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Sox Can Hit Struggling Texas Relievers

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ARLINGTON –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Texas Rangers, riding a three-game losing streak, will hope to slow the Boston Red Sox’s offense on Saturday night in Texas. Boston opened the three-game series with an 11-6 victory on Friday. Texas has been outscored 29-8 during its skid.

The Red Sox hit three home runs in the Friday win, which raised their road record to 31-22. Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela each hit a two-run blast, and Rafael Devers added a solo shot in the ninth. Devers enters the Saturday contest on a nine-game hitting streak in which he is batting .528 (19-for-36).

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“They’re a good hitting ballclub,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “They’re one of the top offensive teams in baseball. It was a tough night for the pitchers all night, really. … You have to keep battling. That’s all you can do.”

The Rangers have lost six of their past seven games, with the pitching staff compiling a 7.98 ERA in that stretch.

Connor Wong had four of Boston’s 16 hits in the series opener. The Red Sox have at least 10 hits in 12 of their past 15 games.

“Offensively it was an outstanding night,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We got the first one out of the way, which is important. I talked to the staff about it, this whole Fridays and not winning games … it put us in a bad spot going into the weekend. You win that one and then you have two chances to win the series, and we are in the business of winning series. Hopefully we can do it (Saturday).”

The Rangers had not announced a starting pitcher for the Saturday contest.

“We’re going to talk about it, where we’re at,” Bochy said following Friday’s loss. “I think we’re fine, but we will huddle up here soon and talk about the game plan (Saturday) and the next couple days. … If we have to bring somebody up, we’ll do that.”

Boston will go with right-hander Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79 ERA). Houck had a 2.18 ERA through his first 16 starts this season, when he recorded 101 strikeouts and walked 18 in 103 1/3 innings, but he hasn’t been nearly as effective since then. He has a 5.26 ERA in his past five outings, logging 15 strikeouts and 15 walks over 25 2/3 innings.

“I think just timing issues and delivery just feels a little out of whack as of late, over the past month, but ultimately that’s the way that a full 162 games is going to play out,” Houck said. “You’re not always going to feel your best. You’re not always going to have everything clicking, and it’s about getting back to those days that you feel that and just keep showing up. Don’t really (need) to reinvent the wheel.”

Houck is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Texas. He has allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings against the Rangers.

Texas received two solo home runs from Cory Seager in the Friday loss. Marcus Semien added a two-run homer for the Rangers, who also got a solo homer from Leody Taveras. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Boston’s offense.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Score Early, Add to Lead in Rout of Texas Rangers

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ARLINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela each hit a two-run home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-6 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday in Texas.

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Red Sox veteran 3B Rafael Devers added a solo home run and catcher Connor Wong collected four singles for the Red Sox. Boston second baseman Nick Sogard added a two-run single in his major league debut.

Corey Seager of Texas hit two solo home runs among his three hits and had three RBIs and three runs for the Rangers. Marcus Semien added a two-run blast and Leody Taveras a solo shot. All four homers came against Boston starter Kutter Crawford, who has allowed 12 in his last three starts.

Crawford (7-8) earned the win despite giving up five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Texas has lost six of its last seven games and also saw its five-game home winning streak come to an end.

Texas starter Jose Urena (3-6) surrendered seven runs on eight hits in four innings. Urena made his first start since June 5, when he held Detroit to one run in 6 2/3 innings.

After Seager’s first home run gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the first, Abreu’s two-run homer in the second put Boston in front 2-1. Taveras and Seager went deep in the third inning for a 3-2 lead.

Boston scored four runs in the fourth to go ahead 6-3. Wong and Abreu hit RBI singles for the first two runs, and Sogard added a two-run single.

The Red Sox added a run in the fifth. Duran led off with a triple and scored on Masataka Yoshida’s sacrifice fly.

Rafaela’s home run pushed the lead to 9-3 in the top of the sixth, but Semien answered with his two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning.

Seager drove in Carson Kelly with a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 9-6. Boston padded the lead when Devers homered and Dominic Smith doubled home Wong in the ninth inning.

–Field Level Media

Sox in the Afternoon

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Report) – If streaks are made to be broken, the Boston Red Sox have one they are particularly eager to snap: They have allowed at least seven runs in each of their past six games.

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The next chance for Boston’s pitchers to stage a turnaround comes Wednesday afternoon when the Red Sox host the Seattle Mariners in the decisive matchup of a three-game series.

Boston has surrendered a combined 63 runs in those six games, most recently falling 10-6 to the Mariners on Tuesday. The Red Sox beat Seattle 14-7 on Monday, but they are just 3-8 since the All-Star break.

“Not surprised because it’s 162 (games). We’re playing with kids and they’re still learning,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “Because they played so well for a month and a half doesn’t mean that it’s the complete (package). …

“The development continues. You see it the way we work every day. Challenging them with their defensive drills. We’re adding stuff offensively for them to be better. It doesn’t stop.

“Over the course of 162, you’re going to go through stretches. We’re not perfect. We have a talented team, and our job as coaches is to continue working with them and helping them to be big-leaguers.”

Seattle’s Justin Turner, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, played first base and batted in the cleanup spot on Tuesday. He had a hit and drove in two runs against Boston, the team he played for in 2023.

“I’ve been through just about everything you can go through as a player,” Turner said prior to the game. “I’ve been traded now twice, I’ve been designated for assignment, I’ve been non-tendered … bounced around a few organizations, so I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and hopefully I can help these guys out in whatever way they need me.”

Seattle’s Victor Robles, Jorge Polanco and Dylan Moore each added two hits on Tuesday.

“Really excited about our offense,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “The guys are really starting to come together. Certainly, the additions have helped, but some of the guys that have been here all year are picking it up as well.”

Boston committed three errors that led to five unearned runs on Tuesday. Two of the three errors came in Seattle’s five-run fifth inning. The Red Sox lead the major leagues with 81 errors this season.

The probable Wednesday pitchers are right-handers George Kirby (8-7, 3.03 ERA) for Seattle and Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.27) for Boston.

Kirby tossed seven scoreless innings in a 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. It was his ninth straight quality start.

Kirby, who is known for his exceptional control, has walked just 14 batters in 130 2/3 innings this season. He is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox, including a 1-0 victory on March 29, when he fired 6 2/3 shutout innings.

Bello has the highest ERA among pitchers in Boston’s starting rotation, but he is 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. He defeated the Mariners on March 28, when he threw five innings of two-run ball.

In his latest start, Bello was pulled after surrendering three runs in five innings during Boston’s 9-7 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Friday.

Seattle and Boston have split six games this season. Wednesday’s matchup is the final regular-season game between them, giving the winner an advantage toward postseason tiebreakers.

Servais said Robles, who left the Tuesday game due to a sore hip, won’t play Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Moore in the 5th, Downs Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Seattle’s Dylan Moore hit a three-run double during a five-run fifth inning that led the visiting Mariners defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-6 on Tuesday. Seattle sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth, which included three hits, two errors, two walks and a hit batter. Moore’s two-out double gave the Mariners a 7-3 lead.

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Jorge Polanco delivered his 10th homer this season and finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored for Seattle.

Rafael Devers hit his 24th home run for Boston, a three-run shot in the third inning. Devers had three hits and four RBIs in the loss. Masataka Yoshida had two hits and extended his hitting streak to seven games when he singled in the first inning.

Luis Castillo (9-10) tossed six innings to earn the win. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out four.

James Paxton (8-3) went 4 1/3 innings and allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits. He walked one and fanned five in his first start with the Red Sox since he was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sox Beef Up Bullpen at Deadline

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox added some much-needed bullpen help by acquiring right-hander Lucas Sims from the Cincinnati Reds, then adding another right-hander, Luis Garcia, from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline.

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The Red Sox sent minor league right-hander Ovis Portes to the Reds in exchange for Sims and sent four minor league players to the Angels in exchange for Garcia: infielder/outfielder Matthew Lugo, first baseman Niko Kavadas and right-handed pitchers Ryan Zeferjahn and Yeferson Vargas.

Garcia, 37, was 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 45 relief appearances in his first season with the Angels after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal in December. He is 26-28 with a 4.02 ERA in 530 career appearances (four starts) in 12 seasons for five teams.

Lugo, 23, was Boston’s No. 17 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, drafted in the second round in 2019. The nephew of nine-time All-Star Carlos Beltran, Lugo was batting .285 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs in 78 games in Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season.

Kavadas, 25, hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 83 games this season at Worcester.

Zeferjahn, 26, was 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 25 games (one start) with Portland and Worcester this year.

Vargas, a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic, was 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 games (4 starts) with the Red Sox farm teams in the Florida Complex League and Single-A Salem.

Sims, 30, went 1-4 with a 3.57 ERA and one save in 43 appearances out of the Cincinnati bullpen this season. The right-hander struck out 40 batters and walked 20 in 35⅓ innings.

Sims owns a career record of 22-17 with a 4.41 ERA and 12 saves in 230 games (14 starts) with the Atlanta Braves (2017-18) and Reds.

Portes, 19, was in his second season with the Boston organization. He went 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA and two saves in 11 games (five starts) between Class-A Salem and the Florida Complex League.

The Red Sox designated left-hander Brandon Walter, 27, for assignment to make room for Sims on the 40-man roster.

Yankees Come Back at Fenway

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New York catcher Austin Wells hit a sacrifice fly and his shortstop, Gleyber Torres, added a two-run double in the 10th inning to finish the Yankees’ 11-8 come-from-behind win over the host Boston Red Sox on Saturday night at Fenway Park

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Tyler O’Neill (3-for-4, four RBIs) hit go-ahead homers in the fifth and seventh innings for the Red Sox, but New York scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to tie the game.

Aaron Judge went 4-for-4 with a double, homer, three RBIs and three runs to lead New York’s 16-hit attack in making Sunday’s game the rubber match of their three-game series.

Judge hit an RBI double in the eighth, though Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran started a relay that cut down Juan Soto, the potential tying run, at the plate.

In the ninth, Massachusetts native Ben Rice doubled with one out, and Trent Grisham’s two-out double drove in pinch runner Jahmai Jones against Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, who blew a save for the third time this season.

In the 10th, Torres crushed his double off the center field wall off Chase Anderson (0-2).

New York’s Clay Holmes (2-4) threw two scoreless innings for the win.

Aaron Judge went 4-for-4 with a double, homer, three RBIs and three runs to lead New York’s 16-hit attack in making Sunday’s game the rubber match of their three-game series.

Judge hit an RBI double in the eighth, though Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran started a relay that cut down Juan Soto, the potential tying run, at the plate.

In the ninth, Massachusetts native Ben Rice doubled with one out, and Trent Grisham’s two-out double drove in pinch runner Jahmai Jones against Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, who blew a save for the third time this season.

In the 10th, Torres crushed his double off the center field wall off Chase Anderson (0-2).

New York’s Clay Holmes (2-4) threw two scoreless innings for the win.

Red Sox Rally Past Yanks, 9-7

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida’s two-run single up the middle highlighted a three-run eighth inning that helped Boston earn a 9-7, series-opening victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Friday night at Fenway.

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The Red Sox rallied after back-to-back home runs by Aaron Judge and Austin Wells in the seventh gave the Yankees a 7-4 lead in the seventh inning. Judge bashed a go-ahead, three-run shot to deep center.

Starting the comeback in the bottom of the seventh, Ceddanne Rafaela crushed a two-run homer to deep left that scored Yoshida.

In the eighth, Boston put two on against reliever Luke Weaver (4-2) before Wilyer Abreu greeted reliever Clay Holmes with a game-tying single. That set up Yoshida for the game-deciding hit.

Rob Refsnyder finished with three hits, two runs and an RBI for the Red Sox, who have won two of three following a four-game skid.

Bailey Horn (1-1) earned his first major league win, and Kenley Jansen worked around two hits and struck out two in the ninth for his 20th save.

Wells and Gleyber Torres had three hits apiece for New York, which has lost three straight and five of the past six.

Tyler O’Neill’s sacrifice fly staked Boston to a 1-0 lead. Consecutive one-out singles by Refsnyder and Connor Wong and a walk to Rafael Devers loaded the bases before the RBI opportunity.

The visitors were not down for long, as Anthony Volpe crushed a two-out solo homer to straightaway center field to bring the Yankees even in the second.

A pair of one-out hits by Wong and Devers helped the Red Sox jump back in front in the third. After Wong doubled inside third base, Devers’ knock to left made it a 2-1 game.

It was more of the same for Boston in the fourth. Romy Gonzalez began the inning with an infield single before Jarren Duran’s knock moved him to third, while a second consecutive two-out hit by Refsnyder rolled to the left field wall for an RBI double.

The Yankees quickly responded with a two-run fifth to tie the game, getting an RBI double from Trent Grisham and a sacrifice fly from Alex Verdugo.

The hosts continued to put the pressure on in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a go-ahead run on Yoshida’s sacrifice fly following a walk to Devers and O’Neill’s double through the left side.

Boston reliever Zack Kelly was greeted rudely during the visitors’ four-run seventh, allowing the back-to-back homers.

–Field Level Media

Dodgers Defeat Sox (Again)

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Enrique Hernandez had game-tying hits in the ninth and 10th innings, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a game-ending RBI single in the 11th and Los Angeles turned multiple rallies into a 7-6 victory Saturday against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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It marked the second consecutive Dodgers victory over the Sox after the season resumed post All-Star break.

Hernandez tied the game in the ninth with a home run against former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and added a two-out RBI single in the Los Angeles’ two-run 10th inning after Boston’s Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th.

Smith’s game-winning hit off Greg Weissert (2-2) came with the bases loaded. Right-hander Blake Treinen (3-2) earned the win with a scoreless 11th inning.

Gavin Lux had a home run and a double as the Dodgers pulled off consecutive comeback victories over the Red Sox after they lost six of seven games before the All-Star break.

O’Neill hit a pair of home runs for the Red Sox, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning for a 4-3 lead.

Jarren Duran hit a two-run double for the Red Sox and has delivered multiple hits in four consecutive games wrapped around a home run and MVP Award in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Jansen’s blown save was his first since April 16. Boston starter Brayan Bello gave up three runs over six innings with seven strikeouts.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Lux’s home run to right field, his fourth of the season. Duran’s two-run double in the fifth inning gave Boston a 2-1 advantage.

The Dodgers went on top 3-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Teoscar Hernandez and a sacrifice fly from Andy Pages.

Duran walked with one out in the seventh and O’Neill hit the first pitch for a 4-3 advantage. Enrique Hernandez’s home run off Jansen, to tie the game 4-4, was his sixth of the season.

O’Neill’s homer in the 10th off right-hander Evan Phillips was his 18th of the season.

–Field Level Media

Skenes, Burnes on Center Stage

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ARLINGTON, (Texas) – (Staff and wire Service Report) – The 2024 All-Star Game isn’t short on storylines.

From Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. returning to his hometown under the lights to former teenage sensation Jurickson Profar of San Diego making his All-Star Game debut at age 31, there’s plenty to talk about going into the 94th Midsummer Classic set for Tuesday night at Globe Life Field, home of the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.

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But the one player who is generating the most buzz is Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, who will start for the National League. The right-hander, the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is having a sensational rookie season, going 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 11 starts.

“Pretty dang cool to even be in this position, to be at the All-Star Game in the first place,” Skenes said during a pregame news conference on Monday. “Just super grateful to be given the opportunity to start it.”

NL manager Torey Lovullo, who guided the Diamondbacks to the NL pennant last season, said the decision to give Skenes the starting nod was a “no-brainer.”

“Paul is everything right about this game,” Lovullo said. “You mentioned youthfulness. He just got drafted. Youthfulness of the All-Star Game. Just his ability to balance what he’s had to go through over the past year has been amazing. He does it with humility. He does it very, very well.”

For the American League, manager Bruce Bochy of the Rangers is going with Corbin Burnes, ace of the Baltimore staff. Burnes, who had yet to arrive at the All-Star Game when Monday’s press conference began, is 9-4 with a 2.43 ERA in 19 starts. The right-hander, in his first season with Baltimore after six with the Milwaukee Brewers, is making his fourth straight All-Star appearance and first start.

“What he’s done this year in Baltimore, you know, they’re leading their division. He’s a big reason for that,” Bochy said. “In my mind, it’s just his time. It’s his time to start an All-Star Game. That’s why I chose him.”

As far as the lineups, there is plenty of power and versatility throughout. Both managers kept teammates together in the Nos. 3-4 spots with the AL boasting New York Yankees stars Juan Soto and Aaron Judge back-to-back, while the NL will go with Philadelphia Phillies stars Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.

Just how deep are the lineups in general? Well, left fielder Profar is batting ninth for the NL and Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien is batting ninth for the AL. Profar – who made his major league debut at age 19 with the Rangers in 2012 — has spent most of his time as the Padres’ No. 3 batter this season, while Semien is usually the leadoff man for Bochy.

“The toughest thing about the lineup is picking the last two or three,” said Bochy, who is managing his fifth All-Star team.

For the game itself, both managers understand the importance of getting every player involved in some fashion. This is a glorified exhibition, after all.

The competitive juices, however, will be flowing once the game starts. Skenes said his goal is to throw 100-mph fastballs, just like he does in normal starts. And he would be more than OK matching up against Judge on the All-Star stage.

“Yeah, it will be cool,” Skenes said.

However, Bochy chimed in: “I hope he does. It means one guy got on.”

In the end, the back-and-forth banter is all in good fun. Just like the All-Star Game is meant to be.

“This is an absolute honor to be sitting up here,” Lovullo said. “With this group beside me, I get a chance to sit among the biggest stars in the game. It’s going to be one of the absolute baseball highlights of my life.”

The NL won last year’s game, ending what had been a nine-year winning streak by the AL. Overall, the AL owns the all-time series 47-44-2.

– Field Level Media

Teoscar Hernandez; “In Front” at Derby

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ARLINGTON (Texas)   (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Teoscar Hernandez became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field.

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Hernandez edged Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the final, clubbing 14 homers to Witt’s 13. It came down to the wire, as Witt nearly tied things up when he sent a deep fly ball to left-center, but it didn’t end up clearing the wall.

Hernandez was the 11th different player in Dodgers history to compete in the event. He advanced out of the opening round with 19 home runs, then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm in a three-swing swing-off in the semifinals.

Bohm and Hernandez had each hit 14 long balls to force the swing-off.

In the final, Hernandez went first and hit 11 home runs during regulation. He added three more in the bonus round.

Witt had 11 home runs in regulation and was down to his final out of the bonus session when he cranked his 12th home run, which traveled 450 feet and bought him an additional out. He added one more homer before his rally fell just short.

–Drew Davison, Field Level Media