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Rangers Hold Red Sox to Three Hits

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ARLINGTON – Texas catcher Jose Trevino hit a tiebreaking two-run home run to secure the Rangers 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in a series opener Thursday night. Trevino’s first homer of the season came on the second pitch thrown by reliever Hirokazu Sawamura in the home half of the 6th inning.

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The Red Sox had only three hits, their fourth game in a row with five or fewer hits, although the AL East division leaders had managed to win the previous three.

Sawamura took over with two outs in the bottom half of the inning for lefty Martín Pérez (0-2), with a runner on base after shortstop Xander Bogaerts had a fielding error. Trevino drove an 88 mph slider 411 feet over the wall into the Red Sox bullpen in left-center for a 3-1 lead.

Texas shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered to straightaway center off Sawamura in the 7th inning for an insurance run.

Texas pitcher Kyle Gibson struck out four and walked three while giving up one run in his six innings. He has allowed three earned runs over 33 innings (0.82 ERA) over his last five starts since retiring only one batter in his first-ever opening day start.

Red Sox Look to Eovaldi for Bounce-Back

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ARLINGTON – Boston Red Sox emerging ace Nathan Eovaldi and Texas Rangers newcomer and former Japanese baseball star Kohei Arihara are hoping for bounce-back performances when the Red Sox play the Rangers for the second of their four-game weekend series tonight.

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Boston right-hander Eovaldi (3-2, 3.77 ERA) allowed only four runs over his first three starts of the season, but has given up at least four in back-to-back starts while allowing seven or more hits in each outing. Eovaldi chalked up his struggles in last Saturday’s 8-2 loss to Seattle, in which he allowed a season-high five runs (four earned) on seven hits over five innings, to his inability to locate his pitches.

Only 64 percent of Eovaldi’s 87 pitches landed in the strike zone.

“I just felt like I had a hard time finishing my pitches,” Eovaldi said. “If I’m not finishing my pitches, they tend to stay middle and they’re not as sharp as they usually are. I think that’s what got me in trouble.”

Eovaldi is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two prior starts against the Rangers. He pitched a gem in his lone career start in Texas, allowing just two hits and striking out six over seven scoreless innings on April 25, 2016, as a member of the New York Yanks.

Texas right-hander Arihara (2-2, 4.03) lasted only two innings in the Rangers’ 8-4 loss at the Chicago White Sox
last Sunday. After allowing zero runs in 11 1/3 innings over his prior two starts, Arihara posted season highs of five runs allowed and four walks.

Arihara said he may have been tipping his pitches after placing a season-low 57 percent of his 70 pitches in the strike zone.

“I do feel like they may have been expecting it,” Arihara said through an interpreter via The Dallas Morning News. “But I’m not aware of anything. I think the biggest thing was that my fastball wasn’t riding (Sunday). I just wasn’t able to pitch as effectively as I’d like to do it.”

The 28-year-old rookie will be making his second start at Globe Life Field and his sixth overall. Arihara gave up three runs — two earned — on five hits while walking one and striking out one in four innings in a 3-0 home loss against San Diego on April 9.

Texas handed Boston just its second road loss of the season in the series opener Thursday, winning 4-1. Although the Rangers remain four games under .500 for the season, they improved to 7-4 against AL East opponents in 2021.

The status of Boston designated hitter J.D. Martinez for Friday’s game is up in the air after he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning on Thursday due to migraine symptoms. Martinez went 0 for 1 with two walks in the opener.

– Staff and Wire Service Report

Patriots Select Mac Jones, Quarterback

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FOXBORO/CLEVELAND – In all the years, in all the NFL Drafts, Bill Belichick, the mastermind behind the New England Patriots entire football operation, never, ever, ever picked a quarterback with his first round draft choice. That streak ended last night in Cleveland when Belichick and the Patriots selected Alabama’s Mac Jones with their No. 1 choice, the 15th overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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With Cam Newton as his mentor, Jones is likely to play the early part of the 2021 season as back-up and apprentice to Newton, but with the way Belichick values his top pick, the keys to the New England Patriots’ offense will someday – soon – be turned over to Jones in the same manner in which All-Pro, All-Time great Tom Brady once accepted the QB job from Drew Bledsoe.

“This is what I wanted all along,” Jones said on stage at the “in-person” NFL Draft raft in Cleveland. “And I can’t wait to play for the greatest franchise in NFL history.”

Jones, a two-time national title winner with the Crimson Tide, was the fifth quarterback chosen in the top 15 on Thursday. He becomes the 11th player drafted by Belichick who played for Nick Saban in college.

In 13 games last season, Jones threw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Some argue he was a product of a system that thrived with a rugged offensive line and elite playmakers everywhere. He was a backup in 2017 when Alabama also won the title.

He already seems to have a grasp of the “Patriot Way” of playing football.

Saban said last month teams began showing greater interest in Jones late last season and after the national championship game. In conversations with teams, Saban reminds them where Jones started — on the scout team and then behind a slew of talented players, including projected 2021 NFL starters Jalen Hurts (Eagles) and Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins). And, perhaps most importantly, of Jones’ perseverance to keep working toward getting on the field instead of leaving as a transfer.

“I think that the team that picks me is going to realize they don’t have to worry about me being the first guy in and the last guy out,” Jones said last month. “I’m going to sit and watch as much film as I can and do all the right things. And then obviously the tape speaks for itself.”

Jones joins former Auburn quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jarret Stidham with the Patriots. And he could have a chance to see Tagovailoa head to head twice a year in the AFC East. Newton re-signed with the Patriots after a disappointing 2020 with the team. He went 7-8 in 15 starts and turns 32 next month. Newton completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushed for 592 yards and 12 scores.

Jones’ Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the 2021 NFL Draft.

The national champion Crimson Tide watched six first-round picks placed up on the draft board on the opening night of the annual college draft. Quarterback Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, (Philadelphia Eagles), explosive fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) and running back Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) lead the wave of Nick Saban‘s former charges expected to be selected among the top 32 picks.

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, (Denver Broncos), offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood (Las Vegas Raiders) were all first-rounders.

Alabama’s Saban has had 96 players drafted since he became coach at the school, including four first-round picks in 2020. Overall, Saban has produced 35 first-round picks between his time at LSU and Alabama. Tagovailoa was the fifth overall pick in 2020 — one of four Alabama players in the top 15 — and sat early as a Miami rookie while recovering from hip surgery.

Mac Jones: Insider’s Look

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Mac Jones, QB, Alabama – New England Patriots

  • 6-2. 214 lbs
  • 40 time: 4.90
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Often overshadowed by the presence of Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa on the Alabama roster, Jones finally got his opportunity to shine in 2019 after an injury to Tagovailoa opened the door for starting opportunities.

Jones entered 2020 with a quarterback competition against the highly recruited Bryce Young, but he held onto the starting job. He performed admirably throughout the year while directing Alabama to another national championship and putting his name in the Heisman race.

Despite only having a year and a half as a starter, Jones enters the NFL as a highly decorated passer with a dominant string of performances behind him.

STRENGTHS

  • Jones has a good feel for attacking with accuracy at all three levels of the field, and his ball placement regardless of the distance stands out.
  • Mechanically sound, possessing a good base as a thrower and delivering passes with a clean stroke.
  • Smart with his decisions and won’t force passes if he doesn’t have ideal leverage for the throw.
  • Control over the Alabama offense stands out, and he has a great command over the system.

WEAKNESSES

  • Unable to extend plays much with his legs, and he shouldn’t be trusted to make things happen as a scrambler.
  • Arm is relatively average, and he isn’t able to make a ton of high velocity throws when working off platform.
  • Will need to improve his quickness working through progressions as a pro.

PRO COMPARISON

Can be compared favorably to Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: Goff gets his fair share of criticism for being more of a game manager than a dynamic passer, but he has conducted some well-oiled machines with good accuracy, timing, and decision-making as a pro.

Jones brings a lot of the same traits with his timing and control, and he should be able to drive the bus with enough efficiency to start at the pro level.

 

NFL Draft: A Return to Normalcy & Uncertainty

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CLEVELAND – Although it seems like a century ago, it was just a year back when we were welcomed into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement man-cave to watch the NFL Draft unfold pick-by-pick. The surreal feeling of disconnection to the normal man-hugs and NFL Draft-niks reaction was lost to the pandemic we were just beginning to understand.

Tonight?

It’ll be like Mardi Gras in Cleveland, if that would ever be a thing.

NFL Draft pundits are predicting a quarterback class like none other. The focus on the more well-known position of QB could shift a more deserved spotlight away from the amazing Alabama Crimson Tide football program when the 2021 NFL Draft begins tonight.

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide Class of 2021 (and their young peers) will challenge the record for first-round picks in a single year. ‘Bama Quarterback Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy winner in WR DeVonta Smith,  his fellow WR Jaylen Waddle and RB Najee Harris lead the talented departing crew of Alabama Coach Nick Saban‘s vast resourced expected to be gobbled-up by NFL player personnel departments from Miami to Seattle.  All will be among the first-rounders.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the No. 1 overall pick and awaiting for selection are five quarterbacks projected to be selected in the top half of the first round. The Jags seem set on Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, but Zach Wilson (BYU), Alabama’s Jones, Trey Lance (North Dakota State) and Justin Fields (Ohio State) are likely to be part of a record QB haul in Round one.

If the Jaguars select Lawrence first overall, he’ll be the 26th quarterback to go No. 1 since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Quarterbacks have gone first each of the past three drafts and Lawrence is listed as a -10000 favorite to go No. 1 and make it four in a row. Only twice in NFL draft history quarterbacks have gone 1-2-3, most recently in 1999 when Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles) and Akili Smith (Bengals) were the top players drafted.

Only one time in draft history (2018), were four quarterbacks selected in the top 10, and never with picks 1-4. The Falcons hold the fourth overall pick and choosing an heir apparent to Matt Ryan is under consideration. That No. 4 overall pick is the crossroad of the 2021 NFL Draft as Atlanta could trade down and gather additional picks by dealing the No. 4 pick to a QB-needy team such as the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos or Chicago Bears.

The Patriots lost Tom Brady and his Super Bowl winning ways to reigning NFL champion Tampa Bay and Brady’s replacement in New England, Cam Newton, didn’t pan-out to be a playoff-bound QB for Bill Belichick and the Pats.

The record for quarterbacks drafted in the first round is six, set in 1983 with a class of John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien. Of course, the poor New York Jets came away with O’Brien that year.

Those same J-E-T-S will be selecting at No. 2 this season and they recently dealt their “franchise QB” of the 2018 NFL Draft, Sam Darnold, to the Carolina Panthers who are coming off a QB trade of their own, having dealt Teddy Bridgewater to Denver on April 28.

To say uncertainty is the name of the NFL Draft in 2021 is an understatement for all draft.

 

Red Sox Take Two from Mets

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FLUSHING – Boston Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta out-pitched Mets Cy Young Award winner and MVP candidate Jacob deGrom Wednesday night, when the Boston pitching staff combined for a two-hit shut-out and earned the win as the visiting Red Sox edged the New York Mets, 1-0.

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Sox Backstop Christian Vazquez had an RBI double in the second inning for the Red Sox, who swept the two-game interleague series against the National League New Yorkers.

Three runs in two games were enough for the Boston Red Sox to defeat the Mets often-anemic offense but the Red Sox will need to generate more offense when they continue their short six-game road trip, visiting Arlington, Texas and the Texas Rangers Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Left-hander Martin Perez (0-1, 5.71 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Red Sox against right-hander Kyle Gibson (2-0, 2.30).

The Sox two wins over the Mets improved Boston’s surprising record to an AL East-leading, 16-9. The Sox started the season 0-3, but have now won three straight and four of their last five games. Boston next 11 games against a combination of Texas (10-15, .400), Detroit (8-16, .333) and Baltimore (10-14, .417) will be a key indicator for the rest of their 2021 season.

Boston, AL East last place finishers a season ago, recorded a disappointing (24-36, .400) record and finished 16 games back of Tampa Bay in the COVID-19 shortened 60-game 2020 season.

Bruins Notch Key Win vs. Penguins

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PITTSBURGH – The Boston Bruins bought another ticket for their roller coaster ride and used it to get back in the win column with a key, 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boston goals by David Krejci, Brad Marchand and newly-acquired Taylor Hall helped the Bruins bounce back from a shutout loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday.

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Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask made 25 saves as Boston crept within six points of NHL East-leading Washington and one point of the New York Islanders who stand at No. 3 in a competitive the playoff race in the East Division. The Bruins’ win followed a two-game losing streak which was preceded by six-game win streak (April 13-22).

Boston has eight games remaining in the NHL regular season and their next two games – starting tonight – are against the cellar-dwelling Buffalo Sabres. The following two games are against the New Jersey Devils, a team only two wins ahead of the lowly Sabres.

 

Celtics Back in Win Column

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BOSTON – Boston’s All-Star forward Jaylen Brown scored 38 points and his fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum added 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics bounced back from a three-game losing streak with a 120-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Brown has scored 30 points or more in three of his last five games for the Celtics.

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Boston is currently teetering between the fourth Eastern Conference Playoff slot and home court advantage and the seventh slot which would force the Celtics into a new NBA Play-In” tournament to begin the postseason. The NBA regular season ends May 16th for Boston.

The coming weekend schedule pits the Celtics against the San Antonio Spurs (31-30, .508) and the Portland Trail Blazers (34-28, .548) in two tough home games against Western Conference competition. After the weekend, the Celtics play Eastern opponents in six of their remaining seven games.

Boston is a mediocre (20-12) at home this season.

 

 

Red Sox End Home-stand with a “W”

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BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox concluded their season-long 10-game home stand with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners Sunday at Fenway Park. Boston finished a season-long 10 game stretch at Fenway with a disappointing 5-5 record but are 14-6 in their last 20 games and 3-0-3 in their last six series.

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Trailing 1-0 after the first half of the 1st inning, utility man Marwin Gonzalez and right fielder Hunter Renfroe each worked bases-loaded walks in the Sox’ half of the 1st inning and 2B Christian Arroyo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It marked the time the Red Sox have scored four (or more) runs on two hits or fewer in the 1st inning since August 11, 2018 vs. TB (4 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 E).

Boston starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R) struck-out a season-high eight over his season-high 7.0 innings. Rodriguez retired his final nine batters faced on 29 pitches after allowing 3 straight hits and two runs to begin the 5th inning. It was Rodriguez third career start with no walks over 7.0+ innings pitched.

Boston begins a six-game road trip in New York on Tuesday when they face the Mets in a pair of night games before heading to Arlington, Texas to take-on the Texas Rangers in a four-game set. The Sox return to Fenway Park on May 4th to start a three-game series against Detroit.

Inconsistency Plagues the Red Sox

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BOSTON – It’s nowhere near as bad as Scripture’s calling “idle hands being the Devil’s work shop, but for a Major League Baseball team, inconsistency – especially at home – can lead a club to places even worse than hell. Inconsistency can lead to idle time in October.

Here’s a snapshot at the 2021 Boston Red Sox season:

  • April 1 – Boston hosted Baltimore for Opening Day – Postponed
  • April 2-4 – Boston lost three straight to the Orioles – (0-3)
  • April 5-14 – The Red Sox strike back and won nine in a row (vs. combo of TB, Balt, and Minn) – (9-3)
  • April 15-18 – Sox lost three-of-four (Chicago White Sox)
  • April 19-20 – Boston took two straight games (CWS and Toronto)
  • April 21-24 – Boston dropped three-of-four (Toronto and Seattle) – (13-9)
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In Spring Training, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora hoped for a better record (and some consistency), at least at Fenway Park. Boston is 4-5 through the first nine games of the current home stand, but maintain a 13-6 record in their last 19 games. Entering Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox are (7-8) at Fenway but (6-1) on the road.

On Saturday, the Sox fell victim to Seattle’s starter Chris Flexen (2-1) – (7.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 SO) who pitched a career-high 7.0 innings, the Mariners’ longest road start of the season. Flexen’s pitching was backed up by Mariners’ 3B Kyle Seager’s bat as Seager went 3-for-5, with two runs scored, a double, triple and three RBI). He came a HR shy of the cycle but his RBI single in the 1st, a 2=two-run triple in the 2nd and a double in the 5th inning made the difference in Seattle’s 8-7 victory.

Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi (3-2) took the loss. He pitched five innings, allowing, seven hits, five runs (four earned), with a walk and three strike-outs. Eovaldi had extended his streak of consecutive batters faced without a walk to 73 before issuing the four ball pass to Evan White with two outs in the 5th inning.