Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

MLB

On 4th of July, Sox Check the Standings

by

Red Sox Open Series vs Tampa with 4-0 Win


By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s far too early to do any scoreboard watching, but on the 4th of July, every baseball fan in the land should buy a newspaper and clip-out the standings. It is like breaking a fortune cookie and reading about your future. For the Boston Red Sox – tailspinning at (2-4) over their last six games entering today’s games- but coming off an important seven-game win streak before that – the 2022 MLB season will be decided now, as in July.

Embed from Getty Images

Now, as in the next 16 games when the Red Sox play against the American League East only as they close-out the first half of the 2022 season with 17 consecutive game days before the annual All-Star break. Looking further, past the break, the Red Sox will play 27 of their next 28 home games against teams with winning records (as of today). Only an August 11th game against the division cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles will be the exception.

Now, as on a wonderful, humidity-free, 82-degree, sunny 4th of July day game, a game which began that gauntlet of “put-up or shut-up” for the Sox who earned a home game on the 4th  at Fenway Park for the first time since 2016.

Now, as in today, the Red Sox defeated division rival Tampa, 4-0, with impressive pitching performances by opener Austin Davis (second career start) who was followed by Worcester WooSox call-up Kutter Crawford. Davis threw 30 pitches over the first two innings, walked one batter and struck-out two before giving way to Crawford. With a name like “Kutter,” you better be able to deliver and that he did. The Sox top pitching prospect, No. 24 in all of baseball, went 5.1 IP, allowing only two hits of shutout baseball while striking-out eight Rays batters. Reliever John Schreiber came in for the final 1.2 innings and kept the sheet clean, earning his third save of the season.

On the offensive side, Boston second-baseman Trevor Story had the game-winning hit, his 13th home run of the season, a solo blast, which came in the fourth inning. Boston scored a run in the fifth when shortstop Christian Arroyo led-off with a double and scored on a Rafael Devers infield hit and 46th RBI of the season.

Boston added two insurance runs in the eighth inning when third baseman Devers, DH J.D. Martinez and catcher Christian Vazquez each singled to load the bases before left-fielder Alex Verdugo reached base on a fielding error by Tampa’s relief pitcher Josh Fleming, scoring Devers. Boston right-fielder Franchy Cordero delivered a timely base hit to score Martinez to make it 4-0 to hand Fleming (2-4) his fourth loss of the year.

Crawford earned the win, his second of the year against two losses. The Rays were held scoreless for the sixth time this season after being shutout only eight times all of 2021.

The opening of the series win marked the 12th time of their last 16 series that Boston took a series lead as they are 11-4-1 when they take a series opener. Boston is 17-7 (.708) over their last 24 games and undefeated in their last five home games. The pressure remains, however, as Boston is 0-7-0 in series against the AL East while 12-3-3 against all others.

The Red Sox are now 13 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, who somehow had the 4th of July as an off-day. Boston is bunched up with these Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays with only two games separating the trio when you peruse those standings.

After a horrendous 10-19 start through early May, Boston is now 10 games over .500 for the second time this season. They’re amongst the best four teams in baseball (NYY, HOU and ATL) since May 10th, and they’re staying 10-games over .500 with starting pitchers Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and James Paxton on the injured list, along with relievers Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes and Josh Taylor.

Sale has been ramping-up with a four-inning, 52-pitch, four-hit, one-run outing for AA Portland last Thursday. He’ll do another rehab assignment this Wednesday, upping the competition to AAA Worcester.

Notes: Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts sat out today as he recovers from a six-stitch thigh laceration suffered during the series vs. the Chicago Cubs. … Boston’s Nick Pivetta (8-5, ERA 3.23) is scheduled to pitch against Tampa’s lefty Jeffrey Springs (3-2, ERA 2.25) July 5 at 7:10pm at Fenway. … A starter for Boston on Wednesday has yet to be determined while the Rays will throw righty Corey Kluber (3-5, ERA 3.91). … Boston will go on to host the NY Yankees from July 7-10.

Red Sox July 4th Roster Moves

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Crawford on the active Major League roster, Connor Seabold was optioned to Worcester following yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Crawford entered the game (July 4) after Red Sox lefty Austin Davis held the Tampa Bay Rays scoreless in his two inning “opener” effort.

Crawford, 26, is ranked by MLB.com as the Red Sox’ No. 24 prospect. In 10 appearances (two starts) for Boston this season, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA (14 ER/19.2 IP). He has also pitched in six games (four starts) with Worcester, going 1-0 with a 5.18 ERA (14 ER/24.1 IP).

Seabold, 26, started yesterday’s game against the Cubs, allowing one run on six hits in 4.0 innings. Ranked by MLB.com as Boston’s No. 14 prospect, the right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (12 ER/51.2 IP) in 11 starts for Worcester this season.

Boston activated Seabold to pitch in Chicago on July 3 and in doing so, optioned right-handed pitcher Phillips Valdez to Worcester.

Bradley Gets a Dad Break

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on MLB’s paternity leave list and recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester to fill his roster spot. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the decision.

Bradley Jr., 32, recorded a season-high four RBI on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, including a three-run triple in the eighth inning. The left-handed hitter is batting .227 (34-for-150) with 20 RBI in 48 games this season. Bradley has made 37 starts in right field and three in center field in 2022, leading major league right fielders in ultimate zone rating (4.2).

Duran, 25, has played in one game for Boston this season, going 1-for-4 with a triple and run scored on May 6 against the Chicago White Sox. The left-handed hitter is batting .314 (48-for-153) with a .916 OPS in 37 games for Worcester this season, recording 20 extra-base hits and stealing 11 bases.

Eovaldi Tosses Complete Game Gem

by

Red Sox Defeat Baltimore, 5-3, in First of Saturday Twin Bill

BOSTON – I’ll take Baseball Wins & Losses for $500, Mayim.

This is the most important thing for a major league baseball club, like the 21-24 Boston Red Sox, when they’re playing a day-night double-header a few hours after blowing a 6-0 lead and losing to the last place Baltimore Orioles, 12-8?

What is, have your starting pitcher throw a complete game?

Is right.

Embed from Getty Images

Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi settled down to earn a 5-3 complete-game victory after he shook-off a 5th inning two-run home run by Baltimore catcher Robinson Chirinos which tied the early-bird first of a two games admission twin bill, 3-3. It was Eovaldi’s first complete game win of his career and one of only two CG the Red Sox pitching staff has enjoyed this season, the other by Nick Pivetta on May 18 (a 5-1 Boston win over Houston).

Eovaldi allowed seven hits, walked one and struck-out six while throwing 108 pitches (75 strikes) during his effort. Baltimore scored three runs, two earned and positioned the Sox bullpen for the evening game. Friday, Sox starter Garret Whitlock was spotted a 6-0 lead which was cut to 6-2 in the fourth inning, but was undermined by his relievers to the tune of 10 other runs scored from the 7th through 9th innings.

Today’s matinee was a different story, as Boston manager Alex Cora made a smart strategic play, having right-handed batter and first baseman Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for lefthand hitting starting first baseman Franchy Cordero to lead-off the 6th inning. Dalbec deposited a 397-foot, game-winning homer to right, giving Eovaldi the support he needed for the win.

Boston secured an insurance run in the 7th inning when designated hitter J.D. Martinez walked, shortstop Xander Bogaerts doubled and second baseman Christian Arroyo reached safely on an infield hit to score Martinez. Arroyo went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and RBI. Meanwhile, Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers went 4-for-5 to set his season high of hits in a single game to extend his MLB-leading collection of hits to (69).

Devers hammered a first inning single with a (106.1 mph) exit velocity, doubled in the 2nd inning with the ball leaving his bat at 97.1 mph and added two other hits, with his 5th inning single clocking NASA control towers at 107.5 mph. Devers leads the majors in hard-hit balls  with 84 clocking over 95 mph exit numbers.

The AL East cellar-dwelling Orioles fell to (19-28) and are (2-3) over this eight-game road trip. Baltimore is 7-17 on the road, going into the Saturday night tilt against the Sox (weather permitting). Baltimore pitchers have allowed 10+ hits in nine of their last 13 games, dating back to May 15th.

Keegan Akin (1-1) took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on two hits.

 

 

Sox, Pivetta Strike Back Against Astros

by

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – After a 13-4 lambasting at the hands of the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, a game that saw the ‘Stros tie a major league record with five home runs in a single inning (2nd vs Nathan Eovaldi), the Boston Red Sox needed to strike back on Wednesday. The pitching rotation called for Boston right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-4, 5.08 ERA) to take the mound vs Houston’s Luis Garcia (3-1, 2.94 ERA).

Embed from Getty Images

When Pivetta faced Astros lead-off man Jose Altuve in the first, it looked as though Houston was picking up where they left off on Tuesday when Altuve took a 3-2 pitch over the Green Monster in left field. That would not be the case over nine innings, as Pivetta earned a 5-1 victory by allowing only one other hit, a double by LF Michael Brantley, to pitch a complete game, two-hitter.

It was the first complete game for a Red Sox pitcher since Chris Sale went nine innings against the Royals in Kansas City on June 5, 2019 (8-0 win) and the first complete game at Fenway Park since Rick Porcello tossed nine against the New York Yankees on August 3, 2018 (4-1 win).

To earn his complete game and two-hitter, Pivetta threw 112 pitches with 78 for strikes. A whopping 23 of those pitches came in the first inning when Pivetta settled down to retire three-straight after the Altuve lead-off HR. Pivetta allowed only the one earned run while striking out eight and walking none.

The Red Sox offense gave Pivetta support immediately, registering two runs in the bottom of the first on a Rafael Devers triple and J.D. Martinez sacrifice fly, then a Xander Bogaerts home run, his fourth of the season. Boston picked-up another un in the third inning when Devers doubled in Kiki Hernandez who led off the inning by reaching first on a Jeremy Pena error at short.

The Sox scattered singles against Garcia to tally two more runs in the fourth, which closed out the scoring.

Boston’s DH, Martinez, had an 18-game hitting streak and 34-game on base streak snapped, and his luck ran out when a seventh inning ground ball to short had to be reviewed by the umpires, to no avail for the .325 hitter who went 0-for-3 with an RBI via the SAC fly, his 20th run batted in this season. He trails only Devers (21) in the team lead for RBI.

After crunching Eovaldi for 13 runs, the Astros bats went dull on their get-away game that started at 6:12pm and was over by 8:50pm (ET). Altuve struck-out twice after hitting the lead-off homer, his eighth of the season, while both 1B Yuli Gurriel and Pena each went down twice to strikes.

NOTES: Boston will host the Seattle Mariners who lost 11 of their last 15, not including this evenings game at Toronto. The Mariners will be at Fenway Park for a Thursday through Sunday, four-game set. Mariners rookie hot pitching prospect George Kirby (0-0, 0.90 ERA) will face veteran Rich Hill (1-1, 2.89 ERA) on Thursday evening. … Tonight’s complete game by Nick Pivetta was only the second of his career, the other coming June 8, 2019 vs the Cincinnati Reds. … Boston SS Xander Bogaerts has six RBI over his last six games. … Houston’s Michael Brantley has reached base safely in 13-straight games and is hitting .306 over that span. … Jose Altuve scored his 900th career run with his HR and is only the fourth player in Houston Astros history to record 900 runs (Craig Biggio-1,844), (Jeff Bagwell-1,517) and (Lance Berkman-1,008)

Sox Call-Up Duran as COVID+ Strikes

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Following a two-game skid while hosting the Los Angeles Angels, the Red Sox were forced to make the following roster moves on Friday before their series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

Embed from Getty Images
  • Placed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill and infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.
  • Recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester.
  • Selected right-handed pitcher John Schreiber to the active major league roster from Worcester.

Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the roster moves.

Hill, 42, allowed one hit over 5.0 scoreless innings yesterday against the Angels, his third consecutive scoreless start. The left-hander became just the fourth player to make as many as three consecutive scoreless starts at the age of 42 or older, joining Phil Niekro (1984), Roger Clemens (2005), and Bartolo Colon (2015).

Hernández, 30, has started 24 of the Red Sox’ 26 games this season in center field. The right-handed hitter ranks tied for second on the team with eight doubles, with nine of his 18 hits going for extra bases. Hernández has eight RBI in his last 12 games.

Duran, 25, is batting .397 (23-for-58) with a 1.116 OPS, 15 runs, eight extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 15 games for Worcester this season. The left-handed hitter made his major league debut with Boston last season, making 25 starts in center field and one in left field. Duran is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No.  4 prospect and the No. 84 prospect in baseball.

Duran started in center field on Friday night

Schreiber, 28, made two scoreless relief appearances for Boston during the club’s recent series in Toronto, combining to allow one hit with one strikeout in 2.1 innings. The right-hander has posted a 1.46 ERA (2 ER/12.1 IP) in seven relief appearances for Worcester this season, striking out 15 while issuing three walks.

Red Sox Roster Moves

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Releases) – The Boston Red Sox placed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List. To fill Hill’s spot on the active roster, the club recalled catcher Ronaldo Hernández from Triple-A Worcester. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the roster move..

Hill, 42, started yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings. The left-hander has made two starts for the Red Sox this season, posting a 7.00 ERA (7 ER/9.0 IP).

Hernández, 24, has played in seven games for Worcester this season, making six starts at catcher. In 106 games between Worcester and Double-A Portland since the start of 2021, the right-handed hitter is batting .274 (107-for-391) with 48 extra-base hits and 62 RBI. His first appearance will be his major league debut.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox made additional roster moves in reaction to yesterdays sidelining of Kevin Plawecki and subsequent medical update on Plawecki’s battery-mate in catcher Christian Vázquez and infielder Jonathan Araúz on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.

Additional moves included:

· Recalled right-hander pitcher Tyler Danish from Triple-A Worcester.

· Selected outfielder Rob Refsnyder to the active major league roster from Worcester.

Vázquez, 31, has started seven of the Red Sox’ first 10 games at catcher, throwing out two of five attempted base stealers (40.0%). The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 with two RBI in yesterday’s game against the Twins, hitting his first home run of the season in the seventh inning.

Araúz, 23, has appeared in five games this season, making three starts at second base. The switch-hitter most recently appeared as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Danish, 27, has not allowed a run in his three relief appearances for Worcester this season, striking out six batters in 3.0 innings. The right-hander posted a 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) in six Grapefruit League appearances for the Red Sox in Spring Training.

Refsnyder, 31, is batting .400 (14-for-35) with 12 runs scored, four doubles, one home run, eight RBI, and nine walks in 11 games for Worcester this season. The right-handed hitter has made eight starts in center field, two in right field, and one at designated hitter.

Sox Plawecki Out on COVID+ List

by

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Kevin Plawecki on the COVID-19 related Injured list and filled his spot on the active roster with catcher Connor Wong from Triple-A Worcester.  Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the move.

Plawecki, 31, has played in four games this season, with the Red Sox winning each of his three starts at catcher. The right-handed hitter has batted .297 (74-for-249) with a .757 OPS in 92 games during his three seasons with Boston (2020-22).

Wong, 25, has made four starts at catcher for Triple-A Worcester this season, batting .250 (4-for-16) with three runs scored. The right-handed hitter played in six games for Boston last season, his major league debut, and hit .308 (4-for-13) with one double, one triple, and one RBI.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that two (non-coaching) members of the team staff also tested COVID+ and were asked to quarantine under guidelines previously established. The Red Sox staff members were not identified.

Twins Spoil Red Sox Home Opener, 8-4

by

BOSTON – Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan made his second start of the 2022 MLB season – just his seventh career appearance – and spoiled the Boston Red Sox home opener by throwing six innings of five-hit baseball to anchor the Twins’ 8-4 victory over Boston.

Ryan allowed only one run (earned), struck-out seven Sox batters and walked none. He passed the ball to the Twins bullpen with a 6-1 lead with only a home run to Boston LF Alex Verdugo as his lone blemish. Ryan is (1-1) on the season and he lowered his ERA to (2.70) with the outing.

Boston’s starting pitcher, Nick Pivetta, didn’t fare as well. The Twins scored four runs on five hits over the first two innings to knock Pivetta out of the game after throwing 54 pitches in two innings and leaving on the wrong side of a 4-1 score. Minnesota 1B Miguel Sano did the most damage with a two-run homer off Pivetta in the second inning.

The Red Sox would go on to use six pitchers throughout the game and Minnesota scored a pair of insurance runs in both the fifth and ninth innings, hitting-up RP Hirokazu Sawamura for two runs in the fifth and Matt Barnes for another pair in the top of the ninth, sealing the Twins’ victory.

After rallying for three runs in the eighth inning, including two off the bat of Rafael Devers who homered off reliever Jhoan Duran, the Sox bats went limp in the bottom of the ninth. Both newly acquired infielder Trevor Story and veteran first baseman Bobby Dalbec struck-out to end the game in a whimper before a sellout crowd of 36,266 at Fenway Park.

 

It’s Opening Day at Fenway Park

by

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox face the Minnesota Twins in their home opener at Fenway Park after a six-game road trip to open the season. Boston split the six games and meet a Twins team that is (2-4) over their first six contests of 2022.

Between the fact it’s Opening Day, along with MLB’s league-wide tribute to Jackie Robinson, the 75th anniversary of NY/MLB’s first game at Ebbets Field, The Hub’s “ONE Boston” day to memorialize the victims of the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and a home opening tribute to longtime Red Sox second baseman and TV commentator Jerry Remy, there’s a lot going on at the ballpark.

The Red Sox are in the midst of a stretch of six consecutive games when they play afternoon baseball. Eight of the Red Sox first 10 games of 2022 are scheduled for day games, including this Monday’s 11:10am (ET) start to celebrate Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth and the running of the Boston Marathon.

The next time Boston plays a night game will be Monday, April 19th vs Toronto.

Boston will be playing games on 17 consecutive days (April 15-May 1)

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHERS: Twins: Joe Ryan (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, four strikeouts); Red Sox: Nick Pivetta (0-1, 6.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, four strikeouts).