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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:26:22 GMT -5
So pivetta pitches well all bats are dead up 1-0 in the 9th and seeing Bloom has no closer the Gas Can Gang members responsible for the shit show collapse are once again, Robles and Matt Barnes Sox blow another one lose 3-1
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:29:10 GMT -5
Red Sox 1, White Sox 3: Laugh so you don’t cry
This team might just stink. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins May 7, 2022, 7:57pm EDT 16 Comments
This team is just brutal to watch. They got another phenomenal start on Saturday, this time from Nick Pivetta, who was in desperate need for a day like this. He tossed six shutout innings, and the bullpen tossed a couple scoreless frames behind him. Unfortunately, the offense is still in hibernation and scored just one run, leaving the door open for Chicago. Sure enough, Hansel Robles blew the save in the ninth, then Bobby Dalbec and Trevor Story combined to blow a prime chance to walk it off in the bottom half. As everyone in the world expected after that, Matt Barnes gave up multiple runs in the 10th, and that was that. This team can’t get out of its own way.
More robust game notes below.
At the start of the NESN broadcast on Saturday, Dennis Eckersley mentioned that it was a pitchers kind of day at Fenway, noting the strong wind blowing directly in from the outfield. That wind would certainly prove to hold up and knock down balls throughout this game, and indeed to lend itself to the pitching. That’s not to take away from the work done by Nick Pivetta and Dylan Cease, though, each of whom had good stuff in this one and kept their opponents off-balance.
For Pivetta, it was a welcomed sight considering how rough the start of his 2022 season has been to this point. He looked like he was taking a step in the right direction his last time out, not issuing a walk for the first time this year. This time he still had that same control, and he was able to pair it with the crispest stuff I can remember seeing from him to start this year. His slider in particular was nails, and he kept the White Sox off the board through the first five innings.
He did get into a couple bits of trouble throughout the game, to be fair, though it wasn’t always his fault. In the first, Tim Anderson got into scoring position on a single and a steal, the latter being well-timed on a slow curveball. He was stranded. In the third, the wind came into play when Leury García hit what looked like a routine fly ball to left field, but instead died right after the infield. Alex Verdugo had to change course and sprint in, and came up short on a diving attempt. Chicago got two runners on in the inning, but they were again stranded.
But things weren’t going much better on the other side, with Cease being one of the hottest pitchers in the game and very much looking the part in this game. The mustachioed righty did let runners get on the corners in the first inning thanks to a pair of singles, but Verdugo couldn’t get that final hit they needed and left the runners standing there. That was the team’s best chance early on, with frustration really mounting in the third after Trevor Story struck out looking for the second time. He went down on borderline calls, but the zone was big all day and frankly he needs to swing, especially in the second at bat. Alex Cora disagreed, and was ultimately tossed for arguing balls and strikes.
Boston would get their next chance in the bottom half of the fifth after Franchy Cordero blooped a one-out single and Story drew a walk, putting two on with one down for the heart of the order. Rafael Devers was able to come through, smacking a double off the Monster to bring Cordero home and leave two in scoring position for Xander Bogaerts, still with one out. Bogaerts put the ball into play, but it was a grounder with the infield in, and Boston hd the contact play on, meaning Story broke for the plate on contact. It’s a play that I personally despise, and he was gunned down for the second out. J.D. Martinez struck out in the next at bat, and the Red Sox settled for just the 1-0 lead.
Pivetta then came back out for the sixth, finally pitching with a lead, but immediately gave up a single. A few weeks ago, it seems like that snowballs, but on Saturday he was able to bear down, ending the inning on a huge strikeout to end a nine-pitch at bat, keeping the Red Sox up by a run.
That would be the end of the day for Pivetta, getting through six strong, shutout innings, and Ryan Brasier got the first call out of the bullpen to protect the 1-0 lead. After striking out the first two batters, there was some potential for trouble when Leury García hit a single and then stole second with the ball getting into center field. Fortunately, García slipped around the base and had to stay at second, and Brasier ultimately got out of the inning with a ground ball to keep the lead in hand.
After a second straight 1-2-3 inning, it was still a one-run game and the Red Sox turned to John Schreiber to protect the lead with the meat of Chicago’s order coming up. It looked good early with two quick outs, but then he just had some bad luck. First, Luis Robert reached on a weak grounder to Devers at third base, and then José Abreu reached when Trevor Story failed to make a play going to his left in the shift, being charged with an error. That was the end of the day for Schreiber, with Matt Strahm coming in to try and finish off the inning. He got the job done, inducing a ground ball to strand the runners.
The offense again failed to provide insurance, leaving a one-run lead to be protected by Hansel Robles. It did not go well. The righty walked the first batter he faced, even with something of a gift call mixed in, before giving up a double to put a pair in scoring position, still with nobody out. García followed that up with a line drive out to right field for a sacrifice fly, and we were all tied up. Fortunately, he limited them to just the one run, but now the offense had to score again to pick up the win.
They got their chance in the ninth, with Jackie Bradley Jr. starting a rally with a one-out single, which was followed by a double from Christian Vázquez, putting a pair in scoring position for Bobby Dalbec. He couldn’t get it done, striking out look to leave it all up to Story. Instead, he swung at the first pitch he saw and popped it up, wasting a prime chance to win and sending the game to extras.
Matt Barnes came in for the 10th, coming off what Chaim Bloom called his best outing since the first half of last season. He didn’t pick up where he left off. Instead, he immediately gave up two straight doubles and the White Sox had a 3-1 lead after the top half of the 10th. You’ll be shocked to learn the Red Sox then went down in order in the bottom half, and that was that. Another excruciating loss for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox are now staring a fifth straight loss and a sweep directly in the eyes if they can’t recover on Sunday. They’ll have their hottest pitcher in Michael Wacha on the mound, and the White Sox counter with an ice-cold Dallas Keuchel. First pitch is set for 11:30 AM ET.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:38:16 GMT -5
Alex Cora ejected: Boston Red Sox manager thrown out by home plate umpire for arguing balls and strikes Updated: May. 07, 2022, 6:31 p.m. | Published: May. 07, 2022, 5:31 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres during the bottom of the third inning Saturday after arguing balls and strikes.
Cora was animated as he clapped his hands together and yelled at Torres following a called third strike on Trevor Story for the inning’s first out. The pitch in question was borderline. It clipped the top of the strike zone.
Cora became the first member of the Red Sox to be ejected in 2022.
Frustration certainly is boiling over for the Red Sox (10-17) who entered Saturday in last place in the AL East, nine games behind the Yankees.
Boston hasn’t scored in its first three innings Saturday. The Red Sox entered ranked 14th out of 15 AL teams in on-base percentage (.280), 10th in slugging percentage (.346), 12th in OPS (.626), 11th in runs (92) and 13th in home runs (16).
Cora also questioned a Story check swing third strike in Friday’s game.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:40:11 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox blow save opportunity for ninth time, lose in 10 innings to drop to 10-18 Published: May. 07, 2022, 7:54 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Red Sox blew a save opportunity for the ninth time this season when Hansel Robles gave up a run on a leadoff walk, double and sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning.
Last-place Boston lost 3-1 to the White Sox in 10 innings here at Fenway Park to drop to 10-18.
The Red Sox bullpen has converted just 5 of 14 save opportunities this season. It has blown five saves from the ninth inning on.
Matt Barnes pitched the 10th inning, allowing the ghost runner and another run to score. He allowed an RBI double to José Abreu and an RBI single to Luis Robert.
Red Sox squander ninth-inning scoring chance
Jackie Bradley Jr. singled the opposite way to left field with one out. Christian Vázquez followed with a double.
But Bobby Dalbec struck out looking and Trevor Story popped out to second base to keep it a 1-1 game.
Pivetta K’s 8
Nick Pivetta posted a 7.84 ERA in his first five starts this season.
But he looked like a different pitcher Saturday against the White Sox. The righty tossed 6 shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out eight.
Pivetta didn’t have his best velocity. But he still threw 53 four-seam fastballs, topping out at 94.3 and averaging 91.8 mph, per Baseball Savant. He mixed in 21 sliders, 15 knuckle-curveballs and six changeups.
Devers puts Boston ahead 1-0 on his hat day
Boston took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning against White Sox starter Dylan Cease.
Franchy Cordero singled with one out. Trevor Story walked. Rafael Devers then doubled home Cordero to make it 1-0.
It was a great day for Devers to provide the offense. The Red Sox handed out Rafael Devers hats with his ‘Carita.’
Cora ejected
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres during the bottom of the third inning after arguing balls and strikes.
Cora was animated as he clapped his hands together and yelled at Torres following a called third strike on Trevor Story for the inning’s first out. The pitch in question was borderline. It clipped the top of the strike zone.
Cora became the first member of the Red Sox to be ejected in 2022.
Sunday’s game
The Red Sox and White Sox will wrap up their series with an 11:35 p.m. game Sunday. Boston righty Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.38 ERA) will start opposite Chicago lefty Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 8.40)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:41:42 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 1h I have not sat down and dug into the numbers on this, but I feel like a consistent thing that good baseball teams have is a closer. One of them. Who closes their games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:44:21 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 1h "I missed the massive Kentucky Derby upset so I could watch the Red Sox blow another save" wouldn't look great on a T-shirt, but I'd leaf through some design examples at least.
Before the game, Chaim Bloom said Barnes' ninth inning on Friday was the best he'd seen him pitch since the first half of last year.
So much for that. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:44:58 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 24m The #RedSox playing at 11:35 a.m. tomorrow exclusively on a streaming service that's a different one than the streaming service they exclusively lost on Friday night?
Further proof the greatest comedy comes from real life.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:48:47 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 53m Red Sox lose another game, lose another series. Blow another save. Tough, tough times, for a team that is off to a 10-18 start.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:49:57 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 1h Exit velos off Barnes vs. first three hitters: 107.7 mph 105.1 mph 105.3 mph
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:51:22 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 1h - Barnes average fastball velo 2021 vs. 2022 -- 95.9 mph to 94.1 mph - Barnes K/9 2021 vs. 2022 -- 13.83 to 6.75
The drop in raw stuff is just staggering.
Red Sox are 10-18.
Boston is 0-6 in extra-inning games. They've lost six consecutive series. They've blown nine saves and converted just five.
This is poor.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:53:26 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 1h I don’t even know what to say about this team other than they don’t have enough and never did. Not enough options to turn too. Dalbec hits for himself. Barnes in extra’s. And they just can’t hit. Amazing
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 7, 2022 19:55:00 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h The Red Sox need to operate as if Matt Barnes is not on the team. They have 13 other pitchers. Use everyone else. There’s no excuse to put him in there in any meaningful situation.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2022 3:33:59 GMT -5
Groundhog Day: How do the Red Sox flip the script? 12:04 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
0:29
1:04
BOSTON -- For the Red Sox, perhaps the worst part of Saturday’s 3-1, 10-inning loss to the White Sox was how annoyingly familiar it all felt.
The starting pitcher (this time Nick Pivetta) turned in a performance (six shutout innings, eight strikeouts) that put his team in position to win.
But the offense (1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 10 runners left on base) again left the bullpen with only the slimmest margin for error.
And that bullpen once again couldn’t make that slim margin stand up.
The Red Sox have lost four in a row, 14 out of 20 and are 10-18 on the season and already 9 1/2 games back in a loaded American League East.
“That’s real. We’ve dug ourselves a hole,” said chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. “There’s no question we haven’t played well. Panic isn’t going to help. We have to play better. We put ourselves in this situation, but if we’re going to get out of it, we’re going to get out of it by doing those things that we know we can do well.”
Other than starting pitching, not much has gone well. Boston is 0-7 in extra innings. The bullpen is 5-for-14 in save opportunities. The Red Sox have five blown saves from the ninth inning on.
Then there is the offense. In the last three games, they’ve scored three times. Through 28 games, Boston’s OPS is 26th in the Majors. They are 28th in homers.
The recipe for most of the losses has been so consistent that “Groundhog Day” feels like the best way to sum it all up.
“We feel like we have the team,” said Trevor Story, who is off to a tough start with his new club. “We’re just not performing right now. Obviously each guy, we’ve just got to kind of look in the mirror and figure it out, starting with me.”
The lack of a set closer makes for an unsettled feeling in times like this, and manager Alex Cora would love for someone to step up and take that role.
Hansel Robles got the ninth inning on Saturday and he started by walking Jake Burger, the No. 7 hitter in Chicago’s lineup. By the time the righty got his first out of the inning, it was a sacrifice fly that allowed the White Sox to tie the game.
Leadoff walks in the ninth inning with a one-run lead hardly ever seem to end well.
“You just said it. You can’t do that,” said Cora. “We need to be more aggressive. I think we were behind 3-1, good pitch and then the walk. Walks are going to do that, right? Especially a leadoff walk late in the game. [Robles’] stuff is that good, but we need to be more aggressive in the zone.”
If the relievers aren’t being aggressive enough, the opposite seems to be happening for the hitters, who are chasing at inopportune times.
“We have to get better offensively, that’s the bottom line,” said Cora.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Sox had a chance to end their recent frustration, at least for a day. Instead, the frustration mounted.
With runners on second and third and only one out, Bobby Dalbec quickly fell behind in the count 0-2 and then struck out looking on a 1-2 pitch.
“Big spot. Doesn’t frustrate anyone more than it frustrates me,” Dalbec said.
Up next was Story, and a walk-off hit could have done a lot to boost his morale. Instead, the right-handed hitter (.202/.287/.281, no homers) popped up the pitch.
“That’s the situation you hope you’re up in and obviously wanted a better result. Just didn’t come through right there,” said Story.
How stunning has the slow start been for Bloom, the architect of the roster?
“In this game enough, you can’t ever be too shocked by anything that goes on. This is a very humbling business,” said Bloom. “If you ever think you have it figured out, the game will immediately prove you wrong. I’m surprised, but again, especially in a month of baseball, you can see a lot of different things.
“And when you aren’t going well, it looks like it will never end. And then you can flip a switch and go on a hot streak where you feel like you’re never going to lose again. The reality is, it’s always somewhere in between.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2022 3:49:35 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h The Red Sox dropped their sixth straight series. They are 0-6 in extra-inning games. They have scored fewer than four runs in six of their last nine games. They have blown nine saves, the most in the majors.
“Only God knows what’s going on.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2022 4:08:20 GMT -5
White Sox vs Red Sox Sunday, May 8th, 2022 11:35 am @ Fenway
Keuchel 1-3/ 8.40
Wacha 0-0/1.38
White Sox shoot for series sweep vs. BoSox FLM
Before Saturday's game, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom offered his outlook on the team's disappointing start to 2022.
"Obviously, we've had some tough losses late, you know, more than more than our share," Bloom said. "But they happened. We don't have a time machine. We can't go back and change them."
Ten innings later against the Chicago White Sox, another tough loss. Boston lost a 1-0 lead in the ninth and fell 3-1, its sixth loss in as many extra-inning games.
The next challenge is avoiding a three-game series sweep at home in a Sunday morning affair.
"We had a chance to finish the game in the ninth," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, whose team had two runners in scoring position with one out after Jackie Bradley Jr. singled and Christian Vazquez doubled but couldn't score. "... Where we're at right now, any chance we have, we have to take advantage."
Starting pitching hasn't been an issue, as Nick Pivetta pitched six shutout innings and struck out eight.
Now, Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.38 ERA) will look to continue Boston's recent trend of starting pitchers allowing two or fewer runs in 13 of the last 15 games.
Wacha dealt 5 2/3 shutout innings Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. Just one baserunner reached scoring position against Wacha, who retired 15 of the 20 total batters he faced.
The right-hander hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts, the last three of which he has won. For the season, his .148 opponent's batting average is the lowest in the American League.
"(Wacha) was pounding the strike zone with good stuff and got some quick outs," Cora said. "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."
Saturday's resilient effort helped Chicago extend its win streak to five straight.
The White Sox, who have allowed two runs or fewer in four of those five games, were previously 0-10 when trailing after eight innings.
"This kind of game, that's what we need to get our confidence up," center fielder Luis Robert said. "We had a really rough April and to win this kind of game gives us hope."
Jose Abreu and Robert had back-to-back RBI hits to begin the 10th after Leury Garcia hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
"It proves what I've been telling you all about them all along -- heart, guts, talent," manager Tony La Russa said.
Chicago's pitching plan for the final two games wasn't determined before the series, as the team still awaits the return of Lance Lynn (right knee tendon tear) which is expected at some point in May.
Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 8.40) will get the ball despite struggling mightily with command in recent starts.
Last Sunday against the Angels, the big southpaw allowed four earned runs on six hits and five walks. It was his second straight start with five free passes and his third consecutive loss.
Following his last outing, Keuchel had allowed more hits (24) and earned runs (14) than any White Sox starter.
"I still feel good," Keuchel said. "That's the main thing and I'm upbeat with how things are progressing. Obviously, I want to win every start, that's not likely. But at the same time, I gotta give six, seven innings instead of five."
--Field Level Media
White Sox at Red Sox Sunday, at 11:35 AM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 46° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 18 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 11:35 AM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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