pitcher to work at least five innings and allow two or fewer runs in each of his first three starts as an Angel since Andrew Heaney in 2015. He is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two career starts (13 2/3 innings) against the Red Sox.
Song of the Day: FOGHAT - Drivin' Wheel www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApQhoNW6PXk
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 14:08:33 GMT -5
Cordero at 1B again
holy shit
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 16:45:55 GMT -5
no need to fret
folks around here think Gas Can Gang by stats are ok.
Boston Red Sox injuries: Josh Taylor (back) suffers setback, likely won’t be activated for a while
Published: May. 03, 2022, 4:34 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Red Sox reliever Josh Taylor had a setback while rehabbing his injury with Triple-A Worcester and has been temporarily shut down from throwing, manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. Taylor is no longer on his rehab assignment and is with the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Taylor, who has not pitched yet this season due to a mid back strain, had his back lock up on him recently, Cora said.
“He had a setback a few days ago,” Cora said. “Feels better today, but of course, we had to take him off his rehab assignment. We’re going through testing and all that stuff. We’ll know more during the week.”
Though the Red Sox were off Monday, Taylor went to Fenway Park to get treatment. He did the same thing Tuesday. The Red Sox are hopeful the setback won’t delay his progress for too long.
Let’s see how it goes in the upcoming days and how it goes with testing and all that stuff and we’ll decide what we do with him.
Taylor first started dealing with back issues at the end of last season and entered spring training hurt as well. His rehab has been a bumpy one in recent weeks, as he was shut down for a few days after being a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. In total, the lefty has made just three rehab appearances since April 17, with his last coming April 27 with the WooSox. Considering Cora previously said Taylor would likely require 5-6 rehab outings before being activated, it seems like it will be a while before he’s back in the majors.
Sale continues progression
Left-hander Chris Sale (stress fracture in right rib cage) continues to throw short bullpens in Fort Myers, according to Cora. Sale first got off the mound for a seven-pitch session at Fenway South a week ago. It’s unclear when the Red Sox plan to have him face live hitters for the first time since the injury.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 16:51:54 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
54m
Joe Maddon: Ohtani now lined up for Thursday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 3, 2022 16:52:54 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
·
1h
Alex Cora said Josh Taylor “had a setback,” with his back locking up. He’s been pulled off his rehab assignment. Cora says no concern about surgery yet.
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Post by Kimmi on May 3, 2022 17:17:14 GMT -5
Maybe this homestand will be better.
That's all I have to say right now.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 3, 2022 19:06:30 GMT -5
Maybe this homestand will be better.
That's all I have to say right now. 39 runs in our last 14 games. I assume this is a slump and we will recover, but it is extremely frustrating to simply never have a game with a 3- or 4-run lead. Even in the two games where we scored 5 & 7 runs, we scored them real late. |
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 3, 2022 21:11:32 GMT -5
Finally got a win. But even with this, it is only with 4 runs. 2 HRs, finally, but still only one walk. We're currently ahead of only the WS in walks.
Just for fun, I peeked at last year's numbers. From April thru July, we had 84 or fewer walks each month, and an OPS of .773 or less all four months. In August & September, we had 104 & 102 walks, and an OPS of .809 & .814. It made a huge difference.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 2:59:12 GMT -5
Red Sox 4, Angels 0: Michael Wacha strikes again
The Red Sox pitching leads the way in a shutout win.
By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins May 3, 2022, 9:37pm EDT 21 Comments
The Red Sox need a rebound this week in the worst way. They hit what we hope was rock bottom over the weekend, dropping two of three in Baltimore against the Orioles including a particularly ugly loss on Sunday. One game is not going to reverse fortunes for this team right now, but we’ll take a win anytime we can get it. Boston got another great performance from Michael Wacha, who led the way in a shutout effort for the Red Sox staff. Offensively, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez each hit solo homers to help lead the way in a much-needed 4-0 win.
More robust game notes below.
Put this under the category of nobody saw this coming heading into the season, but with the Red Sox in need of a rebound series this week, they had the man they wanted on the mound in Michael Wacha. By the results, he has been their best starter this season, though as Phil wrote this morning there is a real case for this performance being largely smoke and mirrors.
Well, if it is indeed smoke and mirrors, it did not dissipate for Tuesday’s game against the Angels as he once again was able to cruise, this time against a lineup that featured the likes of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Red Sox pitchers have been coming out of the gates hot over their last week or so, and this night was no difference with Wacha retiring the first eight batters he faced. It looked like he’d turn the lineup over in order the first time through, but former Yankee Andrew Velazquez kept that inning alive with a walk. That would actually be the first of two straight walks, but Wacha worked around the two batters to reach base, striking out Trout on a nasty changeup.
Of course, we all know that the story with this team right now is not the pitching, but rather the nonexistent lineup they’ve trotted out for most of April. They did get some momentum going at the end of a blowout loss in Baltimore on Sunday, so the hope was that they’d carry that over against Noah Syndergaard at Fenway here for this series opener. It didn’t quite work that way early on. The Red Sox did get a couple of hits through the first three innings on an Alex Verdugo single and a Jackie Bradley Jr. double, but they came in separate innings and the game was still scoreless after three.
But after Wacha worked around a leadoff single in the fourth, in part thanks to a double play, the offense got going a bit for the Red Sox. It started with Rafael Devers, who provided a reminder as to what exactly he can do for this group. Syndergaard made the mistake of throwing a fastball right down the pipe, and Devers obliterated one 437 feet to straightaway center, breaking the tie in emphatic fashion with a solo shot. They’d keep the momentum alive as the inning went on as well, with Xander Bogaerts drawing a walk and J.D. Martinez poking a single out to right field. They weren’t able to use that to build a big lead, but two ground outs were enough to bring home Bogaerts and give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.
Wacha would have 1 2⁄3 innings left after that, facing only three batters in the fifth thanks to a second double play, and then getting two outs to start the sixth. Alex Cora gave his starter a chance to get through the inning if he could get Trout to finish things off, but the former MVP reached on an infield single over to third base, and moved on up to second when Devers’ throw got past Franchy Cordero. With the runner in scoring position, Ohtani was coming up, and Cora wasn’t taking any chances against the lefty.
At just 60 pitches, Wacha was pulled with Jake Diekman coming in to finish off the reigning MVP. Diekman got the job done, getting Ohtani to line out before coming back out for the seventh and facing only three batters to keep the Angels off the board once again, with the defense turning their third double play of the game.
Thanks to singles from Franchy Cordero and Kevin Plawecki, and then a sacrifice fly from Trevor Story, the lead extended to three, and Ryan Brasier got the call for the eighth. The righty continued the strong night of pitching for the Red Sox, retiring the side in order.
Martine would add one more for the Red Sox in the bottom half of the eighth on a solo homer, leaving it up to Hirokazu Sawamura to close out the game. He retired the Angels in order in the ninth, closing out a 4-0 win for the good guys.
The Red Sox now look to clinch a series win on Wednesday. The Angels will roll with lefty Reid Detmers, while the Red Sox turn to Garrett Whitlock. First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:09:56 GMT -5
Efficient Wacha shuts down Angels: 'He's been great'
12:36 AM ADT
Ian Browne
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- The velocity and the whiff rate were hardly jumping off the page for rejuvenated Red Sox right-hander Michael Wacha on Tuesday night, nor did they need to.
Using the same recipe as in his first four starts of the season, Wacha (3-0, 1.38 ERA) never gave the opposition a chance to get in any type of groove.
While leading his new team to a 4-0 victory over the Angels, Wacha was at his best and most efficient.
How efficient, you ask?
Wacha threw just 60 pitches in 5 2/3 innings on a night he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two.
The stat line wasn’t all that common because pitchers generally keep going when they are pitching that well. Since the pitch count era started in 1988, Wacha became the first Red Sox pitcher and the 15th in MLB to throw 5 2/3 scoreless innings or more on 60 pitches or less.
“It doesn’t usually go that way for the most part, but they were definitely coming out swinging early, and I was making pitches to the corners,” said Wacha, who is third among American League starters in ERA. “Whatever was over the plate, I was able to get either a take or a popup or something. So things were definitely going my way.”
With the ultra-dangerous Shoehei Ohtani coming up as the potential tying run with two outs in the sixth, Red Sox manager Alex Cora went to lefty Jake Diekman without even flinching.
“I didn’t even know what my pitch count was at the time,” said Wacha. “I try not to get ahead and look too far in advance, like, 'This could be eight innings, or this could be a CG-type game.' But it’s always the next inning, 'Who do we have coming up? Let’s get through this inning and get back in the dugout as fast as we can.'”
The move worked. And as everyone knows by now, Cora is never one to go by convention. He pulled Rich Hill in a similar situation last weekend in Baltimore and the Red Sox won that game also.
“Jake did an outstanding job coming in right away and getting people out. Yeah, it’s one of those that you look up [and think it’s early for a move], but at the end of the day, like I said, when Rich pitched in Baltimore, it’s about getting 27 outs and winning the game,” Cora said. “They understand that. There are certain days that he has to get that out, but today, we felt we had Jake in that spot and from there, we just tried to get through the rest of the game.”
There was no stomping fit from Wacha, a professional veteran who gets it at this stage of his career.
“Really, I trust Cora with everything,” said Wacha. “Our bullpen came in and was lights out. It was really fun to watch them lock it down like they did.”
For those fans in the Fenway stands braving the chilly elements, it had to be fun to watch Wacha mow through the game in what seemed like fast motion.
The Angels helped with an aggressive game plan in which they continually put the ball in the hands of Boston’s defense.
"I tip my cap to Wacha over there,” said Angels righty Noah Syndergaard, who went seven strong innings in a losing effort. “He was super efficient, he was really dialed in and kept our offense at bay."
That Angels’ offense isn’t easy to hold down. Backed by a resurgent Mike Trout, they are second in the AL with 110 runs. The Red Sox, with only 85 runs so far, are envious.
But Wacha helped Tuesday in Boston’s favor, which was particularly big coming off of a 3-7 road trip.
“Really good again,” said Cora. “They came out swinging. He was pounding the strike zone with good stuff and got some quick outs. We played some decent defense behind him, turned some double plays. For a defender, he’s a dream come true. His pace, throwing strikes, you have to be ready because the ball will get hit. So far we’ve done an outstanding job defensively behind him. He’s been great.”
After signing a modest one-year, $7 million deal just after Thanksgiving, Wacha has given the Red Sox everything they could have hoped so far.
Boston is 4-1 when Wacha takes the ball and 6-13 when he doesn’t. While nobody expects him to be the frontline pitcher he once was in St. Louis, Wacha is more than earning his keep so far, and the Sox might have landed one of the bargains of the offseason.
By the way, Wacha is not as old as you might think.
“He’s only [30],” said Cora. “He prepares, he understands information and he wants to keep getting better.”
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